The Wagle family

Our Wagle family's ancestor shifted to nearby village called Devi Hasol which at that time was known as only Hasol from Bhalavali and settled there. About five generations back, one Mr Ramachandra Wagle was my ancestor. His son was Vishnu and Vishnu's son was Sitaram and Vithal. Sitaram Wagle had two sons - Gajanan and Sadanand. Sadanand is my father. Till recently all the marriages of our community were always arranged in between all these families only. But last 60-70 years the marriages between other GSB families of Goa, Karwar etc. I got married almost 30 years back to a GSB woman from taluka Karkala, Mangalore. Nowadays outside caste marriages are also common and many people have accepted that. But still some orthodox people especially from Rajapur taluka and Lanja arrange marriage in Bhalavalikar GSB community only.

The Wagle family which has shifted to Devihasol had five sons. This is around the year 1750-1780. The two sons shifted towards South and settled at Puttur in present South Canara district. Some other families of GSB also like Kinare etc also shifted at that time in Puttur taluka. The other two sons shifted towards North side and settled in Roha/Alibag talukas of Colaba district in present Raigad. There was a big group of GSBs that has settled there along with these people from Bhalavali and being closer to Mumbai after 1900AD they got educated with good facilities available to them at that time. While those who were staying in Bhalavali and surrounding areas were backward in the educational field. Up to 7th standard education was also not available to many people. Even my father and his elder brother have not gone to any school. But he was taught various books like Ramvijay, Harivijay by his father.

My grand-grand-grandfather, Ramachandra got married to one Sinkar/ Sardar - which was the title to that family. My grand-grandfather got married to a daughter of the same family again. And his son my grandfather married to one Tendulkar of Harche village. My uncle Gajanan was born in March 1912 and my father was born on 25th December 1913. After my father one sister was born but she and her mother expired around 1915-1916. At that time second marriage was very common. But my grandfather did not marry again. His two sons were looked after by his mother till they were about 10-12 years old. Afterwards there was no one to look after but my grandfather he himself take care of the two sons. There was no school in that area and so my uncle and father were not having formal education. At the age of 18 my uncle Gajanan came to Mumbai in search of a job. Since he was not educated he had no option than to join work as a boy in restaurant. After 2 years my father also said goodbye to the village and came to Mumbai. He used to say that to come to Mumbai, he had no money and he had to request one neighbour to give some money for the fare of Mumbai.

He came by steamer from Purnagad port and he also started working in the same restaurant. He used to say at that time that they used to stay near Charni road station and take bath there only and used the same dhoti again after bath. The dhoti was washed and kept on the fencing of the railway track for drying. After 3-4 trains pass the dhoti was dried and he used to wear it again. He used to work in Velankar restaurant, then Kelkar restaurant. These Kelkars were from Bhalavali village. They were two brothers Janardan Kelkar and Atmaram Kelkar and have come to Mumbai and from our GSB community. The two brothers were having sixteen restaurants at that time in Girgaum and surrounding areas. My grandfather expired in 1936. Before this death both the sons have brought him to Mumbai and at the age of 64 he passed away. In 1940 our ancestral house has dilapidated and the other two cousin brothers of Sitaram Wagle have constructed their different homes. Hence my father went and demolished whatever structure was there in 1942 and kept the God in one small hut covered by coconut leaf mat.

My father shifted to some other restaurants in Girgaum area only and in 1942 he joined Mama Kane's swachya upahargraha opposite Dadar Railway station West. Mr Shankarrao Kane, the son of Mama Kane was the owner at that time. He asked my father what is his caste. My father showed him his janva and said he belongs to Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community from Rajapur area. Kane employed him as a waiter. My father used to say that time minimum 12 hours duty was there and he worked honestly and to the fullest satisfaction of Shankarrao Kane. Around that time Mama Kane expired. Then Shankarrao Kane enquired about family members of my father and my father said that his elder brother is working in a restaurant in Girgaum. So on suggestion of Shankarrao Kane, my uncle also joined the restaurant. He got the job of mandniwala (filling dishes). Both the brothers were in the same restaurant. Shankarrao Kane was very pleased with my father for his honest work and he was in his good books along with my uncle also. Both the brothers work hard in that restaurant.

One Mr Baburao Sakhalkar who was director in Bombay Film Laboratories was a rich person from Bhalavalikar GSB community. He was from Colaba district and settled in Bombay long back. He used to come to Mama Kane's restaurant and my father used to serve him. Once he asked my father what is his name and when he came to know that he belongs to the same Bhalavalikar GSB community he said why you are working here, I will give you a canteen in our Bombay Film Laboratory, can you manage that ? My father was not immediately ready to say yes. He asked Mr Shankarrao Kane whether it will be possible for him to run a canteen. Shankarrao Kane said that you give up the job immediately and start the canteen. I will support you for all the problems which you will face. So on 2nd September 1946 my father started the canteen in Bombay Film Laboratories. Mr Kane helped him in guarding many aspects of the business including writing the accounts and fortunately for my father the business was running excellent. He could collect big amount because the film industry was booming at that time and all the recordings, editings etc was done at Bombay Film Laboratory.

My father then thought of building a house at his native place and sent his brother Gajanan, who was still working in Mama Kane's restaurant at that time to look after the carpenters and masons who were constructing that house. My father spent Rs. 4000/- on that house in 1946-1947. In 1948 my father got married to one Bandivadekar from Bhalavali village. After the marriage of my father there was some quarrel in Mama Kane's restaurant of my uncle with some other worker. Kane kept quiet and has not taken anyone's side at that time. So my uncle left the Kane restaurant and came to my father. So my father said you join me in this canteen. My uncle was also having huge experience of hotel industry and soon my father gave all responsibilities to him. My uncle got married to a Wakde family girl who was related to our family.