'Dhanu' Is Not Just A Tradition

Santhal Mukhiya With His 'Dhanu'

        For a meeting of self help group we went to Burachara, Block Gosaigaon, District Kokrajhar. In this area there are no facilities of road as well as vehicle. Now we are working with Santhali women of the village. All some coming from various small villages. In all villages there are only five or eight houses and 20 to 25 people living together. All women coming from deferent villages. Our meeting time was 10 o'clock. But our field coordinator informs on us about the real timing schedule of this agrarian society. All Santhali people come after finished there dally work and then they come for the meeting that was the condition. So that's why we were go for little bit let for mobilising the women member. When we reached there some women come for meeting. But all women were not present. That's why we just did transact walk and some interview with local people of the village. In the medium of those interaction with people, we realized about the actual condition of Santhal community. This interaction was very helpful for our basic community understanding. 

    Before the meeting we were visited to some hut of Santhali people and communicate with them. Those people till living in their primitive lifestyle. Their needs and requirements are very low. All huts are made in traditional way in the medium of forest instruments. In their house some common substance. Like mat, water pots, rat hunter, khat, chulha, some clothes and most important tool Dhanu. 

As a student of social work, I personally very interested in the application of 'Dhanu' in contemporary period. Actually Dhanu is a 'bow arrows'. I was thinking there is no need this type instrument. I asked to Mukhiya of that home about the application of 'Dhanu'. He told me ''Dhanu is very necessary for us. This is not only our tradition but also a very important tool for our life." 

     Till 72 years of independence of India 'Santhali' people living in extreme backward condition. They are very marginalized from menstruum society. Actually, our low is not giving to permission of this type of instrument. But for survival of life this type of instruments is very important for them. 

     As a student of social work, I understand to abut the importance of socially inclusive and ground levels applicable policy for the sustenable development of marginalized people. We must create a new system who work on ground level. 

- Kunal Ramteke 

Email - ramtekekunal91@gmail.com