Paul Harris Daniel - Red Tea

Hey There! Let me not blabber this time. You all know that I wrote a so-called My Views on the movie Paradesi. And I sent it to Visitors' column in Behindwoods. And someone who read my has shared some thoughts on the Author of the Novel Red Tea. Since so less information regarding the author is available on the Internet, I just thought of putting it on my blog and contribute to the answers of those who are searching for this great Author. I sincerely thank the person Mr. Devadas Mohan for taking his time to send what he knew about the Great Person who wrote the Novel "Red Tea". Thank you, Sir. If you're reading this, I am happy like I am in heaven!  So, Mr. Devadas Mohan sent me an Email expressing his love towards Paul Harris Daniel who named Devadas Mohan. Pretty interesting, huh? :) 

Dear Mr. Raja Guhan,

Recently I have gone through your article in ”Behind Woods” regarding Bala’s Paradesi & Dr. Paul Harris Daniel’s Red Tea.

Many people unaware of Dr. Paul Harris Daniel and his Novel Red Tea.

I am sharing here the details of Dr. Paul Harris Daniel, which are in my memory for long time.

·         He was a Chief Medical Officer of Peria Karamalai Group Hospital, a plantation Hospital at Peria Karamalai Estate, Valparai and was living with his family in the Bunglow provided by the Plantation Company near by Hospital.

·         My memory never lost, because I was the first born child in the said Hospital in 1956 ( 1955) and Dr. PH Daniel named me as ’ Mohan Das’, as he was staunch supporter and admirer of Gandhi.

·         In those days, the plantation life was very miserable, and every thing good or worse, was happening around the plantations were known to him.

·         He was also visiting other Plantation Hospitals, like Mudis, Paralai etc., and the doctors working there are well known to him.

·         His visits to different plantations instigated him to write the novel ‘ RED TEA’ which I read when I was in 8^th Std. The narrations in the novel are still in my memory.

·         What I read in the novel were really happening in our presence.

·         My father was also working in the said hospital till his retirement and we were frequent visitors to there and know the doctor PH Daniel.

·         The photographs of Dr. PH Daniel were with us for long time and have been lost in the changing locations.

·         He started the co-operative movement of Anaimalai Staff Association at Valparai.

·         As a part of Election Campaign, he organised a programme at Valparai Ground. Mr. T M Soundararajan & LR Easwari were invited by him, in the year(not exactly known)

·         He was a faithful Christian. But never involved in Conversion of plantation workers to Christianity.

·         Always he fought for the betterment of plantation workers, health, hygienic living conditions, sanitation etc.

·         Bharat Scouts & Guides – movement was in the Plantation School ( Peria Karamalai Aided Middle School) and then Head Master Mr. P Israel worked closely with Doctor Daniel for the children of Plantation Workers.

·         After leaving the plantation, he was at Coimbatore for quite some time (ref.Personal Interview by Mr. Raviraman for his thesis ‘ Bondage in Freedom and Colonial south India Plantation Area-1797-1947”.

·       Photograph of the Hospital, where Dr. Paul Harris Daniel worked.