Shakun Banfield nee Chowdhary was born and brought up in the U.K. She retains a keen interest in her parents' achievements in their adopted country England and has many memories of a happy family life with them and her brother.
She worked for 30 years in the criminal justice system as a probation officer as well as in the family courts as a welfare officer and mediator. She is now retired and lives with her husband in South London.
My father, Dr Dharm Sheel Chowdhary, was born in a small village in Punjab, India in 1902. He was sent to a Hindu boarding school at the age of 7. Here the regime was physically strict and the academic teachings intense. This equipped him with an extensive knowledge of Indian and Persian literature, Hindu philosophy and religious teachings, and a good knowledge of the ancient language of Sanskrit.
On graduating, he was ordained as a Hindu priest. However, as far as I am aware, he did not go on to practise as such. Instead, he chose to enrol at Lahore Medical College to study medicine. He graduated with an MBBS in 1927, and came to London for post graduate studies the following year. He obtained further qualifications in Edinburgh and Liverpool as well as London. In 1931, he joined Dr Gilder's practice in Laindon, purchasing the practice from him when he retired.
