As the welcome dance (in our honour) concluded, a lissome woman, bearing a jackfruit larger than her head, rolled towards our seated group. “A gift from the entire village!” she exclaimed, thrusting the fruit into my lap. While my father-in-law and Soumya hesitated, I couldn’t resist. Jackfruit is one of my favorite fruits, and I gladly accepted the oversized offering. This was followed by a more manageable offering in the form of bunches of the mahua fruit. Typical to Western Odisha, the Mahua Tree bears a tangy fruit with a soft texture similar to lychee. As I hesitantly sampled one, I was pleasantly surprised by its full-bodied zesty taste. While my eyes watered as the fruit played with my taste buds, my mind raced with a recipe I was itching to try at home.
Gathering at a common hall after our beautiful traditional welcome with a dance, all of us sat down to interact. We wanted to know more about the village and their lives. The classroom-like setting, where we seemed to be teachers and the ladies were sitting as students, was not conducive for conversation and was eliciting monosyllabic responses. So we asked whether they would show us their village. Out of the confined space, they soon became much more receptive. As we began talking, we understood how CYSD was bringing a positive change in their lives.
It became evident slowly through the years, CYSD has been actively working to uplift their community. As a way to augment incomes, the organization had introduced orchard plantations for small and marginal farmers. Cognizant of women being the backbone of the community, they focused on women empowerment and steadily helped them double their household income by including livestock and horticulture cultivation along with traditional farming.
CYSD has also revitalized wastelands with ragi millet cultivation (link to that story is given below) and ensured government schemes reach the most vulnerable individuals. As we explored the village, I witnessed lush green paddy fields, and my group of women escorts pointed out barren lands beyond, which now were being used for ragi cultivation. As I joked and laughed, complimenting them on their beautifully worn sarees, their infectious laughs conveyed to me a feeling that they were happy with their current circumstances.
Patterns in Life
One of the most striking aspects of their culture was the meticulous cleanliness. The village was immaculate, each house adorned with intricate Santhal patterns, transforming the entire alley into a vibrant open-air museum. A Santal house is often a piece of art. Soothing earthly colours, organic colour bands, and graphic designs are put in the best possible elegant way. They call it Bhitti Chitra (Mural). Lines, colours, and motifs bear the unique stamp of Santal culture.
The Santhal people possess a deep appreciation for precision and symmetry, evident in their geometric designs. These patterns, often featuring triangles, squares, and circles, symbolize order and harmony. They are not merely decorative but also hold spiritual significance, believed to appease deities and ancestors, bringing prosperity and protection. Each pattern narrates a story, conveying messages about the tribe’s history, mythology, or social issues. This storytelling aspect adds depth and meaning to their artwork. As we continued to walk down the main village road, I was sad to see concrete houses replacing the mud and tiled ones. A sign of modernity which, for an outsider like us, seemed out of place but maybe necessary because of changing weather patterns.
In our entourage, what caught my eye were the colourful dhotis of the men, a stark contrast to the women’s understated attire. A particularly enthusiastic villager, Laxman, eagerly guided us through the village. When I asked him to pose for a photo, he readily agreed, striking poses which would give Zara front cover models a run for their money. His exuberance put everyone into a fit of laughter. As the atmosphere became even more relaxed, Laxman talked about their ancestral deities, customs, his imminent wedding, even inviting us to an important festival which was to happen in a month’s time.
As we left the village, we carried with us cherished memories that would bring us joy for years to come. We extended our gratitude to Gyaan and CYSD for this heartwarming village visit, eagerly anticipating our return…
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