First we went to a mobile clinic that travels regularly to the same villages to provide free medical services to the poor. It is Rotary sponsored and funded by matching grants. We also got to see a small laboratory the Rotary has for doing blood tests, urine tests, etc, free of charge. It had very basic equipment but is better than nothing.
Then we went to a weaving factory where we saw huge weaving machines that only needed people to slice broken threads, but otherwise were purely mechanical. They were so fast I couldn’t see the shuttle or the beater. The fabric was very fine quality. They export the material.
The one thing about the textile industry is that it is like the shops in the market; each place only does one thing. One prepares the fiber, one spins, one weaves, one adorns it, etc.
So then we travelled to see the cotton being spun. The fibers they dealt with were cotton or cotton/poly blend. Again, huge machines! I couldn’t even begin to comprehend the amount of thread and spools. They had an excellent system to keep the air free of dust although few worker worn face masks. They said they employ 600 workers, it is that big. Cotton is the second largest industry of India after sugar cane.
We visited a Jain temple and watched a ceremony that only occurs on the full moon. They sing and pour first milk, then curd, then sandalwood extract over the head of a statue of one of their 24 gods. It was aromatic.
We visited a “colony” of low income housing that the Rotary built. The one thing I have noticed about the impoverished people here is that they always seem happy, proud of what they do have, and ready with a smile, unlike the American poor who always seem to be feeling sorry for themselves and wanting everything. The phrase “the poor people of America are wealthy in comparison to the poor of most other countries” is very true.
We finally went to a Rotary school for the deaf. I learned that India also has a big debate on whether the deaf should use sign language or go with the oral method. This school teaches total communication, or the use of both although I felt they leaned slightly toward the oral methods. Unfortunately the entire series of speeches they we sat through were in either Hindi or the local language so we still have no idea what all the speakers said. We did hear the words “Rotary Club” a lot and they gave gifts to a few of the children, apparently as awards for something. There occasionally was an interpreter but I couldn’t understand a single word other than “walk” and “Rotary Club”. I later learned that he was signing in either Indian Sign Language or the local language. Apparently they have a different sign language in each state just as the spoken language differs. Some of the students did a dance performance to traditional music to the beat of a conductor sitting low in the crowd. It was rather strange though when the music interrupted momentarily and they kept dancing to the silent beat. They seemed to be enjoying it though.
We then rested then went and did our presentation. Bernie is having some troubles with his but the rest of us have abandoned our notes and are really getting some interest from the crowds. At the end they let the audience ask us questions. I had to answer about EMS being a private or government sector and where the funding comes from, it was easy. Bernie got pinned with the question we were coached to avoid at all costs: what do we think of the war in the middle east. Rajiv took the question and gracefully spoke that everyone is unanimously in favor of peace and spoke of the ceremonies we participated in when we first arrived in India. The ceremonies were in celebration of Sankranti, the harvest festival. One thing they do it exchange sweets (like giant non-pariels) with the words “Take sweet, talk sweet, be sweet”. The recipient is then expected to put some back into the giver’s hand and repeat the phrase. Rajiv spoke that if all the soldiers did this the world might be a different place. The crowd seemed pleased with this.
I have moved to new home because my previous host had to go away. My new host, Dev, is an actor who apparently has been in two movies and is known by many known. His family also manufactures automobile parts. They are Jain and the women are customarily much quieter and in the background. His wife and mother speak little English.
Then we went to a weaving factory where we saw huge weaving machines that only needed people to slice broken threads, but otherwise were purely mechanical. They were so fast I couldn’t see the shuttle or the beater. The fabric was very fine quality. They export the material.
The one thing about the textile industry is that it is like the shops in the market; each place only does one thing. One prepares the fiber, one spins, one weaves, one adorns it, etc.
So then we travelled to see the cotton being spun. The fibers they dealt with were cotton or cotton/poly blend. Again, huge machines! I couldn’t even begin to comprehend the amount of thread and spools. They had an excellent system to keep the air free of dust although few worker worn face masks. They said they employ 600 workers, it is that big. Cotton is the second largest industry of India after sugar cane.
We visited a Jain temple and watched a ceremony that only occurs on the full moon. They sing and pour first milk, then curd, then sandalwood extract over the head of a statue of one of their 24 gods. It was aromatic.
We visited a “colony” of low income housing that the Rotary built. The one thing I have noticed about the impoverished people here is that they always seem happy, proud of what they do have, and ready with a smile, unlike the American poor who always seem to be feeling sorry for themselves and wanting everything. The phrase “the poor people of America are wealthy in comparison to the poor of most other countries” is very true.
We finally went to a Rotary school for the deaf. I learned that India also has a big debate on whether the deaf should use sign language or go with the oral method. This school teaches total communication, or the use of both although I felt they leaned slightly toward the oral methods. Unfortunately the entire series of speeches they we sat through were in either Hindi or the local language so we still have no idea what all the speakers said. We did hear the words “Rotary Club” a lot and they gave gifts to a few of the children, apparently as awards for something. There occasionally was an interpreter but I couldn’t understand a single word other than “walk” and “Rotary Club”. I later learned that he was signing in either Indian Sign Language or the local language. Apparently they have a different sign language in each state just as the spoken language differs. Some of the students did a dance performance to traditional music to the beat of a conductor sitting low in the crowd. It was rather strange though when the music interrupted momentarily and they kept dancing to the silent beat. They seemed to be enjoying it though.
We then rested then went and did our presentation. Bernie is having some troubles with his but the rest of us have abandoned our notes and are really getting some interest from the crowds. At the end they let the audience ask us questions. I had to answer about EMS being a private or government sector and where the funding comes from, it was easy. Bernie got pinned with the question we were coached to avoid at all costs: what do we think of the war in the middle east. Rajiv took the question and gracefully spoke that everyone is unanimously in favor of peace and spoke of the ceremonies we participated in when we first arrived in India. The ceremonies were in celebration of Sankranti, the harvest festival. One thing they do it exchange sweets (like giant non-pariels) with the words “Take sweet, talk sweet, be sweet”. The recipient is then expected to put some back into the giver’s hand and repeat the phrase. Rajiv spoke that if all the soldiers did this the world might be a different place. The crowd seemed pleased with this.
I have moved to new home because my previous host had to go away. My new host, Dev, is an actor who apparently has been in two movies and is known by many known. His family also manufactures automobile parts. They are Jain and the women are customarily much quieter and in the background. His wife and mother speak little English.
2 comments:
Hi! Its great to be on your blog & read about Ichalkaranji! If you remember, I was the guy who welcomed you at Deaf School!! How are you & every body? The photos on the blog about us are wonderful. Thanks.
SN Agrawal
snagrawal05@gmail.com
Spinning mill company manufactured in cotton dresses...
Aegan Industries
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