Ha Ha Lalgarh

So much happening at Lalgarh. Such unrest. So much bloodshed. How did this name LALGARH come up? Thirty years back I knew this area like the back of my hand. There was no Lalgarh. No garh of any kind. It was no defence station. Peace loving people eking out a living from the relatively infertile soil and an abundance of forest products. No gunshots, no bloodshed, no sense of indignity. Such a quiet and serene area.

Lalgarh? HA. Whatever happened to those enchanting villages with their lyrical names? Where is Mohuldiha? Jochhanchar? Chikantila? Bangriposi?.........mon udasi

bajai bansi

banser bansi...................

Wide expanse of red earth meeting at some far off point a blue sky which looks almost white in the mid day sun. Shallow rivers, with sandy bottoms and the wonderful feel toes sinking in the soft mud of these rivers. The Kuher river like a sheet of beaten silver in the Dol Purnima moonlight. The dappled forest floor of Sal forests......on another moonlit night. I can go on and on and on........

And the people. The simple, earthy people who never had malice in their mind. When did they learn to hate? To kill? Whatever happened to their Danu Baba to practiced non violence and amity. They never wanted money. They never wanted jobs. They were already much more "developed" than their urban counterparts......even twenty years back.

In the city, humanity has no value. In my Mohuldiha of yesteryears, I went about the country side without a care, without a penny in my pocket. Yet had shelter, food, and mohua to boot. I never felt threatened. Never ever.

Constant deprivation, regular taunting, incessant exploitation and organised rape of humanity........birth of LALGARH.

I hang my head in shame.