By Aparajita
Mehta and
Serena
Newbolt.
In rememberance and thanksgiving
for our beloved
Major Frederick
Das.
18th May, 1916 - 26th Feb,
2005
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Frederick Das, (Fred), was born
in Quetta (now in Balutistan,
Pakistan) to Narain Chand &
Jaelibai Das on 18th May 1916.
In
his early days, he lost his parents,
2 sisters, and other close relatives
in the devastating earthquake on
31st May 1935, in Quetta. He survived
with 6 other siblings viz. Pritam
(Brother)., Daisy, Helen, Dorothy,
Mavis and Edna (sisters).
He Joined the Royal
Baluch Regiment in
1939 and served with them till 1942,
He then joined the Indian army in
1942. He fought in the World War
II in Malaya and Burma where the
Indian and British Armies defeated
the Japanese in 1945. He has a number
of honors bestowed to his credit
He retired in August 1965, after
serving in the Jat Regiment
(1st (Royal Jats) , 3rd, 6th and
9th Jats) After retirement he alongwith
his wife Doreen and children viz.
Rohina, Serena, Aruna, Marina &
Ronnie settled down in Simla. He
served diligently in the Christ
Church Simla, till the last
few years of his life.
His
service to God was topmost
on his agenda.
He would get up early in the
morning, irrespective of the
weather and spend those quiet
hours, before the family got
up, in reading the Bible and
committing his whole family
and the needs of the day to
His Heavenly Father's care.
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His visit to the Christ Christ was
a must in his daily agenda, and
served in whichever capacity he
could for the Church, since 1955.
Shimla had a special space in his
heart, the reason why he decided
to settle there. He would loved
the scenic beauty of the mountains,
the fresh air and God's wonders,
and would hearitly sing..one of
his favourite hymns...How Great
thou Art. He was blessed that God
gave him eighty eight years of life
to be with his wife and family which
extended to children, grandchildren
and a great grand-daughter. He loved
to have his family around him and
looked forward to visits from his
children and their families, when
they visited them in Shimla.
He was and is fondly remembered
by most of the Simla folk as the
man with the Felt and buttonhole,
immaculately dressed at all times
and a giving person.
He helped many in need and was a
succor to a large number of distressed
souls.
He
was invariably called upon to direct
weddings and funerals, some in adverse
conditions of Simla and he never
once relented.
He suddenly took very ill in June
2004 after suffering a stroke. Since
then he really never left his bed
without aid, everyone including
doctors, attendants, nurses in Snowdon
Hospital, Simla, PGI Chandigarh,
Command Hospital Chandimandir, and
NMC Noida have left no stone unturned
to see Fred made comfortable. The
best from their side was given to
him.
He passed on in Spirit to be with
his Maker on 26th. February 2005,
at 5:40 am.
By
Aparajita Mehta and
Serena Newbolt
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