Topic started by Hemant (@ ppp-200-6-250.bng.vsnl.net.in) on Thu May 2 08:30:08 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I am going to attempt to share with all my hubber friends , the glory of past when nothing was bought from the market and all the arts of spice powder to pickle making and to be fried pappads to vadams and those dried vegetables were with experienced ladies and everything wasprepared at home.This story tells a boy's journey in the world of food from my olden golden days.I hope you would post your comments after each episode is posted.

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Hemant (@ ppp-190-68.bng.vsnl.net.in) on: Fri Jul 5 12:50:14
  
  Hello CI,
  Theory of Karma is action and reaction theory as per Hindu scriptures.I believe in that theory.There is no one in this world who has not sinned knowingly or unknowingly.
  If there were no sinners, God would be without purpose.
  Having sinned is pardonable but going on sinning knowingly is not pardonable.
  Fear is key to success.If you are afraid, you will be successful in not sinning again.
  
  
• From: Mrs.Soma (@ ce5.time.net.my) on: Sun Jul 7 03:53:30
  
  Dear Hemantji, you are right about the theory of karma is action and reaction theory. Our daily prayer to the Almighty is to save us from commiting more sins,and to pardon us from sins commited unknowingly.
  I think foetus killing is on the rise now with morden methods,and also by the freedom given to youngsters to mix freely.
  
  
• From: kik (@ ts3-161.silcon.com) on: Tue Jul 9 22:30:21
  
  Dear Hemantji: I'm a silent reader of this thread - your novel has actually made me post. I have to ask "where are those happy days?" I want to hear more about the happy days - your adventures growing up. This thread brought a smile amidst the hustle and bustle of work - as it did to any number of people. I hope you will return soon to those happy days.
  
  
• From: Sujatha (@ pool-141-154-46-117.bos.east.verizon.net) on: Wed Jul 10 01:50:41
  
  Dear Hemant,
  I second kik. Where are those happy days?
  Best Regards,
  Sujatha
  
  
• From: Hemant (@ ppp-200-8-233.bng.vsnl.net.in) on: Wed Jul 10 22:05:12
  
  Hello Kik, Sujatha and others who love Child Hemant's antics,
  Yes, I will be posting some lovely incidents soon.I am waiting for Ketan to come back .
  
  
• From: Hemant (@ 202.62.95.163) on: Fri Jul 12 03:40:37
  
  Hello Dear Hubbers,
  I have just uploaded more of my novel (almost one chapter) in my site.
  http://www.hemant-trivedis-cookery-corner.com/
  Please click on right corner of home page Novel link and read.
  I am waiting for the feedback please.
  
  
• From: Mrs Soma (@ ce5.time.net.my) on: Thu Aug 22 05:57:39
  
  Dear Hemantji, Three weeks back my MIL was down with pneumonia.We were all very worried. ( 96 years old ) Somehow she survived. I was sitting next to her bed, and was comforting her. I was telling her that she is going to be alright, and that she must have a positive thinking. Suddenly I asked her, are you not eager to know the outcome of Hemantji's story? Hemantji I could see a sly smile at the corner of her lips. She nodded her head. Hemantji at least for the sake of this grand lady, you must continue your story. It's a request.( Of course after your nedded rest ) Thanks. Soma akka.
  
  
• From: Hemant (@ wsi2.ci.san-leandro.ca.us) on: Tue Aug 27 19:20:48
  
  Hello Soma Akka,
  I will not let the lady go without my permission.I just read your posting and I am truelly touched by my oldest fan.
  I must confess that I was stuck deep upto my neck in problems after moving over to the USA.But I think I have been selfish in just thinking about my problems and neglecting my true love.
  Henceforth I am not missing the fun and that is a promise I am making to my Hubber family.
  I have found out a way to keep everyone happy now.
  So wait till tomorrow and I will be back to my normal self.I owe it to all my Forum Hubbers.
  And don't let the lady Go without my permission.!!!!!!!
  
  
• From: Mrs,Soma (@ j123.kja34.jaring.my) on: Wed Aug 28 09:48:19
  
  Dear Hemantji,
  Your words really touched my heart.
  The tears were flowing freely from my eyes.
  Thanks Hemantji, we all pray that she lives to be a hundred years.
  
  
• From: Hemant (@ wsi2.ci.san-leandro.ca.us) on: Fri Sep 6 14:16:24
  
  Dear Readers,
  Your's Truelly Hemant is presently passing thr' a rather tough period.Half the time I on the job and half the time starting afternoons, I am practising Astrology.I get very little time .At the end of the day, I get so much tired that I have no energy left.Weekends are full of people who come for consulting me for astrology and vaastu.More than you , my friends, I am missing you all.I also know that I have a couple of very old fans waiting for the posting of my Younger days life.If wishes were horses, I would be flying them to Kuala Lumpur Malasia and hold those fans of mine in my arms and sit with them telling stories.
  I have got some time today and am posting this piece.My website, Where are those....., Kitchen crisis..Hemant's cookery corner are all being neglected.But I think things would resolve once I get my own system .
  Till then I think I am going to be erratic in posting.I hope all of you would forgive me for that.
  Love you all.
  
  
• From: Mrs Soma (@ 203.121.0.17) on: Sat Sep 7 02:42:35
  
  Dear Hemantji,
  Do not worry, take your time.
  I can understand your position.
  Relax and and carry on with what is important first. Thanks
  
  
• From: Hemant (@ ) on: Sun Apr 6 08:31:17
  
  Hello Dear Hubbers,
  I had promised that I will write about teenage Hemant.
  I also have promised to two of my over 90 year old "fans" who are in Malaysia. (Mother and Mother-in-law of Late Somakka.) that I will write about my Village days.So I have restarted the episodes.
  
  
  Contd.......
  One reason for marriages not working out these days must be that couples are getting married without going thro' the long process of marriages as we experienced in our "olden days".
  Marriage, in those days meant about six months to one year's preparation for the Bride and an year's preparation for the groom.
  
  The bride to be had to prepare her "Sira varisai " or "Aanu" herself. Apart from taking her usual quota of jewells and clothes, she had to prepare pictures, Wall decoration pieces, embroider her sarees and prepare home decoration things herself.
  There was nothing known as marriage presents.At the most, the bride and the groom were given five to ten rupees as marriage present.
  A day before and a day after marriage was reserved for exibiting Bridal Siravarisai which we , in Gujarati call as "AAnu Paatharvu "Women of our caste, village and sometimes the representatives of the opposite side used to come to see the exibition.
  
  Since I was seperated from my sisters at a very young age of four or five, I had even forgotten their faces .I just knew that I had three sisters(all elder to me). Except for a brief period of one month in 1958 when my Grand father was honoured by Sri Shankaracharya (periwal) of Kanchi Kamakoti peetha, I had not seen any of them at all after coming to Paddhari.
  My second sisters was to be married first as my eldest sister's marriage was fixed at a later date and Anuradha was engaged to be married suddenly to a groom from Africa.!!!
  Since we were not yet initiated with sacred thread as yet, it was decided that both myself and my younger brother Jogendra would be initiated and Sacred thread ceremony was to be held during Anuradh's marriage.
  
  I always thought that if you are initiated, you were considered as a grown up.And I had always wated to Grow up fast. !!
  
  So our household was agog with a flurry of activities. Since the time available was less than a month, we had to call the Tailor in emergency, he sat thro ten days and stitched my sister's blouses and petticoats. In those days, ther was nothing called " ladies tailor"
  Ladies tailor had hardly two things to stitch.Blouse and Petticoat.
  There were no dresses, nighties, house gowns, lingeries or anything else for a woman to wear except Saree.
  We were taken by my grand father to the cloth shop and he bought Blue Binny mill trouser cloth and some white cloth.
  When we reached home, my father saw that.He knew that my grandfather had no knowledge about such clothes.So we went again to the shop and he bought ome good shirth and nickers clothes.
  He brought "sharkskin" cloth for our trousers(Halfpant) and shirts.The shirt was light blue and pants were cream.!! If I were to wear that combination, I would half die to day !! But then it was a different matter.
  New clothes is what mattered and not the colour.Generall almost all new clothes stitched at home came with oil smudges from tailor's machine.They were never washed before first time wearing.
  
  Kanji soni (Goldsmith ) was summoned with his design book and order for jewells was placed. Gold was about 150 rupees per Tola (If I remember correctly). Cook was summoned and he was given advance and was engaged for five days. The groom's party used to stay for a minimum period of three days then.!!
  
  So much was happening in our house at that time, that I can't describe it fully .
  
  My elder brother was sent to Rajkot to buy buttons and design s and Cardamom skins with a sparrow picture .In those days, girls had to make wall pictures made of different things.Then the craze was to make sparrows with Cardamom skin and Rabbits with white Nylon Shining buttons.
  She sat thro' nights of work and sat about creating her home decorations.She embroidered clothes , table clothes and likes for her new home.She had to learn cooking tips and other intricacies of cookery from my aunt.
  
  
  
• From: S.Chitra (@ ce8.time.net.my) on: Mon Apr 7 09:17:14 EDT 2003
  
  Dear Hemantji mama, Thanks for the story. Your first line really jolted me. I will be reading it to my grandmas. Thanks
  
  
• From: aarthi (@ ) on: Thu Oct 16 18:24:20
  
  Hemant,
  I stumbled upon this as I was browsing through old responses. I really liked your childhood memories.
  I spent all my time reading this today.
  Please post some more.
  Eagerly awaiting.
  
  
• From: RR (@ cache8.156ce.maxonline.com.sg) on: Sat Oct 30 09:50:18
  
  Continued here:
  
  http://forumhub.lunarpages.com/hub/viewtopic.php?t=157
  
  
• From: Reminisce (@ 202.172.58.250) on: Mon Nov 1 04:56:43 EST 2004
  
  Yup I too wish 4 the old days of India! When our culture was still intact & women esp. were much more devoted to Sarees! ;-)
  Can't believe where we r now!
  
  

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