Bridge of "Development or Destruction" in
Tharuhat of West Champaran
Tharuhat of West Champaran in Bihar is a very fertile region adjacent to Indo-Nepal border inhabited by Tharu tribe since time immemorial. Tharu tribe live in the Terai region of Indo-Nepal border from east to west in a most inhospitable condition. They can be found in substantial number not only in Bihar but also Uttar Pradesh and now Uttarakhand state of India .
Tharus of Uttar Pradesh ( now Uttarakhand ) have been declared Schedule Tribe decades ago after India attained Independence. But the Tharus of West Champaran were left to be looted and plundered, tortured and traumatized, exploited and even enslaved by the non-Tharus (Bajis). And that is why the Tharus have always been scared of outside people living amidst them.
After continuous and consistent peaceful struggle the Tharus of West Champaran were declared Schedule Tribe in 2003 almost after over five decades since Independence.
As a part of government policy to strengthen the border due to security threats, roads are being constructed all along the border from east to west of the country by Border Roads Organization. In Tharuhat of West Champaran which is on Indo-Nepal border, roads are proposed to be constructed. Till the land is also occupied bridges are being constructed on the rivers for the purpose. While on a visit to Bakhari Baazar of Tharuhat in June 2017 I came across one such constructed bridge on Singha river and took the images of this new development in the area.
People of the Tharu community are apprehensive of this development. They are scared that roads along the border in Tharuhat region will allow the free flow of non-Tharus from other areas also and it will not be a threat to their unique culture and society but open the floodgates for the bajis to massively exploit, tremendously torture this simple and innocent community.
So, are the bridges in Tharuhat, bridges of "develpopment" or "destruction" for the Tharu community? The government and administrative machineries must address to this serious concern of the Tharus of West Champaran and assuage the fears of the people of the region.
(All the images are subject to IPR)
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| Bridge on Singha River in Tharuhat of West Champaran Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Singha River Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| View from the bridge Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| View of the bridge Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| View from the bridge Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Singha River of Tharuhat of West Champaran Image(C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
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| Image (C) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha |
People of the Tharu community are apprehensive of this development. They are scared that roads along the border in Tharuhat region will allow the free flow of non-Tharus from other areas also and it will not be a threat to their unique culture and society but open the floodgates for the bajis to massively exploit, tremendously torture this simple and innocent community.
So, are the bridges in Tharuhat, bridges of "develpopment" or "destruction" for the Tharu community? The government and administrative machineries must address to this serious concern of the Tharus of West Champaran and assuage the fears of the people of the region.
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