Vivid
Villages of North East - My Inner and Outer Shodhyatra
It is dawn and you knock at a
stranger’s house, requesting to take bath. The person might be sleeping or
going out to farms, but he shows utmost hospitality. Greets you with Tamul
(arecanut) and welcomes you in the home. When you come out, there is sweet rice
and tea prepared for you and the whole family comes to greet you and gifts a
few silk thread. During conversations you also get to know that some of the
family members are loyal to ULFA, however you still feel the same love and do
not fear.
Two years back, I got an opportunity
to go for a foot travel in Dhemaji district of rural Assam, as part of
Shodhyatra to find rural innovations and document traditional knowledge. We
started from Dibrugarh on Ferry to cross the mighty Brahmaputra. There was
water all around and no sight of a land, the atmosphere was calm and
reflective. The splashes of the river were producing undercurrents of the mind
and each one of us shodhayatris felt connected to each other.
As we reached Akajan village, we were
greeted by Tamul and a group of over 100 traditionally dressed school children
performing the Bihu dance.
Rainbows of north east!
Silent language of human hearts had
started talking.
After the innovation contest, we went
for the village tour to see the local life. I experienced beautiful mud houses
with roofs of large leaves which worked as coolant, a fishing compound in every
house, and kitchen gardens. It seemed to me an ideal life.
Each day we were moving to new village
and knowing more about the people. At every village meeting we witnessed the
whole village to greet us and cook the local food. The warmth and simplicity in
smile could easily be noticed. Local
herbs, rice, salt, and jaggery along with some soups served on leaves and baboo
cones, dint remind us of the paranthas.
We witnessed the local weaving
tradition which was weaved into every girl’s life. We got to know that for
marriage a boy judges a girl based on her weaving skills. A fact emerged that
to propos a girl, he simply appreciates her work.
The were few shocking sights when we
saw the state of few NREGA development projects and also saw boards saying Chinese
government development project, and we realized the cause of anger among the
people against government.
We met a centenarian who answered
every question with a folk song. When we asked her whether her grand children
listen stories from her, she sang a song. What is her age, she sung. She
attributed her long life to the simple lifestyle.
Songs of life!
We ended the yatra by documentation of
all the innovations and experience sharing. It was overwhelming to see everyone
sharing a new vision for life and the learning from the grassroot innovators of
our country. None complaint about the cold and facilities.
The practicum of a famous zen saying
that you have to unlearn to learn new things. An inner shodhyatra has just
begun for everyone!
Our purpose was to find the find rural
innovations and learn from traditional practices but the yatra left us with
much more for ourselves, our thinking and our tradition.
Few lines sum up my whole experience:
Mitti ki Mehak - Parvato ke Sath
Taazi Hawaein - Nadiyo ke Pas
Kheton ki Mehfilein - Jangal ke Beech
Itrate Pakshi - Manush ke sameep
Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant
Dhage..
Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue
Dhage
Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant
Dhage..
Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue
Dhage
Kahi Resham, Kahi Muga, Kahi Aries to
Kahin Tasar
Kahin Missing, Kahin Assamese, Ahomiya
kahin Boru Sootiya ke dhage
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