Today is April 14, 2020.
Let me tell you the story of something interesting happened on April 14th, 1944 at about 4pm in Bombay ...
Its a first hand story, told to me by my Grandfather who was on the scene at Victoria Dock (also known as Princess Dock) Bombay ... 1/n
Let me tell you the story of something interesting happened on April 14th, 1944 at about 4pm in Bombay ...
Its a first hand story, told to me by my Grandfather who was on the scene at Victoria Dock (also known as Princess Dock) Bombay ... 1/n
So the timing - its 1944, World War 2 hasnt ended yet (Normandy landings were to happen later in June 1944, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in Aug 1945) ...
Indian freedom struggle post the 1942 Quit India movement had reached a pause due to the war
Indian freedom struggle post the 1942 Quit India movement had reached a pause due to the war
Bombay (as it was called then) had become the textile hub (especially in the years post the US Civil War) and lots of Cotton was shipped in from overseas only to be spun into finished garments at Bombays mills ...
The Docks in Mumbai were a humdrum of activity, and with War time supplies of arms, gunpowder, soldiers being shipped to Europe and East Asia - this was location of a lot commotion ...
So on the morning of April 14th there was one ship SS Fort Stikine coming from the US, which was anchored outside the port and refused entry.
Its cargo had the combustible mix of bales of Cotton and Gunpowder.
It would be too risky for it to dock during the day
Its cargo had the combustible mix of bales of Cotton and Gunpowder.
It would be too risky for it to dock during the day
It was rumored it was also carrying huge consignment of Gold. Literally tonnes of Gold in form of Gold bars.
A ship full of Cotton, Gunpowder and Gold ... on a hot summer day (pre monsoon April in Bombay can be very hot) ...
A ship full of Cotton, Gunpowder and Gold ... on a hot summer day (pre monsoon April in Bombay can be very hot) ...
Yes - the ship did catch fire ... and soon the sailors on the ship started abandoning it and the dock was told to be cleared out.
On the docks only essential staff (my Grandad was a lowly clerk in the ware houses of Scindia Steam Navigation) was still there
On the docks only essential staff (my Grandad was a lowly clerk in the ware houses of Scindia Steam Navigation) was still there
At 4:04pm there was the first blast - and the ship burst out in flames ... and yes the rumor was true the bars of gold went flying out on the streets ...
Many rushed out to pick it up - was literally the 'Gold Rush'
...
Many rushed out to pick it up - was literally the 'Gold Rush'
...
Some who were either trapped in debris, or were too timid to venture out (I dont know which one my Granddad was - he claims the former, I guess its the latter) ... were saved - because at 4:14pm there was a 2nd blast - a lot bigger than the first and that killed most of those ...
who ventured outside ...
If my grandfather had been a bit braver and adventurous - wouldve rushed out to pick up gold bars -> and might not have survived (this was many years before my dad was born) ... and I might not have been here on this planet
If my grandfather had been a bit braver and adventurous - wouldve rushed out to pick up gold bars -> and might not have survived (this was many years before my dad was born) ... and I might not have been here on this planet
When I was first told the story on local train in Mumbai - I didnt really believe it (Come on, isnt it too good to be true?) I was already a teenager and I doubted everything my parents told me, surely my Grand dad must be spinning a yarn?
Was the good old days before you could go search the internet and make sure if it was true on Wikipedia.
So many many moons later on another April 14th I decided to look it up on the internet ... and Kaboom story ties up
check it for yourself ...
So many many moons later on another April 14th I decided to look it up on the internet ... and Kaboom story ties up
check it for yourself ...
Actually this gives a much better account
