Sentiments of Nomadic Laborers
As we sipped tea and dusk began to settle on the lonely planes surrounding Bagholi bus stand, news surfaced about nomadic workers having set-up camp nearby. The blue filter of twilight stretched throughout the land, and other than a soft whisper of wind, the only sounds were the bare feet of a local farmer crunching the dry yellow stalks as we walked to meet the workers. A kilometer in from the main road, Baigas of the migrant persuasion had taken refuge on a barren sheath of a patty field. First view was of a shanty style house made of thin sticks and brushy branches that serves a sufficient cover from the elements. As we approached pots and dishes seemed to sprout from the ground and a fire fizzled next to two lines of individuals. A baby bounced a rubber ball, solitary, yet happy, and we made our introduction.
At first glance one notices that they all are wearing western clothing, except the women, who are in sari-like outfits, beaded necklaces around their necks. The men have short hair because they can not maintain it well while constantly on the move although they say that others keep it long in the village. While all of the others remained shy, yet friendly in their body language, Bishen Singh Durway sat with our group of outsiders in a circle while surrounded by the tribe.
Coming from a village some 45 kilometers from where we sat, they have all currently taken contract of making ditches for the next season’s rice patty fields. They had been working in the locality for one week, but otherwise the length of time for each job only depends on the contract. It seems as if the only job that they have the skill of is manual labor and will keep moving to wherever they get a long term job. Many times they will just have to keep wandering in search of work, making from 40-50 rupees per head, per day. They say that the current boss treats them well, and they often do not have problems with their employers as there is strength in numbers. If it is about to rain, their current boss has given them places to live, but otherwise they build temporary and maintain their structures every few days.
Children have not ever gone to school, and many start to work at only 7 years old because they must keep on traveling, and otherwise there would be no one to watch them. This group, as well as the majority of their village, will only go back home right before rainy season. School is out for summer during much of the rainy season, so they will not even have the opportunity to do so while they are back home. They can save a small amount of money while they are working to bring home, yet they will still have to work while settled during the rainy season.
The skill of making bamboo products is still very much in their minds, but have limited access to the resource. Says that his parent s were able to get bamboo in Kanha village, but now because they have been pushed out they have nearly abandoned this tradition. Village inside of the jungle was called Inderi, Bishen was 8 years old when they were pushed out in a violent manner.
There are only Baigas here in this small group, but in their home village there are other tribes. Bishen says that they communicate with others but usually only to work and marry within Baiga. Marriage ceremonies will bring them back to their home at any time of the year. He described the courting practice as occurring when the boy comes to the girl, and if she says yes, then the parents are called. At first they were only getting married with other Baiga but now the boys of different castes are getting married. Such a deed used to go severely punished, and the couples would be turned away from their homes, but now because of contact with others since coming from Kanha, such a practice is trending.
The skill of making bamboo products is still very much in their minds, but have limited access to the resource. Says that his parent s were able to get bamboo in Kanha village, but now because they have been pushed out they have nearly abandoned this tradition. Village inside of the jungle was called Inderi, Bishen was 8 years old when they were pushed out in a violent manner.
There are only Baigas here in this small group, but in their home village there are other tribes. Bishen says that they communicate with others but usually only to work and marry within Baiga. Marriage ceremonies will bring them back to their home at any time of the year. He described the courting practice as occurring when the boy comes to the girl, and if she says yes, then the parents are called. At first they were only getting married with other Baiga but now the boys of different castes are getting married. Such a deed used to go severely punished, and the couples would be turned away from their homes, but now because of contact with others since coming from Kanha, such a practice is trending.
In terms of religious practices, they all believe in Shiva, and there is a Shiva mandir in the village. Despite the presence of the façade of a Hindu god in their lives, he does not in any way consider himself Hindu. This may be because the indigenous deity, Boredeo, changed names with the inception of the Hindi language. They will regularly give puja to the Earth, but not trees or forest. The fact that they plow the earth conflicts with their traditions in which cutting the earth was seen as a sin.
Bishen says that they are not happy because of this lifestyle, as they do not own their own land in the village. No one wishes to be nomadic, and all of them yearn for a stable life. “Because of the needs of the stomach we are traveling from place to place, and we do not make enough to save and begin a new life."
Bishen says that they are not happy because of this lifestyle, as they do not own their own land in the village. No one wishes to be nomadic, and all of them yearn for a stable life. “Because of the needs of the stomach we are traveling from place to place, and we do not make enough to save and begin a new life."