Two Days in Paschimanchal

Two days in Paschimanchal

September 8, 2013

 Day before yesterday  I started accompanied by Dipak towards Bankura. I was initially reluctant to move .. however, I could not refuse Dipak this time..  Dipak already took  nod from the authority  for my journey. Our visit to Bankura this time had a link with the appraisal of Turmeric-mission  in Paschimanchal,particularly in Bankura.  Bankura DM wanted to review all the ongoing projects  of PUP for official business,  Before journey I reviewed the works of Turmeric project.. I asked Dipak  to prepare a status paper-presentation  and put some of the documentary proof  of our work.. He did all those overnight as all materials were lying with him.. I know this time it was very difficult to move  elsewhere for both family & other reasons.. but I got inner call to attend Bankura and interact with the officials to reveal turmeric prospects in Bankura district as well as Paschimanchal.   This meeting  was called on by the DM   with a request from the Secretary ,Paschimanchal , However, our journey  started at the morning . There were jams at Panagarh. .After a long gap I saw it. It was horrible to sit in the cab .  gradually, slowly  we overcame  the jam.  Again, we faced trouble at Fulberiamore.. There was blockage of roads by students. To by-pass, we turned to a different path and reached Amarkanan .  There we met Swamiji.  And accompanied him to the field. Maharaji tried his level best to plant turmeric. Continuous rains did not allow fullest  growth of turmeric. Drainage put  a  big problem. We advised him to do some minor change for  this situation. Maharaji sowed turmeric in his compound, These are in well position. We were in hurry and started immediate after visiting plots. Reached Bankura Circuit house just at 2.00 p.m.   All the officials of DM office were present. All the BDOs were also  there. Representatives from PUP & others were also invitees  there.  NGOs, clubs and others representing PUP  activities  assembled there. During meeting,  all were representing their cases. In turn ,we got the opportunity. BCKV turmeric-works were acclaimed. DM personally became interested in turmeric. We showed  the house photographs . Our case studies were interacted. DM asked all the BDOs to take turmeric as a special component. In the mean while I told the house on the prospects of eco-tourism in Bankura referring to Barachaka & Bamandiha. These points were also  recorded. Hope, my dream for those places will come in reality soon.

Dipak was happy as turmeric reached to the administrative-house. I called him to observe turmeric-day.

In the evening we took rest at MBK,Belatore.

 Next day, early in the morning I told Dipak to visit Raipur cluster. Till now ,I did not visit it. Accordingly, we moved towards Raipur. From my childhood I recall memories of Raipur. This was a backward area that time. My sister’s mother-in-law was the MLA of Raipur. Bidhan Roy  specially called on Sudharani to do good for the area. I heard from her that  Tarasankar Bandopadhay came to Raipur and campaigned for her there. However, these are memories. Just flushed in my mind.

I relied on Gop for turmeric mission in Raipur,  I sent Swaraj  as our spokesman there. He organized camps and motivated farmers’ club, villagers towards turmeric, Most of the stakeholders of this cluster are tribals. They came at Chhatna to receive seed. There was due for some money from our end. I wanted to pay it  by hand..

 On the way ,we halted  at Ratanpur. We were observing Pan-borojs.  We found abundant  high-lands remain fallow there. Some people came and surrounded us. They urged for turmeric seed. They wanted  it to grow, We assured them to extend our help in future.

The jouney towars Raipur was pleasant. We crossed Taldandgra, These are rain-fed areas. Pumkins are the main  cash crop there. Sekhar used to say while researching on marketing of vegetables.   We ,  crossed Simlapal. I was really happy to see tribal girls attending colleges, schools. I stopped a bit to take snaps of the statue of Pandit Raghnath murmu. At the same time i visited three Jahirsthan- sacred groves of  those areas.

I  asked Dipak to change our module and move to Sarenga. This time we had a unique stakeholders at Sarenga block. The farmer is cultivating ginger with our advice,  Moreover, I was getting emotional to have  information on Culshaw.  Culshaw devoted his whole life on Tribals of Sarenga. He is the credible- author on Santhal life. His books are not available. I wanted to see some memories of the great man. The way to Sarenga is excellent. I have visited some spots comparable to the Sarenga. There is enough and enough scope to develop tourism here. Dipak captured many snaps. I will post these later. Alas, we forgot our people. No body recapitulate Culshaw. The hospital which was nurtured by Culshaw is there but nobody knows him .Today. i met the hospital super, chuches, locala residents,..futile.. they are not aware of him.. With broken heart we left Sarenga. Finally reached to Raipur cluster, Visited the fields. W were satisfied by farmers’ performance. There is  now strong demand  for growing turmeric in the coming  season.

Thereafter, we turned to visit Kapgari cluster/. we reached there around 2.00. Kapgari KVK made a unique plot of turmeric under orchards. Obviously this will be role model  for the area. We also visited Khudiram’s plot. This is also good. But another plot of Jagadish suffered  a bit from water congestion & weed infection. We advised him for control.

We left from Kapgari at 3.00 p.m. and back to Kalyani at 11.00 p.m.

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Turmeric plantation by SHGs



Raghunathpur-11  is a newly added turmeric cluster .   i had already posted some of the moments of our extension program  about two months back. We had a nice interactive session with SHg-groups on turmeric there. we selected a few pockets  surrounding Cheliama. in this cluster we emphasized women-led self help groups to take the flag of turmeric.  there was a grand assembly of SHg members. We gave them seeds of turmeric.  after two months i went to see their vows on turmeric,  i was surprised to see women's participation  in our mission. The above is a field of a woman who planted turmeric with her own effort.  Below I submit a few snaps showing sHG-activities.

Turmeric: BCKV at Raghunathpur,Purulia

 Recently we hold Turmeric camp at Raghunathpur-ii block,Purulia. Turmeric seed were distributed among SHG members. We covered a good number of villages.

Chaltaberia,Barasat

Chaltaberia of  Barasat  has become a hub for clay-made products. More than two thousand households are dependent on this profession.  Initially a few migrants from Bangladesh  came here . They were with out suitable means for livelihood. To survive,they  took this specific enterprise.Gradually it was  spread among marginalized   households. Everyday  trucks from UP,Panjab &other states make ques to upload Chaltaberia products. Clay artifacts is now  a household industry here.

Turmeric Customs

Well my friends I have come back again. I was too tired to say on Kandhamal‘s Meria festival. Thanks to your good wisdom that Meria tradition has gone. It is now a barren chapter and a history. Now, I would share some customs of Indians centering me.   Turmeric based Customs be it ritual or religion have grown over time based on some objects. Today to them I represent a close friend of mankind. I am sacred and auspicious irrespective of boundaries. Thus Aryans as well as non Aryans both regard me and see virtues upon me. Traditions with me are still in vogue among tribal communities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and North east region. There you will find using Mangalsutra. It is a small piece of my body is tied with yellow thread hanged over neck. Yellow color is made with my inherent ingredients. I am the symbol of mangal – (benign). Tribal have faith in me. If I am with them, no evil force can harm. This is how they respect me.

Have you ever seen Onam festival in Karalla? During this festival male wears new dhoti colored with turmeric. They know yellow cloth is favored by lord Krishna who always used to wear Yellow clothes. Lord Krishna is named as Pitambar for his yellow colored dress. This is an expression of their belief as well as love. Similarly wearing yellow clothes females want to feel themselves to be nearer to Devi Durga.  Devi’s color resembles my body flesh.

Baby’s birth with oil mixed with turmeric is a traditional custom among the tribal. You can see this custom in Paschimanchal of Bengal.  My journey starts when you see the earth. I am also with you when you are dead. Tribal, particularly Santhals rub the deceased body before cremation.

Your life is incomplete with out me. In Bengal and eastern part, Gayehalud is common. Brides refresh their body with turmeric paste before marriage. Dandasis tribe of Punjab follows customs with turmeric at the time of marriage ceremony.  Couples are tied with turmeric-dipped thread seven times.  Parents bless the spouses sprinkling turmeric-water at the final stage of marriage ceremony. In Tamil Nadu Tareya tribe invite guests by smearing turmeric powder to their doors.

In Tamil nadu, AP, women put yellow mark on forehead, cheeks, body as a custom. Keralla women favor me much. They always use turmeric paste for their health care. Their hidden news went to Rome long  back. Roman women favored India as because quality turmeric is grown here.

Tamil, AP people elevated my position to the height of God. Haridra-Ganesh is worshipped there. I am blessed and loved by you all.

I am a celebrated entity. My name is mentioned in Ramayana.

The list of customs needs another Ramayana.

MY Kandhamal Story

Let you move to Odisha. Surely,you are thinking  of either  Puri, or Konark, or Chilka or Bhubaneswar. No, this time  fix your destination at Kandhamal. It is centrally located district in Odisha. It’s a hilly district and abode of hilly tribal- Kondh, The scenic beauty is distinct, unique and splendid. Rough and tough hills ,hillocks, streams, exquisite    flora and fauna made this region a land of treasure. This district is dominated by tribes and schedule castes. Tribal constitute about 51.5% of the population.  The whole area is nearly rain-fed unsuitable for growing cereal crops. You will find similarity between  Paschimanchal and Kandhamal. They are both red-lateritic.  Sal trees are common  in both places.  soil exhibits poor water holding capacity in both areas. the two areas are low in carbon and nitrogen but abundant in potash.  I am in Kandhamal from time immemorial. I got my natural environment there. I had been there as a natural gift. You could collect a good number of my clans. Recently OUAT  released Roma and Surava varieties. Origin of these cultivars are from Kandhamal. Remember,three species of mine;viz; Curcuma Longa, Curcuma auromaticale, & Curcuma amdayijone  are present there. I am loved by all habitats of Kandhamal  as I am an organic entity there. Truly, I am organic by default.
I have a  terrible ,horrific history at Kandhamal.  I was and still now the only means of Kandhas' livelihood. Recall those days  when my fellow tribal used to collect me from jungles and come to village hats. People from Sambalpur,Ganjam,Puri  and other territory states used to attend there. Kandhas used to exchange me in terms of rice and salt .  I was sold to others  for  reaching distant places. Obviously I used to go by bullock drawn-carts.
Kandhas had had the belief that I was the bonanza of God or nature. They were always careful to appease the nature God. This belief led them to a heinous superstition.  They built up a strong concept that human-sacrifice is the best way to appease God. With this they introduced Meria-festival. At the day of festival they used to cut a non-kandha boy into pieces.  Those pieces were planted in the field. They had the notion that by doing so I would be more colorful and more productive and God would  not betray production.

It was 1845. the report of Meria or human-sacrifice went to the Governor General . The then Government  passed  an Act to stop Meria practice.They  recruited one agency to watch.  Strong struggle continued for some time. Ultimately village leaders surrendered. An agreement  was made. Kandhas promised to abandon human sacrifice with the  license of performing  Pod-festival. Instead of human they would sacrifice buffalo.
This practice is still in vogue.

History-history is there.
Kodhs are there before Aryans. See my age.

I am a known entity for thousands and thousands years. My origin is India- the beloved India. I acknowledge your kind love years after years shown to me. Now, I have become a part of your life, livelihood, culture and agriculture. To me you will find one India. I am above all boundaries. If you go north, I am there. South is my favorite bastion. Andrapradesh, Tamil Nadu are my adorned home. My presence in Odisha, particularly in KandhMahal is known to the world.  Similarly, I am well cared by tribal of Northeast. I show my fullest beauty at the foothill of Jayanti pahar. I ‘m natural at Jayanti. Its soil, climate gives an extraordinary profile. I grow there with out chemicals. I am hundred percent organic there.

I feel sorry when you divide yourself and quarrel like a child.  See me; I am a complete being with out a split.  I belong to both Aryans and non-Aryans. Similarly I do not distinguish between tribal and non tribal. I am also gender-free subject. Aryans compared my body color with the first ray of sun. They call me Ranjini- I have the power to color inimitably. Aryans love as well as regard me. They love me so much that I am placed with God-Hari and lovingly called ‘Haridra’.  I always see well in everywhere. That is why I am benign to them. They call me “Mangaldayini”. Charak knew my health rejuvenating capacity.  Often he quoted me in his book. Yangabalka Samhita cited my name many times. Now do thy judge how old am I.  My presence you can  also see in Boddha era. Boddhamonks used to wear robes  dipped in my golden color. These are the signs of purity what I have.  Mundas  and other aboriginal tribes  loved me . Vedas quoted them NISHADA. Nisha means haldi and da  for eat. Thus, you see tribal  discovered me long long back before the arrival of Aryans.

I have many names. Some yof you call me ‘Haldi”. Others like Konkanis’ christen me ‘Halad’. To Telegus I am Pasupu.   Tamils  baptized me as Manjil..   I can not finish all my names here. I am sorry.