GOLDEN JUBILEE OF PUSHPAK

Sunday we had a Satya Narain Puja dedicated to golden jubilee of our home Pushpak. 50 long years that saw five generations till now. Laxmibai Jagannath Khare came from eldest generation followed by Manohar Jagannath Khare & Mangla manohar Khare who constructed the bungalow. The construction took about four months. We Mukund, Arvind, Anu & Sachhit Mnaohar Khare from third generation used to visit and play in the sands. Just like the way Salil, Jagdish & Suruchi did later on while extension was underway. Reema and Mana came after the bungalow has to come to its present stage. Rohan and Manas belong to fifth generation who have inherited share in the bungalow by virtue of birth. Asha, Ramaa and Jyoti have acquired it as Daughters in law. Mention must be made for Amrutrao Bhagwat and Amit Dhavale as sons in law.

1st May 1960 was the day when Pushpak bungalow was occupied by us. It was Akshay Trutiya of 1960 when we moved in the bungalow. One bed room was occupied by Aaji which also served as Devghar. She was a lady of small delicate frame. Her bed had to be extended to enable others to sleep on it. Other bed room was of course for Aai & Baba, We siblings used to sleep in the hall. The kitchen was built big. The measurement then was how many people can be seated in a row for lunch. Dining table made its entry quite later. More than dozen could seat in a row with folded legs on “ Paat ”. That too quite comfortably. We had a washing place with shed over it near back door entry of Kitchen. All washing and scrubbing would be done there.

The best thing Baba did was not to let any part of house on the rent. We could add to the original four room ground floor bungalow as and when need came. Nevertheless Baba magnanimously invited many to stay in this bungalow in the forming years of their career and life. Pushpa Tamahankar, Usha Jog, Shrikant Khare, Viswas Dabholkar, Rajamama Gondhalekar, are some names coming to my mind. That was the ascending time for Pushpak when occupants grew in numbers. Two dogs Tipu and Ceazar lived full life here. A feat achieved only by Salil amongst human. Others were either born outside or died outside.

Initially the house was seldom without Guest / s. Slowly things began to change. The guests stopped coming. Anu and Suruchi got married. Salil died pre-matured. Jagdish went to America. Now it resembles old age home. The only grace is the office of Amit. The diminishing game of occupants will continue for sometime and then would come the end of Pushpak.

Another building will come with another set of occupants and another set of pathos. The picture coming before my eyes is a green field where Baba constructed Pushapak. That field will never come back. Now its turn of miniscule of civilizations making way for the layers of few inches of earth ( read as rabbit ). Regrets ? None whatsoever ! That is the way life goes. Every thing born has to die. Whether it is a person or a building makes no difference. Enjoy while it goes

Arvind Khare