Fakkad Kaka (Sketch of- Part 1) …

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(Note – In this series, with the sub- heading “Sketch of,” each contribution of written contents with a separate main heading is supposed to be complete in itself. Though if read one after another or randomly, then it would give an impression of a long story stung into a thread. this effort is given to make reader enjoy every part by it self. )

Prior to commence this narration, some description needed to define the title of the story. Fakkad’s dictionary meaning is penniless and nonchalant. Kaka is a vernacular term, often equals Uncle. It’s used in village for people who are aged and in common are uncle to all. The unique character of this story was called in vernacular “Fakkad kaka,” but in worldly senses he was not a penniless, In fact he had enough assets to suffice his needs. He was not dependent as such on others, though he was a nonchalant in his disposition.

                           Addiction severity in village

People born and brought up in urban areas, often conjure an image of rural people as a naive and simpleton in total. No doubt, generally they are not shrewd and live a plain life. But, if some one thinks, they are not infested with vices, they are wrong. The spree of gamboling and intoxication or addiction severity is so common there either. Though, in old period of time, such persons were nominal in numbers and could be counted on finger tips in every village community.

In my hinterland situated village, the hobby of consumption of “country made liquor” been extant for long. But this hobby needed cash money, so generally people tended to another sort of addiction severity. It was inclination for “Bhanga” or Hemp. It’s  a herbal plant and at that period of time, it grew abundantly in our region as a wild growth. Secondly, it was available free of cost and helped get a man easily high when taken as a smoke.

                      Bhanga or hemp used in several forms

The parts of hemp plant could be used as intoxicant in various forms. The matured leave when dried, making a powder of them and mixed with tobacco filled in a cigarette, when smoked make a man high. The another form is “weeds” mixed with tobacco stuffed in a “Chilam” and on the top of it some embers put on. It also smoked as such. Chilam is an indigenous clayey cone shaped tiny apparatus, having a wide mouth and a small aperture at the bottom from where smoke is inhaled. The fried pie of hemp leave also produces the same trance.

Besides, Charas were also extracted in indigenous form, still that process is followed locally.  In this process, green fresh leave of hemp are rubbed hardly with the palms of both hands. This help accumulate a thin layer of “substance” on the palm, this is then rubbed off and collected in shape of tiny balls. a small part of that is used as substance by mixing it with tobacco and filled in the cigarette as a smoke particle and enjoyed as such.

                              Fakkad Kaka’s weird life style 

Fakkad Kaka was exceedingly fond of hemp substance. In fact, it was a part and parcel of his dietary chart in another sense. In true sense, he was “Fakkad” by his deeds. Firstly he was a “celibate,” never he got married and lived a life of “lone wolf.” Second significant feature of his was, when he took an oath to live his life as a “celibate” in his early youth ; on the same day, he too abandoned some victuals permanently for ever. Whole through in his life, never he took any grains or any by product of them. Not only this he too abandoned salt’s use in any form and of all milk products. He rigidly followed his oath.

                                Rumor of his being venomous

In our rural side, it was said about him that by not consuming salt in his life, he had developed venomous quality. God knows only, how much truth this rumor contained, but people feared his this worth. Often people evaded him when he caught up in bout of anger. He too was in the habit to intimidate people about his this feature. His catch word to address people were “Look child.” Often he was in habit  to warn people, “look child, don’t make me angry, if I give you a bite in anger, you may die of my venom!”

                                   life of  a mendicant

When I occasioned to look at him for the first time, he was in his fifties. As I told earlier, he was self sufficed and inherited about five acre arable land on his name and in physical possession. Never he owned a pukka or permanent house to live. His entire life he passed in  a makeshift hut. This hut was erected on the support of some wooden poles, thatched irregularly with sheaves of dry grass. All four sides of hut too fenced with the same sheaves barring an entry in the name of door.

In the name of chattels, he had had a few brass metallic glasses to drink water or sip the black tea, a pan to prepare the tea. Apart from, he too owned some round shaped old tin-boxes to contain tea leave, and jaggery ( to sweeten the tea). In the name of clothing, some pairs of Indian kurta ( shirt) and dhoti. Dhoti he wrapped around his loin and legs in South Indian style. For wintry season, some old blankets to protect from cold. His clayey hearth ever remained kindled, since it was needed either to cook the tea or to supply  embers to light the chilam continuously. ( End of the part 1st)… Penned by — Vinay Pharasi …..