[Oe List ...] Maliwada Visit

[John Ballard]

Words cannot express.

Words cannot express how we felt when we recently visited a village in
Maharashtra, India named Maliwada.  Jack, and I along with our adult son,
Peter, were visiting India for the first time.  We were guests of Sushil,
Vinod and Kamela Parekh.  Back in the 90s, our family sponsored, Sangeeta,
Sushil and Sarah Parekh's daughter, while she was attending college in New
Jersey.  Some of you may remember way back in the late 70s when Sarah and
Sangeeta were living in Kemper for a few years.  Sarah brought Sangeeta from
India to Chicago to attend a school that would teach the little 3-year-old
to speak aloud in English.  Sangeeta was born profoundly deaf.  At that
time, we became friends.  Then in 1994 Sangeeta began her college studies in
the US.

           We had not seen Sangeeta since she returned to India in 1996.  It
was a lovely reunion with her and her family and also with her uncle and
aunt, Vinod and Kamala and other dear friends along the way.  We visited
Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nashik.

           While we were visiting with Vinod and Kamala, they took us to
visit Maliwada.  What an experience.  The residents were dressed for a
holiday.  We were greeted in the Indian way with welcoming ceremonies,
marigold leis, shawls, and the men with Gandhi hats.  There was an
extraordinary gathering at the Grand Panchayat Hall, when elders spoke and
testified to the amazing development that had happened in their village.
Pundlik Dhangare began by recounting the journey of using the methods to
create their dream for Maliwada.  He sang the songs of the village.  I had
been crying before but his testimony (in Marathi) was so gratifying, one
couldn't help but experience the emotions of this large group filling the
hall.  Other speakers included Shankar Davtkar, Dondiram Jagdhane and Ram
Udavanti.   Shankar spoke in English!   Everyone was so excited to see Vinod
and Kamala, who were greeted in such a loving and grateful way.  We found
ourselves being witnesses to the accomplishments of the villagers over the
last 45 years.

           We visited several homes, walking under the Maliwada gateway arch
on the paved road.  Not shacks, not small dwellings.  No, these were large
two or three story concrete homes with indoor toilets, ant-proof kitchens
and rooftop gardens.  The residents were so proud of the lovely dwellings.
We visited with three different families.  We also visited the sawmill,
which makes wooden packaging for a local business.  The hardworking men
showed us how the wood makes its transformation from tree to thin planks,
ideal for the job. There is a new petrol station in town!  Since a new
highway is being planned to come nearby Maliwada, this provides another
opportunity for business.  The women and children looked good, healthy, and
happy with bright eyes.  We loved talking with them.  Some may remember
Rukmani Dhangare.  She is vibrant and loved showing off their new home.
First, hosting us in their old small house, showing us pictures of the old
days at the beginning of the project and showing us their notebooks full of
planning and methods and then taking us to the rooftop garden of the new
house next door with its grand view of the fort.  

           People gave us flowers, fruits, shawls, and great warmth and
love.  It is something we will never forget.  We of course, were witnessing
the gratitude of a place and people who for 40 + years have implemented
their plans, together.  They could never have done it without the amazing
sacrifice, care and human resources so many of you brought to that little
dusty spot below the ancient fort.   We wanted to let you know that what you
gave in those difficult early times has transformed a people and their
community.  We met a son who is a college-educated engineer.  "India is a
wonderful place, Maliwada is my home" sang Pundlik.  

           And so it is.  

 

Louise Ballard

Picture taken in front of the Grand Panchayat Hall

 

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