Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Andamans-Lime Cave and my Marriage
In 1988, Baratang was never a tourist spot. No one knew, there is a Lime Cave and Parrot Islands. Erruption of mud vulcano and Beach at Baludera made it important tourist spot in the recent past. Last year when I went Baratang, I saw the craze of people for Lime Cave and Mud Vulcano. In olden time, Baratang was most unwanted place to live at. When we go Baratang, we tell our children that my Barat had gone to a Forest Camp near the Lime Cave. The name of the Camp was Middle Strait Forest Camp which was diagonally opposite to the present Middle Strait Jetty. My wife was then a Primary School Teacher in the Primary School at Middle Strait Forest Camp. My Step Father in Law, one Maternal Uncle and my own Uncle, who were employed in the Forest Department were also posted there. On 30th April 1988, after our marriage was blessed in the Church. we went with barat to that place. After we reached there in the evening, all baraties had a nice tribal dance. My friends from Port Blair who had come to attend my marriage also participated in the dance and enjoyed it. But the sad part of the ceremony was that due to some enmity, people of that camp delayed the programme of reception and dinner. The baraties were too angry and refused to take their dinner. It was difficult time for me to arrange for dinner for my friends. I approached my Maternal Aunti who had some rice and dal and my friends had to satisfy with it. In the early morning, I along with my wife travelled on foot to my village. My friends still remember my Marriage. My wife says they use to visit Lime Cave frequently. I feel little privileged that that place has become so important now.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A Visit to Ranchi
All chotanagpurians, whether he hails from Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal or Chattisgarh, they are commonly known as "Ranchiwala". When I came Delhi in 1985, I had a desire to visit Ranchi from where my father belonged. During the childhood, we had heard much about our ancestral place. It was June, 1987 when I finally landed to Ranchi. I had a friend Tobias Tirkey working in a Post Office. Just a few years back, he had come to Ranchi on transfer from Port Blair. I requested him to accompany him to my village, because he also belonged to same place. He agreed and on the appointed day we started for Simdega. It was early morning and weather was fine. We reached a place called Kolebira from where we had to change the bus. We boarded in a bus of Bihar State Transport Corporation. The condition of the Bus was very pathetic. The roof of the bus was just like open sky. The bus was almost in two pieces so when the driver put a break, half portion will go ahead and rear portion will just push it. Suddenly, the rain started and every body took their umbrella out in the bus. The conductor came and collected Rs. 3/- per person but didnot issue any tickets. After travelling a little distance, the bus got struck to a muddy place and even after efforts, it could not be rescued. So we came out of bus. All the passengers also came out and started demanding refund of money. The Conductor refunded 50 paise to every passenger and my friend too took back Rs.1/-.
We had look for another vehicle. People told us that it will take an hour to reach Simdega on foot but incidentally, one Truck came and took us on board. We reached Simdega and met some people who had come from Andamans. I met one of my class-mate too. After having lunch, we took another bus for my village called Banabira. We were totally stranger so neither any body asked us nor we spoke to anyone. My friend asked me to got down at one lonely place. There were no one to ask but we could see one person coming from field. We told him that we want to go to Banabira, so which way to go? Pointing his fingers, he told us to go through a "road". I just had a look on surrounding but except one, no road was there. My friend then explained me that the people call the " kutcha road or pagdandi" as road. We started moving on feet. My friend told me that we had to cross two rivers, one small and another somewhat bigger. One river we crossed without any difficulties. Before we could reach another, we met few students coming from School. On our asking, they told that the water level is upto knee only. When we started crossing the river, the water level was not upto the knee but upto the waist. There was a village on the bank of river and people started laughing on us. Perhaps, we had followed a wrong path to cross the river.
Till we crossed the long village, everyone was inquiring as to where we were going. We asked villager as to which way to go for Banabira and one fellow told us just reach the small stone hill, it was very near to that. But it was not less than 5 k.m. When we reached there we could find only few boys looking after their animals. We again enquired from them and they told us to cross a big farm land which was again 5.k.m. long.
We had already travelled some 15-17 k.m. and almost getting tired. When we crossed the farms, we asked another person about the house of my maternal uncle. He pointed out towards a house and said just get right turn from the "Deviguri". This was again a strange word for me. My friend explained that, tribal people's worship place is called "Deviguri". When we reached my maternal uncle's home, we found only few ladies. We were told that my maternal uncle has gone to work and come only after sometime. No one asked to sit so we kept standing outside. We were so tired that I lost my patience told them that I am coming to this house only. My cousin sister and maternal aunti were also there, so they immediately guessed my name and asked us to sit on a mate. According to tribal customs, our legs were washed and gave us water to drink. We slept early on that day but next day my maternal uncle arranged a big party ( to my belief beyond his capability). In the evening, we went to my father's house. To my surprise, the house and Aangan was already filled with people. Every one had news that someone from Andamans has come. I had taken two packets of choclates but it was not sufficient.
We were treated like any thing but next day we had to come back to Ranchi. When I visit there, I find people have alienated themselves but I still remember my first visit. I remember the simplicity and give away nature of tribal. Often I tell jokingly tell this instance to my friends too.
We had look for another vehicle. People told us that it will take an hour to reach Simdega on foot but incidentally, one Truck came and took us on board. We reached Simdega and met some people who had come from Andamans. I met one of my class-mate too. After having lunch, we took another bus for my village called Banabira. We were totally stranger so neither any body asked us nor we spoke to anyone. My friend asked me to got down at one lonely place. There were no one to ask but we could see one person coming from field. We told him that we want to go to Banabira, so which way to go? Pointing his fingers, he told us to go through a "road". I just had a look on surrounding but except one, no road was there. My friend then explained me that the people call the " kutcha road or pagdandi" as road. We started moving on feet. My friend told me that we had to cross two rivers, one small and another somewhat bigger. One river we crossed without any difficulties. Before we could reach another, we met few students coming from School. On our asking, they told that the water level is upto knee only. When we started crossing the river, the water level was not upto the knee but upto the waist. There was a village on the bank of river and people started laughing on us. Perhaps, we had followed a wrong path to cross the river.
Till we crossed the long village, everyone was inquiring as to where we were going. We asked villager as to which way to go for Banabira and one fellow told us just reach the small stone hill, it was very near to that. But it was not less than 5 k.m. When we reached there we could find only few boys looking after their animals. We again enquired from them and they told us to cross a big farm land which was again 5.k.m. long.
We had already travelled some 15-17 k.m. and almost getting tired. When we crossed the farms, we asked another person about the house of my maternal uncle. He pointed out towards a house and said just get right turn from the "Deviguri". This was again a strange word for me. My friend explained that, tribal people's worship place is called "Deviguri". When we reached my maternal uncle's home, we found only few ladies. We were told that my maternal uncle has gone to work and come only after sometime. No one asked to sit so we kept standing outside. We were so tired that I lost my patience told them that I am coming to this house only. My cousin sister and maternal aunti were also there, so they immediately guessed my name and asked us to sit on a mate. According to tribal customs, our legs were washed and gave us water to drink. We slept early on that day but next day my maternal uncle arranged a big party ( to my belief beyond his capability). In the evening, we went to my father's house. To my surprise, the house and Aangan was already filled with people. Every one had news that someone from Andamans has come. I had taken two packets of choclates but it was not sufficient.
We were treated like any thing but next day we had to come back to Ranchi. When I visit there, I find people have alienated themselves but I still remember my first visit. I remember the simplicity and give away nature of tribal. Often I tell jokingly tell this instance to my friends too.
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