By: Ashim
Kumar Ghosh.
It becomes dark, almost
evening, cattle's are returning back to home. Family members are alert to make
arrangement for cattle in shed. But hens and cocks are still playing in the
courtyard of Dula Marandi, a Santhal Boy from Mayurbhanj district. Just passed
matriculation exam and running to Baripada head quarter for collecting admission
forms of various colleges, where he will get chance for further study.
I was with my Colleague in field visit. He told me to stop
nearby Dula Marandi's home to collect some of the information from him, what
actually he is doing now ? Yes, we came down and entered in the Dula Marandi's courtyard
home. I have seen very unique among the Santhal Population. They are very clean
and very good sense of art in the wall
of houses. Actually they are the great artist and they have good sense of
presentation of Art in daily life.
As we entered in the courtyard of Dula Marandi's Cousin
courtyard, actually it was not Dula Marandi's father house. When Dula was
child, his father and mother got sheltered in the house of his (Dula) cousin.
Dula is from that background, his father has not own house, he with his family
dependent to his cousin. Dula is student of Government school and used to go school
to get the Mid day meal every day.
I have seen very unique life style of Santhal Community, in
leisure hour, they use to make rope out of local grown grass and used for
making the cot. But here Dula is making rope, when he is getting time, because
it gives earning to family and for Dula, it is expenses for his education. We
offered to sit in the cot in the courtyard, and all the children and age old
age person were in the courtyard, it was evening, therefore they have already
started to boil the water in open kitchen in courtyard to boil rice. I asked
their menu for that day.....they told happily " we will eat Chicken
today" and a Desi White chicken was tied up with the rope in courtyard and
so gladly they offered us to stay for night and we will eat and enjoy. So
generous the family.
Dula's cousin came to us and started interacted with us. He
was repeating some of the sentence again and again, though he was in
mood.......he told...thora liya hain....no issue..it is the part of the culture
of the tribal society and added with values and sanctions. He was telling, Dula
is only boy in our family, he passed examination...but we will not send him in
Army or in Police, because he is the only son in our family. He will work in
office.....
In between, Dula's father and mother returned back from work,
they are so simple, I have seen aspiration in his eyes, he was so emotional and
want to do lot of things but his hands are tied up....I can understand....what
is that....Immediately he took his nephew (Dula's Cousin) and discussed. I
asked them what is going on....they told yes we are coming with the Dula's
Report card...he passed the examination sir...now he will go the college. But
Dula is not going to Join Army or police again he repeated, but and mother is
smiling only...with gentle facial expression.
I have been observed very closely the tribal community, even
in the North East, Tea garden of North
Bengal and Assam. They are using minimum of two languages, one is the state
language and second one is own mother tongue. I have seen in North Bengal Tea garden area, tribal community is talking
in Hindi, Sadari, Nepali and Bengali. In Assam, tea garden community is also
talking in Ahom, Sadari language. In Manipur I observed tribal community is
also opting their own mother tongue first and then second language as Manipuri.
In Odisha I observed same, Dula's family are talking in Santhali language
within the family members and when they interact with the outsiders, then they
choose to talk in Odiya language. So there was a moment when all the families
are talking in Santhal language within the family members.
In between Dula came in bicycle from Baripada Block head
quarter, he was carrying file paper and bags in his hand. He talked with us and
immediately rush to inside the house and came with the certificate, mark sheet
and admission form. He was seeking help from us, which college is better to go
for further study...He told that he is willing to study Political science.
when we are discussion about the college and marks, Dula's
father came in our discussion, he was not utter a single word but watching and
listening our discussion. Dula was very curious to know about the career path.
In between the Dula's cousin brother again murmured sir....Dula will not go to
Army or Police, he is the only son of
the Family.
Neighbours also joined in our discussion and then they raised
the issue of BPL to APL.....12 houses in that locality are deprived of getting
the electricity power. House is just on the road side, electric wire is
crossing above the road, but Dula used to study in DIBRI....light by kerosene
oil, no electricity. People revealed that Transformer was sanctioned and also
installed but never got the electricity, because transformer transformed from BPL to APL....surprising how
transformed...they told sir...it was stolen...as report says...we told
them...very soon you will get the elctricity bill....they told
yes....sir...department is saying deposit money...but not giving the bill.
I surprised, in tribal area, lot of fruits in tree but not
stolen....livestock's are making free movement not stolen.....Jackfruit is in
the tree and it is in the reach to collect but not stolen...during February to
March Mohua flower smells the forest but not stolen...but how transformer
stolen....they replied me...sir it is BPL to APL.......
We do not know...but after independence of our
country, Parliament of India sanctioned projects and scheme for the upliftment
of Dula Marandi, and for others... scholarship, stipend, free text books,
bridge course, rural electrification scheme, jan Dhan, Kisan Insurance scheme,
Indira Awas, Atal Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi Rural employment guarantee programme,
Rajiv Gandhi millennium well scheme, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidalaya, for BPL- Below Poverty line population but
still we have to go long for upliftment. Actually it is BPL....to APL.....they
have to go from below to above.....
