Page 27 - Vasant Bahar

Those were the tough days for my parents.

Unfortunately we could not settle down on our own and
had to return to the joint family. I continued my education at
rd
my hometown till 3 standard.
We had recently constructed a well. A water lifter of the
well was a fascination for us. Watching a bull driven water
was a sheer happiness for us. Our uncle used to sing while the
bulls drive the water pumps.
I was having my self-pleasuring bath in a summer Well
was not full of water. Apparently, my cousin brother Murlidhar
had saved my life by taking me out from the water. I wonder
who must have motivated him to save me from the water?

I still value the contribution of a joint family in my
upbringing. In 1968, our joint family got separated. Three out
of six uncles of three remained in Kaneri. They got their share
of our ancestral house and a farmland. I haven’t seen any

love, affection in the six brothers after their separation. This

generation indeed have love and affection for each other.

Earlier, people were full of love and affection. They used
to call each other home, speak to them and used to show
their love by serving tasty food to the guests. Today we can’t
called anybody “bal, kaka, mama , anna but we must call
everyone as Sir and Madam. Mothers are insisted to call
themselves as ‘Mom’.
Today’s generation is undoubtedly clever and modern.
But, they do not value experience. They are denying
their parents and hence problems have increased. They
end up with loneliness and depression. They are more
likely to eat fast food and junk food. They are mostly
working in a AC hall on a table and chair. Hence the
tendencies of obesity, depression, blood pressure, heart
diseases, diabetes are increasing. Hard work has no option.
Constantly depending on television and mobile is
injurious to health. Doctors and insurance agents are leveling
up their business. All this is beyond my understanding.

VASANT BAHAR / 19