It was when I was studying in 3rd standard, my father got me a story book on nature. Though I don't remember the title, I remember that it was published by KSSP. It was this book which told me that a pond was not just a simple water body. Pond is an ecosystem supporting large number of organisms. It has algae, plants, fish, snake and many other life forms that thrive in the pond.
But, the significance of the pond does not end there for humans. I remember the large pond we had at my mothers house, the water from which we used for irrigating the coconuts trees, bathing, washing clothes etc. In the village, neighbors used to come and use our pond for washing clothes and bathing. It was part of the social fabric. When neighbors came to use our pond, they always found a minute or two to talk to the people in the house. Yearly cleaning of the pond where we will rent heavy duty diesel pumps, pump out the whole water, catch fish and remove mud from the bottom of the pond was nothing less than a festival. It usually happens in summer and we used to go there just to see it. Many people will come there to catch the fish on that day also to see the mighty diesel pump set in action. It is very difficult for me to think of my childhood without thinking of the pond. There was a bigger pond, which we called "Ambala-Kulam" (Temple pond) and when in summer, our pond used to have less water, we all went to this bigger pond. This pond to women was like the banyan tree for the men. It was here the women folk shared their daily gossip and even carried out many of the daily chores. While they did so on the one side of the pond, men enjoyed their bath and swim on other side of the pond.
I have heard that the temple pond was much bigger in past. When I started seeing it it was already less than an acre. I am not sure what is its size today and whether this pond still exists there. But, here is the interesting news that I read:
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/youth/features/school-students-and-kudumbasree-workers-combined-work-pond-digging-youth-story-malayalam-news-1.1610682
The news is in Malayalam. This is about a few school students digging a pond in about 2.5 hours at Talikulam (this is the native village of my mother). The pond will be used for irrigation and fish farming. I am glad that a new pond is born. A new link is created between human and nature and also between humans who worked together to achieve it. I hope this spirit will spread and there will me many more ponds born there.
Well, it will not be fair if I do not mention my paternal grandfather while talking about ponds. I remember him as a one man army. He had few acres of coconut plantation and after his retirement he used to work there all alone. However, his land was close to a river and he did not have much need of a pond or motor to irrigate his land. But, later, as years passed by, summer started becoming more and more punishing. My grandfather then dug small ponds on his land. All alone. At first he dug one and watered many trees which were in the vicinity. But, it was too difficult to carry water to all the trees from that single pond (He used 'kavu', two buckets tied to either end of pole which is carried on the shoulder by balancing at the mid point of the pole). He then dug 3-4 more ponds at different locations and watered the trees. I still remember him almost running down the steps of those ponds and running back with water on his 'kavu'. For me, he is the symbol of undying spirit and innocent love of a farmer towards his crops which he perhaps considered as important as his own children.
I wish all the best to the new generation that is striving to find new springs in soil as well as in the hearts of people.
But, the significance of the pond does not end there for humans. I remember the large pond we had at my mothers house, the water from which we used for irrigating the coconuts trees, bathing, washing clothes etc. In the village, neighbors used to come and use our pond for washing clothes and bathing. It was part of the social fabric. When neighbors came to use our pond, they always found a minute or two to talk to the people in the house. Yearly cleaning of the pond where we will rent heavy duty diesel pumps, pump out the whole water, catch fish and remove mud from the bottom of the pond was nothing less than a festival. It usually happens in summer and we used to go there just to see it. Many people will come there to catch the fish on that day also to see the mighty diesel pump set in action. It is very difficult for me to think of my childhood without thinking of the pond. There was a bigger pond, which we called "Ambala-Kulam" (Temple pond) and when in summer, our pond used to have less water, we all went to this bigger pond. This pond to women was like the banyan tree for the men. It was here the women folk shared their daily gossip and even carried out many of the daily chores. While they did so on the one side of the pond, men enjoyed their bath and swim on other side of the pond.
I have heard that the temple pond was much bigger in past. When I started seeing it it was already less than an acre. I am not sure what is its size today and whether this pond still exists there. But, here is the interesting news that I read:
http://www.mathrubhumi.com/youth/features/school-students-and-kudumbasree-workers-combined-work-pond-digging-youth-story-malayalam-news-1.1610682
The news is in Malayalam. This is about a few school students digging a pond in about 2.5 hours at Talikulam (this is the native village of my mother). The pond will be used for irrigation and fish farming. I am glad that a new pond is born. A new link is created between human and nature and also between humans who worked together to achieve it. I hope this spirit will spread and there will me many more ponds born there.
Well, it will not be fair if I do not mention my paternal grandfather while talking about ponds. I remember him as a one man army. He had few acres of coconut plantation and after his retirement he used to work there all alone. However, his land was close to a river and he did not have much need of a pond or motor to irrigate his land. But, later, as years passed by, summer started becoming more and more punishing. My grandfather then dug small ponds on his land. All alone. At first he dug one and watered many trees which were in the vicinity. But, it was too difficult to carry water to all the trees from that single pond (He used 'kavu', two buckets tied to either end of pole which is carried on the shoulder by balancing at the mid point of the pole). He then dug 3-4 more ponds at different locations and watered the trees. I still remember him almost running down the steps of those ponds and running back with water on his 'kavu'. For me, he is the symbol of undying spirit and innocent love of a farmer towards his crops which he perhaps considered as important as his own children.
I wish all the best to the new generation that is striving to find new springs in soil as well as in the hearts of people.
