11.3 Gadu Badu

A supervisor grabbed Amrish sleeping in a bunk on the top floor at the liaison office in Gan. He whispered, “Orchard wants you to remove breakable or liable items in the office and put them in a safe place.”

“Why?” he opened his eyes, “Where is Orchard?” Amrish was a government official stationed in Gan.

“Riot outbreak in Hittadu. A mob is heading this way to Gan Island,” supervisor explained, “A rebellion! Orchard and Major Phyllis have gone to the RAF station in Hittadu for their safety.”

Amrish ran downstairs and took all the files, expensive items and documents into the storeroom. They were baffled and worried. Nobody knew what exactly was happening.

He stood by the wall of the mosque in front of Maranga House near the jetty. Amrish spotted the boats from Hittadu approaching. Four-thirty, they hit the beach and climbed the island. They were shouting loud and uttering abuse directed at Prime Minister Virgo and Orchard. The mob entered Maranga House and ransacked the whole place.

Threw the chairs and smashed them on the floor. Emptied drawers and pushed down filing cabinets, toppled the tables and dented the equipment.

An RAF vehicle arrived at that point and set its headlights straight on the façade of the two-storey building. They stayed back and watched. In fact, they encouraged the mob to tear down the place. Amrish heard one of the soldiers call off the police, “It’s okay, it’s okay! Stay back!” The RAF police always appeared dressed in uniform; shirt and half-trousers all white. However, at the base in Gan, their role was moderately uneventful as nothing notable happen compared to other military bases.

The mob mistakenly took Milky Way at Maranga House for Orchard – looked identical. They were not familiar with faces. The mob ran after him and he ran towards the Pakistani quarters on the western side of the island. The mob grabbed him running across the runway. He pleaded not to hurt him that he was not an official but a visitor to the base hospital who came in search of medical service. The British soldiers intervened to save his life. A hassle went on and he stretched his arms pulled on both sides. Finally, the RAF soldiers rescued Milky Way and took him to a safe place.

Milky Way was flown to Negombo for treatment afterwards.

On this night of the New Year Eve, the Brits were intoxicated. Commander Knet was involved into revelling the night as at four in the morning and particularly, keeping company of the visiting Duke of Devonshire.

The mob discovered a list of illegal traders and wanted to burn it. A Brit soldier noticed a box of matches lying on the floor and kicked it towards them. They lit a pile of papers. The blaze destroyed everything including some cash. A locked safe with 700000 rufiya and unpaid wages were removed from the office and loaded to a doni. It was taken to Hittadu. The British did nothing to snuff the fire, not a single water hose was deployed or a fireman engaged.

Sergeant Mett organised a team of firemen and a couple of engines on the spot long before the rebels arrived in Gan. Though some of the officers encouraging the mob with their intent stopped them from using the implements or even the police. The whole building was surrounded by the regiment fully armed.

By now they discovered that Orchard was not in Gan. He was initially taken to the RAF station in Hittadu and later moved to a cargo ship in the water. The mob hopped on back to the boats waving sticks and iron bars, shouting loudly. It was light in the sky.

Amrish was shepherded into a boat by the mob. He saw an RAF police warrant officer complete with white hat and belt, remove his shoes and wade in water after him. “Get back! Get back!” he called. The boat moved into deeper water. Mob uttered at him, “We take him. Nothing will happen to him.” Little notice was taken of his actions other than a light relief to the RAF soldiers. He drew back soaking wet and looking very sheepish.

Sergeant Mett was told to report to the station commander nearby who was with the Duke. Commander Knet said, “A number of women are wading from the neighbouring isle near the old causeway. Set up some hoses and use them if they come ashore.”

Sergeant Mett retorted, “I do not think using the hose on women is a good idea.” And the commander relented. Those women were stopped by the sight of RAF dogs.

The boats scuttled towards the cargo ship of Brocklebank, SS Matheran, unloading concrete beams, heavy lifts and general cargo to the base. Adaran, Orchard and Major Phyllis were taken to the ship.

The boat Amrish was on returned to Hittadu at around ten-thirty in the morning. Mob claimed that he was apprehended by mistake. Later in the afternoon, at five-thirty, the mudim of the mosque released him saying that there’d probably be no point returning to Gan since Maranga House was destroyed. A family friend of Amrish took him to his house in Hittadu. There came a guy with a message from Adaran inviting him to stay at his place. Amrish who lost all his belongings in the fire apart from the clothes he wore, expressed incapacity to accept this invitation with much regret.