On a Roll

A comfortable home,a family with children,grandchildren and friends to sit and talk with — one would imagine that at 75,life couldn’t be better. But Mangala Bhave begs to differ. Having spent years working for her family,she has been investing time in making things with her hands and helping others,for the last couple of years. The testimony of it comes not from Bhave — who much rather not blow any trumpets about what she does — but from her many friends and “clients”. Mangala Thorat,88,enthusiastically shares that Bhave makes “excellent hand-rolled shevai that is a great hit among people.” “She sells it and uses the profit for charity work. She was a housewife all her life,but now she has her own earning and she does not desire to keep it for herself. Last year she made 120 kg and it was all sold out,” says Thorat,adding that she has never seen Bhave sit still.

Bhave herself laughs dismissively and it takes much prodding to get her talking about it. Eventually she brings out the shevai she has made — fine,even strands that look machine made. “One has to keep doing something and I want to help people. From March to May I keep busy with making shevai because it comes out right only in those months. Otherwise the moisture in the air or the dryness can ruin it. I like to use the money I make from my small business to support a single mother back in Igatpuri where we used to live,till my husband retired from the railways,” says Bhave. She also donates money to an orphanage in Chinchwad.

But helping people is not her only aim in making the hand-rolled shevai. “There are other ways of making money too. But I make this also because it’s a dying skill. Hardly anyone makes hand-rolled shevai anymore. Everyone is busy. So,it is my small attempt to revive the skill too,” she says.

The “business” started with only a few kilograms. “Then word began to spread from one person to another and more and more people began to get in touch with me. Now even when I make 120 kg,it is falling short. But hand-rolled shevai takes a lot of effort,so there’s only a certain amount that one can make,” she says.

Right from measuring out the maida,semolina,salt and ghee to kneading the dough to rolling the thin noodles,Bhave does it all by herself. “I end up sitting just where I am for seven hours at a stretch and making it. In a day,I make about one-and-half kilograms,” she shares.

Sunanda Patvardan,another friend,shares that Bhave is also an expert at embroidery. “She is 75 and generally people cannot see clearly or hold the fine needles firmly at the age,but not Bhave. Her embroidery is so fine and neat. She does it on saris,bedcovers,dresses,table covers etc,” says Patvardan.

Bhave is also the “manager” of a group of about 11 elderly women who have a kind of a kitty. “We go on trips around India and Bhave is the one who always organises it all. She handles the money,does the booking,makes hotel reservations,gives directions and decides what interesting places can be seen,” says Thorat.