The thought of writing a blog been there for last 1 year.. but today thanks to a friend I finally ventured to write one and kickstart writing on issues which are closest to my heart.
The first one I chose was on Konkan, maybhoomi. And the man who took me 1000s of km from my current location in UK to my native place in Konkan is none other than the famous Pu La Deshpande. It was late after dinner that self and wife sat down to listen to Pu La's Antu Barva and thats when Konkan flashed in front of our eyes and brought back memories... of some of my childhood days spent in my village, Aros, which is near Sawantwadi. One of the summer vacations I stayed there for a week and understood the way of the village man. Taking buffaloes to the river for their bath (and ablutions) was quite a task.. but enjoyable. Sitting at the family shop in the Aros bazaar, I came in close contact with the village folk.. I was introduced as the cousin from Mumbai. Some of them fondly recalled that I was son of 'Anna' Kamat as my father was known in the village which he left in the 1950s to settle in Mumbai.
There is an Antu Barva in many of these villagers.. who are quite poor, but have an opinion on anything and everything. When railway finally came to Konkan, Goa.. this man still remained away from it. It was constructed probably by Telugu labour force which moves around with their families. While our Antu sat down with his bidi (udhar chi) in the cool shade in the bazaar talking of what some person in Sawantwadi or Vengurla making money.
But the lack of industry has its own way of keeping Konkan beautiful. My bath used to be a wonderful experience.. standing under a coconut tree, taking hot water from the 'hundi' sitting on a fire.. to going and getting the cold water from the well nearby. Later half of the mornings was spend in constructing the 'gotha' for the buffaloes.. that time the house flooring was of 'shena' or cow dung. But it used to be so cool in the afternoon to sleep on such a floor. I still lament the fact that today tiles have replaced the 'shena'. there used to be a verandah with a stone seat.. i could sleep there and read my novels.. while the house dog would stay below always hungry for some tit bits from me. Or ready to go with me on a walk to the 'tali' or pond which was 300-400 m away up in the fields. Once I even went and had a bath there.. and I still remember the scent in the air and the cold water flowing down my body.
Konkan is because of its people who are satisfied in what they get rather than join the rat race of big cities like Mumbai. Today if one of my uncles would not have made a choice to remain back in the village I would never have had such beautiful memories..
So next time I go, it will not be a flying visit but to stay for a week and let my daughter also experience Konkan as it needs to be experienced.. 'nivant' and preserve beautiful memories of the Kamat household and be called the grand-daughter of Anna Kamat.
The first one I chose was on Konkan, maybhoomi. And the man who took me 1000s of km from my current location in UK to my native place in Konkan is none other than the famous Pu La Deshpande. It was late after dinner that self and wife sat down to listen to Pu La's Antu Barva and thats when Konkan flashed in front of our eyes and brought back memories... of some of my childhood days spent in my village, Aros, which is near Sawantwadi. One of the summer vacations I stayed there for a week and understood the way of the village man. Taking buffaloes to the river for their bath (and ablutions) was quite a task.. but enjoyable. Sitting at the family shop in the Aros bazaar, I came in close contact with the village folk.. I was introduced as the cousin from Mumbai. Some of them fondly recalled that I was son of 'Anna' Kamat as my father was known in the village which he left in the 1950s to settle in Mumbai.
There is an Antu Barva in many of these villagers.. who are quite poor, but have an opinion on anything and everything. When railway finally came to Konkan, Goa.. this man still remained away from it. It was constructed probably by Telugu labour force which moves around with their families. While our Antu sat down with his bidi (udhar chi) in the cool shade in the bazaar talking of what some person in Sawantwadi or Vengurla making money.
But the lack of industry has its own way of keeping Konkan beautiful. My bath used to be a wonderful experience.. standing under a coconut tree, taking hot water from the 'hundi' sitting on a fire.. to going and getting the cold water from the well nearby. Later half of the mornings was spend in constructing the 'gotha' for the buffaloes.. that time the house flooring was of 'shena' or cow dung. But it used to be so cool in the afternoon to sleep on such a floor. I still lament the fact that today tiles have replaced the 'shena'. there used to be a verandah with a stone seat.. i could sleep there and read my novels.. while the house dog would stay below always hungry for some tit bits from me. Or ready to go with me on a walk to the 'tali' or pond which was 300-400 m away up in the fields. Once I even went and had a bath there.. and I still remember the scent in the air and the cold water flowing down my body.
Konkan is because of its people who are satisfied in what they get rather than join the rat race of big cities like Mumbai. Today if one of my uncles would not have made a choice to remain back in the village I would never have had such beautiful memories..
So next time I go, it will not be a flying visit but to stay for a week and let my daughter also experience Konkan as it needs to be experienced.. 'nivant' and preserve beautiful memories of the Kamat household and be called the grand-daughter of Anna Kamat.
The place where we stay here in Wokingham has these small trail paths, chirping birds and a certain sense of wilderness which was not there in the place where we stayed earlier which was near the town centre. I presume that is what makes him relate to and be nostalgic to the memories of Aros...
ReplyDeleteNice post Nandan. Infact when we went to Mangeshi this week, it was great to see things not having changed that much, though the staying facilities are getting a face lift.
ReplyDeleteI get that serene sense whenever I sit on the porch of my inlaws place in Kumta
Hi!
ReplyDeleteJust read your blog when I visited Mama today. A nice one! Keep it up. Bye.
Dinesh
hi! I have already recorded my comment. All the best, nadan.Bye.
ReplyDeleteDinesh
Hi Nandan,
ReplyDeleteNice starting post in blogging.
I wish that we all go back to our roots which for some reason remain in the memory or imagination and we lament their presence only their while running our own rat races...
Great post, makes me feel like going to your village - lets plan a family outing there some day, hat say?
On an aside, good photo you have put up there, "Thinking Nandan" looks good!
Ranjeet >
ReplyDeleteWhy not definitely will go to my village together..
आपल्या कड़े सगळ काही देव देतो पण जवळ च्या गोष्टीं कड़े दुर्लक्ष करून आपण कुठल्या तरी better life कड़े धाव घेत असतो.
And suddenly we realise that the small things in life which give us more pleasure. Probably a day arrives in our life when there is no desire to achieve.. just being.