Pratap Bhogilal Journey Through Life

Author(s): Rauf Ahmed
Publisher: Bhupendra Singh Anand

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PRATAP BHOGILAL - JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE
The Journey
TRAVELS ABROAD
went abroad for the first time in 1933. As I had mentioned earlier, it was a three-month vacation along with Professor E.A.Wodehouse, who was the Principal of the Deccan College, where I was studying and also my private tutor. One of the reasons for the trip was to explore the possibility of my getting admitted into the Cambridge University. Unfortunately it didn't happen as I was underage at 17.
Later, 1946 onwards, I made a number of business trips abroad, visiting Europe, USA, Japan, China, Philippines, Korea and several other countries.
The first of these business trips was in 1946, after the war, and it was very difficult to get passage by sea or by air. I wanted to take my wife along, but my mother turned down the suggestion. I flew from Karachi with a stopover in Cairo overnight to London. At that time England was in a very bad state devastated by World War II. Food and other essential items were in short supply. It was really tough for vegetarians. There were not many Indian restaurants and those that were there were not good enough. I had to obtain rations for extra milk and sugar. I met Vadilal Parekh (Vadikaka), who had gone earlier, in London. And through our agent there, we met K.C. Sethia and his family and became very close. Our family relationship has lasted till today. By then, at my request, Bapaji had sent Bhagwati to London. On her way there was a stopover at Cairo for the night. In the Shepheard's Hotel, where she had stayed, she got scared of the tall hefty Habshi waiters and locked herself in till the morning! Mrs. Parekh (Menakaki) had also come down to London earlier.
The concept of tyaag or renunciation of high rank has been considered a high moral
principle in India throughout the ages - The Sunday Times