Myths, Science & Fiction at Bashipur Village

Every time I use to take a bit of halt at Gurap more while driving through express highway towards Burdwan or Bankura.   There are two to three tea stalls ready to serve passersby with fresh tea according to their choice. It gives pleasure to chat with the people crowded at stalls and sipping tea  comfortably on charpais.  We see the green fields,  enjoy the breeze   and look at the beautiful  artifacts of colorful designs.  Those artefacts are brought by the artists from neighboring place. One pair of big size  horse pairs cost about Rs.500.00. However, there are also items of lower value. I saw people come and take designed horses  with little bargaining and move  on van. On curiosity I came to know these horses go to Bashipur. These are offered to the Pir Majar. They fondly offer as because have been cured from bone-fracture by the grace of Pir. 

I got  myths about the Pir.  The Pir had miracle powers. Before leaving the earth he transmitted the power to some Mallik a century back.  Surprisingly the Mallicks are Bagdi and belong to schedule tribe. Now Mallik family has been extended, there are three families who use to treat bone-factures in the name of Pir.  I met many who have been cured. I  have had an interest to see what is happening there.

Bashipur village is visible from the Gurap more.  Finally ,the chance of visiting  came yesterday. I started towards the village. It’s not too far.  A zigzag road   extended from the Gurap more to the village. I had no difficulty to reach there. There were many who were rushing to the spot, and  I followed them.

There were long queue in-front of    Nimai Mallik's residence. Three men were busy in treating  patients. I saw a women wailing from pain at her hands.. the hand was swollen. The quacks cum healer examined  her  and tied the hand with creeps. By that time the lady stopped crying.  Then, I found a patient  plastered  in arms. The healer cut it with scissors. The patient was scolded as he did not bring the X-Ray report. However, he was examined and tied with the creeper.  I was surmised that the fractured one switched over from modern treatment to indigenous one.  Charge of treatment is minimum. Only Rs.10  per visit. Normally one has to pay two to three visits depending upon the kind of fracture. Every case  was examined and treated by the skilled Mallick within  5 to 10 minutes.

I paid a visit to the Majar. The majar is maintained by the Mallick family.  This was an additional information to me. All the villagers of Bashipur are Hindus but have strong faith upon the Pir. In every Friday they make special prayer and ask  for his blessings.

I thought, people are coming here as today’s treatment cost in a doctor’s chamber is high and beyond their pockets.  Sooner, that wave  waded ,  I saw a couple getting down from a car and having  a look of  richness. They offered  to the majar. On dialogue I came to know that the lady had severe back pain and  could not  recovered despite treatment from the reputes at Kolkata. The women got relived from the medicine given from here. Nabakumar told me that they are also treating people suffering from arthritis.

“ What medicine do you give them?”

-“ We prepare a medicine from herbs and give it in liquid form. On every day before Jumma we keep these filled in bottles in front of the Pir.  After Namaz we collect these and give to the patients.”

Again, I was fixed with myths, skills and herbs. Next ,i visited the chamber of Shyamapada Mallik.  I met a mid-aged women who came from a long distance. She showed her fractured leg,  and according to her statement she is recovering.

On discussion, Nabakumar Majhi, the relations of Mallik family  said:

“  We are practicing it for more than a century. People from different parts including Jharkhand,Bihar & Uttarpradesh  do come here for treatment.  Skill is required for bone-fracture  treatment. The herb what we use is an excellent one. This herb joins the bones and reduces the pain. “

 We saw the herbs. Naba told us “ Now these plants are extinct here, we have to collect it from Burdwan, Banura etc. Everyday we require four bags ( potato-bags).”

-        “ why are you not growing here?” –i asked.

-        “ we tried  but failed. Herbs do not take sizes as we use.

We had limited time. We back to the Gurap more for another cup of tea, A young boy was there. He came fromShantipur and would go to Bashipur. The guy made an accident , he fell down from a high building while working at Hydrabad. He was admitted in a Hospital there. Being dissatified with the treatment he visited Bashipur. Now, he has been improving.

We started for Burdwan. I could not understand the myths or stories but I feel  Bashipur healers are experts and skilled ones. The herb needs more researches.

Jainism at Ambikanagar, Bankura

Today’s  Paschimanchal covering major parts of Bankura, entire Purulia and other areas  representing a backward tract  was totally  different  thousand years back. It was a territory of abundance, wealth & trade – obviously it was Purbachal ( leading).  In earlier days the western-south portion of  present State was called Ladha or Radha. It is coded that Lord Mahavir- the 24^th Tirthankar  moved through the region before pre-kevalin .  Thereafter,  many Jains routed through Radha-lands . Their pathways have been mentioned by Fai-hen, Hung-sen as well as Belgar during nineteenth century. However, i shall restrict here to Ambikanagar in Khatra  referring to the influence of Jainism.

Ananta Varman Choda-Ganga Dev (1087 AD) the powerful king of Odisha extended his kingdom in entire south west of Bengal upto the boundary of Bhagirathi. The king set up his second kingdom at Ambikanagar. Ambikanagar is a small village in Khatra sub-division of Bankura district. Dev  was an ardent follower of Jainism. Under royal patronage Jainism spread  in western part of Bengal. Moreover, the wealthy Jain communities used to navigate the region easily  through navigable river routes.  Jains have had  left imprints of their presence in the banks of Damodar, Kasai . Ambikanagar is also on the bank of Kasai.  The relics of Jain temple and the statue  of Mahabir witnesses the history of Jainism there. The statue is of Digambar (naked).  Near to Ambikanagar, there is Pareshnath pahar (Hill)-a tourist spot of Mukutmonipur. There also lie two images of thirthankar. These relics are believed to be built in between 11^th -12^th  century AD. 

In course of time, the Dev-decendants became followers of Brahmanical sects. Ambikarnagar began to deviate from Jainism. The monumental temples remained uncared. Surprisingly, Mahavir became a part of Hinduism. At Ambikanagar, Mahavir is worshiped  as Shiva. Similarly, at Pareshnath Hill we see both Shiva Linga & Mahavir on the same platform.

MA Jawni  blessed the Women of   Kalimati, Baghmundi.

Baghmundi block of Purulia exhibits diverse nature and culture. One of such culture could be seen at Bandri Village  beneath the Ajodhya Hills. The serene hill emerged gradually from Bandri.Bandri is the holy place of Jawoni devi. Once upon a time vast area under Ajodhya Hills and surroundings was under the control of Bhumij caste. People here lived under the umbrella of Manki-the authority of the community & territory. However, the Manki  used to  believe in the invisible power of local deity- the Jawoni Buri. the Jawoni Buri is the protector of kingdom and subjects.  All have been keeping the same faith today.

Jawoni devi is the gatekeeper of Bandri, Kalimati,Serendra etc. She lives under a tree and she has no images. A piece of stone is her symbol and being worshiped from indeterminate period. Traditionally, Laya-the priest from  a special sub-caste of Bhumij worships Her on behalf of the villagers. Strict rituals  are followed . Even today no woman is allowed to observe  worship-performance. The ceremony  observed on the Monday of Asarmonth(Bengali calendar) is the affairs of males  at the spot.  Offerings of lambs, goats and cocks are done in front of the deity. The place is flooded with blood on the occasion.  The date of worship is postponed to Aswin moth if some one dies or new- born comes in the Bandri village. Again the Puja is deferred if there is an outbreak small pox or alike massive disaster in the village.  The Devi is a living one. Her blessings keep the villagers in peace & happy. Anyone passing near the alter of the Goddess folds hands and bow to her.

The unbreakable system is continuing still now. However a bit of addition  is made to the system keeping the original mode unaltered.  Three decades back  Kalu Babu was heading the Bhumijs of Kalimati.  The women whispered  “ Jawoni is female but we are barred to see her. This is an iron rules to the weaker sex.” This words reached to the ears of Kalu Babu.  One day he dreamt ,the Goddess  told him “ How long I would be in the jungle?  Let you bring me at Kalimati for women’s sake.  I want to be worshipped by them. However, my puja at Bandri will be continued as usual. Women will not go there on the Puja-day. “. Again the deity instructed “ Let you worship me in an idol form.  In Kalimati I would like to be worshipped  in an image of four hands seating on the back of tiger”.  This was the turning moment ,the Banabibi reached in the Kalimati on the day of Doljatra.

Thereafter, she is Ma Jaoni and the village deity of Kalimati. The deity is adorned with fan-fare. No sacrifice is made at Kalimati. People of the surroundings have strict religious faith upon her. Duration of the Puja is similar to  durga-puja continuing for three days.  Women devotees take Dandi  from Bhagabandh to the temple.

Dr. Sadananda Mahata is an Ayurbedic physician with wide repute. Everyday he cleans the temple and seeks her blessings. According to him “ I am a means, everything is done by Ma Jaoni”.

Within three decades the popularity of  Ma Jawoni spread in the hilly parts of Bangmundi. More than twenty to thirty thousands devotees visit the place during three days of worship. Now cultural outfits have enriched the glamour of Ma Jawoni.

Doljatra is near. Villagers of Bandri, Serendi, Kalimati, Parantikar. Kuchi, Khusir, Gurudi etc. are counting for the Ma Jawoni festival. 

Success story of lentil-crop in Pakuria village of Bankura

It was about three years back, I was moving in Khatra block of Bankura district.  Khatra block & its surrounding  is a rough region, dry tracts and drought prone area in Paschimanchal.  Innovative ideas and innovative persons  normally come from most awkward terrain. In my brief stay  at Khatra, I got a pleasant call –“ Prof.Mitra would you  please visit my native village .I require some discussion on dry-land farming. I am a retired teacher, now staying in my village and doing some experiments on farming here.... “-so on. I could not refute his appeal.  I started  for Pakuria to meet  a person unknown to me.  It was a troublesome but exciting and memorable journey  from Khatra to Pakhuria. I crossed the Masak pahar- a small but exquisite hillock then the dense Kashipur jungle  and halted for a brief to enjoy the serene village of Rajagora –a tribal village. It was a joyful experience of sharing with the tribal guys. My better half-Krishna was with me. She became  close to them. I feel how simple they are. I cann’t understand how do they endure odds with smile. However,  we advanced leaving Jahala village and reached the Pakuria bus stand.  A small place indeed, surrounded by a few local stalls.  There were gatherings under a tall tree.  I found one gentleman with white clad folding an umbrella came to us :

“ hallo... i ‘m Ranjit Mallick..’m waiting for you , please come with me”.

Sooner we reached to his house.  I  pointed to a palui ( stacked paddy plants). He  said

“ i heard about Govindabhog cultivar. I brought it from Raina. It’s an excellent crop. It requires little water. See the size of straws.. these are good for thatching roof”

His  first attraction  waved my mind readily. This gentleman in his age of seventy  is full of mind-set in accepting  new ideas.  Years after years he was outside the village and was in teaching profession. After retirement he preferred to stay in his remote village.   He did not like to stay in urban areas with his son.  In his version” i must do something for my villagers. They need agricultural technology. I have started my mission here.  I know it’s a difficult task to break their inertia. But I will do to my last breadth.”

I admired his man-making and village-making vows.

With him I made a round to the Parsola Gram panchayats, We visited Lakhnshyapal mouza. Shared with many villagers. The entire area is rain-fed. Surprisingly the Kangsabati-canel is flowing by the side of village but no feeder channels are there.  The cropping system is almost  of monoculture.  Some of the cultivators grow Khasra- a local crop after paddy-harvest. Khasra is a hardy crop in dry tracts. I had a long discussion with their traditional practices.  I wanted they could harvest lentil immediate after paddy.  With brainstorming he agreed to experiment it.

The matter was brought to the notice of Prof. Gurupada Sarkar- the then Director of Research,BCKV. Thanks to Prof.Sarkar who instructed Dr.Rajib Nath to support the village and make it a cluster under ICARDA- BCKV pulse initiatives. This was the beginning of relationship between BCKV and Pakuria.

Mallick sahib whom I  now call mastermosay is a unique person. Within short period  he motivated a few to experiment lentil instead Khasra. The first year did not yield to a desired level. Crop-loss was there. No body wanted to grow lentil in the second year. I was shocked . Last year I visited the place again. The point of failure was diagnosed. All the stakeholders sowed lentil down the ponds/tanks. They irrigated as much they could. They did not believe that a crop like lentil could stand without water.  It was  clarified personally. Mastermosay was convinced and wanted to try again.

Every time I was keeping touch with him. This year seed along with capsule technology was given by Prof. Rajib Nath. I arranged seed from Dr,Nath at the door step of mastermosay. All the stakeholders under the guidance of mastermosay did as per protocol.  This time lentil smiled in Pakuria.I must acknowledge Dr.Ashutosh Sarkar0the chief architect of pulse mission of ICARDA in Paschimanchal.

Now with lentil success mastermosay  has leaped a high.  He has made a calendar  of new cropping system. He will make a system of Rice- lentil-Khasra from this very year. In a telephonic conversion he uttered “Next year I will sow early variety of paddy to exploit the situation and harvest three crops per annum”. However, I am going to sow Khasra followed by lentil.

I patted him for his  challenging experiment, innovative ideas and motivation.

Chitta Mahato & Bijoy Mahato  of Pakuria contacted me on seeing the success of lentil in dry tracts. They are willing to follow the system.   I also enquired the results of Shyam Chand mondal, Sumendranath Mondal & MonoRanjan Mahato. Chitta told me “ They have got good harvest. About one quintal per bigha  is their average yield.  They have also got market in Khatra. Local market has also demand for lentil. Un-processed lentil is being sold at Rs.50-60. We are hopeful with lentil”.