Mon 16th : Big debate is on. Question is
‘Chutkii’ ya ‘Kabira’.
Wed 18th : Manohar Hinduja, and Maya
Ramchand Dodeja were married for 53 years. Manoharlal died suddenly at home, on 16th. He had some
health problem for some months, few years back, he recovered from it and became
active once again. At the ripe age of 73 he still visited his 6 shops daily,
spending 30 minutes or so in each shop. Daily he climbed two stiff floors twice in a day. On
Monday, 16th in morning he called his wife and told her, I am
feeling uneasy. He took her hand and in seconds, he dropped his head and was
gone. Doctor came rushing, but he announce him dead. Dad used to say that there are
only two gentlemen and best SIL of Dodeja Khandan. One was Devidayal, SIL of
Karamchand Dodeja, married to Sarla, and other Manoharlal Hinduja, now both are
gone.
Manu – Maa – Narendra attended his ‘choitha’ in Solapur.
We started our journey at 9.30 am from Pune in Indrayani and returned by
Shatabati at late night 11.45 pm. During these 15.15 hours we were silent for only
30 minutes in Jhulelal Mandir during ‘choitha’ ceremony. In this marathon, 'talkathon', Manu must have talked for 9 hours, Lajja Dodeja for 3 hours, myself for 3 hours
and Narendra for 15 minutes, that also by way of mumbling a word or phrase, that also when directly nudged!
We reached Navjivan Society in Gurunanik Nagar, Solapur
around 2.0 pm. Just as we entered, Sangeeta & Naresh’s car also entered the
society, they have also started by car at 9.30am from Pune. I was taken back to my last visit to this place. It was during our
trip to Hydrabad in Maruti Van to attend Sapna’s wedding, during that trip also
we had reached in peak heat [40 degree] of afternoon. In last 27 years, time has frozen
there. I saw no change in society, or surroundings. Same dusty filth filled
ground on one side, sleepy road with no business activity on other side, area
was as sleepy as it was three decades back. Neighbors were like one family,
most of them wearing ‘Salwar Kurta’ for ladies and Pant – Shirt for men.
Solapur’s climate and water combination makes their skin glow with pinkish
tinge. All Men-Women had rolly-polly body structure, Fluffy, rounded cheeks in
mostly round face, with round tires in middle and plenty of flesh all around.
Manoharlal’s Choitha
was attended by huge number of citizens. Hall was filled to the capacity. Must
be around 500-700 people in all! He has three sons, all married, then brother
and his children along with business connections of last 5 decades. Then he is well respected businessman of Sindhi community in
Solapur. All this made up big number.
We returned by Shatabati departing from Solapur at 7.40. To my surprise I loved railways food served in train. Though Hindujas
gave us packed dinner for return journey, we eat food served in ‘Shatabati’. It
was simple menu, but tasty and hot. Tomato soup was excellent, Chapatis were
soft with tasty mix-vegetable Sabji, Dahi was sweet, Gulab Jamun was soft and
sweet. I skipped Dal-Chawal, which Narendra said were good. Way to good, Indian
railways.
Sat: It was Godhi Parva / Cheti Chand holiday. Lali still takes active part in Jhulelal
Mandir. When Mahendra Chawla was in-charge, one felt like taking part in its
activities. Tarwani and Lali are dedicated free fund workers available to
Mandir. The Mandir has become a good landmark for Sindhi community. Currently
Cheti Chand is celebrated by having a Sindhi songs and dance program, followed
by free Lungar bhoj. First few years we tried to Sale Books, collect data etc
but there was no response. More so, daily life struggle is high priority.
by P G Dodeja
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