Kadadu
For real enjoyable social life in planting district, commend me to a locality where there are no European stations and towns. Such a station has most disagreeable manner of rendering planters independent of each other If a man wants a little relaxation, he straightway hies him to a station, and mixing with members of a society which is mostly composed of retired Government officials, does his best to cut himself adrift from his own class. For Government officialdom in India, acting or retired, is a corporation that holds outside classes much as kipling holds foreigners: as lesser breeds without the law. It is easy to see that the townloving planter acquires by virtue of his surroundings something of the same feeling. The effect of this on social planting life is obvious. The strong feeling of esprit de corps, so prominent in more remote districts, gets beautifully less. Individual planters get out of touch with other, and save for chance, and none too welcome meeting in the station, are little more than aware of each other's existence. At planters' meetings the effect is easily seen, the discussions are perfunctory, and want of unanimity, sometimes veiled by the shyness of dissent being garbed in silence, is the leading feature at present.
As a planter living in a much be-stationed district, the above has often struck me very disagreeably. Many have been the schemes evolved from time to time as palliatives. More uniform have been the failures. An important minority of planters are, in increasing numbers, making their homes in the stations and only visit their plantations once or twice a week on strict business. From these nothing much can be expected. It is the other, the oldstyle planters, who either do not care for station life or cannot afford it, who must come forward and help themselves.
There are lots of ways in which the amenities of planting life could be enlightened. Failing permanent clubs, which might be difficult to build owing to lack of funds, surely it should not be impossible for an enterprising planter and his wife to rally round them the lonesome scattered units in their neighborhood. If the district be depleted by wealthy members, the objections to increasing the expenditure of the hosts could easily be met by a Social Club being formed, the hosts simply offering the use of their house on certain days of the week. The two chief difficulties are of course the finding of the publicspirited hosts, and if evolved, to have them centrally located.The thing is: how to start the ball rolling? The first move lies with the "host" by the simple expedient of inviting a few of the nearest neighbors to a weekly or fortnightly social meet. To some it would appear but an ungrateful task, but if the right people are there, and if these make the proper move, the success of their little schemes is assured. If even only four or five neighbours can be induced to join informal club, let them rest well content.
A rather suitable name would be the "Sunday Club" as it is not often planters can get a whole free day during the week. Concession may be made to Sabbatarians, if much in evidence, by holding a service of sorts sometime during the day, good stirring hymns being a leading feature. Planters may weary of the elaborate kneelings and posturings in a church built with hands. But in their lives, beating in unison with the solemn restful hear of Mother Earth, are deep chords of Nature's music that vibrate at times strongly in worship to their Creator.
There will be objections, of course, Fancy mixing profane social enjoyment with sacred worship, cry some. What nonsense doing the 'pi' on one's only free day, exclaim others. But give and take if necessary is doubly so in the restricted circle I am alluding to. Some extra unctuous Sabbatarians may think themselves defiled by association with their heathen neighbours. Such can only be prayed for. There are others who only dislike breaking their Sunday rest and meditation for such purposes as--- or other athletic frivolities. These may be confidently appealed to as possessing a fair amount of human kindness. For if they feel any real regard for their erring fellow-creatures, they should surely do something more than neglect them. The gay spirits who want to have the day all fun and nothing else may on their part well meet the others halfway, and add to the enjoyment of these by joining in their brief but hearty service.
Midway between these two extremes lies perhaps a more numerous section, hearty and wholesome-hearted. These look upon a modicum of hearty Prayer as being as in vigorating as a keen strong breeze, giving a zest & light Heartedness that braces the whole system.
I fear me this modest suggestion of "Sunday Clubs" is drifting into a string of moral platitudes. It's no good though, ignoring platitudes, as they give an easy dead level for lighter traffic to travel on.
One thing is certain. That unless the stricter ones relax in some way as suggested, and the more frivolous attempt an occasional seriousness, neither will get much profit or relaxation out of their lives.
Who will be the first to start a Sunday Club ?
- Kadadu
Planting opinion, Sep 18,1897
