The fourth generation mourns

Fishing is dead

Manda Patil and Sharmila Patil

Dahisar Gaothan is a settlement that shows signs of its identity from decades ago, even in the second decade of the twenty-first century. There are many wells in the village. Some of the houses have still not changed their tiled-roof appearance. All the Agri and Koli people who live here are fishermen by profession. They have many houses on the bank of river Dahisar.

One such house here is Mankibai Niwas, home of of Narayan Patil. Their fishing business was flourishing earlier. They also had fields, and a river at the back door, behind the house. He used to take his boat to Gorai Bay to catch fish. They would anchor the boat at the back of the house. The river itself was wide. The boat could be brought home without any hassle. Lumber and other goods were transported by boat.

Narayan's son Pandurang also took on the mantle of fishing. His son Mahendra is a representative of the fourth generation. Pandurang's younger brothers still fish; but for that they go to Gorai by rickshaw. Pandurang's son Mahendra left fishing and started a small business of die making. "When we were kids, we used to catch prawns and other (fish) with my father in the river." Mahendra expressed regret that this business is no longer profitable.

The river turned into a canal and brought disease with it. A constant stench emanates from the polluted river. Narayan's granddaughter-in-law Sharmila complains that the silver and brass utensils in the house get tarnished within an hour of polishing. About one and a half acres of land owned by Patil's family is lying unused due to the Forest Protection Act. So he had no choice but to enter into other businesses. The generations turned, and so did the river. As a result, the Patil family had to change their business as well.