Baranagar, India, KIds And Cricket

Lots of pictures were needed while we waited to begin our excursion in Baranagar. Poses with kids and adults alike were made. One young man of probably ten years looked up at me and said, “Good afternoon,” then shyly smiled. It took a moment for me to respond simply because I had not expected such a formal greeting from one so young. A little while later we would understand how their wonderful grasp of our language came to be.

 A group of the crew members passed us wearing uniforms of a cricket team. They were off to the local cricket field for an afternoon of fun. It was nice to see our room attendant, Nitin, ballcap reversed and big smile nod at us as he passed by, cricket bat in hand.

Sachi began a slow walk with us that took us past the cricket field just as the game was starting. The kids who had greeted us as we came ashore followed along with us, big eyes and big smiles and genuine excitement about showing off their village and their homes.

Our first stop was at a typical village home. While the home may have been very simple, in the middle of the little courtyard that the rooms surrounded was a tall pole and a dish TV antenna. It brought a smile to my face.

One young man insisted on showing Bob his room. He was very proud of it. His mother sat under an overhang, sort of like a porch, and was rolling tobacco products, sort of like rolled cigarettes but without the paper. It was a big source of income for her. I admired how she managed to get them all very precisely the same size.

We passed several long poles of cow dung leaning against a wall. Sachi jokingly referred to them as dung kabobs.

A little farther and we met the reason so many spoke English so well. There was a special school for learning English operated by a man who felt a calling to teach as many as he could. Someone from Australia several years back had seen him and his school, which at the time was very sparsely furnished. He was invited to Australia for some education on teaching and then if I understood the story correctly, was given a grant which allowed him to add desks to the classroom. He estimated he had taught 17,000 children of all ages to speak English. Learning the language would give them a step up to better jobs as well as educational opportunities.

One of the little boys, perhaps six years old, recited Peter, Peter Pumpkin Eater from beginning to end. Made your heart melt.

There was a little tiny “grocery store” which looked like it was more for buying snacks. Sachi purchased some chocolates and gave a few to some in our group for them to give to the kids. I had the feeling they knew that was coming.

We continued on past the other side of the cricket field which was a bit primitive but still allowing for quite a game that was in progress. We watched some long hit balls and some great catches but nothing that would help me understand just what it was all about. A few of the men in our group would later try their hand at swinging the bat.

While we were there to see the village and some 18^th century temples dedicated to Shiva, the real delight of the adventure ashore were the kids. Some asked where we were from. Some told us about their homes or bicycles. Lots of high fives were all around. Lots of heartfelt smiles.

Lots of happiness among the bare essentials of life. Lessons to be had.