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A sidewall at Mushtaqeem Chai Stall, outdoors Jama Masjid, has lengthy leathery luggage hanging from metallic hooks. These are goatskin water luggage referred to as mashak. Centuries in the past, water-sellers roamed alongside the labyrinthine alleys of Shahjahanabad promoting chilly water in these mashaks. You might need stumbled upon them in your historical past books. Mughal emperor Humayun was mentioned to be as soon as drowning in Ganga and was rescued by a water service, Nizam, who gave him his mashak to swim over the livid waters. Which suggests the Mughal empire’s lengthy life turned doable due to the common-or-garden mashak.
Actually, the Previous Delhi avenue of Sakke Wali Gali used to accommodate a neighborhood that made its residing by promoting water on this leather-based bag. That avenue nonetheless exists, in addition to the descendants of its water-sellers. Nonetheless, they deal in spare automobile elements at present. That makes these handfuls of mashaks at Mushtaqeem’s stall as valuable as museum displays besides that they’re nonetheless used every day.
The tea stall stands beside an previous effectively. The water luggage belong to brothers Jameel, Khaleel, Shakeel and Aqeel. Each morning, one or all of them are seen drawing water from this effectively and casually filling it into the mashaks. The water is then sprinkled on the dusty floor outdoors. In the course of the day the brothers promote chilled water to the thirsty bazaar crowd from these luggage.
Smoking a beedi beside his goatskin heirlooms, Jameel says that his “baap, dada, pardada” (ancestors) adopted the identical career, and that it handed right down to him by means of a protracted chain of those forefathers. Curiously, the household has stayed on with mashaks when Previous Delhi’s others mashakwallas deserted theirs a very long time in the past for extra profitable professions. The brothers although should not from Delhi. They got here from Moradabad, and have been within the capital since their childhood.
Jameel couldn’t inform the precise age of his mashaks besides that they’re “from the time of badshahs (kings).” He says that this hereditary occupation would finish with him and his brothers. Their sons have opted for different trades. In any case, you ought to come back right here within the morning round 7am because the brothers draw water from the effectively. It’s surreal to witness how one thing that has gone extinct elsewhere remains to be handled as an on a regular basis utility—so effortlessly linking the previous time with the brand new.
They have been those who used to quench our thirst as soon as upon a time, supplying the residents of Kolkata pure consuming water. Properly, we’re speaking of an age when the town properties didn’t have bottles of mineral water stacked and even RO filers to usher in germ free water. The Bhistiwalas then have been an integral a part of our lives.Even Sukumar Roy had spoken of them in his no-nonsense poem. The phrase Bhisti has its origin within the Persian phrase ‘Bihisht’ which means paradise. Bhistiwalas had the accountability of supplying water to properties and workplaces.
They really gave the impression to be the messengers of paradise to homes the place water didn’t attain commonly. However, Bhistiwalas have been common and honest sufficient to produce water from one finish of the town to the opposite with the assistance of a particular bag referred to as Mashak, manufactured from goat pores and skin, that saved the water cool. Mashakswere utilized in British India, as sources of water to large homes and households. Bhistiwalas had a really previous connection and affiliation with Kolkata. You possibly can see them at early hours of the day roaming within the lanes and by-lanes of the town with Mashaks stuffed with water.
You possibly can additionally see them cleansing the roads with water. However they dwindled in numbers and at present solely a handful of them reside on this metropolis. Even a number of years in the past, they have been seen in areas like Park Circus. They used to produce water to the crumbling buildings which inhabited by Anglo-Indians and the Chinese language. These homes have at present been changed by fashionable flats with water pumps.
At present, round 40 Bhistiwalas function in a handful of pockets of Kolkata. Most of them belong to Katihar of Bihar. When you go to locations like Bow Barracks, Bowbazar, Ripon Road, Eliot Street, Vrindaban Das Lane, Marquis Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Street, Sandal Street and different areas of Central Kolkata, you would possibly come throughout a person with a mashak.They’re solely there to produce water to buildings and retailers that even at present do not need a continuing water provide. Surprisingly, every mashak can accommodate nearly 30 litres of water.
At present, they’re requested to produce methapaani or candy water,used for cooking and bathing. Thus, in sure areas, Bhistiwalas are nonetheless in demand. With the purple colored barrack buildings of Bow Barracks within the backdrop, you’ll spot Bhistiwalas strolling briskly with mashaksfrom erly morning. Every household spends round Rs 400 a month for this service.
However most Bhistiwalas have chosen different occupations. The remaining attempt to carry on to the career of their forefathers. Since, nearly all of the town doesn’t want the service of those Bhistiwalas anymore, it’s seemingly they’d quickly grow to be historical past. And the person with the mashak strolling by means of the lanes of Kolkata will vanish into oblivion!
Dr. Jesmin Chowdhury is
Editor-in-Chief of The Asian Age.
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