Our member, Mr K. K. Pradhan, who served with Customs Intelligence, is a widely-travelled man, dealing with a host of sensitive cases. He found his Salem sojourn in Tamil Nadu, where he was posted for a few months, fascinating. Salem is both a geologist’s paradise and pretty as a picture!
Surrounded by hills with even the landscape dotted with hillocks, it also has a range of industries, from the mighty steel plant to handloom and cottage industries. Industry flourished because of the iron-ore locally available. It supported steel-making and served other medium and large industries as well.
The crafts flourished because of the sheer creativity of the people. Add to this Salem’s work ethics that transformed the small town into a major industrial city. Its most remarkable feat for Mr Pradhan was that Salem is a city free of destitution.
People worked in shifts, opening little shops in the morning and then going to work in the fields. Salem produces raw material for agro-based industry. It is the only round-the-year centre for sugar production with people growing their own sugar cane. Agriculture is a primary source of income and farmers participated in digging canals that brought water from the Mettur Dam, more than 50 kilometres from the city to irrigate their farmlands.
“I was surprised to see the vegetable market starting as early as between 3.30 and 4 am and getting wrapped up by 7.30 sharp, leaving the place clean. At 7 am, there would be an announcement of closure by the municipal authority and those who dilly dallied over closing shops would find a van with two long sticks, moving in to break the temporary shops. After 7.30 am no one would think that there was a bustling bazaar there”.
Salem is as dynamic as it is steeped in tradition. Traditional values reveal themselves in the lifestyles of the locals. Women wear gold chains and ornaments for which Salem is famous. “You will find thick gold chains and ornaments worn by almost everyone including the vegetable vendors”. The city is also the largest producer of traditional silver anklets that women cannot do without. Even the young generation is tradition bound, early to rise and early to bed.
For the visitor though, the city beguiles; not just with its bustling streets but equally with its natural serenity.
Support Elders
Our member, Ms Indrani Goswami, describes to Mousumi Gupta her heart-touching experiences of dealing with India-related queries from some incredible people she met during her travels to various countries.
“If anyone asks me which country I would like to revisit, I would surely say Greece,” said Ms Goswami. Asked why, she replied: “Because of its ancient historic sites and scenic places and specially the warm-hearted people.”
Elucidating the itinerary, she said: “We were on a tour of three islands-Poros, Aegina and Hydra. All the islands have their own charm and beauty, but I remember one incident during this tour.”
“We were walking along a road full of fascinating souvenir stores when I noticed a young man in his twenties persistently looking at me. I thought as I was wearing a silk saree, bindi and gold bangles, he was interested in the uncommon attire. When I walked up to that boy, he adorably said: ‘I have always wanted to marry an Indian princess and now after meeting you, I am convinced that I will definitely do that one day.’”
“I was pleasantly shocked, but immediately asked him, “Okay, but why do you think that an Indian princess will agree to marry you?” He wasn’t prepared for this but after thinking a bit, he replied, “Look, my country is so beautiful!” I told him: “Have you ever been to India, which is also a very beautiful country?”
And I added: “If you really want to marry an Indian princess, you should take a month’s holiday so that you could visit some parts of our country and see how beautiful it is! And that was his time to get amazed!”
Another incident I can recollect is during my tour to Austria, one of my husband’s Austrian colleagues took me to a huge strawberry farm. An expressionless lady was sitting in a kiosk at the entrance, who handed over a basket and said: “You can have as much as you can, but if you pick strawberries in the basket, you have to pay.”
“When I was engrossed in hunting through the patches to find the perfect strawberries and relishing the juicy fruit, few people around me were speaking with my Austrian friend and asking why she didn’t inform them that an Indian was going to visit this garden, else they would have informed the press and have some photographs clicked! I was so embarrassed but that was the love and inquisitiveness about our country which made me feel really proud,” said Ms Goswami.
“If anyone asks me which country I would like to revisit, I would surely say Greece,” said Ms Goswami. Asked why, she replied: “Because of its ancient historic sites and scenic places and specially the warm-hearted people.”
Elucidating the itinerary, she said: “We were on a tour of three islands-Poros, Aegina and Hydra. All the islands have their own charm and beauty, but I remember one incident during this tour.”
“We were walking along a road full of fascinating souvenir stores when I noticed a young man in his twenties persistently looking at me. I thought as I was wearing a silk saree, bindi and gold bangles, he was interested in the uncommon attire. When I walked up to that boy, he adorably said: ‘I have always wanted to marry an Indian princess and now after meeting you, I am convinced that I will definitely do that one day.’”
“I was pleasantly shocked, but immediately asked him, “Okay, but why do you think that an Indian princess will agree to marry you?” He wasn’t prepared for this but after thinking a bit, he replied, “Look, my country is so beautiful!” I told him: “Have you ever been to India, which is also a very beautiful country?”
And I added: “If you really want to marry an Indian princess, you should take a month’s holiday so that you could visit some parts of our country and see how beautiful it is! And that was his time to get amazed!”
Another incident I can recollect is during my tour to Austria, one of my husband’s Austrian colleagues took me to a huge strawberry farm. An expressionless lady was sitting in a kiosk at the entrance, who handed over a basket and said: “You can have as much as you can, but if you pick strawberries in the basket, you have to pay.”
“When I was engrossed in hunting through the patches to find the perfect strawberries and relishing the juicy fruit, few people around me were speaking with my Austrian friend and asking why she didn’t inform them that an Indian was going to visit this garden, else they would have informed the press and have some photographs clicked! I was so embarrassed but that was the love and inquisitiveness about our country which made me feel really proud,” said Ms Goswami.
