[11/01, 03:37] Shama Sinha: ॐ
SAHIARRA. my native village has always quizzed by its name. Its sandhi vichched(sahi +arrah) made me think why it is named so and if it is correct it should have been more developed than the Arrah town
Anyway it stands with the same status as before with innumerable memories making it SAHI +ARRAH(REAL ARRAH for my late father ,NPSinha who was born and brought up in its beautiful natural rich surroundings a long time till our grand father late Uma kant Sinha moved to Patna to be employed as secretary to the governor then.
However my father continued his studies partly in Jila School, Patna and also Jila school Ranchi too because the whole office of the governor shifted to Ranchi in summer.Brigbtest of all in family he stood first in his matric exam.
He often recalled how people from different villages came to see him
His grand father late Abhilakh lal was a lawyer and had stablished his landlord status by hi earning of only one month in calcutta,then. The big campus stood with 4 huge courtyards,each defining areas meant for particular purpose. The third and fourth were private areas.there was a Hathi darwaja from which elephants entered the premises iñ the 3rd one which was meant for entertaining male guest but the 4th one was secured for family residential purpose.
I remember clearly it had many rooms spread spaciociosly on all its 4 sides.My father showed us the room on west in which he was born.
We often visited our village with our car loaded with aĺ provisions from coal and wood to fruits and groceries.
My father late NPSINHA was recruited à Superintendent Engineer in Bihar StateElectricity Board then.,after he had resigned from DVC Tenughat. Returning from France he had purchased a brand new Ambassador car ,we were treated like princes on arrival . In ithe village . AHEAD of our arrival the local authorities of my papa’s department took special care in repairing the kuttcha road and would make sure that our car passed over the bridge of 9th HARPUR LOCK of SONE CANAL running along our village. This also was the reason why our village wass a prosperous location.
[11/01, 09:14] Shama Sinha: OumPapa continued his studies in Patna Science College and
He was fond of spending time in Sahiarra and its neighborhood using his imported gun in hunting birds on banks of Sone River. That was always a picnic trip for me and bhaiya.
The” Banihars”(bonded laborers who were our farm laborers and were paid in terms of produce,not money)carried leafy shades to attract birds.later when my grandfather and grandmother started living.,hunting was adventure activty for both, my father and my grandfather. On these hunting trips we all accompanied them.My younger sisters followed my mother while me and my brother accompanied my Papa. The Banihars prepared chura dahi or cooked chuda doodh kheer “fo us on the banks itself. It was an exciting trip always.
Ma and grandma would use it to visit families of Bahadurpur zamindar”Kripal Pade Baba and another ascetic with ephantisis . I forget his name but his soft and peaceful expression still mark my memories.we called him “Daadhi waale Baba”.
On returns ma would bring loads of “khoya and laal dahi” which she carefully stored to carry back on return. She often got the curds dried by maids. Dry curds curry tasted yummy. We still remember.
We were many cousins but except us none visited Sahiarrah.
Once all of my cousins and we two accompanied our Chapla Phua( Aunt)who assured my “Badi Ma” that she would take good care of all children. A jeep with trailer was arranged and we cousins started our trip.As this was our first trip in such open and free conditions we all felt like prisoners out of jail 😅😅
[11/01, 10:13] Shama Sinha: ॐ
Prem bhaiya and Shashikar bhaiya enacted as Devanand and Shashi kapoor. They sat on edge of the jeep trailor,waving their hair in airand enacting songs alike heroes.
Our family pundit who was escorting often instructed us in his extra curious voice with such accent that as he began his instruction”Pleeece bere your sweeeters ,it is very cold”.we burst into laughter .This often offended him but this didn’t stop him from giving instructions.
We reached home only to become more naughty. Harvest had just ended and heaps of hay lay gathered in the first courtyard. Its sight was so inviting that the jeep had hardly stopped when we children jumped out busied ourselves on fresh stacks of hay. Dunlup mattresses were unknown, as such.the jumpy experience on hay stacks mesmerized us overwhelmingly. We did nothing but players hide seek on those yellow mounts. By night we girls were overcome with itching all-over. Perhaps we had developed some sort of allergy. There was no immediate remedy available. Suddenly Chapla Phua brought cows urine in a small pot.Sitting on a machia p( coir stool) she ordered all of sisters to remove clothes.😣😣😣
[11/01, 11:01] Shama Sinha: ॐ
It was rather insulting in presence of others. She realized it and took us to dark corner.
The treatment worked a wonder and soon we all were freed of our trouble. Believe me we never tried it again 😅😅
Once during the same trip we went for a decent in the canal.the water current was high.we were enjoying while one of our clothes flowed with it.we panicked ,we tried getting it but we couldn’t 😣Anyway that trip was an exciting adventure for all of us.
[12/01, 03:30] Shama Sinha: Sahiaŕah visits were both joyous and regretfully us grandchildren.joyous because we àwaited that grand yet funny welcome by our village friends when they ran shouting as it crossed the 19th Harpur lock on the great( Arrah Dalmianagaŕ )Sone Canaĺ,surrounded with clouds of dust as road to Sahiarra was not a pitched one. Secondly our Dadi’s huge cauldron level filled with delicious mouth watering gulab jamuns.we enjoyed playing colors with our smelly village friends yet a regret lingered of missing our city friends and celebration. Third attractive event was the go around visits to a few major spors in Sahiarra alike our Shiv temple Sati chsbootra and Milan phupha ‘s sister’s place(she would wait for us with her Aaloo dum and Maal puas which we liked) oOn the occasion of Holi and Dusserra it began with the showering of liquid aabeer by our Grand father and grandmoither ,symbolisingtheir blessings , Fourth attractive part was the special gift of Rs 2 to each of us girls,Rs5 toBhaiya and Rs51 to Ma. It was like reciieving at reasure. With all this we would forget all our complaints . Sometimes when we chanced to return on such day when Holi or Dussera wa being celebrated in Patna it would become a festive hamper for us children because then we could play atleast drycolors with our friends or visit Patna Gandhi Maidan to watch Rawan Dahan.
It was on one such evenings of Holi celebration that out of inquisition me and Bhaiya tasted the Bhang ladoos prepared for special guests and group singers of Holi songs ,who would specially visit our grandfather on festival. evenings.
Those beautiful memories now haunt me and make me regret why I remorse against those exceptional experiences and moments that will never again return to me but shall ever retain their special place in my heart
Papa ‘splanned festival vìsits to sahiarra which pained me then ,now are treasured jewels of my childhood days. I feel extremely blessed and am indebted to my Grandparents,Parents my village friends, especially Tara and Rampatiya(may God grace them and their families with abundance)and also those ,hose helps who made our sray comfortable.(Shiv poojan,kanhai bahu etc)
[12/01, 03:35] Shama Sinha: ॐ
Aarti,though there are many more but I hope these are enough .
“Sahiarra vatika” is our Sahiarra now which attracts everyone from our native land crossing our Papa’s Dreamhouse
Hail Sahiarra!!