Ma....the master storyteller on her journey and more.....
Its a trip down memory lane for Ma as she chatted about her journey called life. My mother in law is a great story teller and I am one for really good real life stories. She got married in 1957 on the 13th of July at Jamshedpur and holding her dear husbands hand the shy bride shifted base to Agra, where she set up her new home at her in laws. The huge house at "Chipitola" was now her home. Dr Birendra Mohan Bannerji was the head of the family.
It was a huge old house bought from a Nawab who had left for Lahore, by
Sri Guruprasanna Bannerji , her father in laws father. It was a large two storied house constructed with red stones. At the entrance stood a huge wooden door locally called "Phatak" which had wheels that operated on rails. It needed great strength to open and close. Once closed, the house turned into a fort. On the ground floor there was a square courtyard. Each floor had corridors on three sides and a steep iron staircase on one side. The floors were of red stone. The children often used these floors as drawing boards to draw figures, scenery etc. They played in the courtyard. The iron rod mesh on the roof protected from large herds of monkeys that invaded homes to feed. It was "The Phaal Ki Mandi"or Fruit Market next door, that brought these creatures here. The house did not have any balconies. When the women of the family knitted or made bags with beads as was the practise then, the monkeys surrounded them and often the ladies had to protect themselves from the herd with sticks.
Banwari lal (Banwari) supplied fish and lokesh (Loka) milk. Ser and pauwa was the measurements used back then, Ma informs me and the eldest, went shopping for all essentials. He returned with men carrying sack fulls of vegetables and fruits on their
heads !!!
"My life mostly revolved around my family," says Ma. "My schedule was plugged into theirs, which meant I rarely got any ' me time ' or vacations. Agra was a vacation destination for others and guests were welcome, all round the year. A joint family implied that you stay at home and when relatives and friends visited or rather came on a vacation, it gave you an opportunity to explore your own city and its outskirts -be it food, historical sights, museums or parks - like never before. Where ever we went the place chosen was near and option to come home back home was always open."
As a practicing medical professional, her father in law, Dr Birendra Mohan Bannerji had ten beds on the ground floor of the house where he treated the poor, free of cost in Agra. On account of this, he....Dagtar Babuji, was a much loved and respected figure in the locality. But the cruel hand of nature, snatched him from his family at a very young age of 45 yrs. The task of looking after the family fell on his second son Sri Madan Mohan Bannerji (my father in law) who had just turned 17 yrs old then.
Sri madan mohan Banerji, my father in law started working in Khedia in Tata Aircraft manufacturing unit and later when it closed down he was transferred to Telco at Tatanagar.
Looking after a large family, who had lost its sole earning member meant life on a budget. But eating was a social affair, as the huge family ate together and a lot of food was cooked on a number of huge "Chula". As a new bride, Ma had to do all house work under the strict guidance of her mother in law, Smt Chapola Banerji . She had to cover her head at all times as a mark of respect to all elders and as a result, she turned into a legend, a landmark, a walking encyclopedia on food. Food became a passion and work for her meant love for food. She follows strict norms when it comes to food even today. For her as they say, Food is not just about adding dhania and tomato to a dish......it gave meaning to her life !! She is someone who is used to whipping up a feast at a moments notice and that training she got at a very tender age. She has no regrets,she says.' I am only too grateful for whatever has come my way so far,' said Ma.....
Old photos bring back old memories to life.....
This is an account of a master's journey on her life. As the Bengali saying goes.....Jaha Bahanno tahai tirpanno ....Ma is evergreen and remembers everything like a picture.
Its a trip down memory lane for Ma as she chatted about her journey called life. My mother in law is a great story teller and I am one for really good real life stories. She got married in 1957 on the 13th of July at Jamshedpur and holding her dear husbands hand the shy bride shifted base to Agra, where she set up her new home at her in laws. The huge house at "Chipitola" was now her home. Dr Birendra Mohan Bannerji was the head of the family.
It was a huge old house bought from a Nawab who had left for Lahore, by
Sri Guruprasanna Bannerji , her father in laws father. It was a large two storied house constructed with red stones. At the entrance stood a huge wooden door locally called "Phatak" which had wheels that operated on rails. It needed great strength to open and close. Once closed, the house turned into a fort. On the ground floor there was a square courtyard. Each floor had corridors on three sides and a steep iron staircase on one side. The floors were of red stone. The children often used these floors as drawing boards to draw figures, scenery etc. They played in the courtyard. The iron rod mesh on the roof protected from large herds of monkeys that invaded homes to feed. It was "The Phaal Ki Mandi"or Fruit Market next door, that brought these creatures here. The house did not have any balconies. When the women of the family knitted or made bags with beads as was the practise then, the monkeys surrounded them and often the ladies had to protect themselves from the herd with sticks.
Banwari lal (Banwari) supplied fish and lokesh (Loka) milk. Ser and pauwa was the measurements used back then, Ma informs me and the eldest, went shopping for all essentials. He returned with men carrying sack fulls of vegetables and fruits on their
heads !!!
"My life mostly revolved around my family," says Ma. "My schedule was plugged into theirs, which meant I rarely got any ' me time ' or vacations. Agra was a vacation destination for others and guests were welcome, all round the year. A joint family implied that you stay at home and when relatives and friends visited or rather came on a vacation, it gave you an opportunity to explore your own city and its outskirts -be it food, historical sights, museums or parks - like never before. Where ever we went the place chosen was near and option to come home back home was always open."
As a practicing medical professional, her father in law, Dr Birendra Mohan Bannerji had ten beds on the ground floor of the house where he treated the poor, free of cost in Agra. On account of this, he....Dagtar Babuji, was a much loved and respected figure in the locality. But the cruel hand of nature, snatched him from his family at a very young age of 45 yrs. The task of looking after the family fell on his second son Sri Madan Mohan Bannerji (my father in law) who had just turned 17 yrs old then.
Sri madan mohan Banerji, my father in law started working in Khedia in Tata Aircraft manufacturing unit and later when it closed down he was transferred to Telco at Tatanagar.
Looking after a large family, who had lost its sole earning member meant life on a budget. But eating was a social affair, as the huge family ate together and a lot of food was cooked on a number of huge "Chula". As a new bride, Ma had to do all house work under the strict guidance of her mother in law, Smt Chapola Banerji . She had to cover her head at all times as a mark of respect to all elders and as a result, she turned into a legend, a landmark, a walking encyclopedia on food. Food became a passion and work for her meant love for food. She follows strict norms when it comes to food even today. For her as they say, Food is not just about adding dhania and tomato to a dish......it gave meaning to her life !! She is someone who is used to whipping up a feast at a moments notice and that training she got at a very tender age. She has no regrets,she says.' I am only too grateful for whatever has come my way so far,' said Ma.....
Old photos bring back old memories to life.....
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| The eldest of the family |
 |
| Smt Chapola Bannerji |
 |
| The Banerji family..... joint family in Agra |
This is an account of a master's journey on her life. As the Bengali saying goes.....Jaha Bahanno tahai tirpanno ....Ma is evergreen and remembers everything like a picture.
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