It was 7 hours since we were travelling and it was absolute chaos where we were headed to. The landmarks that we were informed of were not to be seen anywhere and we where simply driving blank on a road between a barren shrub filled land. It became all the more problematic as only one guy among us received mobile signal and he was staring at low battery issues. We were just driving on the solitary road thinking somewhere we will come across a direction signal pole with an Ambedkar statue behind it. We were directed to take a left turn from there and head straight for 3 km.
We kept driving but the landmark was nowhere to be found. We finally decided to stop at a small tent tea-shop. It was now turning out to be tiring. Real tiring. We have been driving since 7 hours and 3 hours of it have been in this arid and barren land. We were 3 plus the driver. We were bound to visit a small tribe somewhere in here and we were in touch with the postmaster of that village. He was the one who gave us directions.
We sat at the tea shop and soon found ourself in conversation with the tea-seller. He was quick enough to tell us about most of his family and his kids, his average income, his family aspirations and what he aspires to in his own life for himself. Little did we realise we had spent 45 minutes there. We resumed our journey and luckily soon we got the statue and we took an eager left. Within some next 25 minutes we were at the destined place. We stepped down the car. I saw 3 kids running towards us. I guess a car is not one of the regular things they see here. Within no time, we had around 12-13 people who came out of their houses.
These houses were beautifully decorated and were quite spacious and well thought of. I being an architect, am habituated to diagnose any built space I am into. Please excuse me for that! 😀
Soon, they were all ready with a make shift drawing room beneath the tree with a stool a central table, 4 chairs and one flowerpot placed near the central table. We were shocked at their preparedness. Soon we had one small girl and a boy, barely 10-11 years of age come to us with a medium sized open bowl with some water in it and started washing our feet with their own hands.
We hesitated a little, but the postmaster asked us not to move. It was their tribal way to welcome guest when they come from a long journey. They do not feel anything low or suppressing about it. It is a natural and indigenous way of welcoming guests. We agreed to sit back but it really felt weird and good at the same time.
Then, they brought boiled rice in small cups made of leaves with a chilli and some rock salt. WE thought they mistook us to be hungry, but the guide said, it is a form of snack. Please accept. We were shocked at everything they did. So much love and compassion. So much respect even for the unknown. None of them knew that we were ought to come here. But we were astonished to be hosted so warmly.
“Did you guys take a wrong turn?”, the guide Rema asked.
“Umm, yea I guess. Maybe we took a right before it was supposed to be and came up on an entirely different longer route.” the driver replied.
While the conversation went on, there was something else going in my mind. Have we really not taken a wrong turn? I mean, look at the general behaviour and the social structure of the tribes. Such closely knit and accountable society. Its not that they might not be having quarrels and fights. Must be having. But still when it comes to the tribe, they identify themselves as one.
We are in a society where self-righteousness and pseudo-individualism has grown to such a scale where the solution of every problem is turning towards solitude. Be it in thoughts, actions or lifestyle. Surely, solitude is a medicine to so many issues but surprisingly it has become a prescription for anything that happens to an individual. We are so much pressed up by the lust of money, material, consumerism and greed that we fail to realize time and space for our own people, our “tribe”. We are down with greed and lust. Putting down people every now and then. The closer they are the bigger pain we thrust upon them.
Cities have taught us to one thing. Cutoff something that is easily available to you. Then pay to a service provider for the same. Take the case of mental health counsellings, organic food, better health, home cooked food and the list goes on.
“Amit, aye, Amit.. lets go man!”, Sahil said.
“yea.. yea!” I came back to my senses.
“what are you thinking? Lost again? Stop daydreaming here.”, and everyone laughed.
“Nothing, I was just thinking about the wrong turn we took.”
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Always Ranting, Rantzaada.
The 11 o' clock diary 