Mumbai: Brave men of Seraje in Manila village gather coconut in bloated river

By Dhananjay Gurpur
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 27 Aug 2015: There are people who earn their livelihood by plucking coconuts for the planters. There are daily wagers who earn their livelihood by de-husking the coconuts. Meanwhile, there lies another group of men who neither climb the trees to pluck the coconut or de-husking, but earn big money by trading in coconut. One got to believe, these are the brave men who risk their lives by swimming in bloated rivulets and gather the coconuts that flows along the flood waters.

 

The coastal district is dotted with palm groves, while the coconuts fall on the streams and flood waters during monsoon, as the trees becomes slippery to pluck the coconuts. There are enterprising youth who devised several ways to gather such coconuts floating in flooded rivers and rivulets.

 

 

The people living nearby the rivers are earning substantial income by gathering the coconuts that floats in water bodies during monsoon season. They are expert swimmers, made arrangement besides the river to trap coconut, areca nut sheaves, logwood etc. A few brave swimmers swim in the bloated river and gather coconuts, while a few erect lofts on the river bank and gather the coconuts by fishing nets or bamboo stick mounted small net.

 

It’s the scene in coastal district. Meanwhile, let us move to Seraje tributary that lies on boundary of Karnataka – Kerala border, via Manila village of Karnataka.

 

The people of Seraje anticipate monsoon with much fanfare because of bumper coconuts that they gather in the season.

 

A few farmers erected lofts using bamboo and halves of areca plant at convenient spots of river  and manage to collect huge quantum of coconuts by swinging fish nets, while a few plunge into river and return to the shore with the coconuts. A certain Damu, a native of Seraje is engaged in this profession along with his group that gathers nearly 10,000 coconuts in 3 months of monsoon season. The sell the entire stock and share the money. One could see the envy of people when the group takes the stock to the market.

 

It’s the adventurous profession and hobby, because they risk their lives. It may look easier for those who watch them whilst they are into gathering coconuts in bloated rivers. It sends chill down the spine for the onlookers, buts it’s their means of earning living.