Today was the last day of our time in Sonbhadra area, the fourth of June. But, it was an exciting day to be here because a rally was organized in the name of a journalist Jotindra Deo in Mumbai who was killed
The real purpose was more of a march to voice the presence and issues of adivasis, who are neglected by mainstream Indian society.
We got to the cite of the rally, where adivasis, many of who we met the previous two days, had traveled several hours by bus and train out of their own expense to be here. After listening to a few inspirational speeches, they were organized in a line to march in the center of the town! One very fierce woman named Rajkumari kept her hands in the position of a bow and arrow, not flinching for the four hour walk!
The walk was a five km walk, and the fourth of july was a particularly hot day in Robertsganj, more than 110 degrees. I had a thick layer of bugspray and and sunscreen lathered on, and then sweated constantly above it. The result was sticky arms and an itchy face. That morning I debated continuously, shorts, or pants? A panjabi (Indian outfit) or pants? I ended up listening to the blazing sun instead of common sense, and wore my Bermuda shorts, which mind you, come down to my knees. I consider them pretty conservative. Well apparently, the public cannot handle such scandal. They stared as if they had never set their eyes on legs before. I wanted to disappear.
The walk was a five km walk, and the fourth of july was a particularly hot day in Robertsganj, more than 110 degrees. I had a thick layer of bugspray and and sunscreen lathered on, and then sweated constantly above it. The result was sticky arms and an itchy face. That morning I debated continuously, shorts, or pants? A panjabi (Indian outfit) or pants? I ended up listening to the blazing sun instead of common sense, and wore my Bermuda shorts, which mind you, come down to my knees. I consider them pretty conservative. Well apparently, the public cannot handle such scandal. They stared as if they had never set their eyes on legs before. I wanted to disappear.
I was initially, if I am to be honest with you all, skeptical of such an event. But in some ways, it was exactly the kind of mobilization the adivasis needed. Many of the adivasi community come to the city for manual labor as construction workers or other unskilled employees, existing in the shadows of citylife. They are not only alienated from their own properties and families who live many hours away but also get a pittance for their back breaking toil. So this rally, which literally was on the streets in the face of honking traffic, made people pay attention to them and let them gain pride and confidence. I joined them on the walk towards the small city council in the heat and unforgiving sun.
This is a protest sign in the Basque region in Spain for the proper compensation for the families killed during Franco's reign of terror. Thought I'd juxtapose the two rallys, though they have little in common.
The rally in front of the court in Robertsganj
Then, after saying our goodbyes, we got ready for the train journey to the next leg of our trip in Ranchi, Jarkhand.
We stayed with Shantaben, and I got to know her 21-year-old daughter in law and 2-year-old grandson really well. Her daughter in law told me about her bittersweet love story, but I’ll refrain from repeating in on the Internet. Her son was a genius badmaash, a mischievous and hilarious little boy who was so much fun to play with. I’m gonna miss them so much.
