The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 41
41 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN I said, "I suppose it is a matter within my own discretion, is it not?" "Yes, Sir. " "Well then, that is my decision. " That was my first break with tradition. The next one was another small matter, but it will give some idea of how insulated and rigid the whole system was. Simla is a hill station clinging to the mountain side and its roads are narrow, winding and, in certain points, precipitous. Only the Viceroy, the Commander-in-Chief and the Governor of the Punjab (Simla was also the summer headquarters of the Punjab Government) and perhaps one or two other high officials were permitted to use cars, and the cars had to proceed very slowly for the roads were not only narrow but there were no footpaths for pedestrians and people walked along the roads; in fact the roads were mainly for walking. The only other means of transportation were riding a pony or being pulled along in a rickshaw. Visitors who come for a short stay in Simla hired rickshaws like taxis. Those who were permanent residents for the season generally had their own private rickshaws with a set of four, and sometimes six men to pull and push the rickshaw. Those in front pulled and those behind pushed. They were a fairly comfortable means of transport and trained rickshaw coolies, as they were called, could take one fairly fast from one place to another, especially if they were going down a gentle incline where they could proceed at a fairly fast pace. Rickshaw coolies propelling private rickshaws wore uniforms, suttees on the shins, breeches, and long jackets down to the knees with a broad belt around the waist, and across the breast-piece the initial of the owner. Turbans covered their heads. Mine, I remember, wore wine coloured jackets with a bright yellow Z across the breast. Everybody told me it looked like a streak of lightning against that background, especially when the rickshaw was proceeding at a fast pace and the bodies of the coolies swing up and down. When I was not in a hurry and the distance was not long, I preferred to walk. There again I was told I was breaking tradition; no Member of Council was supposed to walk, but if he chose to walk the rickshaw must follow immediately behind him, as a sort of insignia of the member. I did not choose to conform. I remember one day when I was walking along from my house to the office, Sir Launcelot Graham, who was then Law Secretary and later became Governor of Sind, was passing on a pony. He greeted me and said, "You are breaking a tradition. " I asked, "Which one, Sir