Post 4 - Belling the Cat

            Having made up our minds about the general build plan, we set out to look for someone who could execute the project. Designs were kept simple and easy to execute since a local mason/contractor only would have suited us and a complicated design might have proved a bit too much for a native. Getting an outsider to a place, with its last-mile connectivity remaining prone to weather condition, would have been a herculean task and obviously, more expensive. Local knowledge, in any case, is irreplaceable in such a scenario.  We made a very basic cardboard model, put it into a carry bag and rushed to Jhatingri immediately on hearing the news from Anil that a good and reliable mason-cum-contractor had finally been found!

             I am a no artist or model maker but my basic approach to things in life aligns along simplicity. With the aim of making the other guy- a stranger till then- understand what we wanted, we made something like this....

A simple two or three floors design with each floor having two rooms with washrooms; roof of slates but design could be any

Yes, no doors in the model but that is how a room and a washroom set (two such sets on a floor) would broadly look like

           Roshan ji came across as a mature, thinking mason who didn't hesitate asking questions and clarifications. The good part was that his questioning gave me the confidence that he would be able to execute the project without my presence in physical terms. The icing on the cake was the fact that he stated,"Everything is ok but this project would be very cumbersome (siyapa) to complete!" Yes, with no local resources, a badly constructed road, heavy rains expected shortly and the fact that there would be delays and interruptions, that was how the project would be. I was glad he understood the issue in its totality as we sat chatting on roof of Green Himalaya cafe at Jhatingiri. Finally, I nailed him by offering a rate (per sq ft) that was too good to be ignored and he shook my hand as rain drops began to fall. Our joint site visit didn't take too long. 

            Now, it was between him and Anil bhai that things needed to be hauled up, dumped and then put to use. My role was to be of a remote mentor and, of course, a financier. 

          Rains were early (2017) and road gave up much before expected. But with some quick action, the team had been able to push the material up before wheeled traffic stopped. And then came in four legged souls...

Double handling was inevitable...trucks reach till Jhatingiri and then loads have to be transhipped

Running against the time....literally!

                       The team had done well but I could not get leave and manage to be there for the bhoomi-poojan or a similar ceremony. Having tried and having failed to wriggle out of my job (and I had just put in my papers too), I gave up. In Mahadev's land, the first Monday of Sawan was selected and go ahead was given to Anil. With local deity, Dev Pashkot's blessings and under watchful vigil of Lord Shiva, they started the work....

Anil Bhai presides as a priest.....HE doesn't really need ritualistic people; remembering Him should be enough

Har Har Mahadev!!

Roshan & Anil.....first step taken

Race now begins since dark clouds were already on top

And they did it!

                  Sawaan, after all, has its own moods. While it threatened but never seriously disturbed the proceedings on the Day 1, it was in a different mood thereafter. Some emergent solutions had to be found and that was what was done by people on ground while I sat at a distance, getting updated by hour.

It doesn't rain at Fula Ri Dhar; it pours!

Out of all the material assets on top, cement was the most vulnerable and had to be protected. The work could not have progressed without cement and this tarp did its job!

...continues....