TUBERCULOSIS KILLING THE TRIBALS OF INDIA

The Bhils of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra are being fatally affected by a deadly disease called Tuberculosis, commonly called T.B. in Bhili the language of the Bhils. The state Governments of the Bhilanchal region, are calm and cool about it, as the fatal disease is spreading widely, day by day in more and more families and the whole of countryside of Bhilanchal. The main reasons for the spread of this deadly disease is malnutrition among the Bhil children, heavy physical works with lesser wages, spurious liquor, for the adult Bhils in the various states and work sites they migrate in large percentage from their tribal habitats in Bhilanchal or in their own home places. Some social workers who have close connections with the Bhils of Jhabua, that some 25% to 30% of the Bhagoria Bhils are affected by T.B. A senior doctor working in the Bhil region of Bajana (Ratlam District of MP) has observed that some 80% of the Bhils are affected by this disease or some other, for which nothing is being done on large or small scale by the responsible agencies.

UNICEF has offered its valuable help, but as usual it does not reach out to the poor Adivasis or tribals and no one is there to fight for their basic and most basic human rights for survival, since it appears that the vested interests want them to vanish from the face of the earth. Since no employment is available at home, the Bhils of Bhilanchal migrate in large numbers, to the places of work in far away places, from where bring back home diseases they contacted, developed or inherited like Tuberculosis, HIV, AIDS, Cancer, malnutrition, sexually transferable diseases such as S.T.I, etc and the Governments at home ignore their cure. The NGOs at home are certainly enjoy their developmental funds received in the forms of tribal projects with no intentions of their tribal development, but for lavishly maintaining their own life styles which has become a fashion or standard of life based on the tribal funds in Bhilanchal.

Now the among social workers, NGOs, tribal developmental workers, including the missionaries run organizations, Adivasi Seva or tribal service has spread like the diseases mentioned above. They are prospering very well on the tribal funds for the decades. And the tribals have remained stagnated and deprived at home, with no hope for the tribal development. In such a lethargic and hope-less situation, is there any cure for both....?

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LANGOTI

A Loin Cloth Wrapped on Bhil Waist

Langoti is one of the cheapest and poorest ways of dressing in a disgraceful manner on the bodies of the Bhils and other parts of tribal India. Today no Bhil would like to dress with Langoti a rag of piece of possibly white cloth on Bhil bodies. Formerly some 30 years back Langoti was popularly seen in the Bhilanchal, but today it has vanished from the sight in Bhilanchal except in rare cases. Langoti was a sign of Bhil culture, deprivation, oppression, exploitation, freedom, etc. Whatever may be the social and cultural value of Langoti, but today no one would dare to dress in Langoti.

Mahipal Bhuriya has a beautiful poem expressing the Bhil economy and developmental acheivements of Indian Government. Its title itself is LANGOTI translated from original Bhili to Hindi, English and German.

In the 4th, 5th decades and early 6th decades of the last century, Mama Baleshwar Dayal started a big and socially popular movement in Bhilanchal to appeal the Bhils to abandon Langoti. Those who wore Langoti in Bhilanchal, the rulers, Ranjputs, and other members of high caste peoples disliked and disrespected the Bhils. Hence the Bhils were called unequivocally 'Langotias' terms of references like this are prohibited by law, by Government. A good thing the Government has done in rare cases.

Mama Baleshwar Dayal prompted by love and concern for the Bhils, more than the Government started a drive to abandon Langoti. He went in the weekly Bhil markets in Bamania, Thandla, Jhabua, Banswara, Petlawad and other places making the Bhils to abandon Langoti and put on long or short dhoti as a sign of respect. Similar appeals he made in the Bhil areas in Gujarat, Maharashtra and other parts of Rajasthan, the thickly populated regions of Bhilanchal. The author’s relatives too were the part of this drive either to abandon Langoti or to help others in abandoning it.

Mama had first seen the Bhils wearing Langoti in the village of Chandrashekhar Azad called Bhabhra (Dist. Jhabua). He was pained to see the Langoti of the Bhils as the sign of disrespect and of economic development. A news paper published from Petlawad(Dist. Jhabua) called Langoti Swar is still preaching the messages of Mama.

Today Langoti has disappeared, but the symbol of Langoti has not vanished, still visible among the Bhils, and if Mama Baleshwar Dayal revisits Bhalanchal today, he shall be much more disappointed to see much worse situation prevailing and developing in Bhilanchal.

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MAMA TRAINED BHIL LEADERS FOR INDIAN DEMOCRACY

Mama Baleshwar Dayal knew well the history of the Bhil tribe that they were the ancient rulers of the Central, Western and North India. He also knew well from the ancient Indian that they had a rich royal heritage of ruling their own tribal, Nishad or Bhil land and society, maintaining their own law and order since prehistoric times better, than the maintenance of the law and order situation in free India especially in tribal Bhil land. This was very evident to Mama in the tribal life especially in their noble values of the Bhils of which he was convinced that they were absent in the mainstream society as well. It was clear to him that prior to the starting of the Indian Princely states by Rajputs, in the Bhil land, the total geographical habitat was under their control and possession since ancient times. Later all the territories of the Bhils were very unjustly and with much cruelty were annexed by Rajputs and others.

Mama Baleshwar Dayal was loving, caring and kind hearted towards the Bhils, hence he strongly felt that once this tribe was aggressively subjugated by the Rajputs, Muslims, Marathas and British peoples and now no more the history should repeat at least in Free and Democratic India. Everything is snatched away from them land, jungle and jameen. From all these and at least part of it should be restored to them in justice, fraternity and equality he felt. They had the capacity to rule, lead and think justly for their own people. Punjo Bhil was the Senapati of Maharana Pratap besides many Bhil heroes in the ancient and modern Bhil history in Bhilanchal.

In the year 1952 he made the Bhils in the whole of Bhilanchal contest elections for the Lok Sabha( Parliament) and Vidhan Sabhas(State Assemblies), etc. During Mama's life time 6 Bhil leaders won the seats of Lok Sabha elections and 16 others won for the state assembly elections. The credit goes to Mama. Today, inspite of having so much man, money and other facilities no social workers or NGOs are fighting for the justice, human cultural and political rights of the Bhils.

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