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NAgeshvara and village

Source: TW

विस्तारः (द्रष्टुं नोद्यम्)

Author is a Telangana Kamma.

Harvest shares

My father was a farmer. As has been the custom, a part of the first harvest is given to the village Purohit, then to people of all other vocations such as carpenter, blacksmith, washerman, barber, etc. While the grains are delivered to the Purohit, others collect their share from the threshing floor.

The paddy harvest season coincides with Makar Sankranti/Pongal school holidays. My father used to take me to the farm during holidays. One of my duties was to deliver a few sacks of paddy at the home of our Purohit. He and his wife were affectionate and would treat me with some snacks, etc. And while I was eating snacks he would enquire about my studies, etc.

After completing 10th class I joined a Junior College in our district headquarter town Warangal in 1976. During Makar Sankranti/Pongal holidays in January 1977 I went home. As usual my father took me to the farm and asked me to deliver the paddy to the Purohit.

Being influenced by the subtly Anti-Hindu education which is camouflaged as Anti-Brahmin, that is more pronounced in urban ecosystem, I questioned my father,

“Why should we give our produce to the Purohit who does not do anything to us unlike the people of other vocations?”

My father, who was unlettered but educated, told me,

“You are too young to understand it. You will know it in due course as you grow up. Go and deliver to the Purohit and take his blessings.”

His non-answer made me to strive for almost two decades to understand why must we patronise (within our means) and respect our priestly class.