My Childhood

"It's never too late to have a happy childhood"

1971-Born separated

I was born in Ranchi on 3rd February 1971 to my father, Late Major Randhir Chander Nanda and my mother, Late Smt Jayashree Tawadey.

They had a love marriage when dad was in the Indian Army but soon after a dreamy marriage in the affluent Ranchi Club, they ended their marriage while my mum was still pregnant with me💔

I am 50% Punjabi (Kshatriya) and 50% Maharashtrian (Maratha) = 100% warrior!

My papa got my custody when I was 8 years old

After I was born, my mother Late Smt Jayashree Tawadey got married to another man, Late Pramod Kapahi and left me with my grand-parents, Late Shri Mukund Tawadey (my Nana) and Late Smt Uma Tawadey (my Nani).

My Nana was a very respectable man. I recently learnt that he was the Chairman / President of Coal India and the Secretary of the Ranchi Club. My childhood days were spent in the our government house in Ranchi playing with our German Shepherd dog, Scampi.

My dad got my judicial custody when I was 8 years old. He came and collected me from my boarding school in Pune. I moved in with him and my mother, Sunita Nanda. They both gave me the love, care and belonging that I had never received from my birth.

My nana and my papa loved me the most in this world. I am blessed to have got these two in my life. Thank you God🙏🏼

(pic on the left - That is my grandfather, Late Mukund Tawadey on his wedding day)

(pic on the right - My Papa and me when he came to visit me in Ranchi. I love him the most in this world and miss him everyday)

My schooling days

1975 - 76

Colonel Browns, Dehradun

When I was 4 years old I was placed in Colonel Browns School in Dehradun.

I remember crying every day and every night missing my nana and wondering why have I been sent away to this boarding school.

One of the fondest memories I have is sitting next to an electric heater with Orange tubes and watching Raj Kapoor singing 'Ek din big jayega matte ke mol'

1977 - 78

GD Somani, Mumbai

Nana and Nani moved to Mumbai in 1977 and started living in Jolly Maker A complex in Cuffe Parade, Mumbai.

They moved me to GD Somani school, just opposite the building. I remember hearing Beatles songs playing in the apartment whenever mum visited us, riding my cycle and swimming in the building pool with my friends, Vinay and our sardar friend whose name I can't remember.

1978 - 79

Shivaji Military Preparatory School, Pune

My grandparents relocated to Pune and moved me to the SMPS boarding school.

For some weird reason, the 1.5 years that I spent here, my grandparents or my parents never visited me except once when my father came to spend a day with me.

I remember spending summer holidays with the matrons at the school and looking at all other children going away with their families. But no one came for me!

1979 - 86

Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School, Mumbai

Finally, my life changed for the best. My mother who was still married, gave my possession to my father in 1979 and I moved into our apartment in Juhu, Mumbai.

Here I grew from a scared, and insecure boy to a young man who was learning how to fly. I played volleyball, cricket for the school and lost becoming Nehru house's captain by 1 vote, that was mine because I voted for my friend - late Sandeep Tara

Growing up

"There are friends, there is family, and then there are friends that become family" I went to Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai University. Alongside studying at college, I started working at our family restaurant business, and found my best friends Harshad Thatte (who passed away in the Word Trade Centre 9/11 disaster), Nimish Dwivedi, Bobby Bhasin (passed away from Kidney failure), Kapil Mathur and Sumer Vaswani. Those were the best days of my life 🥃

At 17, I got engaged to the most beautiful, true and simply amazing girl called ' Winnie'. She is my rock, my soul-mate and even after 32 years of us being married, I love her more than yesterday, and less than tomorrow. She is EVERYTHING to me ❤️