WORLD LEFT BEHIND: JOWARBIL

      Jowarbil: A world away from the world, as earlier described to be place where people are unknown to the world. Yes, when asked to the other village people about it then no one really knows about it much. The Santhal were chased way to these far away places during the conflicts between Bodo community and Santhal community. And now, they survive in such a place which hardly anyone knows about it. 

SANKARSH RIVER ON THE WAY OF JOWARBIL

    When I visited this place, I reached there in much difficulty by walking for more than an hour and also crossing a river which was roughly running. By travelling through heavy forested area, I could also see the mountains which bordered India and Bhutan. I had thought in my mind that I have reached to such an far extent that I might be walking on the land of Bhutan. 

COMMUNITY MEETING

   On reaching Jowarbil, the people welcomed us warmly and invited us for the community meeting which was initiated by NERSWN. The agenda was development of the school that was initiated by NERSWN and the village people were handed over to look into it. 

SANTHALS ON THE FOOTBALL GROUND

         By the time, we went around the place. There was a big ground infront of the school where football tournament had been arranged on the ocassion of Independence Day, many small local food stalls were put up where local food was sold and people had gathered around in huge number and were also enjoying the Santhali songs that was been played. 

LOCAL FOOD

        Vivian, Kunal and me went to different food stalls and enjoyed the food. It was so cheap to buy, felt as if they are giving us in free. It so cheap that for ten fried dumplings they took ten rupees, three guavas for five rupees, half kilo boiled tapioca for ten rupees, etc. I realised that this place runs on very low economy because they are not much exposed to the world which runs on high economy. And also, the fact is that the tribals do not depend much on the outside world because everything is available in their surrounding for survival. They don't actually get to know the value of money. So much of simple life, simple people and everything.

MAETI ON HER STALL

       While going around, I met a young girl named Maeti, who was running a small food stall with her grndmother. She saw us and felt curious to know from where do we belong. She approached us and started the conversation and listening to her own story I felt a bit sympathy for her. She narrated that she travels to college everyday riding cycle to a long distance. On the way she has to cross the river and it is very difficult in monsoon as the river gets full and flows very fast so she has to stay back home. And interesting thing is she's the only girl who goes to college in her village, she says that its a priviledge for her to go to college. But, on the same time she faces a lot of difficulty in reaching the college.

FOOD STALLS

The world is growing and developing, leaving behind such place like Jowarbil. 

By- Daisy Kujur
Email- daisykujurofficial@gmail.com