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Sharmila Joshi

Editor and Series Editor

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The cow’s ‘sons&#39; refers to the farmer and the bullock in one of the six ovi in this edition of the Grindmill Songs Project on PARI. These songs, by Phulabai Bhong of Nimgaon Ketki village in Pune district, speak of anxiety due to a lack of rain and the joy that rainfall brings
 
 
 
 The verses in this instalment of the Grindmill Songs Project tell us what it is like when it doesn’t rain and how it feels when it does. The performer, Phulabai Bhong, sings memorable and hummable melodies in her deep voice.
 
 She starts by telling Meghraja (the Rain King) that he did well by falling and pouring out of the sky the way he did because the bullock could drink water from the small rain-water filled furrow near the plough – the animal, it is implied, did not have to go to the pond source to quench its thirst.
 
 Phulabai then sings that Megharaja has embellished the sky with a black mare – that is, a black cloud that portends rain. Seeing this black mare, the earth goes wild with joy.

Namita Waikar

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The third song uses the earth-rain pairing as a comparison to a woman and her husband. The singer tells us that just like the earth has no lustre without rainwater, a woman has no importance without a husband. This line in the
 
 ovi
 
 indicates the social status of women in rural India (and across most parts of India), where a married woman is given more respect than one who is unmarried or a widow.
 
 When there is no timely rain, Phulabai asks Megharaja, “what is in your mind?” She sings that the sons of the cow – the farmer and the bullock – are both praying for rain in the fields. When there is not a drop of rain, the whole world worries and these sons of a cow have no choice but to fast.
 
 In the sixth and the last
 
 ovi
 
 , the singer describes how good it is when it does rain. Phulabai addresses Meghraja and says that when the god pours water into the fields and everywhere, she is very happy because then the young offspring of man and sheep are able to quench their thirst.

Meghraja, you pour and pour, you did well to pour now  My young Raghoba’s bullock drank water from the furrow near the plough
 Meghraja, you pour, you create a black mare
 
 He decorated a black mare, the whole earth became wild with joy
 
 No rain, no water, the soil has no lustre
 
 Without a husband, the woman has no standing
 
 There is not a drop of rain, what do you have in mind
 
 The cow’s sons are both praying in the field
 
 There is not a drop of rain, the whole world is worried
 
 The cow’s sons are compulsorily fasting
 
 Meghraja, you pour water in the fields and everywhere
 
 How much can I tell you O woman, farmer and sheep both have young ones
 
 
 Note: The singer is telling a neighbour that she is so happy that the young offspring of farmer and sheep have water to quench their thirst.
 
 <hr/>

Performer/Singer: Phulabai BhongVillage : Nimgaon KetkiTaluka: IndapurDistrict: PuneCaste: Phulmali (gardener)Date: The information, photograph and songs here were recorded on December 11, 1995.Photos: Hema Rairkar and Namita Waikar
 
 
 
 
 
 Poster: Shreya Katyayini

Hema Rairkar

The cow’s ‘sons’ are praying in the fields

गाईच्या लेकरांनी रानात हात जोडले आहेत

Nimgaon Ketki

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The cow’s ‘sons’ are praying in the fields

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