Essays

My uncle Manoharlal lives in small farm, ten miles from the town in which I stay. He plants vegetables and flowers for the market. In addition he has a small fish pond in which he rears many types of fishes. With his wife, three young children and a couple of workers, uncle manages his farm reasonably well. They have an old jeep for transporting their products to market and for sending the children to school.

Every holiday, I go and stay with my uncle. He always makes sure that I visit him regularly. Maybe I am his favourite nephew as he is my favourite uncle. Once I am in his farm, I really enjoy myself. Uncle teaches me and shows me all sorts of things. He taught me how to fix fishing line and how to land a fish. I learned to identify bird calls, animal grunts and read signs left by animals. I discovered the intricacies and techniques involved in planting vegetables and flowers. I can even predict the" weather quite accurately by smelling the air and observing the clouds. In short, uncle has and is still showing me the wonderful world of nature, one that is so alien to those who live in the hustle bustle of cities.

I remember the time many years ago when both of us went on a trip to catch some fishes in a small stream. We were only armed with a large fishing net made from mosquito netting and a pail to keep the catch. For some time, we managed to catch some shrimps and small fishes. Then all of a sudden from underneath the bushes, overhanging the stream, a dark blob of something hurried across the stream. We froze in our tracks and watched the movement of the 'thing'. It was a fresh-water turtle! It was so large, about 20 cm in diameter and it was frantically scurrying away from us as fast as its stubby legs could paddle the water. I was so overcome by excitement that 1 went after it without a second thought. My bare hands were about to reach the turtle when I felt a steel like hand clasp my shoulder. Next moment I was flat on my back in the water. Mind you, the water was only knee-deep but the force of my fall made me swallow a considerable amount of water.

Pulling myself up I could see uncle deftly scooping the turtle into the fishing net. With the struggling catch safely in the net, he turned towards me with a big grin on his face. Wow! I eagerly splashed my way over to him to have a look at the capture. It was a beautiful turtle, almost totally green with a long snout that jutted prominently from its oval-shaped head. It stretched its long neck up probably to find a way out. I felt like touching it and was out to put my hand into the net when uncle stopped me with a curt 'no!' Uncle declared, 'it bites'. Just two short words spoken with authority made me realize that I might have lost a finger or two. It was another lesson for me.

I wanted to keep the turtle for a pet but uncle said it was not advisable. He convinced me that it was better for the turtle, and me, if we let the turtle go and live a normal life. Uncle asked me to release it- Reluctantly, I put the net into the stream to allow the turtle to swim away. Without hesitation it swam slowly down the stream and soon was lost from sight. We watched it till we could not see it anymore.

From the corner of my eye I saw our red plastic fishing pail lying on its Side in the stream. I suddenly realized that I was holding the pail before we saw the turtle, I must have dropped it in my excitement. I rushed over to it but alas, only one tiny shrimp was left in the pail. Stupid fellows, I thought. The rest had escaped. I uttered a few words of disappointment.

Uncle looked at me. His eyes showed sympathy and something more important- strength.

"Well, are we going to lament the loss of a few fishes, or are we going to catch some more?" he asked .

My face lit up. My uncle was a strong guy. I wished that I can be as strong as him. We continued up the stream and by evening caught more than enough to fill my aquarium. I was ecstatic.