Decades ago the village atmosphere was so different and i spent my childhood in my village till i completed my 12th standard. Those years that i spent in my village i can never forget in my life. Those days are golden days. Whatever I remember i keep on writing in separate posts. This post is about communication in villages.
Decades ago though no communication i.e telephone, internet, social media. The only communication was word of mouth – and in villages this spreads like a lightning as the houses in the villages build one after one and since the villages are of small in size the news goes around very fast. Not only that – in each street in the villages have a place to sit and gossip – like a temple, a big rock, or a open space where people can sit.
In my villages different communities are there – Brahmin, Karana, Kapu, Kummari, Mangala, Naidu, Mala, Dhora, Chakali, Konda, and there may be many but i cant remember some of them. Even though caste systems are prevalent whenever an occasion takes place all are invited irrespective of their community.
As i may have mentioned in some of my posts – though it may look repetitive but i may have to write to give a ready reference. In my village as in many villages Brahmins and Karanam’s are treated high and get respect from the people in the villages. What i understood is that this was age old practice – and Karana’s are treated as well educated and for any writing or reading or to get clarifications or help they used to go to them to take support – not because the others are not well educated but because one of the Karanam’s takes the role of a village administrator who keeps all the village people data, collect land revenue and land related information and so on. The other person is Naidu who is said to be the political head of the village. As i said this has been there from ages, the members from these two i.e. Naidu, Karnam get to do the same job if the existing ones die. And with Karanam two village assistants/ or peons used to stay with Karanam and also with Naidu. These two people mostly from Mala community. They hold a big stick in their hand and they come in the morning and sit at Karanam’s house. In my village my mammu was the Karanam. So these two assistants do duties different times and at times do together. If the Karanam needs to call a villager they will go and bring them. and these two assistants go with Karanam to nearby villages for administrative works. Since Panchali our village is a larger one some of other villages come under panchali – so the karanam used to go the nearby villages too. and the assistants carry documents alongwith them.
For any official announcements they used to have Dappu (like a drum) and they play the dappu and go across the streets in the village and announce any news that need to be shared with the villagers.
Coming back to the gossip centers – as mentioned above, the villagers mostly of agriculture farmers, labourers etc. so whole day they go to fields and evening they try to come back to their homes. after taking some rest they come to a spot where many people come and sit. Mostly they ware a lungi, dhoti and a kandua (a small towel) on the shoulders – There they talk about A to Z related to political, land related, politics, love affairs, what not. If any one comes from Salur which is the nearest town and bring any latest news that is discussed and the same is spread across. Even in school if someone gets good marks that also are discussed and praise that person for his or her efforts and if someone not done well also say they are only for eating and they are only suitable to work in the agricultural field etc.etc. Similarly, if some thing happen in any of the families in the villages those things are also discussed. Around the place you will find some tea shops, pan shops etc. They sit for an hour or two – if one goes some other person come and sit there. This goes on till 10 to 11 pm.
Hence in villages any news spreads very fast and people gather immediately – not like present day cities – if something happen in the ground floor first floor people do not know vice versa – even people are so work oriented even if someone ask who is staying next to your house, you may not be knowing that family or their names. This is the present day life…