This encounter is especially special. Silva Roy narrates the adventure of her life when she was 18, that’s 80 years ago—it was a bit uncanny. She is the oldest young person I have profiled so far, thanks to a heartfelt conversation we had. After meeting her, I can say with a lot more gumption that age is just a number. In her case, a reservoir of experiences from across the world manifested as words of wisdom.
Silva was born in Estonia, will turn 100 next year in July. A survivor who found ways to flourish in adversity. Her resilience stems from her defiant attitude, a simple yet direct and determined approach to life. She has an independent mind, "stand by what you believes in and do what you think is right, come what may!" is also her message to the youth of today.
Silva was born in Estonia, will turn 100 next year in July. A survivor who found ways to flourish in adversity. Her resilience stems from her defiant attitude, a simple yet direct and determined approach to life. She has an independent mind, "stand by what you believes in and do what you think is right, come what may!" is also her message to the youth of today.
The blind date with destiny threw many challenges to her, in hindsight, she says with an element of satisfaction, “I made the right choices.” For there were so many occasions when things could have gone wrong.
Seated on her bed, upright, back straight, she spoke with clarity, and precision, about her life and times with a sense of achievement. Her room has all that she needs, sparse, clean, well lit, and quintessentially hers.
Her memory razor sharp, she narrated as if it was all happening before her blue-grey crystal-clear eyes. I’m accompanied by our friend Livleen Bhagat, who facilitated the meeting, and we were together taken for a kaleidoscopic ride to the past.
Initial years of her life were spent in Tallinn, in her early teens had to flee with her family to the eastern side of the country where her father owned a farm to escape deportation by the Soviets who took control of Estonia. She explains Estonian is a beautiful language, good at narrating complex emotional ideas, sweet to ears, akin to Persian.
After three years, came Germans for three years, the War had begun. This was the time she learnt German that would come in handy in the years that ensued. This has to be said: her facility with learning languages held her in good stead. “Germans are educated people, and humane,” she says, "Hitler was an exception."
An elderly German soldier stayed with her family in the farm, gave them the address of his village in central Germany and assured them they'd be welcome there in case they had to escape Estonia. Silva would avail the offer in near future.
When the Red Army took over the country again, Silva, now 18, made her mind to leave Estonia for good. A 20 years old girl was shot in the street for no reason. "This gave me the fuel to get away,” says Silva. She cycled 50 kilometres to her farm to persuade her mother and sister-three years younger—to come along. They didn’t. She did—and would meet her family again only after 17 years.
One day in October 1944, she took a German boat with a friend of hers, Helio, and reached Heiligenhafen, and then took a train to Berlin. She had 200 Deutschmarks with her, and Helio had 1200. In Berlin, Silva’s money was stolen. She had no proper baggage; all her belongings were stashed in half a dozen bundles. They were carrying her friend’s radio wrapped in a bathrobe—despite being barred from carrying such items. Yet, it was a risk worth taking as it kept them informed of what was happening in these uncertain times, helped them find a job, and made crucial decisions at the right time.
It was more than an adventure to reach the village, she is not sure of the name, but a short tram journey from Heidelberg took her there. In this arduous journey they met many kind people. The landlady was fond of her. They, she and Helio, lived in a servant quarter and worked in the field. This escape to a new life was a significant experience that has “stayed in my mind,” says Silva and adds, “help came all the way.” Like old stockings were given to her by the landlady and she got a pair of warm blankets from the Americans.
Soon the American soldiers arrived and a local administration run by the army was established. Her facility with the English language came in handy, and landed her a job in the army kitchen. She would serve food to the officers. They’d party and were three sheets to the wind every evening. She didn’t like it and described Americans as “rough”. With a newly made Polish friend of hers, she’d remain locked inside a one room apartment every night.
A beau working for and with soldiers, there were provocations, suggestions and expectations—it was not an easy situation to be in. She had made up her mind very early in her life, “I will be a one-man woman,” she recounts. The moral force was with her. Her story is about humanity in people. I can’t help but think: she inspires good in others. Sitting by her side, I felt good about myself.
Good Samaritans graced her life at critical junctures. She met Captain George Hemond, a civil engineer and “a thorough gentleman” as Silva describes him. He opened many doors for her. The captain persuaded her to come and work with him in another German city, she lived in the same building as the captain. She had saved money to pursue higher education.
Getting admitted to a university was a bit of a challenge as Silva had no papers, which was not a rarity in those times. All she needed to do was get two teachers to vouch for her that she is indeed ready for university education. She joined Heidelberg University to study history, psychology and English.
When the opportunity came, in about a couple of years, she had worked hard for it, got a scholarship to study at Bennington College in Vermont, United States. Captain Hemond was kind enough to buy her a ticket to fly to America—worth 500 dollars, a lot of money. She pursued political science here. “Communism was so good in text—what happened was quite different. I wanted to understand the contradiction,” she explains the choice of her subject.
She met the love of his life, Tulin Kumar Roy, who was doing PhD at MIT. A romance ensued, and they’d spend a lot of time together in Boston. Despite the serious apprehension of his professor, Tulin was able to finish his thesis in 2 years. They got married in 1950 and had three sons.
Silva was an American before she moved to India, now stays with one of her sons and daughter-in-law in a south Delhi apartment. She lost Tulin a few years ago. She leads a healthy life with grace and dignity so integral to her being, her charm feels like joie de vivre. “We will celebrate you turning a centenarian,” I tell her. “I will take you up on that offer,” she says with a smile.
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