Banyan Tree in my village

This banyan tree suprisingly doesn't have many roots but it still survived the ravages of the super-cyclone in Jagatsinghpur in 1998.
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Road-side view of my village banyan tree

The great banyan tree by the side of the viallge temple.
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My Village Temple

Kshetrapala temple, Tirtheswar Temple and Library and Ambika Yubak Snagha where I spent a lot of time of my child-hood and youth.
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My Village Temple and the Banyan Tree

Side view of my village's temple near the banyan tree. It was a special day. Astha Prahari Harinam Sankirtan was going on.
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Ekana Bhai nee Damodar Rout

Damodar Rout- w call him Ekana Bhai- including my children. He was the man I was very happy to be with during my child-hood. When I first visited Rourkela whre I have been staying for last 25 years, I stayed with him and family in B-11,Sector-15 in the Puja Vacations of 1972. I used to love him because he was the only one who used not to grumble when my mother requested him to take me to Sarala Temple in Jhankada( Others used to grumble about my heavy weight)Has now reired from his steel plant job and lives in the village.
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Bira- my childhood friend and my initiator to disability

He is Bira Bhai- my first introduction to disability. During my child-hood days, I used to find him odd. When his parents were alive and we were small kids, I used to spend alot of time with him. His odd way of walking, talking and behaviour- somewhat childish- enderared him to me. His parents were ardent devotees of Mahima Dharma- Joranda Gaadi- in Dhenkanal and when the scantily clad Bbas used to put up in our village we children were treated with a feast early in the morning by Bira Bhai's father. During one such occasion, Bira Bhai had a fit which I noticed early in the morning as he was with us and we were all waiting for Babas to finish their meals and waiting for our turn. I still rememebr the day as I have not sen more violent and uncontrollable fits even 27 years after my basic Medical degree. Bira Bhai still lives and after parenting a child with Down's Syndrome for the last 24 years and working for children with disabilities in my spare time for the last 2 decades, I know that Bira Bhai has cerebral palsy with seizure disorder. When my own daughter was prononced DS, Bira Bhai came to my mind and I have been reminded of him very often as I work in this field. Bira Bhai's parents have left, so also his elder brother who used to fend for him and despite having no body senior to look after my village has adjusted well with him. During this visit in March 2006 I didn't see any children teasing him.(It used to happen so very often during my child-hood days) and almost everyone caring for him.I love my small village more for their concern for Bira Bhai.
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Sanctum-sanctorium of my village temple

Sukuta Nana in the sanctum sanctorium of Lord Tirtheswar- Lord Shiva.
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Sukuta'Na in Kshetrapal temple- my village deity

The village Priest whom we call Sukuta Na in his usual dress performing Pujas in Kshetrapl's temple.
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My village Godess-Kshetrapala

The temple of my village Godess Kshetrapala in Chandura. My mother had immense faith in this Godess and used to pray whenever I fell sick during my child-hood. She also promised to promise to provide special offerings of milk and banans on Sankrantis if I got well. And she used to rememebr and offer things she promised.For me She's a great Godess and my mother a graet Maa whom I used to call Bou.
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Babu Bhai, Krushna Bhai and Bada Bhai

Bada Bhai convalescing at home. Now in company with Babu Bhai and Krushna Bhai.
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Bada Bhai's residence at Chandura

Place where Bada Bhai lives in Chandura, Jagatsinghpur.
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