Thursday, October 3, 2024

158. Oh Brother!

 Oh Brother!

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Vimal Satpute 81+

Contributed by: Maureen and Ajay Satpute.

Shrimati Vimal Satpute (née Vimal Sriram Aher), at 81+, is an active and beloved member of her community. She regularly practices yoga and pranayama, takes long walks, and is always there to lend a helping hand. Known for her joyful spirit, she has a strong circle of friends and has supported many women in need with advice, meals, and care. Music and dance are her passions, and she loves being part of community activities. Born in Akola, Vimal attended the high school-- Manutai Kanya Shala, a girls’ grade school. Here, she shares two of her cherished memories.

Vimal reflects on two pivotal moments from her life where her brothers came through for her. Watch her narrate the events in her uniquely engaging style at the links below. Her two-part narration begins with an introduction in Marathi followed by a narration in English--

Narration Part 1:

 
 Narration Part 2:
 

Brief Summary of the narrations:

The first is about her struggle for education. Her family, mainly her elder brother and the middle uncle, strongly opposed her attending college with boys. He worried about her safety and what society might say. Upset and frustrated, Vimal withdrew from talking, even stopping eating, which deeply worried her mother. But her brother, Arvind, stepped in. Secretly, he arranged for her college admission, convincing their father to let Vimal accompany him under the guise of helping him set up his apartment. When their uncle eventually confronted them, scolding Arvind for defying tradition, Vimal felt guilty. But Arvind reassured her, and she went on to complete her first year of college.

The second memory revolves around her marriage to Bhaskar, a friend of her brother. As a newlywed in a traditional household, she faced many challenges. Bhaskar left for the U.S. for further education shortly after they married, leaving Vimal to manage his family. At first, she felt out of place and longed to continue her studies. Over time, she found small ways to break free from the strict norms, like taking her sister-in-law on outings to the library and college grounds. Despite some resistance, she was eventually able to resume her studies with the support of her brother, who brought her back to their family home. Despite the hurdles of war and other obstacles, she completed part of her education before joining Bhaskar in the U.S.

Her message to younger generations is simple: Complaints will always be there but if you have a positive outlook on life, life is beautiful!.

We, the team at Thousand Full Moons, are grateful to Vimal for sharing these beautiful memories and wish her continued health, happiness, and peace!

 


Sunday, August 27, 2023

157. 1964: A Love Story in LIC!


 

1964: A Love Story in LIC!

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Kunda Kapadia, 81+
Contributed by: Rohini

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Kunda Kapadia 81+

Contributed by: Rohini

Shrimati Kunda Kapadia Knee Kunda Godbole was born in November 1941. Her father was an advocate and a freedom fighter. Mother was a homemaker and a proponent of education. Kunda was one of the seven siblings.

She shares the story of how she met her husband and overcame obstacles to marry him.

It so happened that Kunda, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, accepted a job in the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). As she and her boss got to know each other over the course of the next three years, they developed a fondness for each other. He would ask her out to eat dinner, watch a movie, or go on an outing, but she consistently turned him down as she did not see herself doing that. One day, she was direct: if he continued these invitations, she wouldn't agree. He responded casually, asking if she'd consider being his life partner. Her answer? An immediate yes!

The young couple was happy and elated, but there was a problem. She was a Maharashtrian, and he was a Gujarati. The year was 1964, and a girl and a boy entering a self-arranged love marriage was not common. Her mother was vehemently opposed to the idea, while her father, a progressive, was in favor and morally supported her. He was unable to take the lead and see the wedding through as he had completely lost his vision due to an accident.

Kunda’s eldest brother took the initiative and stood by her assuring her of all his support. The boy’s father was fully on board, but the mother was not too much in favor of this alliance. Kunda tried to convince her mother of the soundness of her decision to no avail but was firm in her choice and decided to go ahead with her wedding without her mother’s blessing.

She was married in a small ceremony in the presence of a few close relatives. The couple could inform their LIC colleagues after the fact, and since they did not see Kunda continuing as a subordinate to her new husband at work, she resigned from her job.

Kunda, with the help of her mother-in-law, learned the new language, cooking, and the culture and became a strong pillar of her new family. She fully supported her husband’s independent consulting practice and completely shouldered the responsibility of one of the branch offices. Over time her mother softened to quite an extent allowing Kunda to re-establish her relations with her parents and siblings.

Today, reflecting on her life, Kunda feels content and satisfied with her decisions. She has two well-settled children and is proud for her close relationships with them. She enjoys strong bonds with her daughter, who married a foreign national, and her daughter-in-law. Kunda chuckles when her daughter-in-law jokingly says that she prefers Kunda to her own mother.

We applaud Kunda's bravery and unwavering choices, and becoming a role model for all. Cheers to her joyful and peaceful years ahead!

Sunday, July 16, 2023

156. Her bountiful garden-- her joy, pride, and solace!


 

Thousand Full Moon: Shrimati Asha Harishandra Mhalagi (86+)

Typing Assistance: Asmita Ghate

Asha Harishchandra Mhalgi, nee Manda Maharao, discovered her love for gardening later in life and dedicated herself to creating a beautiful garden despite challenges. Her passion and hard work led her to win accolades, and her garden became a source of joy and inspiration for herself and her family. Read her inspiring story in her own words if you know Marathi or read the summarized version in English. We wish Asha Mhalgi bountiful joyous, and peaceful gardening ahead!

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Asha was born in Sadashiv Peth, Pune. During her childhood, she loved dancing and swimming. Her interest in gardening developed after age 40 when she decided to create a garden around her bungalow in Bibwewadi. Despite the challenges of poor soil and the absence of a gardener or fertilizer, she embarked on the gardening journey, doing all the work herself.

Asha learned about a gardening competition called 'Parasbagh,' organized by the editor of 'Sakal Dainik,' to encourage housewives to cultivate vegetables and fruits at home. Encouraged by a visiting guest, she decided to participate in the competition, despite feeling inadequate compared to the participants who had hired help and better resources. Asha faced obstacles, such as animals destroying her garden due to the lack of a fence. However, her hard work paid off, and she won the first prize in the competition, receiving recognition for her coconut trees, chikku trees, and vegetables.

Her gardening journey continued for over 45 years, during which she won numerous awards and honors. Asha took pride in her garden, which showcased a variety of trees, such as Vala and kuncha, and fruits like mango, chikku, guava, amla, bor, jambhul, and coconut. She cultivated different flowers and even created bonsai trees. Asha found solace and joy in her garden, which became a source of fame and satisfaction for her.

Her passion for gardening extended to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, who also started their own gardens inspired by her. Asha believes that having a hobby brings immense satisfaction, allowing one to forget physical and mental troubles and connect with nature. She feels fulfilled when her family enjoys the fruits from her garden, and she considers her 86 years of life worthwhile.

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मी आशा हरिश्चंद्र म्हाळगी, पूर्वाश्रमीची मंदा महाराव. माझा जन्म पुण्यात सदाशिव पेठेत झाला. लहानपणी मी नाच, पोहणे हे सगळं अगदी आवडीने केलंय.

बागेची आवड मला वयाच्या ४० शी नंतर निर्माण झाली. आम्ही बिबवेवाडीत बंगला बांधला. बंगल्याच्या आजूबाजूला बरीच मोकळी जागा होती. घरातली सगळी कामं आटोपली की रिकामा वेळ असायचा. एकदिवस असं मनात आलं की ह्या जागेत थोडी बाग करावी, वेळ ही छान जाईल  आणि घरालाही शोभा येईल. मग घरतलीच थोडी मेथी, धणे, लसूण पेरून काही येते का बघू असे ठरवले आणि काय….चक्क मस्त भाज्या आल्या. मग जरा हुरूप आला. मग पदर खोचून बागकामालाच लागले.  गुलाबाच्या काड्या आणून त्या लावून बघितल्या. त्याला पानं फुटल्यावर तर खूप आनंद झाला. हळुहळू एक एक झाड लावतच गेले.

त्यावेळीसकाळ दैनिकचे संपादक नानासाहेब परुळेकर ह्यांनी खास गृहिणींसाठीपरसबागस्पर्धा सुरू केली. गृहिणींनी घरच्या घरी भाज्या, फळे लावावीत आणि छोटी का होईना आपली बाग फुलवावी हा त्या मागचा  उद्देश. आमच्याकडे एकजण आले होते त्यांनी मला हे  सगळं सांगितलं आणि त्या स्पर्धेत तुम्हीही भाग घ्या असा सुचवलं. त्यातून तुम्हाला बागेची नीट माहिती तर मिळेलच, ओळखीही वाढतील आणि तुम्हाला नक्की बक्षीस मिळेल हा विश्वासही दाखवला.

मला वाटले आशा स्पर्धेत भाग घेणारे लोकं एक तर खूप श्रीमंत असतात शिवाय ते माळी वगैरे ठेऊन कामं  करून घेतात. त्यांच्या बागेत पोयटा माती, चांगली खतं घातलेली असतात, शिवाय औषधांची फवारणीही केलेली असते. अशा बागा खुपच छान असतील. आपल्या बागेत तर मातीही नीट नाही, सगळा  मुरूम आहे...ना माळी ना खतं....कसा निभाव लागणार आपला? माझ्या बागेची सर्व कामं मीच करत होते. त्यात फक्त माझे मनापासून केलेले कष्ट होते आणि हे सगळं मी एकटीच करत होते. त्यावेळी आमच्या घराला साधं कुंपणही नव्हतं त्यामुळे शेळ्या, गाई, म्हशी येऊन सगळं फस्त करायच्या. त्यांच्या पासून सगळं वाचवणं महा कठीण काम होतं. तरीही मनाचा हिय्या करून सकाळ दैनिकाच्या ऑफिसला जाऊन स्पर्धेचा फॉर्म भरलाच. दोन तीन दिवसांनी सहा सात तज्ञ मंडळी येऊन बाग बघून गेले. मग निकालाच्या आदल्या रात्री झोपच उडाली. कधी एकदा सकाळ होते आणि मी पेपर मध्ये रिझल्ट बघते असं झालं होतं….मिळेल का आपल्याला बक्षीस?

पहाटे पेपर आल्या बरोबर धावत जाऊन आधी बघितला. माझा मोठ्या गटात चक्क पहिलं नंबर आला होता….माझा विश्वासच बसेना. माझ्या नारळाला, चिक्कूला, भाज्यांना बक्षीस होतं. त्यात उन्हाळा, हिवाळा, पावसाळा अशा वेगवेगळ्या ऋतूत स्पर्धा होत्या. त्यात फळे, फळभाज्या, पालेभाज्या कश्या आहेत, त्यांचे वाफे कसे केले आहेत, जमिनीची योग्य काळजी घेतली आहे का, पालापाचोळयाचा उपयोग कसा केला आहे ह्या सगळ्याला महत्व होतं. हे  सगळं पाहूनच निकाल दिला जात होता. मला - विभागात पहिला नंबर दरवर्षी मिळत गेला. ह्या प्रवासात मला मानाची ढालही मिळाली. ‘रोझ सोसायटीच्या गुलाब प्रदर्शनात तीन ट्रॉफीजही  मिळाल्या. मला खुप आनंद समाधान वाटायचे माझ्या बागेकडे बघून. वयाच्या इतक्या उशिरा मला माझ्या बागेने माझी नव्याने ओळख करून दिली. माझ्या बागे मुळेच मीही चार लोकांमध्ये प्रसिध्द्ध झाले. स्टेज वर जाऊन मोठ्या लोकांच्या हातून बक्षीस घेणं आणि पेपर मध्ये आपलं नाव येणं ह्या सारखं सुख मला माझ्या बागेनी दिलं. माझ्या कष्टाच चीज झालं. एक गृहिणीला आणखी काय हवं होतं?

माझी बाग फक्त माझं प्रेम आणि कष्ट ह्यावरच बहरत होती. आज ४५/४६ वर्ष मी बागेत काम करतीये आणि ह्यापुढेही करत राहीन. माझ्या बागेवर माझं जिवापाड प्रेम आहे. खूप वेगवेगळ्या प्रकारची झाडं माझ्याकडे आहेत. वाळा, कुंचा ही अगदी क्वचितच दिसणारी झाडं ही माझ्या बागेत आहेत. आंबा, चिक्कू, पेरू, आवळा, बोर, जांभूळ, नारळ अशी अनेक फळझाडं आजही आहेत. विविध प्रकारची  फुलझाडे  आहेत.  त्यात एक शंकर पार्वतीचं झाड आहे. त्याला डबल जास्वंदी सारखं  फूल येतं, जे सकाळी पांढरं असतं आणि संध्याकाळी ते गुलाबी होत जातं. अजूनही मी नवनवीन प्रकारच्या मिरच्या, भाज्या, फुले ह्यांची  रोपं मिळवते  आणि ती वाढवते. आजही मला तेवढाच आनंद मिळतो. त्यांना नवीन पानं फुटली किंवा कळी आली तरी मला आनंदाने कोणाला तरी सांगावेसे वाटते.

मी कोकणातून सुपारीचं झाड आणलं होतं. ज्यांच्याकडून आणलं होतं त्यांनी सांगितलं होतं पुण्याच्या हवेत हे नाही लागणार. तरीही मी ते लावलं. त्याला दर वर्षी ३००च्या वर सुपाऱ्या येतात. त्या मी स्वतः बसून सोलते. मघई पानाचा वेल ही आहेच. आजूबाजूच्या लोकांना विड्याची पाने, सुपाऱ्या, तुळस, फुलं, नारळ, सुकं खोबरं, ओली हळद, अळू इत्यादी देण्यात खूप समाधान  वाटते. 

माझ्या अडेनियमच्या खोडात गणपती तयार झाला आहे.

मी खूप झाडांची बोन्साय पण तयार केली आहेत. सीमेंटच्या दोन रिंग्स एकावर एक ठेऊन, मी छोटंसं तळं करून, त्यात कमळ लावलंय. त्या तळ्यावर रोज सकाळी पाणी प्यायला वेगवेगळे पक्षी येतात. खुप समाधान मिळते ते पाहून. माझ्या मुलाने मला एक झोपाळा गिफ्ट दिला होता. आता ह्या वयात मी संध्याकाळी त्याच्यावर निवांत बसते आणि माझ्या झाडांशी सुख दु;खाच्या गप्पा मारते. ती  पण  माझ्याशी बोलतात.

प्रत्येकालाच असा काहीतरी छंद असावा. त्यात आपण तहान, भूक, दु; विसरून रमून जातो. त्यात खूप समाधान मिळते. आपणही शारीरिक त्रास विसरून निसर्गाशी एकरूप होतो. खूप सकारात्मक विचार येतात.  त्यामुळे तब्येतही छान  राहते. मी सगळे शारीरिक, मानसिक त्रास माझ्या बागेत विसरून जाते. ह्या सगळ्यातून प्रेरणा घेऊन  माझ्या मुलांनी, नातवंडांनी  आपआपली बाग फुलवली आहे. ती पाहूनही समाधान मिळते. आज माझी मुलं, जावई, नातवंड, नातजावई  आणि माझी पणती जेंव्हा बागेतली फळं तोडून मनसोक्त खातात तेंव्हा माझ्या ८६ वर्षांच्या जीवनाचे सार्थक झाल्यासारखे वाटते.