Readers' Forum
Village vignette
In an earlier age most Parsi families would get together in their gaam (village) every year during the vacations. There they would indulge in khani-pini (eating and drinking) of shikar (game) kebabs and desi marghi (country chicken) along with their drinks. The cool breeze, especially during the monsoon, would provide great enjoyment with the typical smell of the forest flora. All this came free of cost!
In the old days there was no electricity and the domestic help would clean the kandeel (lantern) on the rear otla. Once during the monsoon I was so afraid of the loud thunder and crackling lightning that I hid inside the house to save myself from the elements.
Most Parsi families kept a dog to protect their property in the village. These dogs wore leather collars with metal spikes to save their necks in case of attacks by wild beasts. I love dogs and would sleep outside the house with a puppy tethered to the leg of my bed by a length of string. A couple of days later a panther came in the wee hours and made off with the puppy. Though I was fast asleep I did hear a sound, but did not rouse myself. In the morning the domestic help informed me in the local language that the puppy was taken by a panther.
I thanked Khodaiji that the panther did not attack or hurt me and resolved never to sleep in the open ever again. I was a teenager then and am 80 today, but still vividly recall the incident.
In the old days there was no electricity and the domestic help would clean the kandeel (lantern) on the rear otla. Once during the monsoon I was so afraid of the loud thunder and crackling lightning that I hid inside the house to save myself from the elements.
Most Parsi families kept a dog to protect their property in the village. These dogs wore leather collars with metal spikes to save their necks in case of attacks by wild beasts. I love dogs and would sleep outside the house with a puppy tethered to the leg of my bed by a length of string. A couple of days later a panther came in the wee hours and made off with the puppy. Though I was fast asleep I did hear a sound, but did not rouse myself. In the morning the domestic help informed me in the local language that the puppy was taken by a panther.
I thanked Khodaiji that the panther did not attack or hurt me and resolved never to sleep in the open ever again. I was a teenager then and am 80 today, but still vividly recall the incident.
PIROSHA M. TAMBOLI
Navsari
Navsari
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