Having lost it all, family plans to serve visitors

KOREGAON BHIMA ANNIVERSARY

The Athawale couple has been setting up charity food stall near Vijay Stambh for the past 10 years and are going back again after the riots of last year

The infamous Koregaon Bhima riots afflicted each in their own way, but some stories stories still remain undiscovered. One such case is of the Athawale family, whose life turned upside down when their home and shop were vandalised and burnt down by rioters, and yet their zeal for charity hasn’t died down.

Rama and Ashok Athawale, residents of Sanaswadi village near Koregaon Bhima, set up a charity food stall every year for visitors of the Vijay Stambh. Though they are still struggling to recover from damage from the riots, they have still decided to do the charity which has become a tradition for the family over the past 10 years. While they are engaged in preparations, they are still unsure where they will set up the stall as the police and district administration have denied permission.

The couple was amid distribution of food last year when they heard that riots had broken out in the village. It was around 11o’clock when the 'poha' they had prepared for distributing for the day had gotten over and Rama was in the middle of preparing some more. Rama said, “Many people visit from faraway places and don’t have anything to eat most of the times. Since all the shops were closed last year, they turned towards our stall. So the food got over early in the morning. I was thinking of preparing another batch of food when I got to know about the riots. We rushed to our village to find our home set on fire and the workshop vandalised and damaged. "

Out of fear for their life, the couple chose to leave the village he same day and took shelter in a Buddhavihar in the city. After a long stay at various places, they were finally allocated a shelter from the PMC which has become their home for past few months. The family was so shaken from the tragedy that they requested authorities to rehabilitate them anywhere apart from their village. Despite this scenario, they have planned to return to the village for two days and perform what they feel is their duty. The struggle, however, is far from over.

“We feel that since many people will be visiting this year as well it is necessary that we distribute food like we used to. But we failed to find a cook and aplace where we could cook despite repeated attempts. So now we have decided to get the food prepared from Pune and distribute it there. The cops and district administration are not allowing us to set up a food stall but we have still placed an order for preparation of 200 kg of rice,” said Ashok.

While they visit their home which lies in ashes once or twice a month, it becomes emotionally difficult for them to continue to do so. Rama said, “Not all the accused we had named have been arrested. We lost everything that we had in the riots. So the thought of returning to the place on January 1still scares me. But I feel that it is my duty to welcome the visitors back in the village a year after the riots. That is why I am going.”