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

Location:Umrakh