After many years, my thoughts and dreams took me to search for a life inside the villages where people are simple in every aspect of life.
This Friday, October 4, 2013 I boarded Mandor Express with one of my friend for Jodhpur. It was a feeling of my dreams becoming true, my excitement to meet new and unknown people, my desire to work for a better change in the village life of people.
Next day morning, we reached Jodhpur at 8 a.m. and from there took an auto to Rai Ka Baag, Bus Stand. Two tickets for Rs.60/- to Bawri, a small place, one hour journey to connect us with another mini bus to the village for Rs.40/- and 45 minutes journey.
And here we were at the village, welcomed by Jaswant Singh and later Ganesh Soni. We kept our bags, had some water and tea and direct to the tube-well in the farms to have a bath. A great experience in the farm with cows and goats around.
Later in the day we met village elders who were more than happy to meet us. Finally the Lunch, as it was the first Navratri day, the villagers were on fast so we were alone to have lunch in a traditional style-sitting on the floor with small floor-table to keep our thalis(Plate).
We had a rest of one hour and went to see the Gau-shala(Cow shelter home). We met some people and the care-taker Rajinder Singh ji who was very happy and liked our ideas to rejuvenate the Gau-shala.
In the evening there was a meeting with the village Nav-Yuvak Mandal(Youth Forum) which comprised of school students to young working people. There was discussion on how to regulate our daily life, from studies to career and ways of upgrading the village but keeping the rural essence in-tact.
The discussion happened on making the village green, having solar energy to organic farming. Jaswant ji was quite impressed and wants to convert his tube-wells to solar operated system.
Also saw a 15 minutes of Ram-Leela stage show at night.
It was a great sleep at Jaswant ji's home before that simple dinner at Gaja Puri's place and not to forget the sweet halwa(Indian sweet dish made of semolina called sooji also).
Next day early morning, getting fresh and having Bajre ki roti with black chana and tadka curd(Millet chapati with black grams and dash of spices in the curd).
A meeting was already planned with Gau-shala governing body of 21 people which was quite fruitful. There was whole lot of discussion from cows to students library, water, health and hygiene to sustainable rural life with planting saplings at the time of next rains.
Later in the day we went to the temple on the hills-half way by Bolero camper with Jaswant ji on the wheel and half of the journey walking steep height with my lungs pumping at a fast pace.
It was Saturday, October 6, 2013, 3 p.m. and our mini bus was there and from Bawri by Bolero with Mr.Kewal Chand Soni, the village elder person to Jodhpur.
We had two hour to spend in the market while purchasing some things and having Lassi and Rabri at Mishri Lal sweets.
It was back to Delhi journey now, once again by Indian Railways-Mandor Express at 7.45 p.m. with next plans in our minds.
Surely, awesome trip with direct experience and plans to take it forward for a better change !!!
This trip-thanks to Suresh ji who was my companion on the trip and Suresh ji's friend Bheekh Puri ji who is from this village.
This Friday, October 4, 2013 I boarded Mandor Express with one of my friend for Jodhpur. It was a feeling of my dreams becoming true, my excitement to meet new and unknown people, my desire to work for a better change in the village life of people.
Next day morning, we reached Jodhpur at 8 a.m. and from there took an auto to Rai Ka Baag, Bus Stand. Two tickets for Rs.60/- to Bawri, a small place, one hour journey to connect us with another mini bus to the village for Rs.40/- and 45 minutes journey.
And here we were at the village, welcomed by Jaswant Singh and later Ganesh Soni. We kept our bags, had some water and tea and direct to the tube-well in the farms to have a bath. A great experience in the farm with cows and goats around.
Later in the day we met village elders who were more than happy to meet us. Finally the Lunch, as it was the first Navratri day, the villagers were on fast so we were alone to have lunch in a traditional style-sitting on the floor with small floor-table to keep our thalis(Plate).
We had a rest of one hour and went to see the Gau-shala(Cow shelter home). We met some people and the care-taker Rajinder Singh ji who was very happy and liked our ideas to rejuvenate the Gau-shala.
In the evening there was a meeting with the village Nav-Yuvak Mandal(Youth Forum) which comprised of school students to young working people. There was discussion on how to regulate our daily life, from studies to career and ways of upgrading the village but keeping the rural essence in-tact.
The discussion happened on making the village green, having solar energy to organic farming. Jaswant ji was quite impressed and wants to convert his tube-wells to solar operated system.
Also saw a 15 minutes of Ram-Leela stage show at night.
It was a great sleep at Jaswant ji's home before that simple dinner at Gaja Puri's place and not to forget the sweet halwa(Indian sweet dish made of semolina called sooji also).
Next day early morning, getting fresh and having Bajre ki roti with black chana and tadka curd(Millet chapati with black grams and dash of spices in the curd).
A meeting was already planned with Gau-shala governing body of 21 people which was quite fruitful. There was whole lot of discussion from cows to students library, water, health and hygiene to sustainable rural life with planting saplings at the time of next rains.
Later in the day we went to the temple on the hills-half way by Bolero camper with Jaswant ji on the wheel and half of the journey walking steep height with my lungs pumping at a fast pace.
It was Saturday, October 6, 2013, 3 p.m. and our mini bus was there and from Bawri by Bolero with Mr.Kewal Chand Soni, the village elder person to Jodhpur.
We had two hour to spend in the market while purchasing some things and having Lassi and Rabri at Mishri Lal sweets.
It was back to Delhi journey now, once again by Indian Railways-Mandor Express at 7.45 p.m. with next plans in our minds.
Surely, awesome trip with direct experience and plans to take it forward for a better change !!!
This trip-thanks to Suresh ji who was my companion on the trip and Suresh ji's friend Bheekh Puri ji who is from this village.
No comments:
Post a Comment