Shubhada Pandya’s well-researched and informative article on Dr Cawas Lalcaca ("Mystery of a martyr’s memorial,” Parsiana, August 7-August 20, 2019) made very interesting reading, and has revealed parts of our family history we know little about.
Lalcaca was one of the inspirations behind the Lalkaka Family Fund (see "Lalkakas’ living legacy,” Parsiana, April 21-May 6, 2019) and he had come down from Shanghai in early 1909 specially to motivate family members to contribute generously towards it, just a few months before his tragic death.
Dr Cawas Lalcaca’s grave in the Brookwood Parsi cemetery, UK
I recently discovered a very old album of faded family photos taken in Shanghai. And this has whetted my appetite to delve deeper into our family’s China connection. Also, on looking through the Biographical Sketch and Genealogical Tree of the Lalkaka Family (1690-1910), second edition, which is written in Gujarati, I found some interesting information.
After obtaining his medical qualifications, Lalcaca went to Shanghai to be with his uncle, Edulji P. Lalkaka, a prominent businessman. In 1894 bubonic plague broke out in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong government requested the Shanghai English Municipality to send some of their doctors to assist in the relief work. The doctors were offered a good salary. Only Lalcaca and his friend, one Dr Mathews volunteered their services gratis. But the Shanghai Municipality developed cold feet, fearing that the doctors might carry germs/parasites back with them, so they were stopped at Shanghai harbor itself.
For two months both doctors remained there on the boat, helping to supervise the quarantine work. This proved very successful in curbing the spread of the plague to Shanghai. Both doctors were honored and handsomely rewarded by the administration.
ABAN MUKHERJI (née Lalkaka)
mukherji.aban@gmail.com