When I arrived at Nepura early one morning, I was told that the Nalanda District Magistrate (DM), Shri Sanjay Argawal, was coming. Everyone was busy preparing for his arrival. I was invited to stay for lunch, which after the DM left (his schedule only permitted him to stay a short time), would be taken with the General Manager (Nalanda District) (GM), Shri R.C. Singh., who was also visiting.
Having some time available before the DM’s and GM’s arrival, I visited with some of the local women. After sometime, I looked at the time and told them that I’d like to see the DM, as I am always curious about the democratic process in villages. Today the DM was to be meeting with the silk weavers of the village. The women pointed me in the direction toward the weavers’ homes and I walked down the path. Seeing some men that didn’t look to be villagers, I turned down the path that led to the cooperative building. Rounding the corner I could see many official government cars and SUVs parked in front of the building. Taking a quick assessment, it looked as if only the drivers were present, so I turned back down the path and headed once again toward the weavers’ homes. A man said something to me and I responded with “DM” and was pointed in the right direction.
Behind the homes was a big dirt area with lots of holes in the ground. Men and boys were standing around this area and as I scanned the crowd, I spotted the DM and Nagendra, a village leader, on the other side of this dirt area. I immediately felt self-conscious since I was the only female, except for three small girls, present at this gathering. Thinking that maybe I shouldn’t be part of the crowd, I started to move back from the crowd. While doing so, men motioned for me to come forward and spotting me, Nagendra gave me a big wave.
I stayed where I was and shortly the DM and other officials came back around to my side of the dirt area. One official asked why I was visiting Nepura Village and I told him that the women were teaching me their art of Sujuni (stitch work). He asked what I was learning and I showed him my small piece of sujuni that I was working on. It is a picture of a young girl placing her hands on the footprints of the Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. The man studied it briefly and handed it to the DM for his perusal. They commented positively on it as they handed it back to me.
Nagendra came up and said hello to me and then told Mahesh to walk with me. We all walked, with the DM and the other officials, threw the rest of the village and ended up on the road out of Nepura toward Silao. All of the official cars and SUVs drove down this small road to meet and pick up the DM and his entourage. He said something (in Hindi) to the villagers and then left for his next appointment. I turned and walked back to the village with all of the villagers.
It was wonderful to see so many village men and boys present for this official visit. The men and boys obviously take pride in their village and the weaving work that they do. Later, I was told that the dirt area is going to become a cooperative building for the weavers! The holes in the ground are for the pillars of the new building.
Back at the women’s cooperative building, I met the General Manager (Nalanda District), Shri R.C. Singh. He was a friendly man who asked me lots of questions about exporting the goods from Nepura and Silao to the United States. Having no experience with this sort of thing, I was not of much help, but I came away from this meeting thinking that I’ve might just have been assigned a new job as exporter/importer!
The GM and I were asked to move to the “workshop” room, a bright, new building with white tile floors and white walls, for our lunch. We were served chaval (rice), subji (vegetables), daal (lentils), and salad. The salad, which was sliced red onion, tomatoes, and cucumbers was especially refreshing since I rarely get a salad with my meals.
After finishing our meal, the GM asked if I would have some kadja. We went back to the main cooperative building and waited as one of the drivers went to buy some kadja in Silao and bring it back for us. We savored these sweet or salty deep-fried pastry desserts and then I was given a ride back to Nalanda.
Next blog….Nepura Village – The Weavers and Marketing
Having some time available before the DM’s and GM’s arrival, I visited with some of the local women. After sometime, I looked at the time and told them that I’d like to see the DM, as I am always curious about the democratic process in villages. Today the DM was to be meeting with the silk weavers of the village. The women pointed me in the direction toward the weavers’ homes and I walked down the path. Seeing some men that didn’t look to be villagers, I turned down the path that led to the cooperative building. Rounding the corner I could see many official government cars and SUVs parked in front of the building. Taking a quick assessment, it looked as if only the drivers were present, so I turned back down the path and headed once again toward the weavers’ homes. A man said something to me and I responded with “DM” and was pointed in the right direction.
Behind the homes was a big dirt area with lots of holes in the ground. Men and boys were standing around this area and as I scanned the crowd, I spotted the DM and Nagendra, a village leader, on the other side of this dirt area. I immediately felt self-conscious since I was the only female, except for three small girls, present at this gathering. Thinking that maybe I shouldn’t be part of the crowd, I started to move back from the crowd. While doing so, men motioned for me to come forward and spotting me, Nagendra gave me a big wave.
I stayed where I was and shortly the DM and other officials came back around to my side of the dirt area. One official asked why I was visiting Nepura Village and I told him that the women were teaching me their art of Sujuni (stitch work). He asked what I was learning and I showed him my small piece of sujuni that I was working on. It is a picture of a young girl placing her hands on the footprints of the Buddha at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. The man studied it briefly and handed it to the DM for his perusal. They commented positively on it as they handed it back to me.
Nagendra came up and said hello to me and then told Mahesh to walk with me. We all walked, with the DM and the other officials, threw the rest of the village and ended up on the road out of Nepura toward Silao. All of the official cars and SUVs drove down this small road to meet and pick up the DM and his entourage. He said something (in Hindi) to the villagers and then left for his next appointment. I turned and walked back to the village with all of the villagers.
It was wonderful to see so many village men and boys present for this official visit. The men and boys obviously take pride in their village and the weaving work that they do. Later, I was told that the dirt area is going to become a cooperative building for the weavers! The holes in the ground are for the pillars of the new building.
Back at the women’s cooperative building, I met the General Manager (Nalanda District), Shri R.C. Singh. He was a friendly man who asked me lots of questions about exporting the goods from Nepura and Silao to the United States. Having no experience with this sort of thing, I was not of much help, but I came away from this meeting thinking that I’ve might just have been assigned a new job as exporter/importer!
The GM and I were asked to move to the “workshop” room, a bright, new building with white tile floors and white walls, for our lunch. We were served chaval (rice), subji (vegetables), daal (lentils), and salad. The salad, which was sliced red onion, tomatoes, and cucumbers was especially refreshing since I rarely get a salad with my meals.
After finishing our meal, the GM asked if I would have some kadja. We went back to the main cooperative building and waited as one of the drivers went to buy some kadja in Silao and bring it back for us. We savored these sweet or salty deep-fried pastry desserts and then I was given a ride back to Nalanda.
Next blog….Nepura Village – The Weavers and Marketing
No comments:
Post a Comment