THE BAREFOOT MISSIONARY OF BHILANCHAL - MAMA BALESHWAR DAYAL

Bhilanchal has hundreds of social workers, supporters and well wishers ingenuine or faked ones. In the name of Bhil Seva (social service) they are enhancing financially, socially and other ways their own life and society. But non like Mama Baleshwar Dayal, a frail man but was ever young and energetic to trade all the paths, fields, rivulets and mountains of the Bhilanchal. There may not be any such village, jungle and the mountain not traded by the feet of Mama, that too barefoot. For years together like the Bhils his brethren, the even deprived ones since over 20 centuries. Mama became one like the Bhils, lived in a hut like the Bhils, eat like the Bhils but didn't drink(daru) with Bhils(Adivasi) and like Bhils. His spirit to walk from village to village, jungle to jungle, mountain to mountain, river to river was dauntless. A great man indeed who walking by foot and communicating by word of mouth influenced, guided, patronised millions. Today even the best of social workers, NGOs, even state governments could not achieve and have not achieve. Even if they claim, the Bhils will not align any one of them equal to their great master, the Mama of all residents of Bhilanchal.

In the late seventies some of his disciples, companions and sympathisers had offered him a second hand Jeep which he received love and gratitude, but soon parted it since it was a hindrance to reach out to his Bhil brethren living in the remote villages and mountainside in Bhilanchal. Later when he grew very old, could not walk long distances. Mama travelled with Sachin Bairagee............) on Motorcycle. In 1942 mama was struck by some sickness the doctors in Ratlam advised him not to walk bare foot. But he did not care, then one of the doctors insisted that if you would like to serve the Bhils longer, by all means put on shoes which will keep you healthy. It was then he started putting shoes for the first time ever since 1932, he landed in Bhilanchal. But walking he continued on and on. The Bhils treated him a true tapaswi, genuine sevak, and honest leader of bhils. Malti Ben of Banswar his one of the closest disciples says that in the country side would walk on the top of the hill's and with his country made loud speaker should aloud and invite people to him. And then Malti Beb says would instruck the people.

Motilal Devda told that the reason Mama walked in the villages including bazaars of the Bhilachal that he could contact many more peoples then he travelled in some vehicles. People like to see and talk to him. Even mama's donors in the market places were more impressed of his barefoot spirit than his status of owning and riding a four wheeler. If he travelled a long distance then bus of train ws hi vehicle and rarely Jeep.

The life, philosophy, style of service of Mama to his Adivasi Bhil brethren is challenging one to the ones who take faked interest in social service among the Bhils of Bhilanchal. Hence they either make false praise of Mama or want to conveniently want to forget him. So that the new model of Bhil seva may continually help them to commercialise social services and evade the challenge paused by Mama. Such was the spirit of love , perseverence and dedication of Mama from the people.

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THE BHIL NEW YEAR : AKHA TEEZ

The Bhils in the Adivasi calender have their indigenous feasts and festivals celebrated throughout the year. One such indigenous festival is Akha Teez which is called Bhil New Year in their terminology. The Bhils being agrarian and land owners, begin their New Year by appeasing the tribal ancestors, initiating agricultural activities in a symbolic manner and enjoying as usual by dancing and drinking home brewed Daru (country liquor) out of Mohwa tree flowers.

The exact activities for welcoming and celebrating the Bhil New Year in the district of Jhabua (MP) take place like this:

On the Akha Teej day that is Akshya Tritiya a feast of the Hindus for purchasing of the properties, ornaments, etc the Bhils assemble under some huge trees both men and women folks. The women as usual sing folk songs and perform folk-dances in honour of their folk-festival while menfolk sit under the trees, offer savaiya(sweet noodles) to their ancestors, cooked at home or under the trees. They also weave ropes out of hun(flex), read omens and signs in nature about coming of monsoon and the crops, try and train young bulls for ploughing, the rope to which they tie bull if it enlarges then they believe that the future crops shall yield well, if not contrary, prepare the fields for ploughing, and remove the husk, etc of the last crops from the fields which they pick up in the dankness of the night and burn it, spread cow dung manure, etc.

Under shadow of the trees they made fire over which they burn part of the savaiya( sweet dish ) as burn offerings to their own individual clan ancestors, offer them country liquor by drooping it on the ground or else they shall harm the crops or delay coming of the monsoons, etc. While these activities go on among the men folks, women folks of the village community sing and dance, men of the village share the liquor brought from the houses, make bride and bride grooms out of Khakhara leaves, marry them in usual Bhil Phera styles, and leave them there, boil corn and depart home for continuing field works.

The Bhil children have few more rituals and children games connected to the Bhil New Year which falls on the Hindi festival of Kha Teez (Akshya Tratiya). Sad to to the cultural rites are under damage due to various forces and hence they cultural, social expression of the tribal India are at a great loss.