In India passing 10th grade is a landmark event in its education system. I had taken written exams along with my fellow housing colony buddies in early1988. It was a sense of relief for each one of us to be out of vigorous ordeal of by hearting moderately sized books to score more than adequate marks for a bright future.
The time was free-wheeling and we needed to experiment. At that point of time 10th grade results would take 3 months to announce. Thanks that there were no computers in the higher secondary education dept, else there was every chance of spoiling the apple cart of free wheeling enjoyment of our motley group. It had already started raining which is quite familiar sight in the month of June in Mumbai( Bombay).
The unexpected pre-mansoon heavy showers in May had ensured several ponds where we could go out for fishing. Shailesh who belonged to Malvan region in Ratnagiri Dist of Maharashtra would go crazy after fishes. In Malvan the staple diet of locals is Fish. He knew different variety of fishes and being senior with a gym body he always had a upper hand as compared to lean brahmin boy (myself) .
His knowledge was not limited to fishes alone he would also explain us how to fish. This is where the adventure began of fishing in troubled waters. He asked to get the hook and twain needed to catch the fish. During that time the present day Gandhi nagar in Dombivili town used to be open field with trees dotted at the periphery. But now the very place is concrete jungle depriving me of refreshing my childhood days. And even bicyle was a luxury and we set out on foot with a clear goal in our mind to reach out those hapless earth worms who would be picked up as per our fishing mentor instructions. Shailesh was a man with high level of common sense. He knew what the fish liked. Earthworms!
With bare hands we pulled out that hapless creatures out of their comfort zone and put them in the small bottle. Shailesh took us to the distant pond where he used to go for fishing on weekend. Within few minutes he got his first catch of the day. We adored his skills and tried our hand in vain. But soon his on the job training helped us to gain enough confidence to fish on our own.
Suddenly we got one big fish weighing nearly 500 gms plus. On the spot Shailesh decided that he wanted to eat for himself. I became nervous as being a casteist brahmin to the core this revolt was signifying things which were just indicators what was expected of me.
The upbringing ensured that Non-Veg was bad and I trusted them to the core. Coming from the priestly family made things difficult in such situations. But the exhilaration and the adventure took us in different milieu. Shailesh took us to his friends place. The frying pan was handy so was the salt and pepper. Frying the fish was difficult to watch as I was not accustomed and the smell emanating from it made me uneasy.
But I had to show that I was brave. After preparing the fish and garnishing with coriander leaves with a tinge of lemon it, was ready. He offered me the small piece of fish. By now I was palpitating. I remembered my father mother and I felt I was doing something wrong. But I had to show that I was brave. I did not want the guilt to overpower my adventure.Lot went through me and as a act of courage I took small morsel of fish.
By the time I returned home I was down with fever. It remained unexplained why? Probably guilt took me over. that was the last time i ever had fish or non veg.
The time was free-wheeling and we needed to experiment. At that point of time 10th grade results would take 3 months to announce. Thanks that there were no computers in the higher secondary education dept, else there was every chance of spoiling the apple cart of free wheeling enjoyment of our motley group. It had already started raining which is quite familiar sight in the month of June in Mumbai( Bombay).
The unexpected pre-mansoon heavy showers in May had ensured several ponds where we could go out for fishing. Shailesh who belonged to Malvan region in Ratnagiri Dist of Maharashtra would go crazy after fishes. In Malvan the staple diet of locals is Fish. He knew different variety of fishes and being senior with a gym body he always had a upper hand as compared to lean brahmin boy (myself) .
His knowledge was not limited to fishes alone he would also explain us how to fish. This is where the adventure began of fishing in troubled waters. He asked to get the hook and twain needed to catch the fish. During that time the present day Gandhi nagar in Dombivili town used to be open field with trees dotted at the periphery. But now the very place is concrete jungle depriving me of refreshing my childhood days. And even bicyle was a luxury and we set out on foot with a clear goal in our mind to reach out those hapless earth worms who would be picked up as per our fishing mentor instructions. Shailesh was a man with high level of common sense. He knew what the fish liked. Earthworms!
With bare hands we pulled out that hapless creatures out of their comfort zone and put them in the small bottle. Shailesh took us to the distant pond where he used to go for fishing on weekend. Within few minutes he got his first catch of the day. We adored his skills and tried our hand in vain. But soon his on the job training helped us to gain enough confidence to fish on our own.
Suddenly we got one big fish weighing nearly 500 gms plus. On the spot Shailesh decided that he wanted to eat for himself. I became nervous as being a casteist brahmin to the core this revolt was signifying things which were just indicators what was expected of me.
The upbringing ensured that Non-Veg was bad and I trusted them to the core. Coming from the priestly family made things difficult in such situations. But the exhilaration and the adventure took us in different milieu. Shailesh took us to his friends place. The frying pan was handy so was the salt and pepper. Frying the fish was difficult to watch as I was not accustomed and the smell emanating from it made me uneasy.
But I had to show that I was brave. After preparing the fish and garnishing with coriander leaves with a tinge of lemon it, was ready. He offered me the small piece of fish. By now I was palpitating. I remembered my father mother and I felt I was doing something wrong. But I had to show that I was brave. I did not want the guilt to overpower my adventure.Lot went through me and as a act of courage I took small morsel of fish.
By the time I returned home I was down with fever. It remained unexplained why? Probably guilt took me over. that was the last time i ever had fish or non veg.
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