GeorgiaLalapage2



My Great Grandfather Dahya Lala had the opportunity to come to New Zealand in 1925. He came with a group of Indian men from his village called Bodali in India. He had to save for his fare which was about 25-30 pounds per person, and he traveled by steam ship. A diary was found amongst his possessions telling us of his journey, seeking better life. These are some diary entries about his journey….. 

1925media type="custom" key="3793595" 

The trip to New Zealand took about 2-3 weeks because we stopped at some ports on the way. We were a small group of Indian men and the white people on the ship were all staring at us, I am glad that I traveled with other men because we had each other’s company and support. When we arrived in Auckland, the first thing I noticed was how green everything was, not like my home land where it is dry and hot. It was hard, we had some difficulty reading and signing our names in English, we couldn’t even read some of the signs around us. We managed to find a place to live together and this is good because we didn’t know anyone else. We had to learn how to cook and how to wash our clothes for ourselves. The food was not as good as home, but it was better than nothing, otherwise we would have to go to bed hungry. I’m still wondering if I have made the right choice by leaving my wife and children in India. Now I need to find a job to earn some money. I keep looking at the photo of our house in India and it still reminds me of home. D. Lala

 The arrow on this picture shows where Dahya traveled.     1940

I have saved up some money and I am going in a partnership with another man who is Indian, we are going to buy a fruit and Vegetable shop in Hamilton. I will leave Auckland. Instead of looking for other accommodation I have decided I will make myself a bed and simple kitchen and live at the back of the shop. D. Lala

1940

The shop is running successfully, many customers are coming in to buy their fruit and vegetables. My English is improving by talking to the customers. I have saved enough money for my wife and 3 children to join me here in New Zealand, they will need to travel by themselves. I wonder how they will cope because they speak no English, and my son Hira is only 5 years old. This will be a long trip for him. I’m not sure how they will settle into this new country. They will have to work hard but I think that life will be better here in New Zealand for all of us. D. Lala

1940

My family has arrived safely, it is taking them a while to settle in and we are all living in the back of the shop. I have put my children into Whitiora Primary School. They are learning to speak English, read and write. My wife is able to cook for us and help a bit in the shop. I am glad that we are all together in New Zealand. The business is running successfully and I have enough money to buy my partners share. I will now own the shop. I shall call it D. Lala and Sons. My sons will help me run the shop. D. Lala

1950

We had to work hard, but we are making good progress. The family has grown, we now have three more children. I am a proud father. I have 3 sons and 4 daughters. I managed to purchase a house in Blackburn Street, which is close to the shop. My son Hira is wanting to leave school at the age of 15. I have thought about this and I feel that it would be good as he can help run the family business. Several of my older children have returned to India to get married. D. Lala

 13th April 1959

Dahya Lala past away at the age of 56, from a heart attack. His son Hira carried on his diary 1961

Since my fathers death I have been more involved in running the family business. I am now 28 years old, and feel that it is time for me to get married. My mother, younger sister and I will be traveling to India in search of a bride. While I was visiting the Taj Mahal I noticed a young Indian girl, who was apparently from a village near my own. My mother asked me if I liked her and I said yes. Both families agreed to our arranged marriage. Arrangements were made for me to marry her. Her name was Niru-Mala Kanji and she was 17 years old. I felt proud on my wedding day. I was thinking of my father and wished he could have been here. Weeks after we were married we returned to New Zealand, she spoke no English. H. Lala

1962

It has been difficult for my wife to settle in. She really misses her family. She is learning to speak English slowly. I have great news, we are expecting our first child in July who will be the first generation of the Lala family to be born in New Zealand. This country will provide education and opportunities for the future of my children. D. Lala

<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">My Family Tree
====<span style="display: block; font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">Interveiw With Hira ====