E-BUAAA

It was May 2008 scorching tropical summer in India. It was a festive time at my little town Barpali for Sitalsasthi, the annual wedding cerimony of Lord Siva and Godess Parvati. One morning in the market I met a white-skined youngman whom I asked, hey are you a Nepali. He said, no I am Charlie from Chicago. I was awstruck, who have granted him visa to enter Barpali without the knowledge of Kiran Mohan. I wanted to know, if he is a tourist and came to witness Sitalsasthi. He said, my wife Jillian is learning IKAT ( tie and dye) at Kusanpuri. To put some humour into my questioning, I asked how far would be Chicago from Kusanpuri. He said, are you mad, I am talking of US. This single question of mine grabed all his attention. I enquied if he met any of the Sambalpuri cloath-weavers at Barpali. He said no, its just a couple of days since they have reached Barpali.
I able to judge, their limitations on exploring this territory of the world. They dont know my language i.e. Oriya, on the other hand my weavers community are alien to the English language. As a responsble citizen of India, every evening I started taking them on a ride to different master-weavers, like Bhagavana Meher, Surendra Meher and so on. No sooner we entered any cloath stores, we were being greeted with a smile and offered chairs to seat, followed by cups of tea. Fabulous, so much attention and courtesy, Kiran able to get for the first time, because he is escorting two foreigners.
One day we had been to Santoshi Cloath Store. While checking Sambalpuri sarees, Jillian wanted to know the different designs, mottifs and patterns it carry. The store boy wanted to explain about the designs with utmost sincerity, but failed as he got no knowledge of English. I went to her aid. I started interpreting sankha means shell; chakra means whell; phulla means flower and so on. Jillian started to appreciate with her English as " Wow, wow". I said Jillian when you were in US you used to have pizzas, but over here you have barra pukdi, so express your thoughts in Oriya as " a buaa". When the shop keeper retuned to take-out the next saree, Jillian said " a buaa". With this expression of her, the shopkeeper got surprised and looked at my face, to know if she understads Oriya.
Every evening Jillian would return from Kusanpuri and Charlie would join us at my store. One evening while we were talking about their life in US, Jillian started hiccups. While I kept them busy wih my talks, I lifted my right-hand and striked on her head without a precaution. At one go Jillian got shocked and looked at her husband Mr.Charlie. Instantly Chrlie got angered, " how could you hit my wife". As a husband it was his duty to safeguard his wife. He patted his wife, "are you OK, are you OK". She had no words in her stomach for a while. May be for ten seconds I kept quite, than started smiling at them. Charlie said, this fellow has gon mad. I asked, where is your hiccups. This is how, we the Indians treat the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm while the glottis is spasmodically closed. At that moment, I didnt hit her head, rather I had supressed the hiccup
So when you liason with Kiran Mohan be alert, as he do things without telling the reasons. Give yourself enough time to understand his activities. Charlie is a youngman of 26 and Jillian is 22 years old. Though from a developed nation they were soft spoken, their clothing was simple. Jillian used to be a saree-clad woman. They were always truthful. Respected the common man on street. They admire my Indian culture more than I do. Before they returned to US, they spent one night with the weavers community at Kusanpuri village. And at morning went to attend the natures call to the open field, as their host have got no toilet at home.
"a buaa"
They have promised me, they will be back to India-Barpali-Kusanpuri in four years time. And when they return, they will have a baby with them.
May God Bless them.
kiranbima@gmail.com
E. KIRAN MOHAN
C\o. Dr.E.R.Rao (M.D.)
Tehsilchowk,
At\PO - BARPALI - 768 029.
Orissa, India
Cell # 91 - 99 371 20565