Dr. CL Patel

Gedidado during the Holi festival. He was fond of roaming
around in the farms. He used to be aware of which mango tree
in the village had sweet fruits on. He also knew which
vegetables were worth eating. And then he would bring them
home.
Chhotubhai did not only move around in different farms;
he also used to work on his farm as well. He says, “I have
grazed buffalos. I have also cleaned up their dung. I also used
to take good care of them. It was also my responsibility to
keep the cattle clean. I also had carried bundles of grass. I
know how to plough the field or drive a bullock-cart. I have
learnt all the skills necessary for farming.”
Talking about his experiences of farming, Chhotubhai
remembers that his father had 45 vighas of land (1.75 vigha = 1
acre). He says, “My father used to farm the entire land on a
joint family pattern with his younger brother. I was seven
then. At that time, my uncle proposed to separate the
farming. My father told to his younger brother to keep a larger
portion of 25 vighas and asked for only 20 vighas for himself
but at the nearer place. Thus, we were left with 20 vighas of
land. We used to take the crops of tobacco, wheat, millet,
paddy, Tuver and Bavato. I still remember in those days I used
to carry up and down the gunnysacks of grain.”
Thus, Chhotubhai had enjoyed the village life at its fullest.
Moreover, the people of the village also developed a lot of
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