My grandpa --a person of many talents

My grandpa -a person of many talents My grandpa studied Agriculture from University of Mysore at Hebbal –he was in the first batch of students to get his Licentiate in Agriculture. And he was appointed as cane supervisor at Mysugar cane Factory established by the British. He was most qualified to inspect the quality of sugar cane grown and if it was fit for making sugar. Grandpa had a very legible handwriting and his English was fantastic and when we admired his writing Ajji told us about how his handwriting was awarded by the then Mysore Maharaja as one of the best handwritings. As grandpa was very well known for his competence local teenagers came to learn English, mannerisms, grammar and got guidance for their future career .Tatha would dress up in full suit and a hat and a jeep would come to take him for his official field visits .He must be going to many farmers and check their cane produce and certify when it could be harvested. Famers would also be growing water melons and other vegetables in abundance and also have their own jaggery processing units. Jaggery in various stages fit for eating would be sent to us kids to relish. when we as kids went to St. Joseph’s convent school we had to cross the area where thousands of lorries stood waiting to get their loads deposited to the factory and after that they would return. As my Tata was supervisor and all farmers growing sugar cane were directly or indirectly under him I remember requesting grandpa to get those lorries removed so we could walk easily to school. Tata being slightly short tempered would demand Ajji to listen every word of his. Grandpa was most important person in Ajjis life and they were most happily married couple not that they never quarreled. They lived happily for 63years. My grandpa was very fond of photography and we always saw him go around during his holidays when he did not go to factory, with a big camera around his neck. The camera then was not cute and small like what we see today, it was a hulk and camera needed films inside and developing of negatives was to be done. We as kids called him ‘camera thatha’ . He took us around the garden to check fruits and vegetables, which ajji would have missed and would call her to show it to him as a big victory. Gauvas (big ones weighing more than 600 gms), jackfruits, mangoes, papaya, rose apple a fruit known as ‘paneer fruit -rose apple---smells like rose, is sweet and it looks like a elliptical lemon, passion fruit, sitaphala, Ramphala(types of custard apples).We had grape fruit or pomelo known as “Chakotha hannu ,”—a huge citrus fruit pinkish in colour—sweet sour and bitter fruit and it grew in our fence. How I wish we had more photos of those days to show how prosperity was really plenty. Every one who came home got something to eat, drink and take home too. Everything given was with so much of joy and the receiver never felt inferior or hurt and the joy of giving was felt by grandparents and this was one big lesson that the person who gives always get back in multiples, Saying never helps but doing is more impressive –so as kids we learnt that giving with total happiness was the most important aspect in life. Give and forget and forgive but dont forget was also one big lesson.As grandpa had been allocated a servant to take care of our garden we had lot of fruits, vegetables and we never had to purchase any of these . Then people never sold curry leaves, drumsticks, various pumpkins, sweet potatoes, coconut, papaya and commonly available fruits and vegetables. We had 6 coconut trees grown so tall that it was a big day for us to see how people climbed those trees with agility and total focus and got only fully ready coconuts—it was an art to climb up, pluck them and throw it so that it does not get damaged. Mango season ---lots of mangoes were plucked and placed in wooden boxes filled with straw. These boxes would be kept in the attic until ripe mango aroma would waft down and slowly it would be brought down and every one would start enjoying mangoes. Every season we had one or the other fruit. We three grandchildren went to same school as our two aunts and one mama and we were seven children from one family. Ajji used to pack food for all seven of us and send it in two big baskets. Water bottles with water and one with lassi. Food with sambar, rasam, curry, pickles packed in separate boxes was carried by one of our servants and we all would under one particular tree in a circle and enjoy our food and give back the basket with all empty boxes to be carried back home. They had 6 daughters and three sons and grandchildren were 15, Great grandchildren were 17. This big family were taken to see an English film in a theater when we went to see a film people would point out and say—‘there goes the army of chitrasena Rao. (then we were less than 2 dozens –great grand children were all not born) My blogs shall include the whole family and latter the roots of the family shall be added.