फ्रॉम अरुण's writings

WE DONOT FIT IN YOUR BAGS

Our Latur Tahsil Science March was a different experiment. We had previously organized Maharashtra Vidnyan March 1 and 2. But they were well planned. Pilot tours, pilot cars, welcome committees, well organized welcome functions, planned serially arranged science events and farewell programmes, press conferences, news with photographs in next day's newspapers---well! We were Narcissus! Satisfied with our work!
But Latur Vidnyan March was quite different! In total we were 20 to 25 volunteers traveling in a troop from one village to other – walking or by any available vehicle – sometimes in a bullock cart or tractortrailor. We had planned this vidnyan yatra without any plan.
Those were hot summer days and nights in May vacation! Our vidnyan Jathha was composed of young scientists volunteers and Engineering and Science college students – boys and girls from Solapur, Latur, Aurangabad, Pune, Mumbai. One stay in one village. No pre-information to the villagers – nothing! Usually we stayed in primary school or a temple situated on one side of the village. There we organized Science Exhibition during the day and open science meeting with slide show at night. In the next morning decided the next village. Our subjects were –Water and Land Management, Energy Crisis, Women Health, World Peace etc. etc. ----- means what we knew!
That day, one tractor driver had given us lift. We stopped the tractor when we saw the nameplate of a village and got down. We walked towards the village without giving a second thought. It was a dusty road. The village was two km.s ahead. We had a lot of luggage. One haversack on back, exhibition luggage, and many bags hanging on the bamboo the ends of which were resting on two persons' shoulders. Our procession was an exhibit in itself! Our faces were tanned, unshaved with flying uncombed hair,, dusty clothes, rough genes, language of collegiate, jokes, laughter and all! That group passing through the village was so unusually different that passers by used to stop and stare. Children formed group and came behind us. Dogs started barking at us. But now we were accustomed to it.
Passers by used to ask, 'Which show have you brought? When are you going to play it?'
'This is Vidnyan March.'
'Means?'
'It is Moving Science Exhibition'
'Then why are you wandering on streets like hawkers? Schools have their vacation long back. This is not the proper time for science exhibition! The headmaster is also not here! Now go and meet the head of the village. It seems you have not given any prior intimation.'
"Science is present in schools and colleges only. Science Exhibition = School", this is the fix equation! Others have no role!
We said, 'Okay' and moved along and reached the destination – village! As usual the water stream, Hanuman temple and school were welcoming us.
We kept our luggage in the Hanuman temple. In the neighborhood there was two- roomed school and a veterinary dispensary. We arranged the poster exhibition hurriedly, kept the rice and other cooking stuff in solar cookers and placed them in the sun outside. My wife Sumangala and other girls accompanying us went in the village to intimate the village women about the exhibition. Boys and other volunteers went to survey the wells in the village and to take bath. I was sitting there alone looking after the luggage. I unpacked the slides' boxes from my bag. Last night at the time of slide show, all the slides were intermingled. They were to be classified subject-wise and numerically.
I spread out one drawing paper in my front, piled the slides on it, and started lining the slides neatly after minutely observing each slide. The commentary of the slide show was also taking shape in my mind.
Now, the news of arrival of some show in the village was spread in the village and a herd of twenty five to thirty children gathered around the verandah. After some time, they developed the courage, flocked near me and started pushing each other – two children almost fell on me!
For them, I was a very interesting specimen with my beard, genes pant, cap! 'Mama, which cinema have you brought? Is it Sholay? Are there Dhrmendra, Hemamalini? Tell us! When are you going to show it? Your films also look funny. Are you going to show them one by one? Where is your machine?' I was not paying any attention. So the children's chaos increased further.
At last one bodybuilder who had come to the temple, pitied me and shouted so loudly that the children fled away instantaneously with their legs in the air. That strong man opened the veterinary dispensary for me and instructed me to work in the dispensary and to lock the door from inside. I compiled all luggage, went in the dispensary, locked the door
& was engrossed in my work again. But from the backside window, a shower of gravel, mango and tamarind seeds was coming in my direction. I got annoyed, turned in that direction and saw a seven to eight years small girl hanging on the window with her elder brother – nine to ten years old - holding her and enabling her to climb from beneath. All the other members of their gang were standing at a distance. I was angry and shouted so loudly that the girl fell down on the ground but then got up again, ran with her brother and joined the group.
Same incidence repeated again. It was very irritating! I emptied a huge N.C.C. kit bag of one volunteer, ran out with the bag in hand towards them and shouted, - 'If anybody troubles me now, I shall bag him and shall take him with me.'
Now the children were really frightened! ---- I worked for half an hour in peace! Again two goti mangoes (small local variety of mango – small as a marble and very sweet) came into my direction and hit me. The same girl was in the window. Torn frock, flying hair, some hair in the mouth, watering nose, mango juice dried on the lips, but eyes very sharp and naughty! 'O Mama, we do not fit into your bag! How can you take with you? hai!' I ran towards the window and she again joined the flock of children.
The children saw me in the window and started a chorus,- 'O Mama, your bag cannot contain us! Bag does not contain!' As if they have understood how to tease me! I ran again with the bag in my hand. Again they teased me! ------
They did not leave the volunteers coming back! When Sumangala and girls returned, the children circled them and the chorus song – we do not fit in your bag – was started! They could not understand, which bag, how the children do not fit, what is the meaning? When I explained, they also found it very funny. One of our volunteer took the bag in his hands and started the same play with the children. After a while, the children found it boring and peace was restored!
That day's exhibition was concluded. There was science meeting at night. As usual we hooked the electricity pole and performed the slide show, sang songs. Do not know how much people understood but we were continuing our preaching! We were teaching them 'wisdom'. We were not aware of how many were listening because when our slide show was over and the big lamp was on, we found that leaving few of us awake, all others were engrossed in sound sleep!! In those summer days cool breeze was blowing at night. Sound instantaneous sleep was the gift of all day's hard work for all the people there! Our commentary must be like a lullaby for them!
The head of the village commented, "Our village is like that only! Tasteless people! Tomorrow I shall arrange for a bullock cart to leave you at Borgaon. Now pack and sleep!" He was also awakened from his sleep.
Next day we packed our luggage in the bullock-cart, some girls sitting in it, we were walking behind it. The cart-road was passing through the neighborhood of village.
Suddenly a voice reached us, "O Mama! We do not fit in your bags!" I saw up and found the same girl. She was standing on the terrace of one old built in bricks, fallen house. She had just waken up and brushing her teeth with powder. She was a show-piece herself! We all laughed loudly and looked at our bags, suitcases and other luggage.
It is true, my girl! You do not fit in our bags – and it is the nicest truth! Some of our bags are black, some red, some blue, some saphron colored, some attractively painted. We try to fit in people into our bags with force! People do not fit it them, especially children – NO!
Twenty years have passed! I have also not fitted myself into any 'City-based' institution or organization bag. Came out of them struggling. At last reached Ankoli from Delhi. I owe all this to that small girl. She has taught us the real science communication - and now?
We do not fit into any of your bags!
It is the truth! Science movement, alternative technology is far ahead of present tense. Some ideas are many decades ahead! They do not fit in any bag or container. They do not fit in government khaki bags, voluntary organisation's khadi bags, shabnams – of red, pink, blue, green, saphron, multicolored –-- they want no barriers! Now-a-days all those colours also have no meaning as such! They are intermingled together. Like Newton's seven coloured disc,they are blended together to form a white collared colour! It is a very parasite colour and it is not at all concerned with the colours of actual working or productive class. In the stroboscopic light of polls they seem different! At all other times, their container is white coloured. All these bags are now converting into white flags.
Mahatma Gandhi had not operated his charakha to spin this type of white cloth! He himself could not fit into any bag!
We were also compelled to fit into many different coloured, different shaped bags and containers many times, when unfit, to cut our hands, legs, wings so that we can fit in the bags. But we came out – many times tearing the bags and respired freely.
NOW WE DO NOT FIT INTO ANY OF YOUR BAG!

19 comments:

yogik said...

Sir, i read your book. I really liked it. As I am an architecture student, I enjoyed your views on contemporary practices and are really important for us.Every article turns you 360 degree. Thank you very much.
Can i visit ankoli? I would like to know about your projects and experiments.
Thank you.
Yogesh Kurhade.

Hi, Arun Kaka,
Mi tumhala te olkhate te Dr.Anil Avchatanchya pustakatun.
Mala tumhi solapoorat kelele prayog vachyala avdatil. Tyat alele anubhav aamchyashi share kara asa mala vatat

skumar said...

sir,
Mala tumchya prayoganbaddal Dr.Anil Avchat ani Dr. Abhay Bang yanchya likhanatun mahitee milaiee.
Tumche prayog baghanyachee khup utsukta ahe. Amcha ek trekking group ahe "Nisargabhraman" ani tyadware amhee PEB ya killyavar kahee vaneekarnache prayog karat ahot.Tyasathee tumache kahee margadarshan have ahe.amhala ankoleela yayala avadel tar tumacha contact number milela ka?

yogesh said...

Hello sir, i m the student of Bharat Ratna Indra college solapur doing M.B.A. Few days ago we r visited ur `Solarpur' Farm.That is the ever green experience of my life . I learn that, how we can live without the electricity petrol, gas? How we can find the way for load shedding, shortage of petrol? but sir i m having some question and that is i want ask to u.
1. Our solapur is desert area then what is the precaution should be taken for avoiding the same?
2. sir just im completed B.pharm then what is my role in that
3. im from the rural area, ur thought r not easily accepting there then how i can convince to them

Unknown said...

Hi Arun dada , I would like to visit Ankoli and see your project what to do ? How do I come ?

Unknown said...

Dear Arun Sir

Namaskar from another Deshpande :-)
I have done my post-graduation in Environment Sciences and involved in environment education. However, unable to fit into any 'bag' and totally confused. I have resigned from my present job and looking ahead for a break to rethink about many issues that haunt me. I will be grateful if you can let me spend some time with you to discuss this and experience Solarpur. I have read 'Karyarat' a hundred times and it keeps me going. I am trying to find your contact number and I am reachable at amar.deshpande@gmail.com and 98508 37149.

amity said...

Dear Deshpande Sir,

Could you please give me some more info on the chemical -Evalock- used to reduce the water evaporation?

We need to use something like it to stop evaporation in our Shet-TaLe.

Thanking in anticipation

Unknown said...

arun kaka arun kaka tumachi tabet kashi ahe ata bare watate na 5 koti lit chi water bank badal mala mahiti milel ka kokanat karawe mhanato

Unknown said...

I & my family want to visit ankoli for your project, sir,
Vaibhav

Swanand said...

namaskaar Arun kaka,
Mi bangalore javaleel eka gavaat mi kahi sudharaneche prayatna karat aahe. gaavaat pavasachya panyaavar Bhuimug ghetale jaatat. Itar veli jameen padun asate. tyavar 'hamaata' saarakhe gavat lavata yeil ka? Pudhil peraichya veli tech gavat jamineet gadun khat mhanun vaparata yeil ka? gavatache beej kuthe milu shakel? Bhuimug solayache yantra aahe ka? Aapala e-mail ID dilyas savistar charcha karata yeil.
Dhanyawaad.

good !
i have read that book . as wel as it is heard in your typical flowing language sitting in front of you.
you are always great.

Manisha / Soudagar Kulal

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Namaskar Sir
Majhi tumchyashi olakh Anil Awachat Siranchya pustkatunah jhali.
Yacha prachand anand hotoy k ushira ka hoina pan tumchi olakh jhali.
Tya pustakat dilela tumcha pratyek prayog imagine karat karatach prachand bharavun gele.
me upsc through career karnyasathi prayatna karit ahe. pratyek administrator ni 'karyakarta' asave ase amhi aikato ani ase khup jan bhetatat hi. tumchyasarkhya innovative karyakaratyachya 'karyaratateche' kautuk karave tewdhe thodech ahe.

tumche prayog baghayala yenyachi ani shakyatopari tyawar ammal karanyachi ichcha ahe. lawakarach ti sandhi milawi ashi ichacha.

big fan of yours...
bhetutach...

your wellwisher
Snehalata Rajaram Kumbhar

Sir ,
I am Ravindra Anekar ,

I know you from Dr Anil Avchat S article on you in Sakal Diwali .

I need your help for the name of injection u used for dehydrate plants for your dome structure .

pls help .

Ravindra Anekar
8975157874 /9049000349

Global Kokan said...

Sir, Dr.Anil Avchatanchya "Karyarat" madhun mala tumachya karyachi mahiti milali. Mala aani majhya AAila Ankolila yevun tumache karya pratyakshya baghanyachi iicchha aahe..
Yetya April (April 2012) mahinya madhye yevu shakato ka?

archana said...

Sir,

I am from solapur but currently lives in pune.When I saw the news of water storage and a person from solapur I felt very happy and proud.

I want to migrate to solapur and want to do something in the farming sector and need your suuport and ur guidance.

I want to meet you is it possible?

archana said...

Sir,

I am from solapur but currently lives in pune.When I saw the news of water storage and a person from solapur I felt very happy and proud.

I want to migrate to solapur and want to do something in the farming sector and need your suuport and ur guidance.

I want to meet you is it possible?

I am exited when I come to know about water banks project from your interview with Kolhapur Akashwani. This could really remove the drought form Maharashtra. I am surprised why Government is not following your way to overcome the drought situation.

Gajanan Patil.

I am exited when I come to know about water banks project from your interview with Kolhapur Akashwani. This could really remove the drought form Maharashtra. I am surprised why Government is not following your way to overcome the drought situation.

Gajanan Patil.