Lalkaka’s ‘havado’

Some pictures which appeared in the Ahmedabad Mirror of June 7, 2008 under the headline "The evolution of water huts,” show the changing shapes of parabs (water huts of good old days). One picture, referred to as a parab, is actually a trough for animals, a havado in Gujarati, built by Avabai Kharshedji Palanji Lalkaka "in memory of her husband Khan Bahadur” way back in 1893. It now appears to be used for dumping trash. (Unfortunately, the photos were too grainy to reproduce — editors)

It would be interesting to know the antecedents of Avabai Lalkaka and her Khan Bahadur husband from readers or any Lalkaka.

Another picture shows a modern parab which provides Aquaguard treated cold water, as stated in Gujarati on the signboard!

RASHID S. MEDORA

Ahmedabad

rashid@medoraindia.com