1400 Bananas, 76 Towns & 1 Million People by SAMIR NAZARETH

Author:SAMIR NAZARETH [Nazareth, Samir]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789381115800
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd

Boat being loaded on a truck, Kasargod

The lighthouse is near a fishing village and beach where a group of fishermen are loading two boats into a truck. The spectacle has drawn a group of spectators. As the boat is raised and hoisted into the truck, there are anxious moments as it totters above the heads of those raising it. The boats are being taken to another State to be used during the monsoon. Inhibited by my lack of language skills, I walk around without meeting anyone and then head back to another ‘cool shop’, and order yellaki, which turns out to be milk flavoured with turmeric powder. This does not quench my thirst so I order nanari, a fruit syrup diluted in soda.

But it is very hot and I soon need something to drink again. This time I order a fresh lime at another small juice stall. The man squeezes half a lemon into a glass. I ask him about the other half using sign language. He asks whether I speak Hindi, so I quickly repeat the question. He answers that a whole lime is not good for my throat, oblivious to the effects of the quarter glass of sugar syrup he has also used to make the drink.

I am unsure whether to remain in Kasargod as the area is known to have been contaminated by pesticides. Every sip of water brings to mind photographs of physically and mentally debilitated children living in this pesticide-ridden area.

Dinner is a silent affair – dosa and then kashi halwa. The waiter asks in Hindi if I know what the halwa is made of and reveals it is kaddoo (white pumpkin). He then asks if I am from Maharashtra? When I reply in the affirmative, he chides me saying I should be able to recognise kaddoo in any form.

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