one day in the life of tribal
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Explanation:
It's the motto 'early to bed and early to rise' that works for the tribals of Katraguddi village in Salur taluka located near the Andhra Odisha Border (AOB ). The Mukadoras , who inhabit the village, begin their day having a large bowl of gruel (a porridge made of mixed whole grain) before setting off to work in the forest at the break of dawn.
The residents of the small village, who chop wood and clear the jungle to cultivate grain, practice shift cultivation and primarily grow maize and corn. One of the villagers, Korra Lachiah, is around 60 years old or more and has close to 10 children and 20-odd grandchildren and great grandchildren. The entire hamlet of about 20 units can be called Lachiah's settlement, where only his family lives. Their lifestyle has not changed much over the ages.
Lachiah sets off into the jungle with his axe and long-handle sickle, a routine that hasn't ever changed. "This is something that I have done all my life and something that I will do till I die. It is almost as if my destiny is tied with that of the jungle," says Lachiah, whose sense of belief in the unchanging stems from his fear of moving out of the tiny settlement.
Regular as clockwork, Lachiah's wife Kondayamma arrives at the field with his lunch packed in a tin box. After handing over the modest one-course meal of rice and vegetable soup (pulusu) to Lachiah, the petite Kondayamma heads back to help her grandchildren and daughter-in-law manage the cows, feeders and the oxen.
Generously parting with a portion of his frugal meal with this correspondent, Lachiah speaks at length about his family, clan and tribe. The Korras, he says, are the highest caste among all the tribes of the region and pride themselves for wearing the janehu (sacred thread) and not eating beef. He adds that they combine the roles of a priest and warrior if need be.
They worship the Mother Goddess and share the beliefs of people from the plains. A majority of the people in his village have Vaishnavaite names. Though Telugu-speaking, the Mokadoras are spread out throughout South Odisha, he explains.
Marriage celebrations go on for a week where men, women as well as children consume large quantities of Caryota toddy (Jeeliga Kallu) and rice hooch (Biyyapu Saara). The couple takes the vows in the presence of village elders, relatives of both sides as well as the Mother Goddess. However, being an endogamous tribe, the Mokadoras ostracise those who marry outside the tribe, he reveals.
During the wedding season (usually between June and August), the villagers also go hunting, he says. Cutting down a neem tree or Caryota palm tree is considered a major offence.
Lachiah's eldest son, Ramaiah, who is just back from a trip to the local tahsil headquarters (Salur), understands the need to blend with society at large, while his father represents the older generation which has tried to ward off the influence of modern society and technology.
Ramaiah, who keeps himself updated about the government, confesses that he and his wife are movie buffs and enjoy watching movies starring Jr NTR and Prabhas. He also likes to watch television serials.
However, Ramaiah also understands the need to educate his children. "There is a primary school in our village where boys and girls are taught to read and write. Those who do well, eventually go on to study in the Ashram schools. Our children may not want to live the way we do and might prefer living in towns and cities," said Ramaiah.
The changes in the tribal way of life are visible everywhere. Youngsters, even some young girls, are clad in jeans, T-shirts, and kurti-pyjamas, especially in the nearby village of Adaripaadu, where one can also spot satellite dishes on rooftops.
Having spent a day with Lachiah, this correspondent is offered a parting gift - a small bag of tamarind. Walking away from Lachiah's humble abode, one cannot help but think of the enriching day spent in the lap of nature.
After a steep two-km trek uphill to the nearest village of Adaripaadu, and then heading to the city by road to Salur, it's back to the grind for this city dweller.