Pigeon shooting in the Bachu (nana) and Kunj Behari (Aaja) families have always been a memorable place for enthusiastic and adventurous tales for earsof younger generations at many family gatherings. In fact, it was on one of my nana’s pigeon hunting trips with his eldest son, Balram Mama, who was a 10 year lad then , that Nana had an accidental death with his own shotgun. The original site of this incident was close to nana’s work area known as Matralevu in Mavua (not to be mistaken for Navua).
My memory of the site visit, through coincidence, was during one of those exciting pigeon shooting trips to the interior of Deuba (Navua) in May of late 1950s when our group, comprising of my father (Krishan Chandra), Nandu Mama, Parshu Mama, my brother Kishore, and our trekker/guide, Tilak Ram (son of Bhaira Mohan of Nakaulevu), when we stumbled upon the ruins of a rubber plantation. This site known as Matralevu (Mavua) where our Nana Sardar Bachu was posted to supervise the plantation. The partly cleared area was close to the forests which showed all the signs of earlier human habitation. The deep creek which would have been a river pre 1950s exhibitedovergrown nursery of rubber plants congested and joined into thick plants. After scouring the area , Nandu Mama agreed that this was the place his father was posted. Unfortunately, Parshu Mama could not recall anything but he did mention that he sensed something in him was attached to this place. At this time it should be noted that Nani was pregnant with Parshu Mama and he was born after Nana’s death.
To reach this particular spot, the group had to trek from the Queens Road at the present Pacific Harbour site through Lotan Sardar’s property and also B.D. Lakshman’s property. We had to cross high fences, knee-deep swampy marshland (jheel), heavy growth of sekho plantations, dangerous make-shift bridges of fallen trees, etc. We had to start on foot at 4 am as the trekker said we would then be at the shooting spot around seven when sun comes up! The fresh early morning energy was there but the struggle to walk for almost 2 hours in almost dark was a gruelling adventure. Worst was returning being extremely tired and rushing to the road before darkness fell. Then the fear, if we had more pigeons than the quota per gun, we could be stopped by the Police if not in Navua then it was sure to be at Delainavesi Police post near Lami. Efforts were always made to avoid such inspections and fortunately we normally got away.
So, whilst most or all of us now surviving have not had any personal contact with our Nana/aaja, this particular memory I had experienced as a 12 year young is very fresh and felt needed to be shared with relatives and friends. On the other hand, most of my generation will vividly remember our close attachments and togetherness with Nani/Aaji specially during our childhood era with her religious stories, accompanying her to the Ram-lila, experiencing the first ever earthquake (1953), having her at our homes and then “her bed is calling for her” meaning she cannot stay overnight but her home. She always dressed elegantly in her white attire (long-sleeved blouse, petticoat (lehenga) and veil (odhini) with of course silver jewelleries.
On this auspicious occasion, a special tribute to the only surviving Bachu Sardar and Sardarin child, Parshu Mama, the last of the Mohicans – we wish him and other senior members of the Bachu clan many more years of good health, fun, laughter and lasting relationship in our midst.