THE FISHING RODS

                 During my school days my  favourite pastime was fishing in the Surada reservoir which was  popularly known as Surada Ghai in the locality and still known like this. It dates back to the British Raj. There was a dilapidated British bungalow atop a hill near the Hospital in one corner of the reservoir, down the high embankment, just a little distant away from the Malati tutha ( usually reserved for the washermen to wash clothes ). This reservoir is fed by river Patma or Padma. So it almost  dries up during Summer. As a primary school student I would accompany my grandfather to the reservoir to catch fish during weekends or holidays. We would carry half a dozen fishing rods numbered  0 to 8 with us. The digit zero  was for the little minnows and the rods with bigger numbers were purported to catch  big fishes like Rohi (labeo rohita ) and Bhakur ( Catla ). We used earth worms as baits in the fish hook. 

                Squatting on the embankment ,just close to the water, we would throw the lines into  the water with great expectation. The moment the sola ( thermocool ) indicator quivered and vibrated  on water, we would pull out the rod with a force and unhook the fish caught. It was fun and frolicsome. It gave me unforgettable experience .

                    (Writer- Dr. Pradeep Kumar Nayak )