My friend Preeti Deo potsed a lovely video of their tenant lady making a bhakri in the backyard of their house, at Jalna , in India. Preeti maintains a lovely page at Ruchira Videshini on FB , and has her own wonderful blog at ISing Cakes.
Technology has now pervaded the domestic world of Fulkas and
Bhakries with high tech machines that spew out chapaties, mix doughs ,
ring bells, but have no eyes that sense how hungry you are or how much
you are enjoying the meal.
But clearly, there is something amiss .....
फुल्काबाई चपाते , ज्वारीदेवी भाकरे ,
यांची ठिपक्या ठिपक्यानचे बिल्ले लेउन , तूप लोण्याच्या स्वागतात बृहन महाराष्ट्र पोळपाट संमेलनात कौतुकाची हजेरी . अनेक यंत्र अथिरथि महारथींची भाषणे , बटणासरशी चमकणारे न चिकट्णारे तवे , हात न बरबटता आपली आपण मळ्णाऱ्या कणिका चंद्रासारख्या गोल पोळ्या भाकर्या , आणि तंत्रज्ञानाच्या ढुशीने घसरून ताटात पडणारी पोळी . आणि भाकरी बाई आपला पदर नीट करते, चेहर्यावर चकाकून उठणारे लोणी जर पुसते, आणि फुल्काबाई ला म्हणते, "हे सगळं ठीक आहे ग , पण कुठेही प्रेमाने तीन दगड जमवून सरपण जमवून मनातले आगत्य बोटात उत्रवत , मळ्लेल पीठ , आणि कौतुकाने शाबास्क्या देत थापलेली भाकरी, तोंडावर फिरवलेला पाण्याचा हात , अचानक ज्वालांच्या पाठिम्ब्याने आत्मविश्वासाने फुगलेली भाकरी , मग एका ताटातल्या पिठ्ल्याने , चटणीने , आणि पिघळ्णार्या लोण्याने केलेलं अपूर्व स्वागत , आणि कुणा एका आईने "सावकाश जेव हो," म्हणत वाढलेले ताक …. ह्याला एक वेगळीच गती असते , कधी संथ, कधी जरासा वेग . कधी बोटाला चटका , कधी पदराला पुसलेले हात . तंत्रज्ञानांला मन असतं ? बटणा ला जाणीव असते ? मी जर ह्या सगळ्या यंत्रांपासून दूरच राहते . आपण बरे आणि आपल्या काकू बर्या आणि चपात्यांची फुल्का , आपले फुललेले , बिन यंत्रांनी झुलायचे दिवस आठवते, आणि विचारते, "मला सांग, डिझाईनर साडीला , सासुबाईनच्या बुट्ट्याञ्च्या रेशमी पैठणीची सर कशी येणार ग ?" |
Fulkabai Chapate and Jwaridevi Bhakre, adorned with dotted id tags, being welcomed by the powerful Butters and Ghees at the Brihan Maharashtra Polpat Sammelan. Speeches by Tech Geniuses, Non stick instant griddles, and lumps of dough happening without Touch of Hand! Perfectly round Chapaties and Bhakries , being shoved by a mischievous technology on to a waiting plate. And a stunned Bhakribai, adjusts her layered palloo, wipes her buttery shining face, and tells Fulkabai, "Ha ! All this is fine. But what about someone who puts three stones together, collects some burning fuel and pours her hospitality unreservedly into her fingers messing it all up into a wonderful dough ? Then encouragingly pats it all up into a great Bhakri, puts her to roast all over and then proceeds to wipe her with a wet palm cooling her troubles so she can roast again. The Bhakri, now on the flames, blooming with new confidence, as she emerges away from it all, into a plate to the joy of a waiting Pithla and Chatni, as someone pours some Taak into a cool steel glass and says "Enjoy your meal !" ... There is a rhythm in it all, sometimes slow, sometimes a bit fast, perhaps a burn on a finger tip. and then a quiet wiping it all on the palloo. Does technology have a mind ? And do buttons have feelings ? Clearly, I stay away from them, happy with myself and my kaku. And Fulka , rememebers her swinging days of being hot and blooming, shakes her head and says, "Tell me, can any designer saree even come close to your mother-in-law's antique, silk Jari Butta Paithanee ?...." |
Amazing expression Suranga Date!
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