In Phagwara, home is where the water tank is
THE TRACTOR REPRESENTS OWNERSHIP OF LARGE TRACTS OF LAND, THE GLISTENING, MUSCLED WRESTLER ATOP A HOUSE SHOWCASES THE OWNER’S PENCHANT FOR THE SPORT
As we cruised along the picture perfect colourful houses on the waterfront in Amsterdam, I remarked on the strange, narrow doorways to them, each one sporting a large beam sticking out of the roof gable, embedded with a hook. The guide nodded his head and explained that it is a common sight in the Netherlands and is called a ‘Hijsbalk’.
The Dutch do not waste precious space on doors and staircases. A pulley, heavy rope and the hook do the job of depositing any piece of furniture or bulky object through the windows, since large items cannot possibly be squeezed through those slim doors. Bemused by their ingenuity and resourcefulness, I nevertheless had a tough time imagining sofas and beds dangling precariously, hoisted high up in the air, swinging this way and that while being carefully placed inside, via the windows!
Intrigued, I took the help of Google and saw unusual, in fact downright weird houses all over the world, one completely made of glass, another shaped to resemble a cave and yet another actually built upside down, all inhabited by people!
Houses are generally constructed keeping in mind the climate, topography and requirements of a particular area. In school we read about houses on stilts, built to keep away insects and reptiles in places with excessive rainfall. Sloping roofs are conducive to cold places so the snow can slide off, while igloos are temporary shelters built in the Arctic regions during the hunting season. Wigwams and tents housed Native Americans and nomads, while most houses in the plains of India are painted in light colours to reflect the heat of the blazing sun.
All said and done, nowhere in the world are there houses like those in Phagwara, a bustling township near Jalandhar. The first time I saw one or two, I was curious. Later, I spotted another and then another, all unique with the most bizarre and eyecatching water tanks built on their roofs. Not for them the drab and commonplace plastic or square cement tanks. Instead, there is an airplane, an eagle in flight, a pair of oxen, a jug, a tractor, a peacock in full regalia mounted at the top, all made of concrete and used as water storing chambers.
The attention to detail adds to the surprise. I asked around and learnt that Phagwara is home to numerous non-resident Indians and many of the prosperous ones have built lavish houses to showcase their good fortune in foreign lands. The water tanks signify their status and passion.
For instance, the tractor represents ownership of large tracts of land, the glistening, muscled wrestler atop a house showcases the owner’s penchant for the sport, the artillery tank declares the military background of the inmates and the mini parliament building atop a house hints at the political leanings of the master.
Keeping the best for the last, I have even seen a house flaunting the ubiquitous whiskey bottle on the roof, an undisputable sign of the true Punjabi who wears his heart on his sleeve.
Correction
The article, ‘Don’t fret over the missing puzzle piece’, published in this column on February 7 was inadvertently repeated. The error is regretted.