September, 2001
Excuse me Sir, Can you please tell me from where can i have the bus for V.C. farm. The person clad in lungi and having a towel on his shoulder replied smilingly, "Sar , english gotila sar"(i dont know english sir). I felt so pitty about myself, where have i come? how would i interact with others? Then suddenly, he patted on my back and said, "V.C. farm, banni (come). " I followed him towards the bus stop and took the bus and reached V.C. farm, the place where i am going to stay for four long years to study agriculture. Only god knows what have i studied? Next day, during our orientation, we were visiting the farm and i again had an encounter with him,later i came to know his name, "Shashidhara". now it had become a routine, everyday he will greet me smilingly while going to college, "Namaskara Sar, chanagidira?"And in response, i will smile back to him.
It was 7 in the morning, when my friend entered the room and shouted in ecstacy, "hey we are going to have a holiday for atleast one week." "Why?" I asked. He said , because there is dispute over kavery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It was the first time i have heard someone fighting over water issue.As i am from the state (Bihar) where abundancy of wateri n form of flood took all the credit. really India signfies unity in diversity. Then holiday for one week was announced by the university following the orders from government in response to the agitations from the farmers of the southern region of the Karnataka. It was the time when i and Shashi came to know each other better and in the course, i also learnt a bit of kannada, which till date i used to speak with my kannadiga friends.
One day, i along with one of my friend, rajesh A.M. were moving around the fields of ragi, where we noticed wilted plants.I asked him, "rajesha, ragi is a drought tolerant crop na, then also its showing drying symptoms. See." He replied, "dear, farm has not received any water for more than a month, then how can you expect any greenery across the fields." Something striked in my mind. What about Shashi? He is growing sugarcane and that needs abundant water. I soon decided to visit him and went to the research station where he used to work. The moment i enquired, I saw him coming out from the lab wiping his sweat and greeting me in his unique style. I smiled and asked,"if you have finished your work then can you give me company to cafetaria." He followed me and asked if there was any reason i have come here. I replied nothing important, just wanted to walk around. I felt that i am not talking to the same shahshi, i used to. I asked," Shashi, how is your crop?" He replied, "Sar what crop sar,i have incorporated that back to the soil. As there is no irrigation facilty, i have taken a loan of rs 24000 and for further cultivation i need another 30000. And due to lack of irrigation, all these will be sunk cost." i again asked if he has taken any loan last year as there was drought last year also. he replied, "Yes Sar, i have taken 50000 which now amounts to 74000, i have not returned a single paise. And how will i be able to, i am getting only 4000 per month from the research station, have to feed 2 children and my better half." I looked into his eyes, i could feel the wrath of drought but doubt if the intensity was only that i have noticed.
Few weeks later, we were playing football, i kicked hard and it went making a trajectory into the canal, SPLOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHH !!!!!! it was in the water. I shouted, "hey we are getting water now, we are getting water now." Every body stared at me and started laughing, then i came to know that i am the last person to know that water supply had resumed to the farm last night only.After the session, i decided to pay a visit to shashi. The thought came and he was infront of me. I thought, "badi lambi umar hai." he smiled as he understood what i was thinking. I asked, if he had started preparing his field. he said, "yes sar, and this year i will take 15 acres of land on lease also. i will repay all my loans. i have to get my daughter readmitted in the school, Sar." I prayed, "may god shower his blessings in the form of rain this year."
First year of my course went smoothly, i have also visited back to my native and returned back in august. during my return journey, i was witnessing water all over the fields of Bihar, west bengal. Then i entered Andhra, Tamil nadu and finally karnataka. There were no signs of water, soil were cracked, crops were wilting. I looked in the sky, asking the almighty, "AGAIN?" later during my journey from Mandya city to V.C. farm, i kept on trying to look for the water in canal but was unable to have any glance as the bus was heavily crowded. Finally when i got down, it was a relief, not from the overcrowded bus but to see the running water in the canal. A smile passed by my lips.
It was good to see all my friends back from the home, some were giggling, sharing stories of their locality and many other topics to share.But my eyes were searching for Shashi. And as always there he was. before i could express anything, he said. "Sar, this year i am going to have the record production. I have also talked to the sugar mill and they are giving good prices." I looked at him and then up above the sky.
Months passed and it was october, the time when there were severe drought last year. And the condition was no different this year. There were discussions in political galleries over kavery water sharing formula. Politicians from karnataka were apprehensive of Supreme court's decision to release water for Tamil nadu and it happened. Supreme court ordered Karnataka to release water from krishna raj sagar dam to tamil nadu. AND then the protest started, buses were burnt, theatres attacked, shops were closed and curfew was declared in Mandya. Again holiday for us, but no one among us had any sign of joy, as we all were concerned about the crops since we had our crop production course where we had been cultivating crops on our own. Hence we were having some degree of familarity with the feelings of farmers. And the scenario was really worse than before because the region was facing drought for 3 consecutive years.
It was tea tine, we were having discussion on Karnataka's stand over kaveri water sharing with tamilnadu and the measures that government should take to alleviate the woes of farmers. Someone said, "governmet should waive all farmers loan." And it did happen, Government had announced the same at 7:30 in the morning. We all were dancing and soon i realised that i have not met shashi for last 10-12 days. I was moving towards the staff quarter. I was taking big steps and my heart was pumping fast. I was so delighted with the thought that i will give the news to him. Soon, i saw a crowd infront of his quarter. I thought, "uff, again i missed, why am i always late?"
But this time i was really too late. there was a body lying on the ground infront of my eyes. I was frozen. Shashidhara had committed suicide. He is nomore to adress"SAR". i heard someone saying, "he was having a loan of 134000 rs." his daughter was sitting there with a book in her hand. the baby boy was crying for her mother without knowing for whom should he really cry. And Padmaja, her better half was no more better. She was leaning against a wall and looking above penetrating deep into the sky.
I was trying to hide myself and..tears rolled down my cheek.........
Excuse me Sir, Can you please tell me from where can i have the bus for V.C. farm. The person clad in lungi and having a towel on his shoulder replied smilingly, "Sar , english gotila sar"(i dont know english sir). I felt so pitty about myself, where have i come? how would i interact with others? Then suddenly, he patted on my back and said, "V.C. farm, banni (come). " I followed him towards the bus stop and took the bus and reached V.C. farm, the place where i am going to stay for four long years to study agriculture. Only god knows what have i studied? Next day, during our orientation, we were visiting the farm and i again had an encounter with him,later i came to know his name, "Shashidhara". now it had become a routine, everyday he will greet me smilingly while going to college, "Namaskara Sar, chanagidira?"And in response, i will smile back to him.
It was 7 in the morning, when my friend entered the room and shouted in ecstacy, "hey we are going to have a holiday for atleast one week." "Why?" I asked. He said , because there is dispute over kavery river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It was the first time i have heard someone fighting over water issue.As i am from the state (Bihar) where abundancy of wateri n form of flood took all the credit. really India signfies unity in diversity. Then holiday for one week was announced by the university following the orders from government in response to the agitations from the farmers of the southern region of the Karnataka. It was the time when i and Shashi came to know each other better and in the course, i also learnt a bit of kannada, which till date i used to speak with my kannadiga friends.
One day, i along with one of my friend, rajesh A.M. were moving around the fields of ragi, where we noticed wilted plants.I asked him, "rajesha, ragi is a drought tolerant crop na, then also its showing drying symptoms. See." He replied, "dear, farm has not received any water for more than a month, then how can you expect any greenery across the fields." Something striked in my mind. What about Shashi? He is growing sugarcane and that needs abundant water. I soon decided to visit him and went to the research station where he used to work. The moment i enquired, I saw him coming out from the lab wiping his sweat and greeting me in his unique style. I smiled and asked,"if you have finished your work then can you give me company to cafetaria." He followed me and asked if there was any reason i have come here. I replied nothing important, just wanted to walk around. I felt that i am not talking to the same shahshi, i used to. I asked," Shashi, how is your crop?" He replied, "Sar what crop sar,i have incorporated that back to the soil. As there is no irrigation facilty, i have taken a loan of rs 24000 and for further cultivation i need another 30000. And due to lack of irrigation, all these will be sunk cost." i again asked if he has taken any loan last year as there was drought last year also. he replied, "Yes Sar, i have taken 50000 which now amounts to 74000, i have not returned a single paise. And how will i be able to, i am getting only 4000 per month from the research station, have to feed 2 children and my better half." I looked into his eyes, i could feel the wrath of drought but doubt if the intensity was only that i have noticed.
Few weeks later, we were playing football, i kicked hard and it went making a trajectory into the canal, SPLOOOOOOOOOOSHHHHH !!!!!! it was in the water. I shouted, "hey we are getting water now, we are getting water now." Every body stared at me and started laughing, then i came to know that i am the last person to know that water supply had resumed to the farm last night only.After the session, i decided to pay a visit to shashi. The thought came and he was infront of me. I thought, "badi lambi umar hai." he smiled as he understood what i was thinking. I asked, if he had started preparing his field. he said, "yes sar, and this year i will take 15 acres of land on lease also. i will repay all my loans. i have to get my daughter readmitted in the school, Sar." I prayed, "may god shower his blessings in the form of rain this year."
First year of my course went smoothly, i have also visited back to my native and returned back in august. during my return journey, i was witnessing water all over the fields of Bihar, west bengal. Then i entered Andhra, Tamil nadu and finally karnataka. There were no signs of water, soil were cracked, crops were wilting. I looked in the sky, asking the almighty, "AGAIN?" later during my journey from Mandya city to V.C. farm, i kept on trying to look for the water in canal but was unable to have any glance as the bus was heavily crowded. Finally when i got down, it was a relief, not from the overcrowded bus but to see the running water in the canal. A smile passed by my lips.
It was good to see all my friends back from the home, some were giggling, sharing stories of their locality and many other topics to share.But my eyes were searching for Shashi. And as always there he was. before i could express anything, he said. "Sar, this year i am going to have the record production. I have also talked to the sugar mill and they are giving good prices." I looked at him and then up above the sky.
Months passed and it was october, the time when there were severe drought last year. And the condition was no different this year. There were discussions in political galleries over kavery water sharing formula. Politicians from karnataka were apprehensive of Supreme court's decision to release water for Tamil nadu and it happened. Supreme court ordered Karnataka to release water from krishna raj sagar dam to tamil nadu. AND then the protest started, buses were burnt, theatres attacked, shops were closed and curfew was declared in Mandya. Again holiday for us, but no one among us had any sign of joy, as we all were concerned about the crops since we had our crop production course where we had been cultivating crops on our own. Hence we were having some degree of familarity with the feelings of farmers. And the scenario was really worse than before because the region was facing drought for 3 consecutive years.
It was tea tine, we were having discussion on Karnataka's stand over kaveri water sharing with tamilnadu and the measures that government should take to alleviate the woes of farmers. Someone said, "governmet should waive all farmers loan." And it did happen, Government had announced the same at 7:30 in the morning. We all were dancing and soon i realised that i have not met shashi for last 10-12 days. I was moving towards the staff quarter. I was taking big steps and my heart was pumping fast. I was so delighted with the thought that i will give the news to him. Soon, i saw a crowd infront of his quarter. I thought, "uff, again i missed, why am i always late?"
But this time i was really too late. there was a body lying on the ground infront of my eyes. I was frozen. Shashidhara had committed suicide. He is nomore to adress"SAR". i heard someone saying, "he was having a loan of 134000 rs." his daughter was sitting there with a book in her hand. the baby boy was crying for her mother without knowing for whom should he really cry. And Padmaja, her better half was no more better. She was leaning against a wall and looking above penetrating deep into the sky.
I was trying to hide myself and..tears rolled down my cheek.........
