Valley In Peril

Tehelka.com, 27th June, 2008

A dam project threatens to displace Adivasis in Orissa’s Maraguda Valley and destroy a site of historical importance, reports BIBHUTI PATI
The megalomaniac developmental projects by our myopic policy makers are out to submerge history and throttle culture. While our bureaucrats and activists of NGOs are busy projecting Kalahandi as the Ethiopia of India, its cultural glory sparkling through its abject poverty is completely ignored and conveniently neglected. The archaeological sites of layers of civilisations in the Maraguda Valley along the Jonk river now is under this kind of threat and yet to be rehabilitated – the Adivasis of the area, the Pahadias are cruelly stripped off their culture and even livelihood. All this, because of a high profile dam project on the Jonk River, which has altered the surrounding landscape.
Maraguda valley is located in the western part of Nuapada district of Orissa (part of undivided Kalahandi district). The river Jonk flows through this valley, hemmed in on three sides by a range of mountains. This was the theatre for different human settlements at different stages of history beginning from the Old Stone Age. The archaeological excavations have established the existence of different civilisations on the various terraces on the slope of the valley. It is, in fact, a showcase of ongoing maturity of tools and symbols, monuments and technological wherewithal that make up a culture – all arranged on a slope of time. Some of these civilisations were highly developed in terms of wealth and power and in skills of business transactions. The temple of Shiva in the village Jhalap on the left bank of the river bears a testimony to this. Thus, the valley distinguishes itself as a place of importance from the point of view of historical research, archaeological value and tourism. But unfortunately authorities like the Archaeological Survey of India or the Department of Tourism of the State Government have done little to preserve its riches. The descendants of the architects of these glorious civilisations, the Pahadias remain outside the blessings of our modern democratic Indian civilisation. They are ignored by the administration and left in the ravaged valley to enjoy the inviolable fundamental right to starve and to die ignominiously.
Archaeological evidences point to the rise and fall of Saiva, Sakta, Baishnab, Jaina and Boudha cults during different periods of history. The excavations at Baiparigudika reveal the Sakta Mathas and the statue of Goddess Durga of Fifth century A.D. The coins, potteries and agricultural implements give a lot of information about the lifestyle of the populace. The Etal Sagar, the water shed project, spread over an area of 110 acres of land is a real technological wonder of the primitive times. The statuette of Yoginis and the carvings of female genitals indicate the prevalent tantric practices in Maraguda civilisation.
‘Lokadrusti’ – a local NGO and Indian Council of History and Culture during the year 1991 conducted research into its history. Abani Panigrahi, of member of the research team, opined that the valley was the throbbing heart of civilisational activities in this area from the primitive days up to the thirteenth century AD. A further excavation at Trishul Munida proves the reign of Mahendraditya, Karnaditya and Prasannamantra belonging to the Saravpuria community. The terracotta insignia of Narnadeva, discovered in the year 1973, evinces the reign of Soma or Pandu kings in the sixth century AD. Similarly, the coins of Kalachuri speak of the presence of Kalachuri community in 11th and 12th century AD. The archaeological excellence achieved during the period is borne out by the structural skills of double storeyed Ranimahal with fortified walls and Pramod Udyan at Ranigudika. The remnants of the dam made out of lacquer on the Jonk River is an evidence of their technological expertise in water management and flood control. The inspection points on the hillocks of Giribaman, Jumlagarh, Chheliagarh, Budhigarh, Talabela, Budharaja stand out as examples of developed military skill.
But the present state of the people of the area belies the glory of history. The Pahadias are spread out all along the Maraguda valley and they live in close and intimate association with the people of the nearby Sunabeda valley. For such contacts they have built on their own tortuous roads through the inhospitable terrain, as they habitually continue to live in the height of the tableland portion of the mountains. Their livelihood is dependant upon the minor forest products, especially, bamboo. At present they are handicapped by the new forest rules and regulations and the different sorts of royalties levied on forest products. As yet they are nomads untouched by education though apparently Sarva Sikshya Measures continue in their name yielding harvests to the bureaucrats. There is not even a trace of any school in the area, though they have an emphatic presence in pen and papers. What shocks and surprises further is that they are yet to know of a service like postal service. Our administrative apparatus either as Adivasi or as OBC or as General Caste does not enlist them. Are they assumed not to exist?
Lokadrusti, the NGO, has rescued at least one young man, Sukla Sai, from the morass of obscurity. He has been educated up to the college level by this NGO. He complains, “Our community is under the threat of extinction. The new rules have prevented us from dealing with forest products and it has also banned gaming. We have practically no means of survival. A lot of people have left the area as conscripted labourers … however, they are cut off from their family and community … we have no knowledge whether they are dead or alive … what happened to Sudaram of Tikili village … our villages are not yet revenue villages … hence developmental benefits never come our way. Government refuses to enlist us as tribal though we merit it every way and the similar communities in Raipur of Chhatisgarh have got this status. So we do not get the benefits the tribal are entitled to. If situation continues like this we will cease to exist very soon…. What will happen to our people, culture and heritage?”
Mr. Pramod Kumar Patnaik, the District Collector of Nuapada, said that there are about 18000 people belonging to these communities out of which about 4000 are living in this District. They exhibit a remarkable degree of cultural cohesion even though they spread out in the nearby districts. Even though they are scattered, they are remarkably loyal to their original culture unlike the members of other Adivasi communities. They satisfy all the criteria to be treated as Adivasis, whom he assured us, has been communicated to the government. He has also recommended homestead and farm land in favour of the members of the community as they are practically landless. He has also undertaken a campaign for awareness and development in villages like Pathaghara and Kathabaga. What is more, he has drawn the blueprint for development of “eco tourism” in this area and has communicated this to the government. He is personally committed to the protection of the rich culture and tradition; language and art of this community.
It is also a matter of great concern that the responsible authorities like the Ministers and Secretaries of the Department of Tourism, SC/ST Development, Culture and Heritage are shamelessly ignorant of the existence of Maraguda valley and the problems and issues involved. What is more surprising is that they are not shy of flaunting their ignorance in public.The mindless dam-project under construction has not even cared to rehabilitate the local inhabitants in the prescribed manner. Therefore, the cultural glory and the human descendants of Maraguda are now threatened with near extinction.