Laindon

My father Dr. D.S. Chowdhary 1902-1959

Author: 
Shakun Banfield

Tags:

Shakun Banfield nee Chowdhary was born and brought up in the U.K.  She retains a keen interest in her parents' achievements in their adopted country England and has many memories of a happy family life with them and her brother.

She worked for 30 years in the criminal justice system as a probation officer as well as in the family courts as a welfare officer and mediator.  She is now retired and lives with her husband in South London.

My father, Dr Dharm Sheel Chowdhary, was born in a small village in Punjab, India in 1902. He was sent to a Hindu boarding school at the age of 7. Here the regime was physically  strict and the academic teachings intense. This equipped him with an extensive knowledge of Indian and Persian literature, Hindu philosophy and religious teachings, and a good knowledge of the ancient language of Sanskrit.

On graduating, he was ordained as a Hindu priest. However, as far as I am aware, he did not go on to practise as such. Instead, he chose to enrol at Lahore Medical College to study medicine.  He graduated with an MBBS in 1927, and came to London for post graduate studies the following year. He obtained further qualifications in Edinburgh and Liverpool as well as London. In 1931, he joined Dr Gilder's practice in Laindon, purchasing the practice from him when he retired.

My mother: Savitri Devi Chowdhary (1909 – 1996)

Author: 
Shakun Banfield

Tags:

Shakun Banfield nee Chowdhary was born and brought up in the U.K.  She retains a keen interest in her parents' achievements in their adopted country England and has many memories of a happy family life with them and her brother.

She worked for 30 years in the criminal justice system as a probation officer as well as in the family courts as a welfare officer and mediator.  She is now retired and lives with her husband in South London.

Ed. note. Her father's story is available here.

MUltan 1928
Savitri, Multan, 1928

Many Laindon (a town in England) people will remember my mother Savitri Chowdhary as the wife of my father, their well-loved General Practitioner, or G. P., as doctors as known in England. She was indeed a most supportive loving spouse and mother and her determination to succeed in whatever task she set herself knew no bounds.

Her inspiration may have come from the character she was named after in Hindu mythology as Princess Savitri's steadfast loyalty to her husband so impressed Yama, the God of Death that he granted her wish and released her husband from Death allowing him to return to life to resume his role as her husband.

Subscribe to RSS - Laindon