INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA - A land I once called home

A Land I once called home

A LAND I ONCE CALLED HOME

Written By Robert David 
Composed June 24, 1997

There´s a land across the ocean, the land of my birth
The first which God created, when he put Man on earth.

Where kings and queens and princes, have ruled five thousand years
In a land of love and laughter, and joys and toil and tears

It´s a land of mighty rivers, and forests gold and green
And tow´ring majestic mountains, the greatest man has seen.

From the green hills of Darjeeling, you see Mount Everest´s crest
And the snow clad peaks that surround her, where the clouds come home to rest

There´s the Taj Mahal so lovely, and red fort nearby
Where a King once pined for his lost love, and prayed that he could die

It´s a land the world calls India, across the ocean foam
A land I love so dearly, the land I once called Home
A land I once called Home.

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Robert David's Diwali Nostalgia

My name is Robert David and for me, 'Divali' has entrenched glorious childhood memories. My father and Grandfather had owned property in Ayanavaram. I was born in a house on Vasantha Garden Street and I remember the first time I became aware of Divali Festival Day. I gazed from my home across the street to the Southern Railway Quarters Homes. A family had placed tiny oil lamps in every window, upstairs and downstairs, in the doorways and along the parapet of the upper storey balcony. It looked like stars in fairyland to my young eyes.

On later Divali festival days, my father would go to Broadway (Parry's Corner) and to Moore Market (now demolished) and purchase large packets of fireworks for my siblings and me.

Later, when I was employed at Locomotive Works in the Southern Railway, my colleagues would collect money from us, every payday, for the 'Divali Fund.' This money would be lent out at exorbitant interest rates. Before Divali, the Principal and Interest money would be collected and spent on starlights, sparklers, colored matchsticks, packets of cigarette sized crackers tied in bundles that would go off in sequence. There were also rockets and pyramid fireworks. We were each given our share. > >Once a hand held rocket singed my eyebrows and on another occasion a rocket that was stuck in a fence post almost took off my head.

But those days are gone for me, because I now live in Australia. A few years ago I visited the Ambassador Hotel in Chennai where a relative of mine, 'Philip Daly,' is employed. A relative, James Bannister from Chakradarpur accompanied me and we had savouries and delicious mango juice. James celebrated his 50th Wedding Anniversary on October 25th. I realize how much I miss India, the food, the cities, the sights and most of all the festivals. My wife and I visit India regularly.

I composed a song about India, music and lyrics and I wish to share it. It has been performed on many 15th August, India Independence Day celebrations in Perth, Western Australia. It has been published in many magazines and a professional singer included it on a CD and this has been sent to India, USA, UK, Canada and other countries. The words of the song are given below.

I close with my best wishes to you and your readers.

A land I once called home

There's a land across the ocean the land of my birth
The first* which god created when he put man on earth

Where kings and queens and princes have ruled five thousand years
In a land of love and laughter and joys and toil and tears

Its a land of mighty rivers and forests gold and green 
and tow`ring majestic mountains the greatest man has seen

From the green hills of Darjeeling you see mount Everest`s crest
And the snow clad peaks that surround her where the clouds come home to rest

There's the Taj Mahal so lovely and red fort nearby 
Where a king once pined for his lost love and prayed that he could die

Its a land the world calls India across the ocean foam
A land I love so dearly the land I once called home .a land I once called home.

(C) R. E. DAVID 1997. B.BUS. FCPA (AUST.) MUSIC AND LYRICS * BEST

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