This was not the first time that
I was going to Thar. I have been going to Thar since my birth because my
maternal parents live in a small village named Goongio, Thar, some 55 kilometers away from Umerkot city. However, this time the major difference was
that I was going without any definite
plan, because after celebration of Independence day on August 14, 2015 at the
University, I was free to for two days, Saturday and Sunday. I just packed two suits in a
plastic bag and headed to bus stop to go to the city of Kantio by Bus.
After a wait of half an hour, I got a bus and
it took me three hours to reach there. But still my destination was bit away
and to get there I had three options. The first one was to go by foot and I did
not want to go by foot because, previous time I had a very bad experience of
going by foot as it is almost 5 Kilometer away from Kantio and after reaching
there I got many blisters on my feet. The second option was a taxi and for that I
had to wait for three hours more and the last option was to go by motorcycle
taxi which was available on spot and I opted for the last option.
On the way to my final
destination on motorcycle, I saw the beautiful landscape of Thar which had become
so beautiful after recent rains in the region. The road was broken and after
almost every kilometer there was some part which was covered with sand and it
was becoming difficult to cross it with motorcycle having two tires. Due to
that, for some times, I was compelled to
take my eyes away from the beautiful landscape to concentrate on my balance on
the motorcycle to avoid any accidental fall on the road.
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| me, Gordhan Das Menghwar |
After a ride of 15 minutes, I was
in the village where I wanted to be. I
was in the same streets where I have been coming since my childhood. Nothing
was changed, everything was similar, same types of houses called chonras (Huts)
in the same condition even in worse condition, same weak and innocent faces,
and the most importantly the same sand of hill called Bhit in Sindhi, was standing in front of me which I have
been seeing since last 35 years. Nothing was changed.
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| The sand hill (Bhit) |
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| Childhood of my cousins Dilip and Chaman and the Bhit behind them |
After having late lunch with kari, it was already 5'o clock of the evening and wanted to go to the same
Bhit and my cousin Chaman joined me. On the way to that Bhit, I was
continuously thinking of all of my visit
to this same place, but I could only remember few years which were really very
close to heart, my childhood visits, when everything was so beautiful and full
of fun. This Bhit was same, I found same Bajra, Guar, Jowar in lush green
color, there beauty was further aided by the combination of white and black
clouds in clear blue sky. I sat on beautiful sand for a while to enjoy the
natural moments. The purity was in full swing of beauty and I was completely
enthralled by the scene. I had not very
much time so I moved further to the sour and salty water well where the family
of maternal uncle come to draw water, I like the tea made from such water. I
could see many people irrespective of gender who had come to draw water for
drinking.
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| Marriage Ceremony of my cousin Ashok Kumar |
It was getting dark and dark, I came
back with my cousin Chaman to home and after having dinner I was on Khat
(Sindhi bed) under very clear sky with so many stars along with milky way.
More
importantly, due to the moon light, I could still see the same Bhit across the
Acacia jacquemontii made fence of my Uncle's home. The goats, making the meeh meeh sound, were
still free as they were not yet put into any fence and were moving here and
there freely on the floor made from cow dung. At some distance there was also a
donkey which is used to carry water from
well. This surrounding was so fascinating for me that I was feeling so lucky to
be in such a natural environment.
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| My cousin Narain Das has 12 goats |
The next day, I got up early in the
morning in an euphoric atmosphere on the beautiful sounds of sparrow and peacock along
with the sounds of movement of goats along with very clear smiling blue sky
right above. I felt blessed to have such moments.
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| Peacock on the roof my cousin Ramesh's Khud (room) |
I had my breakfast with Lasi, took tea
and packed to come back. The joint taxi was waiting for me which had to leave
for Kantio. Without any delay I got on that taxi and started my journey back. On
my way back, I wished to stay there longer to cherish the beauty of nature
which still exist more or less in the
same form as it used to be for me 35 years ago.
But life does not always go as per our wishes, it takes you where
sometime you may feel bored or restless. I stayed in Umarkot city with Bhagat Rai for couple of hours, had lunch and came back.
In the last, I must not forget to mention, Lata Mangeshkar of Tharis, late Fozia Soomro who used to sing in their local language, who, even
after 8 years of her death, is still very much popular among Tharis. In every,
Keekro, Four Wheel, Taxi, Shop or chonro, one can still listen to the songs of Fozia
Soomro. Being a thari, I also felt as if Thar and the beautiful voice of Fozia
Soomro have such a strong bond that even after that many year time has failed to break that relationship of love and respect.
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| Fozia Soomro |
I am back at my job but sometime, some
blow of air coming from the sand of Thar reminds me every snap of Thar and its
everlasting beauty.
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| Munhija Nanana |
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| My Uncle Kirpal Das |
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| My friend Lekhraj in Sindhi Topi |
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| My cousin Chaman Lal |
