MIGRATION FROM UTTARAKHAND HILLS IS A BURNING PROBLEM

Boys of Uttarakhand in Search of Wonderlan

-Jay Singh Rawat-

What happens to all the boys who venture to the plains in search of work or leisure? Jay Singh Rawat answers that question and more in a hard look at the personal andcollective costs of the great migration.

Badri, an illiterate lad of Bamoli village in Chamoli district left his village in 1886 for an unknown destination, never expecting that he would ever return to his native village as a state guest and that the British would put a collector rank officer at his disposal for protocol formalities and hospitality.

Badri, like many other hill boys, had run away from his village at a tender age of 15 but returned as an honourable councilor and a respectable land lord of Fiji (an island nation located in the Pacific Ocean) after a gap of almost 42 years. This is neither fiction nor a story of an Indian film, but reality.

The voyage of Badri's career began from his native village Bamoli and ended in the alien land of Fiji, thousands of miles away from home. He started his career as a labourer engaged on a contractual basis in a sugar mill, situated at Sua in Fiji. Sincerity, hard work, and devotion towards his aim led him to prosperity and fame. He started buying pieces of land with his savings and within two decades, he became a prosperous landlord of Fiji. His social activities in the Indian community led him to enter Fiji's national assembly as councilor.

Alas, not every boy who runs away from his hill village is as fortunate as Badri Prasad. Since his departure in 1886, millions of Uttarakhandi boys have left their villages in search of good fortune or a better life than in the hills, but only a few have been fortunate enough to return back with such high honours, dignity, and respect as attained by Badri. Many of them returned with miseries, disease, and bitterly learned truths of life. Many returned after working as drivers, conductors, or domestic servants, but many also never came back.

Brave Uttarakhandi soldiers of the bygone era were originally 'BHAGORAS' of their village. Since time immemorial, the running away of village boys from the hills in search of wonderland has been a common practice. In fact it has become a tradition in Uttarakhand, which still continues unabated.

From almost every village of Uttarakhand, one or two boys have gone missing, according to Dr. Mahendra Singh Kunwar of HARC, a Garhwal-based NGO. There are hundreds of boys from Garhwal alone who once left their villages and never returned. There have been cases where boys who had left their villages decades earlier reappeared in the guise of sadhus. Dr Kunwar says that there is no labour law or a child labour abolition act for these boys. He says that something has to be done to stop this exodus immediately.

'DANIES', (Boys of stout height), CHHOKARAS, a typical name used for hill boys working in hotels, restaurants, and dhabas are basically those lads who play truant from their villages. They are named DANIES in hill towns, CHHOKARAS in the dhabas of the plains, and PAHARIES in the hotels and restaurants of metros.

Teenagers lead this exodus from hills, as this is the most delicate phase of life. Curiosity and deprivation draws them to the outside world. It is a matter of awe for them that there exists a land without mountains and fountains. They are attracted by the glamourous urban life styles, which they have heard from elders or from those non-resident Paharies who occasionally visit the hills from the metros of Mumbai and Delhi. These non-resident Paharies talk a lot about the wonderland of their dreams. Amidst such conditions, a teenage village lad finally decides to leave his soil in search of a dreamland of which he has only heard about but never glimpsed.

With empty pockets or meagre amounts stolen from father's pocket, they venture forth to the plains. But this money is hardly enough to sustain them even for a few days. Moreover, the bus fares extract a good portion of the money from their pocket. This very reason draws them closer to the dhabas and khokas. Abundant availability of food for the price of their labour also suits their needs.

Thus, begins their life in the companionship of new colleagues of dhabas and restaurants. Dhaba owners are also proud of their valuable possession, as these pahari boys are known for their loyalty and obedience, It is quite sad that some of these boys even become targets of the hotel owner's ill treatment. They are subjected to torture, exploitation, and are sometimes even abused. No law of the land comes forward in help of these boys. Under these inhuman surroundings the most sensitive part of their lives is spent.

Pahari boys and a pahari bhotia dog, surely possess a similarity, both of them are hot favourites in the spacious bungalows of the rich men residing in the cities, who lead an aristocratic life. Honesty and faithfulness runs in the blood of these boys. Indeed, who can challenge the robust physique of a bhotia dog, who even renders a good fight with the leopards in the hill forests. These boys are honest by nature and are dependable.

The sole source of solace for the hills has been the Indian army. Most appropriately, it is the only institution that has somehow been able to check the migration of village youth.

Chivalrous Paharis have always played a formidable role in defending the frontiers of the nation. Twenty-three battalions of Garhwal Rifles and nineteen battalions of the Kumaon regiment clearly reflects the participation of hill people in the defence forces. In addition, thousands of Uttarakhandis are presently serving in paramilitary forces. The soil of Uttarakhand has produced armymen ranging from the rank of sepoy to the chief of the staff, which exhibits martial qualities inherited by hill men. Victoria Cross awardees, Gabar Singh Negi and Darwan Singh Negi have become a part of folklore in the hills. The recent Kargil conflict and the role of Uttarakhandi sainiks, known for their excellence in mountain warfare have once again proved their mettle. It is quite correct that the entry of hill youth in the armed forces has to some extent been able to check the migration of youth power. But the army cannot accommodate the large number of hill youth who turn around in recruitment centres in order to get into their most cherished profession.

No one can deny the fact that the hills have become synonymous with poverty. An arduous life, with no source of employment pushes the hill boys to the plains. There, struggles, harassment, and exploitation awaits them with open arms. Which mother or father would ever like to send their son to far off places in order to earn a livelihood? Yet the money order economy prevalent in the hills provides the ready reply to such a query.

Numerous plans, projects, and schemes have been envisaged for the development of the hills, but most of the development remains on file and unimplemented.

The ethos of the hill problem lies with these runaway chaps for whom no heed is paid by any government or institution. It is tragic to imagine the future of Uttarakhand when its present generation is running away from its roots.

This is not only a matter of poverty or socio-economic problem. There is also the matter of dignity and special care which is a birthright of every child irrespective to social and financial status. Every year BALDIWAS is celebrated and sometimes a Year of the Child is observed, but indeed, what is the relevance of these celebrations for our pahari chhokras?

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