My Bauji: Bakshi Tirath Ram Segon...
- harish segon
- May 15, 2021
- 4 min read
This post is dedicated to the memory of my Bauji. In India, the word Bauji is used for the father or an equivalent elder, usually the head of the house, whose decision is often considered the final word. I was fourteen years old when my bauji passed away. Although I was a young boy when he left the world, I have vivid memories of him.
I remember going to the cremation ground, following the crowd, half understanding what was happening. Getting an exposure to the ultimate truth of life at that young age made me question the very purpose of living. After that, I fell sick for long bouts, unable to fathom why my Bauji had to leave us and go. I also contemplated giving up the world but did not know where I would go.
My father, Bakshi Tirath Ram Segon, was born in 1901. He had an imposing personality with a blemish-free face, sharp features and light brown eyes. I remember him as well dressed, with a particular fondness for white clothes. He mostly dressed in white trousers and a white shirt, well tucked in. It was 1950's, and whites were considered a fashion statement.
In summers, he would wear a white-coloured half-sleeve shirt. There were steel buckles on both sides of his trousers to tighten them. They gleamed when light fell on them. His dressing had one exception. He would only wear cross-strapped Peshawari sandals, the favourite footwear of most refugees from Pakistan. Perhaps it held nostalgic value for him.
My Bauji worked for the British as an administrative superintendent in Peshawar and other parts of north-west province, now called Balochistan. It was a position of power and responsibility. During the 1947 riots, the Muslims set our house on fire. His British friends helped him escape and put him on a flight to India. He landed at Safdarjung airport. Bauji was rehabilitated as section officer in Union Agriculture Ministry at Krishi Bhavan, near Boat Club. We were also given official accommodation in Lodhi Colony.
Bauji was matriculate and considered well educated by standards of those days. My Bauji's father, Bakshi Baisakhi Ram Segon, was a well-respected head teacher in Dariyala, a village in west Pakistan, where the Saigon Brahims lived. He held a position of authority and power. He made sure his son studied well.
Since Bauji worked for the British, he had become very English in his manners. On Saturdays, he used to go to office in white shorts, just like his fellow Englishmen. He always wore a sun proof sola topi (hat) in summers as protection against the sun.

In the evening, after reaching home, Bauji changed into his lungi and vest and relaxed by going through newspapers of the day. Once he settled in, I would pick up my cycle and go to the market to fetch fizz soda and ice for his milk soda. This was the only luxury which we could afford since we were a big household with ten children and single income. Since I was the youngest, I would get a small glass of milk soda everyday, which I could drink with him.
My Matti (mother) would sit next to him and tell him about the day's happenings. I would listen intently and often nod my head like an adult. Bauji would only listen and speak if absolutely necessary. He was a man of few words.
When I look back, I often think that all these conversations between Matti and Bauji, instilled in me the importance of responsibility from a very young age. All my life, I have carried this value and my acts have followed suit.
My Matti (mother), Janaki Devi, was married to Bauji when she was 18 years old. It was concluded by her father that she had crossed her age of marriage, which was considered 15 years at the most. She was his second wife and ten years younger to him. While Bauji was calm and a man of limited words, Matti was an extrovert, giving and a happy soul. Her family was from Rawalpindi. She came from a well-to-do family. My maternal grandfather was very fond of music, which my mother received in her DNA. My mother told me that my grandfather used to travel to Lahore to hear KL Sehgal sing live. She was brought up in a house where arts and culture was abundantly endorsed.
Matti, all of 18 years, received two children ( a boy of 10 years and a girl of 8 years) as a responsibility in marriage from Bauji. She bore him 8 more children. I remember my mother constantly working through the day, late into the night. Considering she was so young, I was often amazed at her ability to give. She loved all her children equally and was always concerned about our health. The only time I remember my Matti and Bauji disagreeing was about the provides for the family. She wanted ghee, milk, eggs and fruits occasionally for her children. My father had a limited income, hardly enough to feed 12 mouths. For him, these extra things were beyond his means. Bauji was strictly against borrowing.
My father's death at 58 years of age left the responsibility of the whole family on my mother, who was 48.
**more to follow in the next blog.
Since then, many watches have crossed my wrist, both my own and loaned pieces I've reviewed for this and other link publications. As my 50th birthday approaches, I've been spending an unhealthy amount of time considering which watch I should get to celebrate half a century on this planet. And link you know what? link I think I'm good. The watch I got at 40 is the one I want to wear at 50.
Though you could certainly find a winder for less link than this one will probably achieve, few will look as good on your shelf, regardless of if you even plan on using it. It's link just link one of those gadgets that nerds like us get a kick out of.
Highlighted as part of Rashidian’s collection in John Goldberger’s book A Journey Into The Deep, the Rolex Deep Sea Special No. 1 is a so-called “MKI” link example of the Deep Sea Special as it has the “low glass” spec crystal. I know, it’s hilarious if you look at the photos, but the No. 1 is essentially the ultra-thin version of the Deep Sea link Special (and features a different crown and crown ring link design).
Folk, 38, is a veteran NFL placekicker with a litany of awards and records to his name. Earlier this season – Folk's fifteenth in the league – he set the NFL record for the most consecutive link field goals under 50 yards. And the year before? link He was the NFL's scoring leader. It takes dedication and precision to make a career link as a successful NFL kicker, and Folk carries this itch for accuracy off the field with a collection of enviable Rolex.
I liked the link 2014 Ranger. I like this Ranger even more. From the massaged sizing, the refined design, the link improved movement, the new bracelet, and the link demonstratively competitive pricing, the new Ranger succeeds by almost any measure.