to depend on professional consultants rather than on known contacts. They showed him a few properties in fertile area like Yavat and Uralikanchan having good irrigation; but irrigated land was precisely what Joshi did not want. Leelatai suggested, ‘You can try your experiments even in an irrigated farm. There is less risk there and we shall have at least some income. After all, now we have to survive on just this farm income. Why not purchase one of these plots?’ Ultimately Joshi found a plot that he liked. He had got acquainted with a retired police inspector who had a farmer friend. His land was in a village called Ambethan, about seven kilometers from a small historical town Chakan in Khed taluka of Pune district. The land was mortgaged to a Bank and the owner was unable to clear the loan. The bank had decided to auction that land. The farmer seemed good-natured and frank. Joshi liked him and also once went to see that plot. Same day he accompanied that farmer to the bank and paid the entire due amount. This saved the land from being auctioned. But that was not going to solve all problems of the farmer because he again needed some loan. Joshi lent him that amount. But after a few days the farmer was again in need. Again Joshi lent him money. That happened two-three times. Now, though that farmer was free from bank loan, he owed a lot of money to Joshi and it became clear that he was in no position to repay. To clear that loan, he eventually decided to sell his land to Joshi. Before signing the agreement Joshi with his wife went to see that land once again. This time they noticed that just opposite the farm was a mountain called Bhamchandra Mountain which was famous because renowned Saint Tukaram, who lived 350 years ago, used to go to that mountain to meditate in solitude. That mountain had a slight hillock in it which resembled the part of the Gantu Mountain that was just near Joshi’s home in Switzerland and where he frequently used to go. That similarity made him think that perhaps he was destined to buy this Hands in Soil
Q
75
