The Legacy

Baram Singh’ Ark’s immediate joy and happiness may have passed; loneliness and homesickness may have crept in. The misery and pain could have even brought tears to his eyes. That moment would have been short-lived as he contemplated the real meaning of what he had achieved; a new country, a future not just for him but for his wife and his three children. This achievement, this foundation of a unique history he’d laid for his children, was in time a benefit for his grandchildren and far beyond. Baram’s aching body, blistered hands, and tired feet, would have made this the most testing time of his life, this adjustment to life with the slasher. At the end of each painful day, he would have felt comfort and reward, as he made his daily entry in his diary; the hours worked, the pounds, shillings and pence earned, and then those converted into the India Rupee - bitter-sweet. Tributes and condolences would have poured in continuously from near and far for this man who had carved out his life - a somewhat lonely and desolate life. He had spent his prime years in a foreign country, separated from his wife and family, alone and in remote parts of New Zealand. Later, his wife’s death terminated all hope of a relationship and he was distanced from his children. The later years of his life were fruitful; his sons had grown into responsible young men, they had joined the workforce and he had been able to enjoy his freedom in the Punjab. For the last 20 years of his life he held the fort in Malpur Arkan, supporting his daughters-in-law and watching his grandchildren grow.  The seed that Baram Singh Ark had sown in New Zealand came to fruition when each of the families of Chanan Singh Ark, Phuman Singh Ark and Chain Singh Ark was reunited in New Zealand. The outlook was bright and certainly blessed as the Arks’ future unfolded; the second and third generation of Arks were on the verge of fulfilling a dream; they were fully charged and ready for self-employment in an industry that was to become New Zealand’s biggest export sector - The New Zealand Diary Industry. Their ancestral heritage and love for the Punjab hadn’t ceased; but opportunities, rewards and promises had been found elsewhere...