While the clamp down on Coronavirus was unfolding, we were at the Don Bosco Agri Ed Complex in Sulcorna, Quepem. My friend and colleague were in the process of working on an extensive programme at the Agri Ed Complex to improve systems, infrastructure and experiences by engaging lay people and students thereby reconnecting with nature and tradition. The Salesians of Don Bosco have been doing a super job as part of their mission to mentor and empower youth with knowledge and skills so that they may do the greatest good to community through their work. I along with my usual group of student volunteers – young architectural interns and school students joined the team led by Fr Lawrence Monteiro.
We first did a recce to understand the lay of the land and one of the sites that was proposed to be developed as a campsite. After this we revisited the complex over the weekend with a team of volunteers to identify possible trails, revamp the proposed campsite, explore the existing fresh water streams and identify measures to conserve the same.
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We travelled to Sulcorna with our usual set of camping provisions and requisites. We first set up our base at the proposed campsite which was located on the banks of the Kushavati river. The camp site had a few old single room units, a small toilet block and lots of shade trees within the cluster and on the periphery. Fr Lawrence with his usual enthusiasm led us on an exploratory trail into an adjacent valley from where we trailed a natural, dry rain water channel that merged with the Kushavati river. The rocky edge was lush with huge vines, ant hills and little pools of fresh water that would eventually dry up with the approaching summer. There was a small wooden platform at the point where we began trailing the channel. Here Fr Lawrence briefed us about the history of the village, mining in the area and its impact on the environment over the years. We also discussed the importance of water sources, the need to conserve these and how traditional communities and tribes revered and celebrated these perennial water sources.
When we reached the river, we felt transported to another world and time. The shallow water as well as the large trees looked pristine and magical. We dived into the water, climbed rocks, trees and finally made little sculptures of found pebbles perched on the river bed as a gesture of gratitude to mother nature and river Kushavati. We also picked up lots of plastic bottles and plastic wrappers/ bags left there by many a careless picnickers who had recently visited the river bank. We also explored on old mining pit and discussed the possibilities of using it to harvest rain water and recharge the ground water.
After lunch at the college canteen, we returned to the campsite with all our working tools and materials in tow! We worked in groups to first scrub the external walls of a couple of rooms, sweep and dust the interiors, inspect the roof, cut the shrubs growing wild around the rooms and the weeds in the open space of the cluster. After this we prepared the white wash and painted the external walls after a splash of water to wash away the loose particles and wet the surface.
We were amazed by the way Fr Lawrence led us by example instantly taking up the sickle to cut the thorny shrubs, the wire brush to clean the external walls and then the roller to paint the old faded walls of the units. We simply followed suit.
Post dinner we went on a night trail along the long motorable route to the top of the hillock at the centre point of the property. The walk was absolutely ethereal with the night sky chock a block with stars and planets gently bathing their light on us. We spotted a night jar in the leaf litter, many spotted deer and a lone peacock. We also heard numerous calls of the wild boar, crickets and sambhar deer. At the top of the hillock was the statue of Mother Mary gently looking down from this point, we all rested on the dry grass in the open area and watched the sky as it suddenly sparked with shooting stars!
While we were there we also trekked to many interesting points on the property. A lush coconut grove where we are slated to rebuild a mud house that was the first structure built on the complex, a perennial waterfall/ stream that we could reach after a long trek into the forest and another section of the Kushavati river arm where we waded into and bathed ourselves thankful for all the bounty nature offered us with no prejudice. We also explored many sections of the dry channels of the stream where the small old natural dams/ bandharas has broken down with the pressure of the flowing water. We then explored a patch of the open grounds with a natural depression that had the potential to be converted into a natural reservoir with mud dams and embankments.
Our conversations and interactions with Fr Lawrence were so enriching. This whole experience was enriching for all of us.
Lots of work to be done. Lots of ideas, lots of repairing, lots of rebuilding, lots of renewing.
With the lockdown in motion, we feel no fear, we feel no anxiety and we feel no insecurity. The time spent in nature has given us many lessons- of life, of respect, of reflection, of renewal.
(Tallulah D’Silva is a practicing architect in Goa and has recently taught at the Goa College of Architecture as adjunct professor)
