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The Land of Marshy Earth - Jobhipat


Jobhipat, as the name goes, stands for the land of marshy areas. Situated on a hill on a high altitude, the land is mainly a jungle where roads have been cut for human purposes. Human civilization has also managed to set up a society there, with the due course of time. The scenic beauty is breathtaking, no doubt. Well, the readers must be skeptical of the life that those people lead. Here's what. 
    
       The people belong to the Asur community and have set up a small village of about 50 houses nearly, and call themselves family. Not very scattered households, but evenly spaced out, I must say. No electricity, no water supply, no proper basic requirements, and yet- people are happy and satisfied. Nothing to complain about. They work all day, drink at night, and go to sleep by 8 in the evening. Not much complications, like us city people. You could only see greenery as to that length your eyesight allows. Different hues of green, tinted with sunlight in the day, and darkness in the night. Mud roads, that creates puddles on heavy rain, are the only means of transport. People are simple, and some are educated to an extent. Some even have electronic gadgets belonging to them. Electricity lines are available, but electricity isn't. People work with solar lights and lanterns. Self sufficient households with nothing much to sell, but still happy with the family they have. Some people own animals, which are sold on the sole basis of needs. A weekly market, held on Thursdays, sells all kinds of goods a villager could want. It is a wonder, how people have managed to set up a civilization where everything is a problem. 

      There are small springs which provide fresh water to the villagers; but for that, one has to walk and climb a minimum of 1 km to get it, thanks to the slope. Inspite of all these hardships, when these people are questioned, they have only one thing to say- "everything is perfect and we are very happy". 

     They have rice as their staple diet, and occasionally for a change, go for maize tortillas. Apart from these, they grow mustard. Agriculture is their main occupation. Obviously, Jobhipat has bauxite mines. Bauxite mining is also an occupation there. 

    Animal rearing is not exactly what they do, but they do have pigs, goats and cows that serve them in need. The need may come in cash or in kind. 

   What I think personally, is the need of toilets. People still defecate in the open fields and beside springs, which is totally unhealthy. I would definitely love a second tour of the village, but with a toilet. People should know the importance of a toilet, and not shun the idea of a toilet just because it doesn't fit in their tradition. 



  Well, one can't describe the village in just an article. Even I haven't. All I can say is, Jobhipat is a place worth remembering.
                                                                                               

                                                                              Anasua Tewari, 1st Semester, ARTD

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