Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps

Once in Calcutta, James enrolled in the Bengal Technical Institute at Jadavpur, Calcutta (now known as Jadavpur University) in 1946. He left his engineering studies a few months later to attend Visva-Bharati in ShantiniketanWest Bengal, India. This educational institution was founded by Rabindranath Tagore. James spent his time listening to lecturers talking about philosophy politics and poetry. Tagore’s university was an informal way of teachers and students to interact with each other. Talks were held outdoors in the large grounds of the university.

Introduction

While he was a student, he worked as an ambulance driver and medical assistant. James enlisted in the Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps (RWAC) in early 1947. The R.W.A.C was established after the riots of August 1946 (Direct Action Day) by the Friends Services Unit (“FSU”) and the Patron-in-Chief of which was Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru, the future Prime Minister of India. ~ “The Psychological Impact of the Partition of India” By Sanjeev Jain

The R.W.A.C. still exists today in Kolkata.

Passing Out Parade

“The RWAC gave its services in many places in India during the political disturbances at the time of the division of British India. In Calcutta, during 1946-47, I was involved in emergency operations, such as treating riot casualties, rescuing and sheltering displaced persons, providing ambulance services to sick and pregnant women, distributing milk and food during curfews, and giving cholera inoculations and smallpox vaccinations.” ~ Basu PK. “An ophthalmologist’s journey along uncharted paths.” Indian J Ophthalmol 1995;43:89-94

R.W.A.C Headquarters Calcutta

Partition of India

The creation of India and Pakistan as two independent dominion states along religious lines led to the largest human displacement and migration and a refugee crisis.

“….in August 1947 [the R.W.A.C] were invited (by Nehru and Patel) to assist in the medical services in the Punjab.” ~ Sanjeev Jain

Sanjeev Jain also includes an account of the times from Agnes Maclean’s diary. She was a volunteer with the FUS.

First Year Anniversary of the R.W.A.C.

Celebrating the first year anniversary of the R.W.A.C. at the I.T.F Grounds in Calcutta.

Going Home

Returning to Malaya on the SS Sirdhana owned by the British India Steam Navigation Company.

In an interview with Yeo Kim Wah of the University of Singapore on 2nd May 1991 James said: “I was very impressed by the dedication and determination of the Indian communists especially when compared with Hindu and other conservative forces.” In India James began to read Marxist (or leftist) literature and came to know some leftists/Marxists; for instance the leader of the Federation of International Democratic Youth and a young shaven Sikh, Jaswant Singh who was in charge of the operational side of an organization that James was involved in. This was the Relief Welfare Ambulance Corps which aimed to provide ambulance and other health services to the poor in India. The latter [Jaswant Singh] was a bright man – the Quek Peng Cheng of India. James recalls that he and these Indian radicals used to have discussions in coffee shops and elsewhere on political questions from the left wing perspective.