Recollections

Harvesting

In the early fifties when I came to Pondicherry only a handful of local citizens were sympathetic towards the Ashram. On the other hand there were many who had a hostile attitude and they often tried to make some mischief or the other. Gentlemen like M. Rassendran, Dr. Purno, M. Carnaut, Mme. Subrata, some govt. officers and some others participated in all Ashram activities and functions. Some were even group members. We considered them as our own people. In that period the biggest obstacle was a political party and their leader in particular. That individual tried every possible way to hinder the smooth working of the Ashram departments having paid workers (I was told by a Sadhak who had joined the Ashram in the late thirties that the Mother was not so much interested to hire hands to do the works of the Ashram as much she was keen to help them to learn to earn his/her livelihood with dignity and self respect).

Naturally in course of time the Mother allowed the Ashram activities to expand, thus many paid workers were added. Apart from the departments there are also quite many gardens and farms: Cazanove, Riziere, High land, Irumbai, Lefaucheur and others. In some of these paddy is cultivated regularly. Thus these were a substantial number of paid workers.  These labourers were quite content to work yet at the time of harvest there would always be discontent muttering regarding payment, working hours etc, etc.

In (1954-55) this dissatisfaction took a stronger turn and the labourers decided not to harvest the paddy in Cazanove. The Mother was informed about the situation and she naturally decided that the young sadhaks and older students will do the harvesting under Mona-da’s supervision.

A notice was put up on the Ashram notice board to give names. We were eager to join, few of my friends and I. But Mona-da with a stern look pronounced, “Green group? Too young to go for this type of work.” But our friend “H” continued to plead with him; finally he said, “I shall see”. We were in tenter hooks: “Will he allow us? Will he not?”

When the list was put up on the notice board with names, we found that our names were added at the end.

On the appointed day for Harvesting we assembled near The Play Ground. A lorry and some other vehicles were there to take us to Cazanove.

Sudhir-da and Kanchan-di who lived there kept everything ready for us: sickles, ropes, strings, wheel barrow and water pots with some tumblers. After reaching Cazanove we all assembled at a prearranged spot. Mona-da explained as how the work was to proceed and we were asked to begin cutting the stocks immediately. We, being youngest of the lot were asked to move behind those who were cutting, gather them and tie to be transported to the thrashing area.

The work was a great fun! We danced, sang short snatches of this and that, pulled at each other’s heap and then tied the bundles to be taken away.

After a while a young man made us not only to make the bundles but also to carry them to the thrashing area; ignorant as we were, we lifted the stocks on our arms and in no time the arms began to itch. When we complained about that, we were advised to carry them on our head. But then the face began to itch. We dared not complain again for fear of being ridiculed by many. It would be something like this; “What? An Indian girl and you don’t know how to carry a bundle of paddy! Shame, shame on you!”

We carried quite a few bundles and then sat under a tree muttering we were tired and hungry.

The breakfast was to come from the Dining Room. In its sweet time the meal arrived and some older ladies took up the responsibility to serve. Then we began to clamor for Banana leaf. When we are eating in a field, not on a Banana leaf! The idea was rejected out right and we were scolded severely for all these demands. We were there for doing a specific job and not to have fun. It was no Picnic.

As the day progressed the work too went on quite smoothly. After our breakfast the work was taken up and Sudhir-da came to inspect the progress. For it was a already time for him to cycle down to the town and inform the Mother through Nalini-da or Amrita-da how the work was progressing.

The day didn’t pass from minute to hour but ran from morning to early after noon.

The lunch arrived the same way as breakfast. We were all dirty with mud & bits of straw. In Cazanove there is a reservoir like a pond and boys just in their shorts entered into water.

The girl had no such luck. There was a very small bathroom, possibly for Kanchandi’s use, so we all took our turn and tried to have our hands cleaned at least.

As those who were serving got impatient we hurried and took our dish and sat to eat. What a delicious lunch we had that day! It was the same routine preparation of the D.R. which when we eat in D.R. often grumble saying it was most tasteless etc.

But.....!

By late afternoon we had to stop the work as no one was allowed to miss group activities.  The next day we continued to work and by afternoon thrashing began in full swing. I don’t remember whether we had completed the harvesting i.e. cutting, thrashing, putting in the sun etc.

I believe the paid workers were rather dismayed that without their help the work was getting done & that they would profit in no way. They came to an understanding with the Ashram authorities and came back to work & completed the rest of the harvesting.

In 1972 a similar situation arose and the Mother decided that the inmates will do the harvesting. We who were having our work couldn’t join, which would mean leaving the classes. But the elders remembered what we did in the fifties and now and then one of them would say, “You too I believe had done harvesting. Do you remember!”