November 24, 2008
"For man, autumn is a time of harvest, of gathering together.
For nature, it is a time of sowing, of scattering abroad."
- Edwin Way Teale
A journey by the Konkan railway during any season is worth cherishing provided you traverse the region during day-time. The ecology and scenic beauty of the region along the railway track presents a pleasant and enjoyable experience for the passengers.
Last July I had an opportunity to travel by a much delayed ‘Matsygandha Express’ which provided me an opportunity not only to view the Konkan during monsoon season but also to click a number of pictures which I could share with the ‘Daijiworld’ readers through an exclusive article titled “Konkan in Monsoon: An Experience to Cherish”. At that time the entire Konkan coast seemed to have been drenched in green, the colour of peace and tranquility. I could see the agricultural activity in full swing with fields being prepared for transplantation and women engaged in transplanting rice saplings.
Once again, I had an opportunity to visit my native place during mid-October. On this occasion I looked forward to capture the changing colours of Konkan during the harvesting season, which coincides with the season of autumn in the West. Autumn is associated with the transition from warm to cold weather and is considered as the season of the primary harvest. In Western cultures, personifications of autumn are usually pretty, well-fed females adorned with fruits, vegetables, and grains that ripen at this time.
As the Konkan Railway was still following the monsoon routine with regards to speed limit, on the day I traveled, ‘Matsyagandha Express’ was delayed by three hours and day broke at Honnavar. As the train rumbled through the lengthy bridge across the Sharavati river, I positioned myself by the window to see the blue waters of the river in the early morning sunlight.
As the train neared Murdeshwar, I craned my neck towards the west to get the glimpse of the magnificent statue of Lord Shiva and the tall temple tower bathed in morning golden sunlight visible from a distance. It had become a habit with me to make it a point to glance at the twin land marks of Murdeshwar, especially while going back to Mumbai. My attempt to click the pictures of the twin wonders could not succeed due to the distance.
As ‘Matsygandha express’ wound its way through bridges and tunnels, I could see a temple at Murdeshwar and a madrassa at Bhatkal and traditional tile-roofed houses as well as terraced concrete bungalows interspersed through golden coloured paddy fields. The sight of the extensive paddy fields in the morning sun with distinct golden colour was as pleasing and fulfilling as the green colour during the monsoon. The morning chill wind blowing with the speeding train, especially while crossing the rivers was a unique experience by itself.
Viewing through the train window I could see that the harvesting season was in full swing. While a number of paddy fields were cleared of the Karif crop and being prepared for the Rabi sowing or pulses, a vast area was still at different stages of harvesting. Lack of labour force has been one of the chief reasons for the delayed agricultural activities in the Konkan.
The harvesting season is also a festive occasion, especially ‘Diwali’, the festival of lights and colours. As the wet slushy fields are being prepared for Rabi crops, in certain places village sports such as buffalo race (Kamballa) are being organized. Clandestine cock-fights are other pastime that the more leisurely people indulge in. I could imagine the sight and smell of gradually drying wild grass on empty spaces mixed with the fragrance of wild flowers providing a typical rustic village aroma to the atmosphere.
As the ‘Matsyagandha Express’ reached three hours late to Udupi, I alighted from the train with the satisfaction that I could re-visit Konkan during autumn and see the changing colours of the land that is blessed with nature’s bounty and inhabited by the people who are contented, happy and live in harmony with nature and fellow human beings.
Dr Eugene D`Souza - Archives: