भूईमूग...🌱🥜 Nostalgic..!!!

It takes me straight down memory lane, approximately 30–35 years ago, to my grandfather’s field in Tarasavanga, a small village in Wardha district, Maharashtra BHARAT.

I used to visit and help the daily-wage labourers during the groundnut harvesting season. My grandfather would also pay me for the plants I plucked, depending on their weight. An empty 15-litre oil tin was used to measure the pods in kilograms, and I used to earn 1 or 2 rupees per day back then in the late ’80s and early ’90s. What more could a 10–12-year-old child ask for..? Those days were tiring, yet truly fruitful.

Some of the pods were roasted, some were boiled right there in the field. I really enjoyed them along with the #शिदोरी (tiffin). My grandpa would carry for both of us, lovingly prepared by my granny; It included #भाकर (jowar panbread) + #झुणका mostly (sautéed gram flour porridge or seasonal veggies, dry or as a curry) with freshly prepared #घोयाना)/घोळाना (salad made from whatever vegetables were available in the field—spring onions, fenugreek leaves, tomatoes, green chilies), and rock salt if required.

Rock salt was also kept in a mud pot in the farm itself, hanging in the #मचान (tree house) built in the respective fields to keep watch on the animals and birds that used to visit in search of food.

We also had a dog called भोज्या (Bhojraj), a well-trained and robust desi breed. He was a terror for trespassers and even used to dominate a group of monkeys; Always Alert..!!! Sadly; some idiot poisoned him as my grandfather mentioned.

I also fondly remember the weekly market on tuesdays.(still followed) My grandfather would take me on his shoulders and roam through the whole market. It had a vast spread of farm fresh vegetables, farming tools, clothes, wooden toys such as bullock carts and horses, different varieties of fish (fresh catch), roosters (गावठी कोंबडं), कच्चा चिवडा, जलेबी and so on... 

ALL ORGANIC..!!! Needless to say.

I would love to mention, half of the village would come to see me off, showering me with hugs, kisses, and 1–2–5 rupee coins/notes as tokens of their blessings whenever I was ready to leave after each vacation. People were open-hearted, innocent, and simplicity was their true character back then.

My granny and aunt (आत्या) used to pack a separate bag of goodies—like the same भुईमूग (peanuts), #हरबरा (green & red gram whole), तुरीच्या शेंगा-दाणे (pigeon peas) #सत्तू (roasted gram flour, a protein-rich specially in summers) and much more...

Those days, simple yet full of life; Will stay alive in my heart always...

I still crave those days and miss my grandfather and aunt a lot. (Into stars now..🌠)

Frankly speaking, It is my dream retirement project; Establishing a farmhouse restaurant not just as an eat-out or dine-in, but also a place where people could spend quality time with their loved ones for at least half a day. Only a made to order menu will be followed.

I would bring in all my knowledge and experience from 20+ years in the food industry and will serve with the same rustic yet professional touch as did till date. The essence of all that I’ve learned and cherished throughout all these years.

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Counting Lifetime...

कर्मकवी...

भुक़ लागली..? By AFSM. ; Feeling hopeful...🤞🏼🙏🏼🤘🏼