Dhwaj : A Journey from Putundro to Pali

Dhwaj, is an insignia moment in the world of SatyaMurthy & SuhaelAmrita, a dream realised and now a reality of their lives.

Putundro – Amma’s “aanchol bhora graam bangla”

As SuhaelAmrita tells tale, growing up as a Probashi Bangali, holidays were the most cherished when it was in Kolkatta at Maniktala, my Amma’s (Paternal Grand-mother) home. The deep desire to eat fresh produce from Putundro, my ancesteral village where we have rolling fields of paddy & ponds full of fresh fish, were the starting points of intrigue into my quest with farming.

The taste of boiled unpolished rice with a sumptuous fish curry or simply chomping on some summer mangoes while sitting on the “uthon” parapet were moments etched to eternity, one that would keep me going until we set sail for the next vacation back home.

Putundro to Dhwaj

A little girl’s dream, the desire to someday be able to emulate Amma’s world took shape when Dhwaj was conceived. Albeit on differently abled terrains & soil but one that is closest to her current urban habitat.

Paddy has the only possible real linkage to the beautiful scenery of West Bengal, one that we found intriguingly similar to this rice-growing terrain of Raigad. Famous for its dwarfed variety of rice, namely Jaya & Ratna, the water-fed beds do well with the aromatic variants as well. Thus began our experimentations with rice at our little patch of land in Dhwaj, where today we sow the fragrant Indrayani, a variety from the Ambemohor family of rice.

However, its not just rice where we found our inspiration but an orchard that boasts 180+ mango trees ranging from the delicious Raigad hapus to totapuri. The sweetest guavas, juicy sitaphal and loads of intoxicating cashews adorn our land parcel.

Dhwaj has rich soil, which we continue to nourish with booster shots of cow dung manure and the ever-so-nutritious ‘jeev-amrit’, a hand-whisked magic potion that is a must-have in our farmland. Our vegetables taste original and most flavorsome. At Dhwaj, we pride ourselves on our seasonal produce, curated in smaller quantities and largely delivered to some of our gated communities in Mumbai.

With a new ambition each year, Dhwaj has now invested in growing Haldi, Nachni and some root vegetables as part of its growing repetoire of variety of produce. The region is known for its spices and Dhwaj has some exotic ones housed within its periphery.

Feel the rustic life of our farm by visiting and experiencing the way of life at Dhwaj. While you plan your visit, we will share some delicious local dishes made with our homegrown produce. So stay tuned to our space…

Signing off –

Team Dhwaj (24th July, 2024)