POLO-II

INCREASINGLY it seems, inflation is only an urban middle class crib. We want to eat desi chicken in the forest which one might think is not too much to ask for in the back of beyond rural hinterland. Wrong.

Ramesh, the attendant in the guest house says he would try if he can get one from the surrounding tribal hutments for dinner but it might cost as much as Rs 400!!! Our nod and two hours later he returns empty handed. Not convinced we set out in search of a home grown chicken on our own.

The result of our search leads to the conclusion that this article begins with. Of the five odd villages we visited on our hunt, one has turned Vegetarian under the influence of some Sanskritising sect. In the rest no one wanted to part with its roosters for no reason. Not needing the money?

At Antarsumba – the place of a tribal rebellion some three years ago – I try some pop-Economics. The man selling eggs says all eggs here come from the Anand hatcheries. Transportation means the cost price is more than Ahmedabad. Same goes for the vegetables.

As the vegetable vendor explains – with mobile phones in every hand, no local farmer sells directly in the village. The produce first goes to the town trader and comes back after three-tiered commissions and transportation costs priced in. The result is veggies cost as much or even more than the neighborhood super store in Judges Bungalow Road.

Yet, and this is the crucial part, the villagers are generally happy. Even confident. Women do not show any burden of the burdensome chores mending fields, farm animals, and humdrum life. A shopkeeper speaks Hindi. Asked why he is not limiting himself to the local dialect, he almost boasts – Aapke jaise bahut aate hain yahan!

The level of confidence and knowledge of English increase in direct proportion to the amount of local brew that has gone inside the system. The drive has to be careful lest a twisty walk of a happy tribal brings him under your wheels.

Back on the Expressway to Baroda, just before the Anand exit, is an Emu farm selling Emu eggs for Rs 500 a-piece and Emu meat for Rs 2,000 a kilo. And yes desi chicken. Want to know for how much? Rs 300! In some ways civilization is better it seems