| More
Information |
|
|
|
|
| District |
Tekra haveli, Village Aluva, Mansa Taluka, near Gram Bharti, District Ahmedabad |
|
|
| State |
Gujarat |
|
|
| Category |
CENTENARIAN |
|
|
| Title |
Conserving heritage by being there |
|
|
| Abstract |
“Aapnu hruday makhaan jevuu mulayam banawo ke bhagawan rehwaa matey potay aawee jasay” (Your heart should be like butter so that the God is pleased with it and makes it his abode forever) - Kesarba. |
|
|
| Details |
Kesarba Kalyansiba Darbar1 was born about 100 years ago under the British rule. She vividly remembers that royals used to offer their ‘hajri’ (attendance) to the British at a nearby village. She says that she has led a wonderful, happy life without any worries or problems. This indeed is the secret to her longevity!
Kesarba lives in their ancestral home which is around 200 years old. She says that this house holds precious memories for her and she cannot think of going anywhere else now. Her great-great granddaughters based in Mumbai insist that she should come and stay with them, but Kesarba is adamant. She says that she cannot imagine living anywhere else, other than the place in which she was married.
She recalls that ‘ghee’ was priced at just one rupee per kilo when she was young!
She says ‘cemented houses’ miss the craftsmanship of yesteryears. The intricate designs engraved on the wooden doors, pillars, windows and staircases in her house are spectacular. “Carpenters of that calibre are not available these days,” she complains. Initially her ‘haveli’ was seven storied; now it remains at just two.
Kesarba was eldest of the three siblings and married when she was just 12 years old. Over the years she became the proud mother of four daughters and four sons. Interestingly, her elder son Prithivi, who is 80 years old, looks as old as his mother! Kesarba does not exactly remember the year her husband died but says that “you can check the engraving on the nearby well” (constructed in his memory). It said that he died about 30 years back.
Talking of the trend these days, she says it is tough to make out if the person is a boy or a girl as both dress alike. She chuckles and then quips “aajkalna chhokra chhokareeyo ekaj prakar na kapdaa pehrey chhay” (Nowadays both boys and girls wear same kind of clothes). She feels that women are not as feminine as they used to be. They wear jeans and trousers. Amusingly, she recalls how Prithvi was so happy when he wore trousers for the first time when he turned five! Ghagri, mosla and gamchho were the only dresses that were prevalent in those days.
She recalls that how she did not let any of her children wear tight fitted clothes ever. She would let her children enjoy their childhood and they were sent to school only when they were old enough.
All her four daughters have turned grandmothers and Kesarba was the proud great-great grandmother. Been able to see her fifth generation before her eyes gives her immense satisfaction.
At this age too, Kesarba loves walking and does all her work without any assistance. She laughs a lot and her smile reflects the peaceful soul that she is.
Educated till Class 7th, she considers herself lucky that she was born at a time when everything was cheap and the life was peaceful. She says “pehley koi chinta nahee thee, kewal khelna aney kudna”. They ate healthy traditional food like ‘bajra roti’ and ‘math rotla’. Over the years, Kesarba has added some English words to her vocabulary too. (She uses them now and then). On being asked to pose for a photograph, she quickly adjusts her dress, nods her head and says ‘ready’!
As is common with women world over, Kesarba is very proud of the fact that she does not look her ‘age’.
When an elderly lady from her neighbourhood walked in (while we were talking to Kesarba) she proudly pointed out that she is around 20 years younger than her! (ae to mara thee ganee nanee chhay. Maree deekree saman chhay. Pan jovaa ma ae bilkul mara jayweech lagey chhay) We were amazed to notice that she, in fact, looked older than Kesarba. The lady panted heavily for some time before she finally gathered her breath to say that Kesarba is like her aunt.
|
|
|
| Volume No. |
Honey Bee 22(4) & 23(1) 13, 2012 |
