Cafe Mondegar : An interesting cafe with the murals of Mario Miranda — pub culture caricatures.

 

  Monsoon Tea with a …

 

 

     June begins with enchanting monsoon rains, bringing a drastic transition in the surroundings and human life. The wet surroundings, the smell of earth, the croaking of frogs, the smell of pakodas — all fused together ooze a distinct charm for those who crave to have a tryst with rains.  Late one rainy evening, we decided to visit Mugad tank which is close by.  The chilly wind and the lush green wet surroundings were very inviting as we travelled slowly, enjoying the monsoon vibes. As the sun had already set, the light grey hue spread across the sky was deepening with the ticking. From far, the tank full to the brink looked very serene when we alighted from the car. The whole area was totally at peace with itself, in harmony with the musical sound of the wind and the chirpings of returning birds. The vast, flat, stretch of lush green grass ground dotted with large trees and bushes at distance looked really regal. I was ruminating how mesmerizing is nature, which makes us emotional and dumb in its presence. A few meters away from where we were standing, down the meadow, there was a house amidst a cluster of trees and the greyish smoke emitting from it spiraled up with the cold wind of the monsoon. The particular visual slowly unfolded the layers of my memory. The hut emitting smoke denoted so many meanings- the presence of life- an activity-an evening meal getting prepared, a bright wood-fire for warmth on a rainy day, which all of us modern people have forgotten due to the modern inventions of gas and electricity cooking gadgets. Just switch on a button and start preparing meals. Of course, it is much easier and time saving compared to the earlier methods. Now, I am in my early 70s, and I have seen how things have evolved during the last fifty years. The passage of time has changed the outlook of life totally.  When I was in primary school, my mother used to cook with fire wood on a mud stove. It used to take most of her time, giving no scope either for her self-care or to follow her  interests. The elaborative cooking on mud stove day after day had consumed her.

 Due to the wet fire wood, the cooking would be a herculean task for women specially on rainy days Those were very hard days — long ques for kerosene oil are unforgettable.  Once the fire was lit and the water in the pot started boiling for tea preparation, the whole kitchen would to come to life. We siblings used to sit near the fire warming up our hands and feet and drinking tea with some snacks or freshly fried pakodas. The light spread from the fire used to brighten up our faces. After some time, we used to move slowly away as the heat would become intolerant to bear. In the Monsoons, soaked to the skin, walking lengthy distances from school and colleges, we would rush to sit near the fire, in the kitchen with some warm drink. As years rolled by, there was a sea change in architecture and building constructions and people evolving with time had embraced modern amenities and gadgets. On shifting to our new house, we started cooking with gas stove. With the arrival of a new gas stove, and the fire wood mud stove taking back seat, the charm of the kitchen faded. Our presence in the kitchen started decreasing day by day as we all started going to our respective rooms with our tea and snacks. We started missing  the heat, warmth, light and the play of light and shadow, and gossiping more than anything. The monsoons without the complementary friend fire looked dry and desolate. Just as an alternate, we started using coal stove on monsoon days. Again, the family members began to assemble around the coal stove, and munching fried peanuts and warming ourselves as we shared jokes from school and college. As days rolled on, the coal stove too receded in to the dark allowing room- heaters to occupy the space. As time moves on, it brings in a lot of changes in all spheres. With shift in the basic elements, the human relations get affected. As I stated, earlier the kitchen used to play a significant role in connecting and bonding each and every member of the family with one another with its warmth. Now it is shifted to drawing room.

Now the drawing room is central to everyone and for everything. Family members huddle together in drawing room or you can call it T.V. room alternatively, for gossiping and having food. Now a days, most of our time is spent in front of T.V —shifting from one channel to another,  catching glimpses of  news, film, history, geography, fashion, food  and more, until  we get bored to death. In spite of all these rich entertaining visuals and information, an itch grows silently within us craving for human connectivity and human relations. A small talk over a cup of tea, an understanding smile, a gentle nod of positivity, smiling eyes, a mischievous grin, a tender touch on the shoulder -all become luxury.

Since the arrival of television and cell phone, there is a significant change in the society and human relations. Heavy consumption of television and mobiles has reduced human relations to zero. Heavy consumption has led not only to addiction but also to loneliness. In the present world, the flow of visuals and information becoming central and crucial for society has marginalized human relations, eliminating empathy and humanity. Nobody has time to connect with friends, relatives and neighbors and to fathom the emotional and psychological angles of human relations and to cherish a beautiful friendship. Good relations and friendships grow with time, patience, understanding and empathy. When people are short of time these days, how can one dream of beautiful relations and friends who can share our pain and pleasure and stand by us in our difficult times. Looking back, I think life was more beautiful without television and mobile phones. No doubt, technology has indeed benefited us greatly and made our life very smooth and easy. We need to question ourselves how much and to extent we can use and enjoy the benefits of technology and at what cost.

As human beings, woven in to the fabric of nature, we carry a profound responsibility: to spread love and humanity, the very essence of our being, to everyone in this world.