Alexandra Mouche and Dakshesh Gajjar Narrator: Kanche

16 Pages·2012·0.13 MB·English

by  Alexandra Mouche'

Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12

Mehgal River Basin Oral History Project
Interview Transcript

Interviewers: Alexandra Mouche and Dakshesh Gajjar
Narrator: Kanchen Kanpara
Interview Dates: March 26, 2012
Place: Aga Khan Rural Support Program Office, Gadu, Maliya, Junagadh,
Saurashtra, Gujarat, India
Program: Fulbright-Nehru Grant 2011-2012
Date completed: June 15th, 2012
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
March 26th, 2012
Persons Present: Alexandra Mouche’ (interviewer)
Dakshesh Gajjar (research assistant/interviewer)
Kanchen Kanpara (Narrator)
(Allie) V[,[o TD[ SIF\YL VFJM KM[ m
Where are you from?
(Kanchen) S\RGA[Go C]\ BM,;FYL VFJ]\ K]\
I am from Kholsa.
(A) V[,[o BM,;FPPPPP BM,;FPPP and she is from kholsa ……V
Kholsa, she is from Kholsa
…… so TDF~ GFD X]\ K[
So what is your name?
(K) S\RGA[Go BG5ZF S\RGA[G HLP
Kanpara KanchenBen G.
(Dakshesh) N1F[Xo TDFZM HgD SIF\ VG[ SIFZ[ YIM m
When and where were you born?
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
(K) S\RGA[Go DFZM HgD T,F/FGL AFH]DF\ H;FY/ UFD[ DFZF l5IZ YIMP DFZL HgD TFZLB
Z#v5v&(
I was born in Jasathal Village next to Talala, at my father’s house. My birth date
is the 23rd of May 1968.
(D) N1F[Xo TDFZL S[8,L 5[-LYL VCL\ Z[ K[ m
How many generations of your family live here?
(K) S\RGA[Go VDFZF ;;ZFGL A[ 5[-L K[P
My father-in-law’s family, two generations have lived here.
(D) N1F[Xo TDFZF GFG56GL SM. J:T] TDG[ IFN CMI V[JLm
What memories do you have from your childhood?
(K) S\RGA[Go CF4 H[ GFG56GL V\NZ lGXF/[ HTF 5KL 43ZSFD SZTF 5KL R},[F ;/UFJLG[ VF56[
Z;M. AGFJTF XLBL UIFP 5KL tIFZ[ VM,F KF;GF J,M6F GMTF TM VFD CFY[YL KF; O[ZJTF4 E[\;
NMJFG]\ lXbIFP
Yes, in my childhood we went to school, did housework, and after that we lit the
fireplace and learned how to cook. After that we made chass* with our hands
because there were no valona† and we learned to milk the buffalo.
(D) N1F[Xo TDFZF ,uG SIFZ[ YIF G[ S[8,F AF/SM K[m

* Butter milk
† traditional tool used to make butter milk
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
When did you get married and how many children do you have?
(K) S\RGA[Go DFZFPP ,uG YIF K[ () DF\ G[ Z#v5v() G[ DFZ[ V[S AFAM K[P
I got married in 1989 and on the 23rd of May 1989 I had one son.
(D) N1F[Xo TD[ S[8,M VeIF; SIF"[ m
What are your education qualifications?
(K) S\RGA[Go N;
10th Grade.
(D) N1F[Xo TD[ B[TL S[JL ZLT[ XLbIF m
And how did you learn to farm?
(K) S\RGA[Go B[TL TM 5%5FG[ tIF\ CTF tIFZ[ SIFZ[S SIFZ[S ;FY[ HTL NFTZ0L ,.G[ J[-JFG]\ SFD
SZLV[ JF-JFG]\ SFD SZTF\ CM.V[ VG[ WLD[ WLD[ T[GL 5F;[YL XLbIF TF G[ 5KL VG[ VFIF VFJLG[ YM0]\ 36]\
SZJ]\ 50T]\ AFSL TM 3ZSFDDFPPPP
Farming, I learned when I was at my father’s house; sometimes we would
accompany them with a small sickle and slowly I learned and did some work and
also the rest of the housework.
(D) N1F[Xo TD[ B[TL S[8,F JBTYL SZM KM m
How many years have you been farming?
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12

(K) S\RGA[G o B[TL TM D[ NZ[S JQF" SZL CX[ CJ[ NXvAFZ JQF"YL TM VFIF ;\:YFDF\ JS"Z TZLS[
SFDULZL SZ]\ K]\\
Farming, I did every year, now since 10-12 years I have been working in Aaya
organization as a worker.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ B[TL SZTF tIFZ[ S[JM 5FS YFTM CTM m
When you did farming, what was the output (crop) like?
(K) S\RGA[G o tIFZ[ DUO/L YFTL4 S5F; VG[ VDFZ[ TM JWFZ[ TM X[Z0LG]\ JFJ[TZ YFT]\
At the time, peanuts were grown. There was also cotton and we had mostly
sugarcane plantations.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ B[TL X~ SZL tIFZ[ S[JF VMHFZMGM p5IMU YT[Fm
Which tools did you use when you first began farming?
(K) S\RGA[G o B[TLPP tIFZ[ SMNF0L K[ 5FJ0M K[ VG[ VFH[ AW] NFTZ0FG[ AW]PPPP ,FS0FGL CTL
5F5FG[ . B[TL CTLPPP VtIFZ[ TM AW] VFW]lGS K[
Farming, at that time was done by pick, shovel and sickle. Wooden tools mainly,
now so there are many modern tools used.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ SIM 5FS pUF0M KM m
What types of crops do you grow now?
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
(K) S\RGA[G o DUO/L V[S H
Just peanuts.
(D) N1F[X o TDZL B[TL SZJFGL ZLT S[JL CTL m
What was your method of farming?
(K) S\RGA[G o V[ 5[,F H[ CTL T[DF\ S.FSM JWFZ[ G[ SFD VMK] G[PPPD[PP VFD l;:8[D[8LS GMTL
VFJ0TLPPP SIF SFD SZJFYL H<NL YFIPPP VFJL GMTL BAZ
In the old method there was more S.FSM and less work, I did not know the
systematic way, which work should be done first, that I did not know.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ SM. ;\:YF ;FY[ HM0FI[,F KM m
Are you a part of any organization?
(K) S\RGA[G o CF4 VFUFBFG ;\:YF ;FY[ HM0FI[,L K]\ DF/L VF TF,]SFGL V\NZ DlC,FGL 5|D]B
K]\ VG[ VFtDF ;FY[ HM0FI,L K]\
Yes, I am a part of Aga Khan Organization, in Maliya District, I am the chairman
of the women, and I am also connected with Aatma.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ SIF WD" ;FY[ ;\S/FI[,F KM m
What religion do you follow?
(K) S\RGA[G o C]\ lJQ6] ;FY[
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
I am part of the Vaishnav group.
(D) N1F[X o TDG[ SIF XMB K[ m
What are your hobbies?
(K) S\RGA[G o DG[ XMB VtIFZ[ V[JM K[ S[ C]\ SMd%I]8Z XLBL HFp TM ,MSM H]V[ G[ C]\ R,FJ]\
VFJM DG[ XMB K[P 56 C]\ SIFZ[ XLB]\
My hobby right now is to learn to use a computer, people can see when I am
using it. But when do I learn.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ D[3, GNL lJX[ X]\ lJRFZM KM m
What do you think of the Meghal River?
(K) S\RGA[G o D[3, lJX[ TMPP 5C[,F TM JC[TL AFZ[ DF; 5KL JrR[GM UF/M V[JM S[ ;]SSL Y.
U. CTL ;FJ VG[ CJ[ VtIFZ[ K[<,F A[S[ DF; RF,] YFI V[J] ;5G]\ K[P H[ ,MSM VF D[3, GNLGL V\NZ
5F6L VMK] Y. HFI TM AFZ ,MSM H[ :Y/FT\Z SZ[ K[ V[ ,MSM :T/FT\Z GF SZ[ VG[ H[ UFD0FDF\ ZC[TF
CMI tIF\H ZCLG[ ZMHLZM8L D[/J[ VFJ]\ lJRFZ]\ K]\ TM VFJ]\ lJRFZ] K]\ HM ,MSMGM ;FY ;CSFZ CMI TMH VFJ]\
lJRFZL XSLV[ G[
About the Meghal, earlier it had flowing water all year round. Then in the middle
it went completely dry, and now it is our dream that it will start in two months. I
think that people who migrated to other places once the Meghal River had dried
up should not migrate and instead try to earn their livelihood from their own
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
village. That is what I think, and I can think so only due to the support of the
people.
(D) N1F[X o TD[ GFGF CTF tIFZ[ D[3, GNL S[JL ZC[TL m
What was the Meghal River like when you were young?
(K) S\RGA[G o tIFZ[ TM C]\ DFZF l5IZ CMp\G[ C]\ TM VlC\IF Z_ JQF" 5KL VFJL C]\ VCL VFJL
5KL lNJF/L HFI 5KL GNL ;}SF. HTLP 5KL HIFZ[ DY]EF. ;JF6L VFjIF tIFZ[ VFUFBFG ;\:YFJF/FV[
Z[TL SF-L 5KL tIFZYL 5KL WLZ[ WLZ[ BAZ 50L S[ VF56[ 5F6LG[ ARFJX]\ TM 5F6L VF56G[ ARFJX[P TM
GFGF GFGF R[S0[D A\W5F/F VFJ]\ SZJFYL 5F6L ARJF DF0I]\ G[ JwI]\G[ GNLGL V\NZ 5F6L 8SJF ,FuI]\
VtIFZ[ 56 JZ;FN VFJ[ TM GJF H]G] E[U]\ YFI K[P tIFZ[ T[F C]\ VFJL tIFZ[ TM V[J]\ GMT]\]\
I was living in my Fathers house then, so I didn’t come here until after 20 years
of age. After I came here, after Diwali, the river would dry up. Later on
MathuBhai Savaani came and then Aga Khan Organization removed the sand.
Then slowly we realized that if we save water, water will save us. Small
checkdams were built and water was being conserved and water stayed in the
river, now when it rains the old and new water mixes. When I fist came here it
was not the case.
(D) N1F[X o TDFZL DF8[ 5F6L S[8,]\ DCtJG]\ K[ m
How important is water to you?
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12

(K) S\RGA[G o 5F6L TM DCtJG]\ H K[P HGdIF tIFZYL DZLV[ tIF\ ;]WL 5F6LTM HM.V[ H K[P
VG[ HgDHFT 5F6L TM HM.V[ H K[P VG[ 5F6L TM S]NZTGL VD}<IJFG E[8 K[P VG[ V[G] TM DCtJ TM CMI
H G[
Water is obviously important. From birth to death you need water. It’s a priceless
gift from nature. So obviously it is important.
(D) N1F[X o D[3, GNL ;}SF. U. tIFZ[ X]\ YI CT]\]\ m
What happened when the Meghal River dried up?
(K) S\RGA[G o D[3, GNL ;}SF. U. G[ S]JFDF\ 5F6L GMTF tIFZ[ A[vRFZ UFD JrR[ V[S S]JM CMI
V[DF\YL -MZG[ 5LJF VJ[0M EZFI G[ AFSL ,MSM 5LJ[ G[ AC[GM 3Z[ EZL HFI V[J] YT]\ CT]\ VG[ HIFZ[
GNLDF\ 5F6L ;]SFT]G[ tIFZ[ V[J] AGT]\ S[ A{ZLvKMSZF VCLIF CMIG[ EF. ALH[ :Y/FT\Z SZL HFIG[ CLZF
3;JF S[ ALH[ UD[ tIF\ ZMHLv ZM8L D[/JJF HFI TM tIFZ[ V[JL 5lZl:YlT CTL G[ AF/SMG[ D}SLG[ AWF H]NF
H]NF Y. UIF VG[ VFJ]\ AW]\ YT]\ CT]\P
When the Meghal River dried up and there was no water in the wells. 2-4 villages
shared one well from which trough were filled for the cattle to drink water, and
the people also took water to their home for drinking purposes. And when the
river dried the wives and children would stay in the village and the men would go
elsewhere looking for work and livelihood like polishing diamonds etc.
Alexandra Mouche Kanchen Kanpara Interview 3/26/12
(D) N1F[X o D[3, GNL ;}SF. U. T[GL V;Z TDFZF HLJG 5Z S[JL ZLT[ Y.m
When the Meghal River dried up, how did it affect your life?
S\RGA[G o VF H[ ZLT[ SLW]\ V[ 5|DF6[ HM 3ZDF\ V[S,F CM.V[ G[ 3ZJF/F GF CMI TM SM.
V[JL 5lZl:YlT VFJL SM. TS,LO VFJL SM. V[JM 5|`Gv.:I} VFjIM NFB,F TZLS[PPPP A{ZF VM H 3Z[
CMI G[ 5]Z]QFM SDFJF AFZ HFI TM SMG[ AM,FJJF V[ 5|`G v D]xS[,L pEL YTLP 5{;F SIF\YL ,[JF HJF 5]Z]QFM
JUZ AC]\ D]\hJ6 VFJTL CTL
As I said women would be alone in the house when the husband was elsewhere.
In such a situation if there is a problem or an issue, where would the women go to
ask for help? Where to arrange for the money? Without the men there were many
problems.
(D) N1F[X o VG[ TDFZF S]\8]\dAG[ UFD0FDF\ S[JL V;Z 50L CTL m
And how did this affect your family in the village?
(K) S\RGA[G o V[8,[ S]\8]\AGL V\NZPPP V[8,[ UFDGL V\NZ 5LJFG]\ 5F6L GF D/T]\ GF SFZ6[
8[gSZM D\UFJJF 50TF4 5F6L J[RFT]\ ,[J]\ 50T]\G[ 5F6L J[RFT]\ ,[JFGF SFZ6[ H[ ,MSMGL V\NZ ZMURF/M
JWFZ[ YIM TM S[ 8[gSZJF/F UD[ tIF\YL 5F6L EZLG[ J[RF6~5[ VF5[ K[PV[GFYL VFZMuIGL V\NZ 36L V;Z
50L TLP 5YZL K[4 SL0GLDF\ lADFZL K[P hF0F p,8L K[4 VFJF ZMUM JWFZ[ K[ V[DF\ V[S TM VFJSGF :+MT
VMKF G[ HFJS JWL HFTL CTL VFJ]\PPPPP
Water was not available in the family and the village, so water tankers were
called, water had to be purchased so diseases started spreading. The water tanker