Member the Planters Society of Eastern India (Continued from 6Th Edition)
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7th Edition The planTers socieTy of easTern india • TEA TRAILS ’ ... Season s Greetings to all of you globe and has been a big blow to the mankind ditionally held within September but the and a big deterrent for regular education for authorities have granted automatic extension school and college going children. of 3 months to all Companies/Institutions for holding the same. There seems to be no end in sight unless a miracle happens or an effective vaccine In view of Govt regulations for holding gath- comes to our rescue. To overcome this difficult erings/meetings, the commitee has decided period and to fight this pandemic, we have to to seek extension of time for holding of an commit ourselves to some essential rules of AGM upto June 2021. We will keep you posted social distancing without being socially aloof. about a firm date and venue of the AGM as The importance of wearing a mask cannot be soon as its finalised. undermined, personal hygiene like washing However, all accounts related work is up to & sanitising hands need to be stepped up and date and duly audited. Once the situation avoiding crowded place needs to be strictly improves, we will hold our AGM and all mem- adhered to... bers will be informed about the date etc well The onset of autumn brings the much needed In this pandemic we have also lost some of in advance. joy and fun through festivals of Durga Puja our dear friends from the planters’ fraternity. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a and Kali Puja particularly in this part of the They shall be fondly remembered for times Happy New Year. country. However, this year we have been to come... robbed of some fun and festivities as we are Warm personal regards, May God give peace to their departed souls. living through very challenging times. Covid-19 has led to deprivation of our freedom, loss of I take this opportunity to update you about Sunil Munshi lives, fear and isolation, suffered all around the our Annual General Meeting, which is tra- President To overcome this difficult period and to fight this pandemic, we have to commit ourselves to some essential rules of social distancing without being socially aloof. TEA TRAILS • The planTers socieTy of easTern india The planTers socieTy of easTern india • TEA TRAILS Members Speak The Merits and Demerits COVID TIMES... of Lockdown Who ever said In between the two boys was the poor hus- 1) Six months of Corona Time band with simple needs – a little attention pandemic has Pandemic has pounded us literally. It has been an experience of a hangs heavy? and a cuppa tea with his newspaper! Come taught one all the different kind. We have had the 10.10 am – hurray classes would get over virtues of Patience. It has been a tough time with some strict mandatory measures like busiest period of and now came the tough bit to keep the One became quite wearing a mask, social distancing and good hand hygiene. our lives thanks little boy engaged till lunch. Fortunately regular and punc- Washing hands in the pre corona era was not strictly enforced on people to our “grandboys” Saahir loves assembling Lego – creating tual, despite the fact and was left to everyone’s common sense. Some rinsed and some merely who kept us on the most fascinating vehicles-Bumblebee there was no pres- introduced their fingers to the running tap water. our toes happily to space ships, lifters, transformers – I am sure on commit- educated with the modern toy vocabulary. Not anymore. Now you count your cleaning practice for twenty seconds, engaged. I would ments, meetings, Homework and reading was never an issue, for now it is scrubbing counting, cleaning, wiping dry and then sanitizing. start the morning with “me” time till the appointments and even golf tee off timings! it was done diligently The group conversations and official discussions would have people boys were roused from their slumber rather 2) This period is also reminiscenet of my early Lunch time! “Whats for lunch Nani? Haddi at times, breathe down the other people’s necks – so acute was the reluctantly... sleep is never enough if we days in tea, when the predominant attire Chicken, cheese dosa, pasta, pizza, what proximity during such interactions. need to get ready for class! Two rounds of from early morning was short pants. Recently massage for the six year old then time to flavour ice cream for dessert? I needed to Not anymore. Watch your space is the mantra.. without any outings or presence of visitors be hauled up from bed. Followed with a serve different palates as our elder one I found shorts as the most convenient and This ruthless pandemic has had a better and a benevolent side too quick shower and multiple reminders to Vihaan liked quite the opposite – paneer, comfortable dress! It has made us pause think and act. brush teeth, we would finally be ready for mushrooms, boneless chicken... kebabs. 3) One aspect was to look forward to the Families that were thrown in together for days and months, learnt to adjust listen and online class. Books for Saahir (six year old) We, grandparents enjoyed having our meals, and the in house cook excelled in communicate with effect. already laid out according to the timetable meals together with our grandboys. Af- producing various culinary delights. Thank by the teacher grandma who would want ternoon time came with some respite when Compassion and tolerance sprang in action, empathy for the lesser privileged was witnessed. God I dont have a weighing scale in the house! everything in place. Young fella logs on Saahir would disappear with the ipad to Self-reliance came into being. Children who stayed away from domestic chores learnt to cook and classes begin. The fourteen year old watch his favourite shows while others 4) In conclusion, I must admit my eight months bake and clean. A much required family bonding has been in progress, no dissent, instead fortunately independent needed only to retired for screen time or a nap. continuous hospitalisation at Woodlands peace has descended into our homes and won over stress, disagreements and conflict. be given breakfast during the breakfast Come 4.00 pm HUNGRY! HUNGRY! “I Nursing Home after the shootout was more We also had the time and the tenacity to sit in a place quietly and listen to the sounds of break. Anxious granny believes that the tolerable than the lock down situation nature. The thunder and the lightening, passing of storms, squalls all were heard and seen brain needs fuel to run full steam! continued on page... 4 prevailing since March 2020. in great wonder. We watched nature from close quarters, something that we had no time for earlier. We have been observing with great awe the sky changing from crimson to yellow, from red to different shades of fiery orange, watching the setting sun with a radiance that is breathtaking, looking up at a perfect blue sky, savouring and relishing the outdoors from a quiet window ledge of our rooms that we hardly ever found time to lean on or sit by, with complete mindfulness and tranquility. In the pandemic everyone had a different strategy and different module of survival and sustainability. It is interesting to see how some members of the PSEI spent these tough days happily, making this time into the most memorable times of their lives. Editorial Board: Anju MUNSHI | Brenda DENNIS 2 • 7TH EDITION, NOVEMBER 2020 7TH ediTion, noVeMBer 2020 • 3 TEA TRAILS • The planTers socieTy of easTern india The planTers socieTy of easTern india • TEA TRAILS Covid Times 2. HUNGRY needs no explanation, I am educated on bringing up boys-a 3. Face wash refreshing energy, 4. EEANA skill that I have learnt not mastered haven’t eaten anything for two hours” MEENA... for sound sleep! as yet... karate kicks, various punching How amused I am when I see the little Sudoku, several rounds of Snakes and techniques, different kinds of cart- fella on a stool raiding the larder. And ladders, Pictureka and Scrabble were wheels, boxing stances flips on and finally came outdoor playtime – not regular board games with grandpa and off the bed was something I got used only did he look forward to it so did grandma. Vihaan, a techie and a food- too. Forty years with boys in school I – temporary peace! ie encouraged me to try out a whole didn’t teach me what I have learnt in a The day is not over without a face wash lot of new recipes sauces, chutneys, few months at home! followed by “EEANA MEENA MUTKI MA- wraps, tortillas, pasta with homemade Tollygunge Club was a haven – walk, SALA” I was told in Chinese it means ‘it’s pesto sauce, burgers, parathas, cakes, play and eat. Hubby time, my work and time for a leg massage!’ According to doughnuts – the list is endless. Dishes the delightful chatter of the grandboys Saahir he needed 4 meals: exchanged with neighbours added to kept us fully engaged throughout the 1. morning wake massage for energy, a variety of food on the table. day and I must confess I loved it. REMINISCENCES When men with hairy chests and legs walked the ramp! – Krupa David, member The Planters Society of Eastern India (continued from 6th Edition) One day, John run the garden and secondly, the labour showed me a problems. Not that Zurrantee had a bad letter from HO labour force. It was just that times were which stated bad. Samsing further up the hill was no- that I lacked torious! Bad labour force, anti-manage- Factory Experi- ment and highly politicised.