Story of BPL to APL.......

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.....