The Lost Tribe

on March 15, 2009

Theme: : : : : : :

Kartikey Sehgal

About the personal and cultural disintegration of a tribal village

There is a small tribal village in India. Malathi belongs to this village. The women here are happier than women in Delhi.

After puberty, Malathi was inducted into the village dormitory where she learnt weaving, knitting and other arts from the elder women and men. She also learnt the art of love-making through practice. By the time she was out of the dormitory, she was sexually and socially confident. Unlike the city girls, Malathi and her friends did not face ‘growing-up problems’ or ‘attitudinal disorders’ that lead you to the psychologist.

Sure, she did not study like the city girl. Many city girls read about USA and China and Russia. They attend ballet dancing classes and sing beautifully. Then they fall in love and depend and sometimes cut their wrists. Or they grow serious, laugh a little and are praised by the society for their “focus”.

“She is such a focussed girl. You must be like her”

The tribal girls, instead, focussed on happiness. They were natural, as God or aatman or nothingness made them. Whenever they felt that they were losing this natural state of being, they let out their pent-up psychological tensions till they were satisfied.

One evening, Malathi’s friend was feeling gloomy. Malathi asked her to sing and dance in the moonlight. At some distance, a young sociologist observed the girls and wrote in his diary that the tribals needed civilization.

Moving on; the tribals were thrilled when condoms were introduced in their society. The procedure of using this balloon-like thing was better and easier than their traditional methods. New tradition! Progress. Happiness. Much Joy.

“Promiscuity”, noted the young sociologist who would soon be a leading writer.

Of course, the tribals needed progress and new tools and new money. But all that did not dictate their happiness. In the coming sentences, the government will take away their land and relocate them and some religious groups will force their religion on them and spoil the tribal life. But let it be known that happiness-essential to live-was a characteristic of these tribals. And now I proceed.

Malathi and others refused the new religion. They were tortured. Some tribal men and women attacked the preachers. They were branded as savages. Promiscuous savages. Some were arrested, some ran away from police. And some women were raped. Etc… The regular.

Malathi’s male friend, one of her lovers in the dormitory, who had happily welcomed the introduction of condoms, went to Delhi/Mumbai for job and money. His land was taken away by police/government/religion.

Without education, he struggled. He had lived like a king in his village. Here he was dying. Before his death, he scribbled in his book… “tribal society progress… same life plus education. Preserve….”

Some other tribal men grew accustomed to city life. They saw that women here, even the rich ones, were treated like money. There was no dormitory here for them to relax. Instead, there were open brothels. The tribal men laughed. And perhaps they grew mad.

Something major happened to Malathi in the village. She got raped. Rapes didn’t happen in tribal socities. Very few. But Malathi didn’t mind. She coped well. That sex education!

The boy who raped her cried when he was told about his crime. This is his story:

The village dormitory was shut down by the police/preachers/government and instead of the dormitory, the boy was provided religious lessons. Women are bad, or they are inferior. Man of the house. Sex is sin. God is great. Tch..tch… very confusing to him. Then he went to town to look for a job. Here he was told that he is ST/SC/Adivasi/ABCD. He laughed at the official’s “stories” and was, therefore, suitably thrashed by him. With no money for hospital care, he went to a village where all women covered their head with dupattas or burqas when they saw a stranger amidst them. Until one woman tore a part of her dress and covered his wounds and gave him water and gave him food.

Stupid woman. Didn’t see her husband watching her. Didn’t realize that what she tore was not just the sleeve but a large part of her blouse. The boy smiled at the husband and told him that that nothing is shameful and that all humans were born equally… the husband pulled the wife inside the hut. Three days later he divorced her by saying, “I divorce you” multiplied by three.

The boy went back to the village. He was told that he suffered because he had forsaken God. The boy was hurt, angry, confused…he was a boy after all. Didn’t you wonder why I have been calling him “boy”?

With rising psychological tensions and insecurities, he raped Malathi just to prove to himself that he was a man and that he existed.

The village elders, in consultation with Malathi, forgave him because he was really suffering… the boy met Malathi, cried and apologised, promised to get back on track…the elders reminded the boy of his tribal education and the pride of the village… Malathi forgave the boy… The Women Rights Association stormed into the village, met Malathi and told her that men are pigs… the police arrested the boy and tortured him… the boy hung himself on a tree.

The preachers photographed the boy hanging from the tree. They pointed at him. This is what will happen to you if you don’t listen to God.

The young sociologist, now older, came to the village with some journalists.

No food, no electricity.
These tribals are against development.
Women are promiscuous.
No culture.
They have always been unhappy…

Boom … boom … as soon as he heard the last sentence, he threw the smuggled bombs at the sociologist…  “Eminent sociologist killed by tribal terrorist”

As he was being dragged away, he called out to Malathi.

“Daughter, try not to pick arms, but continue our struggle. Remember our happy times. Get education and write about it. We were happy once daughter. I love you”

Share This Story
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [Google] [StumbleUpon] [Technorati] [Twitter] [Windows Live] [Email] More »
All Rights Reserved With Website Owner