WEST CHAMPARAN THARU ARTISTES IN MAURITIUS: THARU FOLK SONGS & DANCE - FROM PAROCHIALIZTION TO UNIVERSALIZATION

WEST CHAMPARAN THARU  ARTISTES IN MAURITIUS: 

THARU FOLK SONGS & DANCE - FROM PAROCHIALIZATION  TO UNIVERSALIZATION

  I have already raised the question of preservation of unique folk songs & dance of unique Tharu culture which has been neglected for decades, not only through  my research work submitted for PhD in Jawaharlal Nehru University " Pattern of Social Change among the Tharus of West Champaran in Bihar" (which has been result of my association with this wonderful community for almost over three decades)but also through my Blog dated  December 8, 2013. I have been always vigorously  raising the problems of Tharus of West Champaran also.

I am really happy to learn that a group of eleven artistes belonging to the Tharu tribe are going to showcase their dance skills during the six - day International Bhojpuri Conference staring from October 30 in Mauritius. The artistes would perform traditional "Jhamta" dance & an exhibition of Tharu culture and civilization would also be organized in that small but beautiful country situated in the Indian ocean. Over seven lakh Tharus staying in three blocks of West Champaran must be jubilant after getting this recognition.

Besides Tharus  from Bihar, delegation from across the world including Thailand, South Africa & Australia will be taking part in the international event thus giving the Tharus a world stage for demonstration of their unique, pristine, wonderful, marvellous, magnificent culture. Local culture really getting universalized.

THARU FOLK DANCE : "JHAMTA"

Tharu folk dance "Jhamta" is one of the most attractive, most captivating, most arresting, most lovely, most nice-looking dance of the innocent & beautiful Tharu women of West Champaran in Bihar.

This dance form does not wait for any special occasion. Whenever they are in mood of enjoyment, in mood of fun & rejoicing the Tharu women start dancing. It may be the period of joy after sowing or period of resting nights after reaping. It may be the occasion of any festival or marriage ceremony. "Jhamta" dance can make you dance,  can make you mad with joy, can make you hilarious, can drown you in the stream of music  even without any musical instrument.Who will not get enchanted by the captivating dance of charming & chirping beautiful Tharu women draped in colourful dress particularly sarees! The rhythm is spotless, sometimes slow sometimes fast, body movement also properly coordinated, movement of hand & leg alignment perfect, and above all the whole atmosphere becomes charged with chorus of clapping.

Hope "Jhamta" dance will get proper honour & recognition, lots of applaud, acclaim & admiration in Mauritius, long overdue on international stage.

   

My article of December 8, 2013 is reproduced below:

THARU FOLK SONGS (LOK GEET) OF WEST

CHAMPARAN: CRYING FOR PRESERVATION ?

थारू लोक गीत: आवश्यकता  संरक्षण की     

(सभी  चित्र IPR के अंतर्गत  हैं )  

संचार क्रांति और वैश्वीकरण के युग में भी हमारे देश  के बहुत सारे क्षेत्र ऐसे हैं जो अविकसित हैं , उपेक्षित हैं 1  उसी में से एक क्षेत्र  है बिहार राज्य का पश्चिम चम्पारण जिला 1 यह धरती मुनिश्रेष्ठ वाल्मीकि, विदेह  जनक , भगवान बुद्ध , तीर्थंकर महावीर ,राजनीतिज्ञ  चाणक्य ,सम्राट अशोक ,राष्ट्रपिता महात्मा गांधी ,उपन्यासकार जॉर्ज ऑरवेल ,आचार्य विनोबा भावे , गीतकार गोपाल सिंह 'नेपाली ' ,प्रख्यात निबंधकार -कवि -समीक्षक - पत्रलेखक रवीन्द्र नाथ ओझा की विचरण भूमि  या कर्मभूमि  रही है 1 यह धरती वन सम्पदा तथा अन्न सम्पदा के मामले में भी काफी सम्पन्न रही है 1

पर दुःख की  बात है कि यहाँ की जनजातियाँ अभी भी  बदहाली की जिन्दगी गुजार  रही हैं 1 हम भूल जाते हैं कि ये जनजातियाँ प्राचीन काल से ही हमारी लोक संस्कृति की संवाहक  एवं धारक रही हैं 1हम भूल जाते हैं कि इनके भी अपने रीति -रिवाज  हैं , इनके भी गीत एवं नृत्य हैं , कला व संस्कृति है  - जो अपने आप में अनोखे हैं, अनुपम हैं, अदभुत हैं 1

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

चम्पारण के थारु जनजाति ( जो 2003  से  अनुसूचित जनजाति हो गए हैं ) की अपनी सभ्यता है , अपनी संस्कृति है, अपने गीत तथा लय हैं 1 किसी समय इनकी भी अपनी भाषा रही होगी पर आज तो इनकी भाषा भोजपुरी है जिसमें मैथिली तथा नेवारी का पुट है 1 इनकी बोली में मनमोहक मधुरता है जो भोजपुरी की अन्य शाखाओं में विरले ही पाया जाता है 1 

थारु जनजाति खेती-गृहस्थी से बचे हुए समय को नृत्य , गीत तथा वादन में व्यतीत करते हैं 1 इनके गीतों में हम इनके क्षेत्र तथा समाज का सुख-दुःख ,मान-अपमान ,शकुन -अपशकुन आदि का सजीव चित्रण देख सकते हैं 1 इनके गीत इनकी भूमि की उपज हैं , अपने में अनोखे व निराले हैं 1आइए देखते हैं अनुपम थारु लोकगीत के कुछ अंश :

१ 

"कौन जइहें हाजीपुर , कौन जइहें पटना 

से  कौन  जइहें ,     बेतिया  नोकरिया 1 

बाबा जइहें हाजीपुर ,भइया जइहें पटना 

    से  सइयाँ  जइहें ,  बेतिया     नोकरिया1"

२ 

"अइसन करमवा लिखि  देला रे 

                    लिखि  देला  बिपति  हमार1 

घाम के घमाईल गइली बिरिछ  तर रे ,

                          से हो बिरिछा भइले  पतझार 11 "   

३

"पुरुआ  त  बहले  पछ्वे  रे   ननदी ,

इरे गोरी  गोइठिया ना सुनुगे आग1 

मोरे  जिउआ  करइक दस मुठी रे , 

गोरिआ,कहमा बसे चित रे मोर 1"

४ 

"दूर हट ,कुकुरा रे ,दूर हट बिलरिया

दूर हटु ,   नगरी  क   लोगवा    त 

पिया मोर परदेश गइले हे 1 

न ही हली कुकुरा रे ,नाही हली बिलरिया,

खोल घनी बजर केवड़ियात 

पिया तोर लवट अइले हे 1"    

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

पर ये गीत इधर-उधर बिखरे पड़े हैं 1 थरुहट क्षेत्र में घोर अशिक्षा होने के कारण इनका सही तरीके से संकलन तथा मुद्रण नहीं हो पाया है 1 इसीलिए इनको संकलित करके सुरक्षित तथा संरक्षित करने की आवश्यकता  है 1 आवश्यकता है गहन शोध की  ताकि इस अमूल्य धरोहर को आगे  की पीढ़ी के लिए सुरक्षित रखा जा सके अन्यथा कुछ वर्षों में इन लोक गीतों का धीरे - धीरे लुप्त होना निश्चित

 है 1 

  

SOCOTRA ISLAND : THE MOST ALIEN- LOOKING PLACE ON EARTH

 SOCOTRA  ISLAND :

 THE MOST ALIEN- LOOKING PLACE ON EARTH

Socotra is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian ocean near Yemen. G.W.B Hutingford has remarked that the name suqotra is not Greek in origin but from Sanskrit dvipa (island)  Sukhadhara(supporting or providing bliss).

Courtesy:nexttriptourism.com

Courtesy: omgfacts.com

Courtesy:yemen.jp.com

The largest island also called Socatra is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago.This island is very isolated & surprisingly one third of its plant life is found nowhere on the planet. It has been described as " Land of Dreams", " the most alien-looking place on earth", "mysterious island", "amazing island" ,"the pearl of Indian Ocean", "the Jewel of Biodiversity". 

courtesy :commons.wikimedia.org

A group of Belgian made a spectacular discovery in 2001. They came across a large number of drawings, inscriptions and archaeological objects deep inside a huge cave in the island.It was pointed out that they have been left by sailors who visited the island between 1st century BC and 6th century AD. Most of the texts are written in Indian Brahmi script.

Courtesy : facebook.com

The island has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2008.

MASSIVE "SWACHCHHATA ABHIYAN" IN BADAKA SINGHANPURA ON GANDHI JAYANTI

 MASSIVE "SWACHCHHATA ABHIYAN"

IN 

BADAKA SINGHANPURA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

On the clarion call of the Prime Minister the whole nation swung into action for "Swachchhata Abhiyan" on Gandhi Jayanti (2nd October) 2014 - a mission to make the country clean by 2019 because Swachchha Bharat will be Swastha Bharat & Swastha Bharat only will be Samarth Bharat.

Taking inspiration from this, Shri Rathindra Kumar Ojha , Director (Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, New Delhi) raildashed to his native village & galvanized the people of Badaka Singhanpura for making this mission successful in the village under the banner of Satyam Shivam. 

People of Badaka Singhanpura enthusiastically came out  on the road, on the streets with broom for cleaning their surroundings. They  are also  seen digging pits so that water logging on the road be stopped.   

They also cleaned the premises of Shivala(Temple)  where weekly market is also held.

Rare event, rare effort, rare enthusiasm, rare participation, really a rare scene. Hope this mission "Swachchhata Abhiyan" does not end here only. It will continue in the village thus making the Badaka Singhanpura village the cleanest village in the region.  

Shri Rathindra Kumar Ojha at Ram Janaki Math for "Swachchhata Abhiyan"

It was a historical event. It was an inspiring event. It was a motivating event near Ram Janaki Math of Badaka Singhanpura village in Paigambarpur panchayat of Buxar district in Bihar. Government Officials & Representatives of Panchayat took a pledge on Gandhi Jayanti  for Swachchha Bharat with cleaning of  the locality with brooms(Jhaadu) in  their hands.  Here also Shri Rathindra Kumar Ojha took the initiative & brought about the solution to the problem of garbage & water-logging on the main road by starting the campaign for Cleanliness(Swachchhata). Shri Ojha , a Senior Officer of Government of India  also succeeded in finding out  the solution to the continuing dispute  between the people of the same caste from years together. He stressed the need of aggressive  peoples' participation irrespective of caste, creed or community in the Swachchhata Abhiyan.

Shri Rathindra Kumar Ojha at Kazipur Village for "Swachchhata Abhiyan"

Not only that.  Shri Ojha even crossed the boundary of his native village &  took the cause of stinking garbage/waste material and most importantly the problem of mass open defecation under compulsion near Kazipur village on Naya Bhojpur, Badaka Singhanpura road. He alongwith  representatives of  Badaka Singhanpura & that of Kazipur led by Kazi Ujjair Alam met District Magistrate and deliberated on this problem in detail. Shri Ojha stressed the need of constructing Public Toilets for removing the waste/garbage/human defecation & thus making the region clean & hygienic. Consequently  District Magistrate of Buxar district has given directions to the concerned authorities. 

FROM the EYES of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA :DIVINE DELIGHTFUL DEV DEEPAWALI OF VARANASI (INDIA)

FROM the EYES of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA : 

DIVINE  DELIGHTFUL DEV DEEPAWALI OF VARANASI(INDIA)

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Varanasi also known as Banaras is situated on the banks of river Ganga in Uttar Pradesh & is the holiest of the seven sacred cities in Hinduism and Jainism. The city has played an important role in the development of Buddhism as Sarnath (a suburb of Varanasi & place of Buddhist pilgrimage)  is the place where Gautam Buddha is said to have given his first sermon about the principles of Buddhism.

It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Mark Twain, the renowned Indophile, said of Varanasi " Benaras is older than history,older than tradition,older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together."

Varanasi is also known as the favorite city of  Lord Shiva as it has been mentioned in Rigveda that this city in older times was known as Kashi or Shiv Ki Nagri.


Varanasi  has now the privilege of becoming the constituency of Prime Minister for the first time. Varanasi, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi  represents in Lok Sabha will be developed as a 'smart city' with cooperation and experience of Kyoto, the Japanese 'smart city' which is a confluence of heritage and modernity.  

"^[

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Ganga Mahotsav is a five-day music festival held in November-December culminating a day before Kartik Poornima (Dev Deepawali). On Kartik Poornima, the Ganges is venerated by arti offered by thousands of pilgrims. The Dev Deepawali the festival of Kartik Poornima is also called " the Diwali of the Gods" or "Festival of Lights of the Gods". The steps of all the ghats on the riverfront of the Ganges are lit with more than a million earthen lamps in honour of Ganga. The Gods are believed to descend to earth to bathe in the Ganges on this day.

Image ( C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C ) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

 During Dev Deepawali, houses are decorated with oil lamps & colour designs on their front doors. Firecrackers are burnt at night, procession of decorated deities are taken out in the streets of Varanasi and oil lamps are set afloat on the river thus creating a breathtaking sight. 

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha
t

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

DEV DEEPAWALI OF VARANASI

WEST CHAMPARAN -THARU WOMEN ONLY-POLICE BATTALION IN BIHAR: EMPOWERING THE EXPLOITED

 WEST CHAMPARAN -THARU  WOMEN ONLY-POLICE BATTALION IN BIHAR: 

EMPOWERING THE EXPLOITED 

The Tharu women enjoy a dominant position in the society of Tharu Tribe. It may seem to be paradox to us that in a patriarchal society, which the Tharus of West Champaran have, women do command a very respectable position in their society. Most importantly, girls are not taken as burden on the family.

The customs of the Tharu women of West Champaran appear to be very unique and interesting for it gives a lot of elbowroom for the lady-in-charge of the house to maintain her dominance.

But irony is that these beautiful, innocent, intelligent but vulnerable simple Tharu women are branded as corrupt & characterless by the Bajians ( other than the Tharus) and all kinds of oppression and sexual exploitation seem to have been practiced and perpetrated upon them for decades. 

In this kind of a grim atmosphere/ situation the news of creation of a new battalion of Tribal women is definitely a welcome step. In fact it should have come up long back looking at the graveness of the problem thus saving the lives of hundreds of Tharu women from exploitation. 

Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

The battalion "Bihar Swabhiman Police Battalion" (BSPB) will comprise of women belonging to Tharu tribe only.This battallion will be the first of its kind as nowhere in the country we have battalion comprising of Tharu women only. This battalion has been sanctioned 992 posts right from Commandant to Assistants. It would be an armed battalion stationed in Champaran region created for social uplift of the Tharu tribe & empowerment of their women.The State of Bihar has already a separate Mahila battalion but this new battalion would be different in the sense that it would be exclusively for Tharu women only. Empowering the exploited.Is not it ?

Will this not help also  in stopping " immoral trafficking" of the innocent Tharu women  widely prevalent in the Tharuhat of West Champaran?