Where have the dhobis gone ? Are they still there in Allahabad? What about in the large cities ? Have dry cleaners and laundrys put them out of business . Have they joined the bandwagon and gone hi tech ? Am not too sure .
However I have memories of the 50's and the 60's in Allahabad - my home town .
As a young boy in Allahabd I have vivid memories of our dhobi and his family. They lived just about 25 meters away in a small little hut adjoining the railway colony . It was a large family in one small room . In the verandah was a large wooden ironing table with a large heavy iron on a pice of stone - always hot - always ready to be used . It was a coal iron mind you and it weighed a ton . The table often had one leg or part of it replaced with bricks . It was old - probably a throw away which he had repaired for use .
Every Saturday morning the dhobi would be at the door to take the 'Jugan'- for the uninitiated, that means - the soiled clothes .
He would first open the bundle of clothes he had taken the previous week and the clean , starched and ironed items were counted and ticked . It was procedurial I must say !
The soiled clothes were piled before him on the ground and he first made them into piles - all the sheets together , then the pllow cases, the counterpanes , trousers, shirts, dresses etc.
Then he lifted each garment up in the air in clear view and counted out loud while my mother or aunt noted details in the Dhobi Register !( It was believed that dhobis stole clothes while counting )
He then did a 'total' count while the ladies of the house did their check . At times he was made to recount as well ( embarassing I must say when I think of it now )
A large sheet was then taken - the dirty clothes put in and with one or two deft moves a knot was tied- there was a big salam and he was off to the next door neighbour's house to repeat the ritual.
Mid way through all this he was given a mug of tea .
Meanwhile the clean clothes he had brought were being put away after being checked for stains or tears . Dhobis were famous for tearing or destroying clothes and money was cut from his bill if that happened . He had no other option but to agree to the cut- there was no system and no fixed predecided amount - it was done on a whim of the Memsaheb . He haggled, he pleaded , he said that it was not his fault - it was an old garment . No - the ladies were judge , jury and hangman ( or hang women ) Their word was law .
Often I was instructed to put away the clothes while they kept an ey on him or vice versa . ( embarassing again ) . The poor guy was no thief but nevertheless he had to be watched and so watched he was .
A few things which I often mulled over .
The winters of Allahabad are horrible - the temperature goes down to absurd numbers and its biting cold in December and January . You have to be in Allahabad or from Allahabad to understand the wind chill factor . It may be 8 degress but it feels like zero !
You also have the Nahan ( bathing days) when its damp, cloudy and even more cold . People huddle around fires , schools are closed , the sun is never seen . Shops open at 11 am . It only get bright by about 8 am and then its dull and depressing all day - the night comes early- its often dark by 5 pm . Shops close early and everyone rushes home . Its bad weather - thats is the only topic .
Hot tea and snacks are the order of the day and the men spend more time tippling - it's a good excuse you see . Goverment officials like the winter . They spend a major portion of the day drinking tea or standing in the sun and rubbing their palms together .
A few fitness fanatics can be seen going for their morning walk at 6 am- its pitch black outside and they are all covered up - looking like mountineers about to set off to scale Everest - need I say more . Brave men and some brave women .
Amidst this mayhem the dhobi is instructed very matter of factly to bring the clothes ON TIME . He is warned - NOT TO BLAME THE WEATHER !
So come what may - while the city freezes, and everyone curses the weather Gods , the poor guy is on his cylce and off to the dhobi ghat about 5 km away ( from our house ). This is almost a daily ritual which begins well before the sun rises .
The clothes are banged and brushed and rinsed and spread out on endles lines of rope. When there is no more place on the rope the larger garments are spread on the dew covered grass . Many dhobis vie for a washing bin and for drying space .
Mind you - no washing machines in those days , no sun either !
Was that not some sort of a miracle ?- How in heaven's name did those clothes dry . Where did he summon the will power from to get the job done ? Dignity of labour indeed . It was a dirty job .
Wash clothes at home and your hands are frozen over before you can say the word DHOBI . Then put them out and they take 3 days to dry if your lucky . Leave them out after 4 pm and they are soaking wet again due to the dew .
The dhobi however , after spending hours washing and drying the clothes had to cycle back with the semi dried clothes . He then proceeded to iron them till late in the night . Each dhobi serviced almost a full colony comprising about 100 families .
However come Saturday and without fail , the dhobi would be at the door - smiling - with the Jugan .
You could also take clothes for ironing at any time during the day - whether he was awake or sleeping , eating or bathing , either he or someone in the family would come and iron your clothes for you - no arguement , no excuse, no delay .
I must add that the amounts charged even in those days and by those standards was minimal . Everytime he asked for an increase he was told that it was being looked into . Not sure when he got it !
The dhobi was like an intrinsic part time of the family - he came - he stayed for a while and he left . No one could do without him .
Dhobis of India - where ever you are - I SALUTE YOU
