Location:Navsari / Holi
Thursday, 8 March 2012
7th March 2012
Holi Mubarak everyone. Geoff has had his long held wish to celebrate Holi in India.
Today was the first day: a big bonfire blazed near the fountain, sending orange sizzling sparks into the night air. Even though there is a big open ground nearby, where there are always numerous cricket matches, events etc going on, the carefully constructed Holi fire was lit in the road, at the crossroads, as it is important to send good spirits along open roads.
There was a festive, light hearted atmosphere, but the "puja" part, was done reverently.People arrived in their small groups, many with small children in tow, placing the small clay "diva" ( lamp with oil or ghee with a lighted wick) in the centre of flowers and incense sticks offerings, forming a twinkling fragrant circle round the fire. Women, and the occasional man, left their shoes to one side, and circled around the fire three times, dribbling water from a brass pot with a coconut on top, did their "om om" and handed their coconut to be roasted in the fire, to be collected and eaten as a "prashad" (holy food). It's a pity that it's one of the few times we didn't have our camera or phone, because it was a lovely sight.
This was a welcome respite after a very frustrating day dealing with more of the administrative state banking system, which drove Savi to screaming pitch, as she went from counter to counter, garnering information which is only given under KGB type questioning. In the end she became a true Indian, using the connections she'd made with the Branch Manager in the Bardoli Branch, who called the big wig in Navsari, and got the transaction done!
We were reminded of State industries in the UK, which we all want instead of private, money grabbing private companies, but the people who work in them have attitudes which make you feel as if we are disturbing their God given right to staple pieces of paper and straighten files, viewing customers as fleas to squash. We gave a very robust feedback to the head honcho, who told us they have to follow rules ( that old potato) and that they had millions of rupees from NRIs, etc etc.We felt better for telling him, but doubt if much will change.
We managed to get most of what we needed to do, in between these administrative tasks , but have to admit that we are ready to come home now. Savi is really missing the twins, and seeing THE BUMP ( Jayesh and Nicole's baby, due next month) her friends and rest of the family, going to the gym, and seeing the garden come alive.
Geoff is looking forward to his cricket, golf and guitar, and of course the tabla that he's bought and shipped over.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
6th March 2012.
Lovely evening spent with Savi's 82 year old phoie (father's sister) and Damyanti, her daughter. We got the most information from them about the family tree in Jatpor, and the relatives on her grandmothers side, making links and understanding where the ties are. We were up until nearly midnight, a testament to how caught up everyone was in the process, as it's usually bed by 10 'o' clock at the latest!
Next morning we went to meet Askok and Nayna at a housing development complex called Lake City on the outskirts of Baben, where Savi's phoi lives.
They were very excited as they had just that morning agreed to buy a three bedroom house on the complex.
As well as houses the complex has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, banqueting hall, and guest houses and lovely seating areas where you can relax. It even boasts full size snooker and pool tables. The complex is well laid out with beautiful landscaped areas.
There is a canal that runs adjacent to the complex which is one of the many in the Gujarat that supply irrigation water for the crops (sugar cane mostly). These canals are typically 5-10 metres wide and the water is passing along at a velocity of about 1 m/ sec, so you can surmise that there is a lot of irrigation water being supplied!
Geoff had talked to Nishitbhai (Bickhubhai's son) about these canals and he told him that the water system is run and controlled by the central government. The canals in this region are all linked back and fed from a dam across a huge lake at a place called Okai some 50 km east of Bardoli. Sugar cane as a crop requires the field to be flooded with water every 10 days in the summer and 20 days in the winter. You can get two crops of sugar cane off the field every three years, and there is no requirement to re- fertilise the land, you just plant and water. On the way back to phoi's house we came across one of many convoys of galli (cattle powered cart) towing cut sugar cane to the local factory at Bardoli.
Absolutely delicious talli for lunch at phoi's, then rest and relaxation in the heat of the day before Sumanbhai from Jatpor kindly came to take us back to Navsari. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
As well as houses the complex has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, banqueting hall, and guest houses and lovely seating areas where you can relax. It even boasts full size snooker and pool tables. The complex is well laid out with beautiful landscaped areas.
There is a canal that runs adjacent to the complex which is one of the many in the Gujarat that supply irrigation water for the crops (sugar cane mostly). These canals are typically 5-10 metres wide and the water is passing along at a velocity of about 1 m/ sec, so you can surmise that there is a lot of irrigation water being supplied!
Geoff had talked to Nishitbhai (Bickhubhai's son) about these canals and he told him that the water system is run and controlled by the central government. The canals in this region are all linked back and fed from a dam across a huge lake at a place called Okai some 50 km east of Bardoli. Sugar cane as a crop requires the field to be flooded with water every 10 days in the summer and 20 days in the winter. You can get two crops of sugar cane off the field every three years, and there is no requirement to re- fertilise the land, you just plant and water. On the way back to phoi's house we came across one of many convoys of galli (cattle powered cart) towing cut sugar cane to the local factory at Bardoli.
Absolutely delicious talli for lunch at phoi's, then rest and relaxation in the heat of the day before Sumanbhai from Jatpor kindly came to take us back to Navsari. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Babin / Navsari
5th March 2012
Workers getting ready to clean the house, which has been closed up for 2 years. The padlocks were rusty, resisting all attempts to turn the keys until we used a whole can of that wonderful standby of all things stiff: WD40! (My brother Jagdish sprays his joints with it, and swears that it stops them creaking - of course that could be that he has a secret identity as The Iron Man)!
As some of you will know, Savi and her brothers have a house in Umrakh, which belonged originally to her grandfather and his 3 brothers. Chittudada, the eldest of these brothers died young, leaving a widow, Laxmima, whom Savi's grandfather, then her father looked after until she died. In gratitude for this, Laxmima left her share of the house and land to Savi's father, which one of the grand daughters (Vasanti) of one of these brothers ( Bhikhudada) has contested for years. That side of the family emigrated to South Africa ( which is where an early contact was made with Gandhiji when he went there to practice law before returning to lead the "satraghan", non-violence freedom movement in India). The greatuncles died out there, and many of the next generation are in America, Canada etc but Vasanti is here, and determined to continue with the feud, because she says she enjoys conflict! The Indian judiciary system (bequeathed by the British over a 100 years ago) is such that if there is a dispute, everything is blocked, meaning you can't sell or do anything to the property until it is resolved. If one of the parties wants to, they stall the resolution of the case by not turning up, not giving the relevant papers etc. This has gone on for years, and looks like going on. In the meantime, the lovely big house in Umrakh is decaying through lack of use.
The back garden after it was cleared of weeds, and the rubbish burnt.
Savi garnered 5 women, who were willing to clean up the house, hack down the weeds and burn the rubbish which inevitably collects, as she could not bear to see her family home in such a state. -We spent over 5 hours, supervising cleaning the part that Savi's mother lived in, and it came up so beautifully, it made us realise what a tragedy it would be to let it decay
The outhouses.
Most of the original furniture still there: steel wardrobes, big, solid wood beds and "itchko" ( wooden swing). The tiles in particular, once they had been washed two to three times, are absolutely beautiful, with not a crack, with the glaze intact.
There are photographs of prominent politicians on the walls, and of course, on the right, Mahatma Gandhi, who stayed in the house, at the time of the Dandi Salt March.
A signed photograph of Vallabhai Patel, hangs next to my great uncle, as comrades in the freedom movement, which culminated in India gaining independence from British rule on 15 August 1947.
All in all, a very dusty, busy day, but satisfying, seeing the old house restored to some of its former glory. Jays here in white, with Parulbhabhi on the itchko, with Pushpskaki in the background, giving much needed moral support. We went through the family tree with Pushpakaki last night, and although the blood ties are tenuous, we have always felt like kin to the three families opposite us, closer than some of the close relatives. In fact, Savi did not realise for years that they were not her real uncles!
No time to change shower and change, we were called over to Durbar's house for the obligatory dinner. His two married daughters Kinny, on Savi's left had come especially with her husband in the pink checked shirt, as had Darshana on her right, to see us. Arjun Darbar and his wife ( whose skin is fairer than Geoff's) are originally from Rajkot in Rajasthan, and are Rajputs, a proud warrior race.
We were dropped off at Baben, where Savi's phoie lives with her cousin Damyanti, having said our fond farewells to folk in Umrakh, promising to return soon. People here bemoan that hospitality is not what it used to be, but we still find it absolutely incredible: people make time for you: are interested in each other's lives, which obviously could be cloying, but we have been made so welcome everywhere, that it's wonderful. Geoff has been made particularly welcome, not in a sycophantic "white man" novelty way, just with everyone making an effort to communicate, and letting him know that he is important as my husband. Savi used to worry about us being a mixed couple in India, but it has not been an issue at all. In fact we get more hostility and stares from the Pakistani taxi drivers in Yorkshire than here! Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
As some of you will know, Savi and her brothers have a house in Umrakh, which belonged originally to her grandfather and his 3 brothers. Chittudada, the eldest of these brothers died young, leaving a widow, Laxmima, whom Savi's grandfather, then her father looked after until she died. In gratitude for this, Laxmima left her share of the house and land to Savi's father, which one of the grand daughters (Vasanti) of one of these brothers ( Bhikhudada) has contested for years. That side of the family emigrated to South Africa ( which is where an early contact was made with Gandhiji when he went there to practice law before returning to lead the "satraghan", non-violence freedom movement in India). The greatuncles died out there, and many of the next generation are in America, Canada etc but Vasanti is here, and determined to continue with the feud, because she says she enjoys conflict! The Indian judiciary system (bequeathed by the British over a 100 years ago) is such that if there is a dispute, everything is blocked, meaning you can't sell or do anything to the property until it is resolved. If one of the parties wants to, they stall the resolution of the case by not turning up, not giving the relevant papers etc. This has gone on for years, and looks like going on. In the meantime, the lovely big house in Umrakh is decaying through lack of use.
The back garden after it was cleared of weeds, and the rubbish burnt.
Savi garnered 5 women, who were willing to clean up the house, hack down the weeds and burn the rubbish which inevitably collects, as she could not bear to see her family home in such a state. -We spent over 5 hours, supervising cleaning the part that Savi's mother lived in, and it came up so beautifully, it made us realise what a tragedy it would be to let it decay
The outhouses.
Most of the original furniture still there: steel wardrobes, big, solid wood beds and "itchko" ( wooden swing). The tiles in particular, once they had been washed two to three times, are absolutely beautiful, with not a crack, with the glaze intact.
There are photographs of prominent politicians on the walls, and of course, on the right, Mahatma Gandhi, who stayed in the house, at the time of the Dandi Salt March.
A signed photograph of Vallabhai Patel, hangs next to my great uncle, as comrades in the freedom movement, which culminated in India gaining independence from British rule on 15 August 1947.
All in all, a very dusty, busy day, but satisfying, seeing the old house restored to some of its former glory. Jays here in white, with Parulbhabhi on the itchko, with Pushpskaki in the background, giving much needed moral support. We went through the family tree with Pushpakaki last night, and although the blood ties are tenuous, we have always felt like kin to the three families opposite us, closer than some of the close relatives. In fact, Savi did not realise for years that they were not her real uncles!
No time to change shower and change, we were called over to Durbar's house for the obligatory dinner. His two married daughters Kinny, on Savi's left had come especially with her husband in the pink checked shirt, as had Darshana on her right, to see us. Arjun Darbar and his wife ( whose skin is fairer than Geoff's) are originally from Rajkot in Rajasthan, and are Rajputs, a proud warrior race.
We were dropped off at Baben, where Savi's phoie lives with her cousin Damyanti, having said our fond farewells to folk in Umrakh, promising to return soon. People here bemoan that hospitality is not what it used to be, but we still find it absolutely incredible: people make time for you: are interested in each other's lives, which obviously could be cloying, but we have been made so welcome everywhere, that it's wonderful. Geoff has been made particularly welcome, not in a sycophantic "white man" novelty way, just with everyone making an effort to communicate, and letting him know that he is important as my husband. Savi used to worry about us being a mixed couple in India, but it has not been an issue at all. In fact we get more hostility and stares from the Pakistani taxi drivers in Yorkshire than here! Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Umrakh
Tuesday, 6 March 2012
4th March 2012
Surat (of the Kingfisher chase fame) to see Chotumama, Savi's parents' friend and his family from long ago. He is now 91years old, and had found out she was in India: tracked her down and made her promise to visit.
Surat is a big city, very industrialised, polluted and busy. We had to meet Chotumama's son using a hospital as a landmark and then follow him to their house.
Chotumama, Anil his grandson and Anil's mother.
Next door to the house is the remnants of what was once a very large textile factory but now they only have a single shed where they have automatic embroidery machines that decorate saris. Enjoying the inevitable hospitality which is hard to escape from, with packs of food to take away as well!
Then on to Umrakh but on the way called in at the family home of Krishnaben to meet her family.
Then we went to Bhikhubhai's house in Umrahk to stay with them for a night. He was also absolutely enthralled with the family tree programme, providing lots of information, finally making the link through his great grandfather and mine from my maternal side. Family pose with Bhikhubhai, Parulbhabhi, Nishit and Amisha (6) and Druv (12) on the swing chair.
No peace for the wicked, as Geoff found out, as he was roped into a project for Nitish 's ( Bhikhubhai's son) daughter making an abacus out of polystyrene.
Then Geoff had a taste of "kemchho kemchho" which literally means "how are you, how are you? " we went round with Parul, Bhikhubhai's wife, being introduced and reminded of Savi's relationship with people. What came over was how everyone wanted to feel linked and connected, and how much Savi's parents were respected and liked, and missed. At the last "kemchho kemchho " house we were reminded of the prominence of Savi's family in the Freedom Fight to get rid of the English out of India. The village committee has made a CD which starts with Savi's family house, with details of how Gandhiji stayed in their house for two nights, planning the Salt March, amongst other things with her family. Savi feels a real connection with the village, with memories from when she was a child and visiting from the UK to see her parents, as they spent their retirement between the two countries. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Chotumama, Anil his grandson and Anil's mother.
Next door to the house is the remnants of what was once a very large textile factory but now they only have a single shed where they have automatic embroidery machines that decorate saris. Enjoying the inevitable hospitality which is hard to escape from, with packs of food to take away as well!
Then on to Umrakh but on the way called in at the family home of Krishnaben to meet her family.
Then we went to Bhikhubhai's house in Umrahk to stay with them for a night. He was also absolutely enthralled with the family tree programme, providing lots of information, finally making the link through his great grandfather and mine from my maternal side. Family pose with Bhikhubhai, Parulbhabhi, Nishit and Amisha (6) and Druv (12) on the swing chair.
No peace for the wicked, as Geoff found out, as he was roped into a project for Nitish 's ( Bhikhubhai's son) daughter making an abacus out of polystyrene.
Then Geoff had a taste of "kemchho kemchho" which literally means "how are you, how are you? " we went round with Parul, Bhikhubhai's wife, being introduced and reminded of Savi's relationship with people. What came over was how everyone wanted to feel linked and connected, and how much Savi's parents were respected and liked, and missed. At the last "kemchho kemchho " house we were reminded of the prominence of Savi's family in the Freedom Fight to get rid of the English out of India. The village committee has made a CD which starts with Savi's family house, with details of how Gandhiji stayed in their house for two nights, planning the Salt March, amongst other things with her family. Savi feels a real connection with the village, with memories from when she was a child and visiting from the UK to see her parents, as they spent their retirement between the two countries. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Umrakh
3rd March 2012
Set off to Bardoli to first visit an Ayuvedic (ancient holistic medical system) doctor, set up under the Patanjali label by Ramdev, the guru who has brought yoga back to the ordinary Indians through TV programmes, and mass teaching meetings here and abroad. The herbalist gave Savi advice on how best to manage her breathing to help with her asthma, which included sitting her down cross legged, doing the right "pranayama" breathing exercise for half an hour in the poky little room!
The dry hot air has really helped Savi's asthma, but don't know how she will be when she returns.
Then into town to do some REAL shopping. Geoff separated from the women and bought a couple of water sprays that you can fit adjacent to the W.C. to make it easy to wash your bum: you don't need language skills to mime spraying your bum!! Then whilst walking along the main street he noticed what he thought were priests (long haired raggedy people with a smattering of orange colour!) who looked to have dishes in front of them like a snake charmer, but they were carved in the form of a cobra. One of them called him over and then showed him photos of naked old men who seemed to have their genitals pierced. One of them proceeded to lift up his own dhoti and show him his own decorated penis. Before they could pull him in and mutilate him Geoff beat a polite retreat!! On the way back tried to take a photo of these men, but now only one was there and he was not keen on being photographed!!
Took a short video of a sugar cane squeezing machine that makes a sugar drink
Later went to visit Meena, Sunil's sister, where we met her extended family who live in an idyllic setting amongst sugar cane fields.
We had a late lunch ( vegetarian tally made from fresh produce from their fields) and picked star fruit
Below are "patra" leaves, which has become a favourite of the Yoga ladies courtesy of Diane Watts. The leaves are de-veined, pasted with a chickpea flour flavoured with spices, rolled and steamed. In the UK they come in tins and taste nowhere near as good as the ones made freshly here.
Back to Gangpor, a sleepy little village with the best Skype and Internet connection we've found anywhere: so a quick catch up with all the folks back home, whom we are really beginning to miss now. Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Then into town to do some REAL shopping. Geoff separated from the women and bought a couple of water sprays that you can fit adjacent to the W.C. to make it easy to wash your bum: you don't need language skills to mime spraying your bum!! Then whilst walking along the main street he noticed what he thought were priests (long haired raggedy people with a smattering of orange colour!) who looked to have dishes in front of them like a snake charmer, but they were carved in the form of a cobra. One of them called him over and then showed him photos of naked old men who seemed to have their genitals pierced. One of them proceeded to lift up his own dhoti and show him his own decorated penis. Before they could pull him in and mutilate him Geoff beat a polite retreat!! On the way back tried to take a photo of these men, but now only one was there and he was not keen on being photographed!!
Took a short video of a sugar cane squeezing machine that makes a sugar drink
Later went to visit Meena, Sunil's sister, where we met her extended family who live in an idyllic setting amongst sugar cane fields.
We had a late lunch ( vegetarian tally made from fresh produce from their fields) and picked star fruit
Below are "patra" leaves, which has become a favourite of the Yoga ladies courtesy of Diane Watts. The leaves are de-veined, pasted with a chickpea flour flavoured with spices, rolled and steamed. In the UK they come in tins and taste nowhere near as good as the ones made freshly here.
Back to Gangpor, a sleepy little village with the best Skype and Internet connection we've found anywhere: so a quick catch up with all the folks back home, whom we are really beginning to miss now. Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Gangphor
2nd March 2012
Today Sunil Bickhu came to take us to Gangpor to spend a couple of days with him and his family.
First he wanted to go and buy some booze from one of the few licencee places where you can go and buy alcohol in the Gujarat, with a special permit that Savi had obtained at the airport. We suggested the place in Surat as this was almost on the way to his village, however Sunil said you could not get a whole months supply in Surat and he wanted to drive to a place called Daman which is about 1 hour down the coast motorway towards Mumbai.
Daman is in fact a very small state searate from the Gujarat and is a seaside / holiday resort. We arrived and Sunil topped up his alcohol supply and then we stopped at a restaurant which was attached to a resort hotel.
The seaside is not like a normal coastal resort, the beach is brown mud, and when you looked at the waves breaking on the distant shoreline you could see that the water was a brown muddy colour.
On to Sunil's Gham, village) where we met his wife Krishnaben and daughter Henishaben. They made us very welcome to their home. His son is at boarding school in Mumbai, at the tender age of 8 years. When Savi (as she would) questioned this, they said that although it was hard for them and him, it would improve his life chances, and he was with a group of boys from the same village.
When the temperature dropped in the late afternoon we went for a walk from Gangpor to Jatpor, where Savi's family had some of their land and one of their houses. Here we met Sumanbhai and his family who have been close friends to Savi's family and now live in Savi's family's old house. On the way we met an old school teacher of Savi's brother Arvindbhai who was called Santumaster.
Admiring the banana plants, which look very healthy, and should produce a bumper crop.
Savi remembers this road, going over the railway track to Umrakh, as one which she walked many times between the two homes.
Walking towards Savi's old village house in Jatpor, which has been completely revamped by Suman, but remains a nostalgic place for her and her brothers. Suman,with his wife Nita and two daughtes and son. He really loved my parents, and idolises them for the help they gave him to set up as a young man.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
On to Sunil's Gham, village) where we met his wife Krishnaben and daughter Henishaben. They made us very welcome to their home. His son is at boarding school in Mumbai, at the tender age of 8 years. When Savi (as she would) questioned this, they said that although it was hard for them and him, it would improve his life chances, and he was with a group of boys from the same village.
When the temperature dropped in the late afternoon we went for a walk from Gangpor to Jatpor, where Savi's family had some of their land and one of their houses. Here we met Sumanbhai and his family who have been close friends to Savi's family and now live in Savi's family's old house. On the way we met an old school teacher of Savi's brother Arvindbhai who was called Santumaster.
Admiring the banana plants, which look very healthy, and should produce a bumper crop.
Savi remembers this road, going over the railway track to Umrakh, as one which she walked many times between the two homes.
Walking towards Savi's old village house in Jatpor, which has been completely revamped by Suman, but remains a nostalgic place for her and her brothers. Suman,with his wife Nita and two daughtes and son. He really loved my parents, and idolises them for the help they gave him to set up as a young man.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Gangphor
1st March2012
Hired a car and driver and went to visit relatives in Nizar (Karshanmama who is Savi's mother' s brother, hence the mama title).
This was her "mosaru" a special name to denote your mother's maternal home, where girls of the family are brought back home towards the end of their pregnancy and stay for a month and a half after the birth to ensure they rest and are looked after.
Geoff has bought an App which plots a family tree for you, which he has filled in wherever we have visited, to everyone's delight. He has found a real winner into everyone's heart with it! Below are Karshanmama in salmon, to his left is Savi's Ramanmama who is her mother's cousin, and his wife, next to her is her nephew's wife and the lady in the white sari is her mother's girl cousin, as is the lady in the pink sari who came especially to see her to their maternal home! The two young men are the sons: one helps with the family farm, and the other works somewhere, which seems to be a pattern in many families.
Below is the house Savi remembers visiting, where her maternal grandparents lived. Her grandfather died when she was 4 or 5 years of age, but she remembers her grandmother, Ambama as a very tall thin stooped lady ( most probably has osteoporosis ) who would rush to make her hot puris ( fluffy small fried pastries) to eat with milk or "rus" ( mango pulp) when they visited.
She lived in the traditional joint family with Savi's eldest uncle Laloomama and Chanchalmami. Savi remembers this uncle as being very jovial and affectionate. Tragically he died in a motorbike accident in 1993. Chanchalmami lives here on her own, as her only daughter lives abroad with her family.
Savi with her cousin Dina, who was visiting her mother from Niagra Falls, where they have a motel.
An obligatory family pose outside the house.
We continued with the family tree later that afternoon in Bardoli, where Savi's phoie's ( father's sister's) eldest daughter lives, adding Sumitra's 3 sons and their wives and children to the ever growing list of relatives.
We added another branch of the family who Savi shared a childhood with in Jatpor before coming to the UK in 1958. Below is Ramanben, Savi's grandfather's sister's daughter and her grandson and daughter Nita, who live behind Sumitra's house in Bardoli.
It seems the App was calling relatives to it, ready to be captured and plotted: Whilst we were walking in Bardoli we heard a voice shout out " Savitriben Geoff" and when we looked around it was more family but from London. It was Ashok and Nayna, who are over in Bardoli looking at the possibility of buying some property. They were particularly interested in seeing the Lake City complex that has been built in Baben, just outside Bardoli.
We stopped and had a juice with them and agreed to try and meet up later in the week, but not before adding on Ashok on the tree as being Savi's paternal grandmother's (Dahima's) sister's grandson from Mori! To people not used to this kinship system, it ill seem very complicated and the relationships tenuous, but in fact my father was very close to Ashok's father and the rest of his cousins from his mother's village, maintaining these links with them to the end of his life, whether they were in India, UK or USA. There is no doubt that the younger generation have veered towards the nuclear family unit, with ever decreasing kinship relationships, because amongst other things, they find it too difficult to maintain, with busy working lives. But it seems that even though it is diluted somewhat, it is still very important in India, as is the joint family system, with parents, grandparents and children living together. Also, although I don't know about the UK, the youth of the diaspora in America have started to realise what they will lose if they don't maintain some of the traditions of their parents' mother country, and have started Facebook kinship groups! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Geoff has bought an App which plots a family tree for you, which he has filled in wherever we have visited, to everyone's delight. He has found a real winner into everyone's heart with it! Below are Karshanmama in salmon, to his left is Savi's Ramanmama who is her mother's cousin, and his wife, next to her is her nephew's wife and the lady in the white sari is her mother's girl cousin, as is the lady in the pink sari who came especially to see her to their maternal home! The two young men are the sons: one helps with the family farm, and the other works somewhere, which seems to be a pattern in many families.
Below is the house Savi remembers visiting, where her maternal grandparents lived. Her grandfather died when she was 4 or 5 years of age, but she remembers her grandmother, Ambama as a very tall thin stooped lady ( most probably has osteoporosis ) who would rush to make her hot puris ( fluffy small fried pastries) to eat with milk or "rus" ( mango pulp) when they visited.
She lived in the traditional joint family with Savi's eldest uncle Laloomama and Chanchalmami. Savi remembers this uncle as being very jovial and affectionate. Tragically he died in a motorbike accident in 1993. Chanchalmami lives here on her own, as her only daughter lives abroad with her family.
Savi with her cousin Dina, who was visiting her mother from Niagra Falls, where they have a motel.
An obligatory family pose outside the house.
We continued with the family tree later that afternoon in Bardoli, where Savi's phoie's ( father's sister's) eldest daughter lives, adding Sumitra's 3 sons and their wives and children to the ever growing list of relatives.
We added another branch of the family who Savi shared a childhood with in Jatpor before coming to the UK in 1958. Below is Ramanben, Savi's grandfather's sister's daughter and her grandson and daughter Nita, who live behind Sumitra's house in Bardoli.
It seems the App was calling relatives to it, ready to be captured and plotted: Whilst we were walking in Bardoli we heard a voice shout out " Savitriben Geoff" and when we looked around it was more family but from London. It was Ashok and Nayna, who are over in Bardoli looking at the possibility of buying some property. They were particularly interested in seeing the Lake City complex that has been built in Baben, just outside Bardoli.
We stopped and had a juice with them and agreed to try and meet up later in the week, but not before adding on Ashok on the tree as being Savi's paternal grandmother's (Dahima's) sister's grandson from Mori! To people not used to this kinship system, it ill seem very complicated and the relationships tenuous, but in fact my father was very close to Ashok's father and the rest of his cousins from his mother's village, maintaining these links with them to the end of his life, whether they were in India, UK or USA. There is no doubt that the younger generation have veered towards the nuclear family unit, with ever decreasing kinship relationships, because amongst other things, they find it too difficult to maintain, with busy working lives. But it seems that even though it is diluted somewhat, it is still very important in India, as is the joint family system, with parents, grandparents and children living together. Also, although I don't know about the UK, the youth of the diaspora in America have started to realise what they will lose if they don't maintain some of the traditions of their parents' mother country, and have started Facebook kinship groups! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Nizar & Bardoli
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)