|
Kamaiya
Dashain
(update from the field- Oct. 16)
Dashain,
the greatest festival of Hindus in Nepal brought joys to many but for some
others it did not matter much. Whether it be a festival or not, it is all
the same for them. The ex-Kamaiyas languishing in several camps in Kailali
and Kanchanpur did observe Dashain-but not as usual. However, since merry
making is in their blood, they pressed their pent-up feelings and enjoyed
the festival in whatever way they could. They had no good food to eat, no
beautiful clothes and ornaments to wear (Tharu women are very much fond of
ornaments) and no places of their own to gather and dance. But still they
seemed happy because they were FREE.
Dressed
as women and, dancing and singing to the beautiful tune of Madal
(traditional drum) Raj Dev Chaudhari and other male inmates of his camp
visited the offices of the organizations, which have been supporting the
freed Kamaiyas in various camps, to express their gratitude. The absence
of women in the group was conspicuous. They might have abstained, as they
had no beautiful clothes and ornaments to wear on such an occasion.
The
Deputy Prime Minister visited the camps just before the festival began on
Oct. 4 and distributed some rice, which was enough for 15 days to the ex-kamaiyas
so that they need not roam around looking for work to earn some wages to
celebrate the festival. This came as a big relief to them, albeit
transitory.
During
the Dashain festival they usually killed goats, sheep, pigs and ducks to
make offerings to their family gods and celebrated the festival happily
eating meat varieties, dancing and singing. But this year they couldn't
make sacrificial offerings to their gods; they just offered flowers and
worshipped the gods according to their tradition.
Some
NGOs had given the ex-Kamaiyas in the camps some money to buy meat and
other delicacies. But the Kamaiyas utilized the money in buying new
clothes, shoes and sandals for their children and see smiles in their
faces.
Dashain
passed off, may be helping those in the camps forget their sufferings for
some days. The next morning they woke up, they found themselves in the
same situation-no land, no food, no medicines, no work- virtually nothing.
On the one
hand the "freed" Kamaiyas are desperately in need of work, while
on the other the landlords are reluctant to employ them to harvest their
paddy. The reluctance is a manifestation of a sense of revenge on the part
of the landlords. In such a situation, it would be wise on the part of the
government authorities, local social workers and the NGOs supporting the
freed Kamaiyas to build a congenial environment so that the ex-Kamaiyas
get work in the fields of the farmers and are paid the minimum wage.
|
