by Mandira Moitra Sarkar
I came across this picture today of my sister and me at our usual childhood picnic spot, and given the non-picnic weather this week, I began to reminisce....
Memories abound of elaborate preparations before the actual event with Monglu our cook presiding over what almost seemed like a wedding celebration. On the much awaited day, the excitement started with jeeps with trailers arriving to the house at dawn to be loaded up not only with prepared food but everything from rice to chicken, pots and pans and an army of staff. The heavily laden jeeps would set off on their two hour journey to the usual picnic spot on the banks of the majestic Bhareli river and the cooking would begin in makeshift open air kitchens ready for us when we arrived in time for breakfast.
Lunch was usually steaming, freshly made Khichuri served on dining tables set up with proper linen and bottles of beer / drinks conveniently chilled in the the crystal clear waters of the river.. The afternoon would wear off with games and music, laughter and lazy cups of tea until my dad made an appearance in the setting sun, sailing down in his rubber boat after a day's fishing accompanied by his faithful Miris (fishing assistants) Magairam and Mohan.
There would usually be a not insignificant catch of the golden Mahseer tied to his boat which would then be swiftly taken away by the cook as an addition to the evening menu. Dinner was a magical affair usually a clear moonlit night.. the gleaming, sparking waters of the fast flowing waters reflecting the moonlight, the forests on the opposite bank aglow with fireflies and the occasional trumpet of a wild elephant or even a leopard.
Gradually as the night wore on, the kitchens would be cleared, open fires put out and we would pile back into the cars to make the sleepy journey home... until the next time.
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My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, maybe long, short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull.
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
Meet the writer: Mandira Moitra Sarkar
'I consider myself a true Chai Ka Baby. Apart from being born in tea, I am probably one of those few people whose grandfather was in tea and whose parents were actually married in tea . So the groom, bride, best man, wedding, honeymoon, children etc. etc. were all from tea!!! I have had three proper homes in tea - parents, grandparents and Mama ( maternal uncle) all being tea planters in addition to friends.
I currently live in leafy Surrey in a chai inspired colonial home ( I think so at least!) with my car mad husband and very grown up teenager. After 17 years as a management consultant, I finally started Surrey Spice which aims to bring proper Indian food inspired by the regions, seasons and festivals of India. Apart from cooking , I love to travel and am a passionate blogger - and still live (mentally) amongst the verdant tea bushes of Assam.'
Here are links to more stories by Mandira on this blog : https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/search/label/Mandira%20Moitra%20Sarkar
https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/p/mandira-moitra-sarkar-cooks-up-story_6.html
Read about Manidra's Kitchen here: https://www.facebook.com/MandirasKitchenSurrey/
Memories abound of elaborate preparations before the actual event with Monglu our cook presiding over what almost seemed like a wedding celebration. On the much awaited day, the excitement started with jeeps with trailers arriving to the house at dawn to be loaded up not only with prepared food but everything from rice to chicken, pots and pans and an army of staff. The heavily laden jeeps would set off on their two hour journey to the usual picnic spot on the banks of the majestic Bhareli river and the cooking would begin in makeshift open air kitchens ready for us when we arrived in time for breakfast.
Lunch was usually steaming, freshly made Khichuri served on dining tables set up with proper linen and bottles of beer / drinks conveniently chilled in the the crystal clear waters of the river.. The afternoon would wear off with games and music, laughter and lazy cups of tea until my dad made an appearance in the setting sun, sailing down in his rubber boat after a day's fishing accompanied by his faithful Miris (fishing assistants) Magairam and Mohan.
There would usually be a not insignificant catch of the golden Mahseer tied to his boat which would then be swiftly taken away by the cook as an addition to the evening menu. Dinner was a magical affair usually a clear moonlit night.. the gleaming, sparking waters of the fast flowing waters reflecting the moonlight, the forests on the opposite bank aglow with fireflies and the occasional trumpet of a wild elephant or even a leopard.
Gradually as the night wore on, the kitchens would be cleared, open fires put out and we would pile back into the cars to make the sleepy journey home... until the next time.
Do you have a chai story of your own to share?
Send it to me here, please : indianchaistories@gmail.com.
My name is Gowri Mohanakrishnan and I'm a tea planter's wife. I started this blog because one of the things that I wouldn't want us to lose in a fast changing world is the tea story - a story always told with great seriousness, no matter how funny - always true (always), maybe a tall tale, maybe long, short, impossible, scary, funny or exciting but never dull.
Happy reading! Cheers to the spirit of Indian Tea!
Meet the writer: Mandira Moitra Sarkar
Here are links to more stories by Mandira on this blog : https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/search/label/Mandira%20Moitra%20Sarkar
https://teastorytellers.blogspot.com/p/mandira-moitra-sarkar-cooks-up-story_6.html
Read about Manidra's Kitchen here: https://www.facebook.com/MandirasKitchenSurrey/
Lovely recollections delightfully recalled. I remember Bhorelli so well with similar picnics! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery enjoyable and idyllic.
ReplyDeleteGreat account. Planting was a lifestyle. Not a job. That is the biggest loss today, where for many, it is merely a job. They return home and sit in front the TV, eat dinner wearing a lungi and go to bed. I know cases where the butler refused to serve dinner to the Asst. Manager, unless he dressed 'decently' for dinner. In Ooty Club, to this day, you will not be allowed entry into the dining room unless you are formally dressed. Otherwise you are served on the veranda at the back with the resident hound. Tea planting was all about style. Which didn't interfere with efficiency and productivity. It only made it more enjoyable and memorable.
ReplyDeleteAgree hundred percent. None of the graces exist in Tea any more and that truly is among the biggest losses.
Delete100% agree with every word that Yawar writes.
ReplyDeleteI have a 'picnic' story in my list of to-do for the blog. That one will come tumbling out one day when I have the time and inclination to sit down and do it! All I'll say at this point of time that it was a whole lot more elaborate than the outing described by Mandira.
A l
And now I want to go off on a picnic ! So evocative!
ReplyDeleteThank you Gowri and Indian Chai Stories for introducing us to Mandira’s Chai stories