Women of Johar Valley

   

Empowerment of women--- In the global society concept era our women can not remain isolated. We can not keep them within the johar-munsiari zone. They shall have to move beyond our boundary but keeping the values, culture and tradition in tact, which will translate our wish in to action resulting to mindset change among women. Change is essential for development and it should come within the community. .no outside element will volunteer to transform neglected segment in to progressive and vibrant segment. Community women groups shall have to work collectively to bring change. They need to motivate girl child for education, healthcare and paying respect to our values and tradition and implement accordingly. The father of the nation mahatma Gandhi has said, if you educate a man you educate one individual if you educate a woman you educate an entire family. This describes the importance of female education; there is no need to elaborate what ghandhiji wanted to say. Education truly is the most practical and appalling thought which impresses significant number of people who work for the welfare of females. In India many states have reserved 50% for women in village councils to encourage women leadership at grass root level. Women leadership workshops and gender inequality workshops are being held so that local women councilors may be effective change agents in the villages.    

dhuska by johari women during Hari Pradasani

village women in traditional dress

Male dominated society— it is true in the early days our community was dominated by male, especially before closer of trade. This may be because of joint family system where all the decisions were taken by the head of the family after consultation with other male members as regard to family and business matters. Women didn’t share in the decision process on family matters, it will be ridiculous to blame the elders of contemporary system, but it is true this was negative side of the joint family system despite numerous plus points. Although women were taken care off properly, they enjoyed all the comforts provided by family as per tradition. People those who are the witness of that period can better understand. Hence women had no choice to show their worth. Women’s potential and creativity could not be harnessed for the benefit of society. There was a general thinking for a long time that male members shall have to face and bear family burdens, while making efforts for possible solutions for the good of the family, community and country. It was definitely ignoring women’s capability in the male dominated society. It is true during that time intention was just to keep away females so that they do not become victim of stress; men were participating in society matters and disputes. I do not wish to tell that women were disregarded, isolated and were put in dark on so many matters. Women’s power, love, contribution, dedication, care and enthusiasm about family’s all round progress were never truly discussed and assessed by our elders in the past with females.

  It was seventy’s while I was doing field job, at thal {didihat} I met with a Scandinavian country research scholar who was on his way to munsiari. This was his first visit to munsiari for research work, I thought it is essential to brief him about munsiari so he needed persons who may be honestly helpful to him in his research work without any personal benefit I was not going back to munsiari immediately, therefore I mentioned two persons name sri govind Singh pangty and late sri durga Singh martolia both having college education and had good academic and sports performance during college days. Apart from sports and study Sri Martolia had been very active in deb Singh bisht Government College, nainital students union. It was his caliber a student of remote extreme border area won the president ship of Nainital College, a prestigious college of then Agra University. Both martolia and pangtyji helped the Swedish as much as they could in order to acquaint him about the area and people. Since subject is in the context of woman’s condition in johar munsiari area, culture and tradition besides his research also was related to women of 1970s. When I returned to munsiari I met Swedish national I wanted to meet him as regard to research work, he was staying in the house of pratap Singh pangty near station who had allowed him to stay there. Since I was to move to my village dumar, we discussed about his main work of research. I asked about incidents which appealed him and will remember always. He explained three incidents. One of the incidents is illustrated here. According to him one day he was going to Suring village where martolias live along with durga singh martolia (pighalata Himalaya) who was assisting as an interpreter or a coordinator near Suring village three ladies were coming towards munsiari what he saw they stopped there turned faces, covered faces with white cloth ( khoppi) as soon as we crossed them went a few yards I looked behind they too turned back and saw they were looking at us trying to recognize my  identity. I wish to emphasize that women in 70s were observing purda in the villages, wearing traditional dresses and maintaining family values and culture.     

  There was no dearth of talent in the ladies of johar valley tribe. It is commonly known to all that initially carpet weaving was not a traditional work of bhotia tribe of johar valley and females had nothing to do with trade of their families, traders never took females to Tibet part of china. Ladies went to kailash, mansarobar on pilgrimage mostly elderly ladies and widows. Visiting some of the villages they knew about carpet weaving and instruments used for weaving, accordingly they used here and even brought some necessary modifications. Thus carpet weaving was started here even in a refined way. Initially Tibetan wool and natural dye were used. Hence quality of woolen items was fine and color did not fade due to use of natural colors, obviously munsiari carpets were extremely high in demand, naturally it became our traditional job and our females got the recognition because of fine woolen work. We can be proud of our female’s fine art of weaving. Since most of young people have joined government jobs, economic condition improved accordingly due to spread of education among the females they too are joining jobs, majority of young women have left traditional woolen work. This is the negative side of  our young generation’s career advancement and start of missing community identity, if timely action plan is formulated, vigorous awareness program is undertaken by women groups of the society for the survival of traditional art and culture. Activists groups of female can save community from identity crisis. However, to some extent gender-biased mentality and diminishing interest of present generation females after mid- seventy’s have affected the quality improvement process tremendously.    

Chinese aggression effect ----

  After china war economic condition of people was worsening. There were no alternate measures too especially for the traders; due to land abolition even kitchen gardens were seized from them. Those who were attached with traders took their way to search for their livelihood. Businessmen who were totally dependent could not move else where in hope that one day pass will open for trade, since remaining items they used to keep there with mitra families, trade was going on for many years they had many clients from whom they had to realize money. Obviously waiting period was too long but nothing happened. Disappointed with fate ultimately they understood the reality, by the time there was a heap of problems before them managing basic needs, education of children, searching for livelihood and so on. As mentioned earlier women were given least work, now since economic scenario had already changed there was a question of survival, hence carpet weaving and other woolen items like pasmina, pankhi, shawl, thulma etc. which were prepared by the women of johar valley for personal use in the families, circumstances compelled them to use the art of weaving for commercial purposes. Women got importance in family affairs because women put their strength to save from difficult financial condition supported families financially. Their contribution during economic crisis can never be forgotten. The rigid society in terms of not recognizing the potential of female segment, now started to understand women should not had been ignored deliberately in order to satisfy false ego of male guardians of the community.

  Within the community widow marriage was prohibited, therefore even young widows were supposed to remain as widow. It was definitely a tragedy for these innocent and helpless females but gradually as individual male members never objected to widow marriage, accept reluctant attitude of some of the elders. That is why widow marriages were performed through escape route i. e. ghwanrran in local language with the consent of families to avoid embarrassment to the family and community. Some of the widows took education up to high school or intermediate and joined service and did not need any short of support and became independent. Nevertheless, there was a discussion on the procedure of widow marriage which used to subside every time on these events.

Educate girl child mindset----

   Slowly our elders started to understand the importance of women contribution for the society, there was a positive change in thinking process on girl child education. Parents were supportive about imparting education to their girls, notably there was a good environment for education and parents education-friendly attitude. This can be justified by the fact that primary schools of our area were among the oldest schools in the district then almora district. Burfu primary school building is more than hundred years old still intact, when we talk about the quality work with average expenditure, this is a lesson for officers and elected members that many decades ago such strong and beautiful buildings were constructed because of strict norms and constant supervision by the supervising staff. There was no difference in providing education between girl child and male child. Even in Milam, burfu and in some villages there were separate girls schools for which ladies of villages had contributed. We know that our ancestors were migrating to various places according to season and convenience for the trade where they had pucca houses and agricultural land. For proper schooling of children they requested government for migratory primary schools, therefore primary schools also used to move with the movement of families. This was a unique arrangement so that schooling is not disrupted. Parents did not want to send girls elsewhere for high school and further education, only because of fear perception in the mind of parents, however, those who had such arrangements they allowed their girls to proceed. But there is one common fact that our elders never thought about joining service of girls. Mindset of the families were similar, as soon as the girl reaches marriage age, their priority was to find out suitable bridegroom for the girl. They never encouraged for service choice; otherwise so many girls had better academic records than the boys’ performances. There may be apprehension and anxiety in the minds of parents about the safety of their girls if they send them outside for study or service.  

  Some of the girls who did not face such obstructions from parents lacked definite directions or they lost their destination on the way while perusing education or had joined service and missed bright career waiting, which was their dream destination. I regret to say our cousin sister the most gorgeous and intelligent of her time, younger daughter of Captain (Dr.) darwan Singh jangpangi who participated in the Second World War in western sector with allied forces suffered the same fate, because of deviating from her desired direction. Incidentally others also became victims of the same nature. Recent incidents compel us to think seriously why parents ignore or are so much confident about their children? In my opinion there is a complete communication gap between the both where as interaction is essential to understand each others views and choices. Initiative should be taken from parent’s side particularly the mother. The plight of female gender in the society is admitted not only by the civil societies but also the governments. I appreciate Bangladesh a less developed country than ours in their crusade to develop girl child status in terms of education, health and employment, simultaneously there is a alliance of three hundred organizations that organize more than eight hundred events across the country each September in honor of national girl child day, a day to focus or eradicate all forms indiscrimination against girl child. Future of Bangladesh resides in the future of its girls. We must take a lesson from Bangladesh and must work effectively for the cause of upgrading status of girls. In our community inspite of some setbacks and negative experiences our women are progressing commendably, thus positive trend is appreciable. I wish johar club can play an important role in promoting sports which is a negative point till now. Initially competitions can be held in girl schools and prizes can be given at the function of johar club. More ever we have many enthusiastic youth groups who may come forward and take the responsibility of promoting sports among girls. If we succeed in our endeavor promoting girls in sports and games and develop some of them good performers, it will be our amazing achievement.  

Devender jangpangee

Munsiaree—presently haldwani

      

 

  

New Raga Paur, Malla-Burfu

There is good news for jangpangi fraternity that new raga paur (Sri Raghunath temple) has been constructed in burfu village, johar valley along with plantations etc. . As we all know that last year a meeting was held in connection with construction of new raga paur in the vicinity of old temple which was badly damaged some years ego due to heavy rains and felt need to immediate start of construction There was a positive response from the pensioners, business class and service class within the jangpangi community.

 

  Sri Laxman Singh jangpangi and Sri Govind Singh jangpangi (govind bubu) took the responsibility of collection of contribution, they took pains and within short time collection surpassed one lakh. We thank both for their sincere efforts. Last year both persons had gone to burfu village to share the views with all village people of malla burfu but due to unavoidable circumstance they returned back, however, response was encouraging. After collection during Sri Hari pradasani samaroh in the 1^st week of November Sri Gokaran Singh ex. Army hawaldar was given responsibility for the construction work. Despite setbacks in the family he worked effectively. We thank him for his tremendous courage even at this age. We appreciate laxman and govind bubu will explain in detail in the meeting of 2^nd October.

Devender 

The most popular game, football

        South Africa successfully organized 2010 world cup. It was an amazing event with huge success. It not only raised the profile of entire African continent but also host country’s management skill to hold such a big tournament that was well appreciated all over the world.  Waka waka Africa! It is useless to compare soccer standard in India with Latin American, American, European, Arab and some small Asian countries. Reasons are obvious corruption, lack of facilities, lifting their own players without judging talent of the players ignoring country’s name for which they are assigned to strive for preparing the star players who can deliver the best performance, as a result talented, Impressive and excellent players get humiliated, demotivated and their soccer career get perished. Another reason for down fall of football is shifting of interest of youth towards cricket. Even corporate houses are pouring money in cricket game and on players. These players are earning in millions where as players of other games are kneeling down for their dues. Business houses should encourage other games as well; otherwise it is impossible to harness the potential of players for the good of nation.

  Football game was very popular in our area along with volley ball from the early stage. During trade time foot ball tournament was played among the different communities of johar valley in gyanima-mandi in Tibet. Later on johar munsiari students studying in almora, nainiatl and else where started participating in foot ball tournaments. They represented schools and colleges. They were very much visible in their respective sphere. A few of them studying in almora who were very visible in tournaments contemporary students can explain better about their performances,  decided to form johar club to encourage games and sports. It was a positive and futuristic approach. Among the founder members late manohar singh bamori-wale, my brother and rajendra singh saskhet-wale booth were from malla burfoo who themselves were star performers. Because of lack of proper ground in the initial stage volley ball tournament was started in different places, ultimately suitable ground was located and johar club foot ball and volley ball tournament began to get momentum year by year. Gradually other games and sports have been included and being conducted every year successfully. It is an unbelievable achievement since it is being organized without any government assistance in terms of technical and financial help. In order to make the event successful a lot of improvements and reforms are required, this can be done by discussions, deliberations and interactions to raise the standard of tournament and games, however, every year there is tremendous spirit and joy during the tournament among the local people.

  Recently I was discussing with my younger brother Dr. dev who himself is a good foot ball player as well as a great foot ball fan, his son abhay pratap represented his club last year which was held in Wales England. According to him what he experienced a small place munsiari has very powerful players though they are technically not so sound but their soccer life is hardly 4/5 years after that they are lost in the darkness of unknown world? Why? My observation is that today our youth hesitate to move beyond the bond, accept ½ exceptional cases. They need the help and encouragement to step in out of the bond. Unless they dare to shine beyond the zone, miracles can not be expected. However, organizing such a big program consistently in a small remote border area without any external assistant is a commendable job.

Devender