New Staff, A gift for our Driver and Diwali

October 26, 2016

Our new gardener is terrific. Tilakram comes by daily and cleans the beds and yard, sweeps the drive way, waters and has trimmed all the bushes that needed it like someone who knows what they are doing. Narian is no Sankar when it comes to cleaning but I don’t have to worry about him stealing from me although I make sure to not temp him by leaving my purse out. I also don’t think I will have weekly dramas with Narian like I did with Sankar. That is worth a lot.

On Saturday we ventured into Old Town to look for some antique copper shops but were unsuccessful. We went to the area where they were located and wandered down narrow streets, too narrow for cars but two wheelers (motorcycles) and three wheelers (auto rickshaws) could squeeze through. I again had the overwhelming feeling that I was in a movie about India. All the components were there: jammed packed narrow lanes with shops, people, cows, mangy street dogs, too many vehicles going too fast, too many horns honking continuously, breathing exhaust fumes, smelling cow poop and food being cooked with garlic and onions. At one point a three wheeler and a small lorry tried to pass each other and got lodged. We couldn’t even walk around them. That’s how tight the space was on this narrow lane. We walked fearing for our lives…well maybe that is a slight exaggeration. And it was hot. Did I mention we still have daily temps in the low to mid 90’s? I keep thinking it is summer until I see PBS’s News Hour with reporters in jackets. We found many shops selling brass idols but no antique shops selling copper.

On Sunday we treated ourselves to massages at the Hyatt, just as expensive as the US but well worth the splurge.

Last week Rahul, our driver, found out his dad has about six months to live. He has 25% of his kidney function, has a heart condition and is diabetic. He is in his late 60’s I think. Rahul was teary eyed when he told us. He asked if we would allow him to borrow the car to take his dad to see a temple that is 200 km away. He said he could not afford the petrol and would need to borrow money for that as well. Ron and I talked it over and suggested he take a holiday with his dad, all expenses paid by us. We told him to book a hotel because driving the distance there and back in one day would be exhausting for his dad. Rahul resisted but I convinced him when I asked ‘When was the last time your family had a vacation and stayed in a hotel?’ Well the answer was ‘never’. I said ‘then why would you deny him this special time with you?’  We also encouraged him to go now while his dad could travel as his condition could worsen at any time. So they left on Sunday and returned on Monday, taking their wives and seeing three Hindu temples. Rahul was thrilled he got to have this special time with his family. Rahul sees himself as part owner of the car because he intends to buy it when we leave India and he plans to become an Uber driver. His uncle is driving for them and making very good money, over two and a half times what Rahul’s income is. I told Rahul I would save all the brochures we have picked up at our local and out of town sights for him to use as part of his business. I keep telling him he can become a knowledgeable tourist guide. His English skills will be a great asset. 

Saturday we leave for a seven day trip to Nagaland and Kolkata, both on the east side of India. Nagaland is in the extreme NE. There are 16 Naga tribes and in 1953 they stopped the practice of headhunting. The Christian missionaries somehow convinced them. The last incident was in 1963. Several years ago we visited a shop in Yangon, Myanmar that specialized in ethnic textiles and tribal items. Our first trip we bought a Naga warrior’s belt that has a wood scabbard to hold the dao, the knife used in head hunting. On our second trip a year or so later, we purchased a Naga helmet made of gourd, horse and goat hair and wild boar tusks. It is quite something.

 When we found out we were coming to India, Ron got excited about being able to purchase a dao so Nagaland has been on our list of places to visit while here. I also would like to buy a tribal robe if possible. These are hand woven, most often in red and black and sometimes with cowry shells sewn in stick figures. We will visit three or four villages while there. It is mountainous and wet, and I think we may even get cold there. So we are taking jeans instead of our light cottons we wear here. Sweaters and jackets will get packed as well.  

From Nagaland we will go to Kolkata and spend three days there exploring this large city. Ron has the entire week off for Diwali. Here is Wikipedia’s Diwali description:

 "One of the major festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair.^[7][8][9] Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed.^[10] The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartika in Bikram Sambat calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Before Diwali night, people clean, renovate, and decorate their homes and offices.^[11] On Diwali night, people dress up in new clothes or their best outfit, light up diyas (lamps and candles) inside and outside their home, participate in family puja (prayers) typically to Lakshmi – the goddess of fertility and prosperity. After puja, fireworks follow,^[12] then a family feast including mithai (sweets), and an exchange of gifts between family members and close friends. Deepavali also marks a major shopping period in nations where it is celebrated.^[13]"

Ron and I prepared by getting gift baskets made for his colleagues at CEPT, 12 in all and for two for neighbors. In addition it is customary to give money to staff so Rahul will receive half of his monthly salary on top of his pay, our two new guys will receive a token since they just started working here. We are giving money to the four people who sweep the entire complex twice daily.

I teased Badlani, Kamla’s husband because they have a large staff, give many gifts and Amit, their son, has 18 employees and numerous clients to give gifts to. Kamla works very hard to make home made treats for all. She gave us a box of incredible chocolates she had made. She made over 24 pounds of individually wrapped chocolates!  So I told Bandlani if he needed to take out a loan to pay for all this, the Bergmans’ would help. His response was since we are so loved he would never want to give back such a ‘gift’ as our loan. It would be rude. We all laughed at that.