The Birthday Book

This is a Tennyson Birthday Book, that I found in my mother's belongings which she had brought from her home in Allahabad. I have frequently seen diaries including books solely to record the birthdays of family and friends, but what struck me was how old the tradition was. In an attempt to trace its origins, I found out that it was published in 1967. Now I had several clues which I could relate with my own family history in order to find out who this book belonged to. My maternal grandparents had never travelled to Europe, neither had my own mother and aunts, in that period. With the aid of a rough family tree, I concluded that it was quite likely that it belonged to my mother's paternal uncle, Colonel Shergill, who served in the army in the Second World War. He used to send furniture and books back from England to his family in Allahabad; maybe this book came along too. This peculiar type of publication became a staple in several Anglo-Indian households. In addition to 'Our Daily Bread' books, the Birthday Book was essential, something to treasure, in the drawer of a young student and older members of a family alike.

Contributed By :

Aisha Singh