It’s important at times to pause…and smell the rose…

Amidst the worst economic catastrophe (Mr Tata calls it ‘Hand of God’) :), and times which can at best be described as ‘gloomy’, things are going haywire. People being laid off is a news which is as stale as a month old cottage cheese. The focus seems to have shifted on survival, both individually and organizationally. Semantics are being redefined and innovated to describe the economic depression. Essentially these times really call for a break! A break from everyday’s monotony, a break from the uncertainty, a break from …well you get the point :)!

Jyotsana and myself did the same…I bet you, it was imperative to get our sanity back :).

But when crisis is like a looming sword over one’s head, it becomes important to merge pragmatism with desires (it’s difficult, but well, adapt or perish has always been nature’s inexorable imperative). So Jyotsana did some research and arranged for a surprise ‘gift’ for me this valentine, in form of Agri-Tourism.

While we flaunt (particularly my north-indian counterparts) and take pride in – ‘phoren holidays’, let me tell you that this 2 day weekend-getaway (starting 14th morning and culminating on 15th evening) was one of the best trips I have had in my life. We went to a place called – ‘Katewadi’ which is the hailing place of Mr. Sharad Pawar, about 150 odd kms from Pune. We were greeted with authentic Maharashtrian food which totally mesmerized our senses, hospitality which reminded us of home, abode which took us back by centuries and weather which made us forget ourselves (and I am not exaggerating)!

We saw pre-historic temple made during the Pandavas era, we made a passable attempt to row boatJ, we saw how a state-run sugar-cane factory works without coal and electricity (more on that later) and is totally self-sufficient, we saw how jaggery is made, we attempted to chew on fresh sugarcane straight out of soil :) , we saw one of the most beautiful universities in a small town called Baramati (incidentally also a flying base), and ofcourse we tasted what we had always read in books – nature and man coexisting without the imprints of industrialization.

And now let me explain to you ‘self-sufficiency’ personified. We visited Malegaon State Co-operative Sugar Factory, where raw sugar-cane was being inputted in unspeakable quantities. The aroma of freshly cut sugarcane was mesmerizing enough, the factory tour was like an icing on the cake! In terms of the process layout - the sugarcane is first chopped into little pieces and then crushed to take the juice out. The remainder is not wasted! Whatever pulp (for want of better word) is left after the juice is taken out, is gutted into huge kilns which then generate electricity for the entire factory to run! So the running cost is only maintenance, the traditional form of generating energy is not used in this factory at all.

While we were enjoying our rendezvous with nature, there were deafening roars of modern civilization calling us back from our dreamland and thus we headed back on the 15th . While we had come empty-handed, we did take back with us fond memories to cherish, moments to relive and promise to return with our friends and families…. :)