CENSUS OF 196]

VOLUME XX-PART VI-No. 24

A Village Survey of CHAUNRI (Kasumpti Tehsil, Mahasu District)

Field investigation and draft Supervision, guidance and final draft by by Ohandra Kumar Rikhi Ram Sharma Assistant Superintendent of Census Operations.

Editor RAM OHANDRA PAL SINGH oj the Indian Administrative Sermce Superintendent qf Oensus Operations, Himachal Pradesh ....«~ «<~ ~ «<.~ "G«~ «("~

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PAGE

Foreword 1 Preface v

I. The Village .. 1 Introiluction-·,PhysicaZ Aspects-Flora-Fauna-Legend about the Origin oj the Village,­ History-ResidentiaJ Pattern •

.II. The People 5 Oastes-H ouses-Dress-Ornaments-Fooil Habits-Birth Gustoms-Marriage-Death Customs •

..~.~ ...... 17 Workers and Non-workers-Agriculture-Animal Husbanilry-ViUage Graftl.

IV. Social and Cultural Life ...... 25 Fairs and Festivals-Folk Songs-Legends-Education-Public Health and Sanitation­ Panohayats Go-operative Movements.

V. Conclusion ...... 50

'M/B(N}3CSOHP-2

FOREWORD

Apart ftom laying the foundations of demography in this sub­ continent. a hundred years of the Indian Census has also produced. ela~o­ rate and scholarly accounts of the variegated phe~om~na of Indian h.fe sometimes with no statistics attached, but usually wIth Just enough statIs­ tics to give empirical underpinning to their conclusions ..In a country, largely illiterate where statistical or numerical comprehensIOn of even such a simple thing as age was liable to be inaccurate. an understan:ding of the social structure was essential. It was more necessary to attam a broad understanding of what was happening around oneself than to wrap oneself up in 'statistical ingenuity' or 'mathematical manipulation'. This explains why the Indian Census came to be interested in 'many-by-paths' and 'nearly every branch of scholarship, from anthropology and sociology to geography and religion'. In the Jast few decades the Census has increasingly turned its efforts to the presentation of village statistics. This suits the temper of the times as wen as OUf political al1d economic structure. For even as we have a g·reat deal of centraHzation on the one hand and decentralization on the other. my coll~agues thought it would be a welcome continuation of the Census tradition to try to invest the dry bones of village statistics, witbj flesh-and-blood accounts of social structure and social change. It was accordingly decided to select a few villages in every State for special study, where personal observation would be brought to bear on the interpretation of statistics to 'find out how much of a village was static and yet changing drcd how fast the winds of change were blowing and from where. Randomness of selection was. therefore. eschewed. There was no in­ tention to build up a picture for the whole State in quantitative terms on the basis oJ villages selected statistically at random. The selection was avowedly purposive : the object being as much to find out what was hap­ pening and how fast to those villages which had fewer reasons to choose change and more to remain lodged in the past as to discover how the more 'normal' types of villages were changing. They were to be primarily type studies which, bv virtue of their number and distribution, would also give the reader a 'feel' of what was going on and some kind of a map of the country. A brief account of the tests of selection wi1I help to explain. A mini­ mum of thirty-five villages was to be chosen with great care to represent adequately ~eographicaL occupational and even ethnic diversity. Of this minimum of thirty-five, the distribution was to be as follows:

(a) At least eight villages were to be so selected that each of them would contain one dominant community with one predominating occupa­ tion, e,g .• fishermen. forest workers. jhum cultivators, potters. weavers. salt­ makers, quarrV workers etc. A village should have a minimum population of 400, the optimum being between 500 and 700.

(b) At least seven villages were to be numerically prominent ~f"hf'rfuTed Tribes of the State. Each viIJage could represent a particular

VR(~)RRrOHP- -3 ii

tribe. The minimum population should be 400, the optimum being between 500 and 700. (c) The third group of villages should each be of fair size., of an old and settl~d oh~Ta~ter and c~~tain varie~at~ occupations and be, if possi­ ble, multt-ethnIc In composItion. By fair Slze was meant a population of 500- -700 pe~sons or more. The vil1age should mainly depend on agriculture and be suffiCIently away from the major sources of modern communication such as the district administrative headquaTt~rs and busine~s centres. It should be roughly a day's journey from the above places. The villaO'es were to be selected with an eye 10 variation in terms of she. proximity 0 to city an~ oth~r means of modern communication, nearness to hills, jungles and major flver.s. Thus there wa:; to be a region,·l distribution throughout the State of thIS category of VIllages. If, however, a particular district con­ 'tained significant ecological variations within its area, more than one vil­ lage in the district might be selected to study the special adjustments to them.

It i~· aJ ,!~ique feature of these village surveys that they rapidly out­ grew thel~ ongmal terms of reference, as my colleagues warmed up to their :vork.. ThIS prov~d for them an absorbing voyage of. discovery and their Infectious enthusIasm compelled me to enlarge the inquiry's scope again and again. It was just as well cautiously tb feel one's way about at first and then venture further afield, and although 1t accounts to some extent for a certain unevenness in the quality and coverage of the monographs, it served to compensate the purely honorary and extra-mural rigours of the task. Fbr. the Survey, along with its many ancilIa'it:s like the survey of fairs and festivals, of small and rural industry and others, was an 'extra'. over and above the crushing load of the 1961 Census. It might be of interest to recount briefly the stages by which the Sur­ vey enlarged its scope. At the first Census Cenference in September 1959 the Survey set itself the task of what might be called a redord in situ of material traits, like settlement patterns of the vil1age~ house types; diet; dress; ornaments and foot-wear; furniture and storing vessels; common means of transport of goods and passengers; p_omestication of animals and birds; markets attended; worship of deities; festivals and fairs. There were to be recordings, of course, of cultural and s'ocial traits and occupational mobility. This was followed up in March 1960 by 1\V'0 specimen schedules, one for each household, the other for the village as al whole, which, apart from spelling out the mode of inquiry suggested in the September 1959 con­ ference, introduced groups of questions aimed at sensing changes in atti­ tude and behaviour in such fields as marriage, inheritance, moveable and immoveable property, industry. indebtedness, education, commun_ity life and collective activity, soCial disabilities forums of appeal over ~lsputes. village leadership and organisation of cultural life. It was now plamly the intention to provide adequate statistical support to empirical 'feel'. to approach qualitative change through statistical quantities. ~t. had b~en difficult to give thought to the imporf4nce of 'just enough statIstICS to gIve empirical underpTmling -to conclusion'. at a time when my. colleagues were straining themselves to the utmost ~or the success of ~he ~aJn Census opera­ tions but once the census count Itself was left behmd In March. 1961, a serie; of three regional seminars in Triv~ndrum (~ay ] 961), Darjeeling and Srinagar (June 1961) restored their attentIon to thIS fi11d. and the. l~portance of tracing social change thrbugh a number of well-deVIsed statlslcal .tables was once again recognised. This itself presupposed a fresh survey of VIllages HI

already done; but is was worth the trouble in view of the possibilities that a close analysis of statistics offered. and also because the 'consanguinity' schedule remained to be canvassed By November 1961, however, more was expected of these surveys than ever before. There was dissatisfaction on the one hand with too many general statements and a growing desire no the other to draw conclusions from statistics, to regard social and economic data as interrelated processes, and finally to examine the social and econo­ mic processes set in motion through land reforms and other .laws, legisla­ tive and administrative measures, technological and cultural change. Finally, a study camp was organised in the last week of December 1961 when the whole field was carefully gone through over again and a programme worked out closely kl).itting the various aims bf the Survey together. The Social Studies Section of the Census Commission rendered assistance to State Superintendents by way of scrutiny and technical comment on the frame of Survey and presentation of results. This gradual unfolding of the aims of the Survey prevented my collea- gues from adopting as many villages as they had originally intended to. But I believe that what may have been lost in quantity has bten more than made up for in quality. This is, perhaps. for the first time that such a Sur­ vey has been conducted in any country, and that purely as a labour of love. I L has succeeded in attaining what it set out to achieve; to construct a map of village India's s.ocial struoture. One hopes that the volumes of this Survey win help to retain for the Indian Census its title to 'the most fruitful single source of mforrnation a'bont the country'. Apart from other features, it will perhaps be conceded that the Survey has set up a new Census standard ,n pictorial and graphic documentation.

ASOK MITRA Registrar General. India

NEW JULY 30, ] 964.

LlB(J.\I )3SCJQlIP-3(a) (vi) -T- Jt PREFACE

Chaunri or Junga as jt is commonly known was the capital of the erst­ while State. It is situated at a short distance from Simla. This village was selected just to study the changes that have taken place as a result of its reduction from the capital of a to an ordinary village. The results of the study are incorporated in the present monograph. The place has obviously suffered much though with the opening of the police training school there has been slight betterment in its economy but it can never achieve its previous position of vantage that it had as the capital of the Keonthal State.

I hope this publication will also be received well by the lovers of Census pu blications.

I am grateful to a:11 who have rendered their assistance in completing this study.

RAM PAL SINGH BOSWELL, - DECEMBER, 1965.

(,,"-vi)

I The Village

Introduction Its total area is 393 acres, In all there are 58 Situated in beautiful surroundings, Cbaunri, households having a popula~ion of 228 per­ popularly known as Junga, can be, from Simla, sons, 115 males and 113 females. seen perched on a gentle hill slope. The village Physical Aspects though now bearing a somewhat desolate look, had once a glorious past. During the British Rock-Shale and schist. times this was the capital of Keonthal State, one Elevation-Ranging from 5,000' to 5,500' of the important states in the north western about sea level. . Configuration-Mountaneous and slopes A part of the present town of Simla was carv­ gentlc to moderate. ed out of the territory once belonging to Keon­ Soil is deep clayee loam and is generally thaI State. In exchange of the *twelve villages well suited for forest growth, acquired for the purpose by the British Govern­ ment in 1830, the State was granted Rawin Seasons-Winter season sets in December pargana. Chaunri itself may even be called a and lasts upto mid-March when it is very suburb of Simla. cold and tne village experiences occasional snowfall. The hills around are covered with It is connected with Simla by a fair weather snow and cold wind blow. People do not motorable road, the distance being only twelve undertake long journeys in this season and miles. The Tehsil and District headquarters • mostly remain indoors. are located at Kasumpti about three miles from From mid-March to the end of June itis fine Simla. slowly getting warmer in May and June, this The village is inhabited by many castes from period is the hot season and people put on light Brahmins to Bhangis, predominant being Raj­ clothes as compared to heavy woollens they puts, Brahmins and Kolis. Basically the econo­ have to use in winter. From July to mid­ my revolves round agriculture, but a consider­ September it is rainy-season and then upto thc able number of non-agriculturist families reside end of November it is autumn. there. A small river known as Ashni Khud flows a mile down the village and it is a tributary of The story of J unga is that of retrogress from the prosperous past to what it is at present and Jamuna river. bleak future. Even to this day it could not even Water Supply-From the State times the vil­ be provided with electricity whereas a number lage has been provided with regular water sup­ of villages in the interior of Himachal Pradesh ply. Most of the households in the hazar have have been given this basic facility. water taps fitted in their kitchens but the rest of the villagers either brings water from the They speak Keonthali which has a distinct public water hydrants or from the natural place, in the Pahari dialects and of which Grier­ springs. There-is, however, no tax on the water son has made a detailed study. Their food ha­ supply. bits and dress have been influenced by the vari­ ous trends and fashions in vogue in Simla. Some Flora urban influence is clearly visible. Social cus­ toms are what have been ordained by tradition. Flora groWl11g in and around the village and religion. IS:- The village has a rest house, a post office, Tree Species-Cedrus.. _deodara (Deodar), 's palaces, a middle school, a hospital and Pinus longifolia (Chil) , Pinus-excelsa (Kail) , a number of temples besides a small bazar. The Quercus incana (Ban-oak), Quercus dialtate nearest telegraph and telephone facilities are (Mohru-oak). available at Simla. Ground Flora-Daphnicanna bina, Skim­ *Simla. pILat and present. mia.,' Sar~ococca, Ansleaopt~ra, Berberis. THE VILLAGE

Rubus, Myrsineafricana, Pieria ovalifolia, It is said that the Sirmur army was equip­ Mush-room, Pyrus pashia, Rhododendron ar­ ped wi th bows arrows and swords. They borium, Rhus catinus, Rosa moschata, Fra­ were ignorant of the gun-pOWder and the garia vesca, Viola serpons (Banafsha). guns. But the chlei's brother was carrying a gun with him. When he saw the enemy com­ Fauna ing to attack, he fired two shots from the Animals- -Leopard. black bear, monkeys, hiil-top killing the general sitting in his fort. jackals and langrn:. The q/rmy was completely demoralised and fled. Domesticated animals-Cow, buffalo, sheep, More shots were fired at the fleeing army. goat and fowls. Some were killed and some ran away. Birds--Chakor, koyal, crow. wood-pecker, The chiefs brother after assessing the situ­ sparrow, vulture, parrot. cuckko and owl. atlOn decided to return. But the people felt The information with regard to the phy­ ~o secure in his presence that they prayed sical aspects was taken from the forest work­ 111m to be their king. He was reluctant and ing plan of the area. pressed them to allow him to leave. While the things were bemg discussed, a Rajput Legend about the Drigin of the Village member of the said four representatives pierc­ Long long ago Sirmur and States ed a thorn in his thumb and applied Tilak of had a dispute over the suzerainty of the area blood on }1 s tore-head with his blood pro­ which later on comprised the erstwhile Keon­ claiming h1111 the ki'1g. He was so moved by thaI State. As a resultI of the constant conflict their affection that he had to accede to the there was anarchy in the area. Sometime lequest. Even to t111S day whenever a Raja of Sirmur army would attack and pluder the Keonthal IS to be enthroned a man from a penple and other time Nalagarh army looted - Rajput family applies Tilak of his blood on them. They became the target of constant his fore-head Dcfon: other ceremonies. oppression and tyranny. The firsl Raja was Kethav Sen and it ap­ During the same period a strong family pears that t.he 'Keonthal' word has its origin of Guhel Rajputs from Rajputana conquer­ from this name. At that time the capital of red Rupar and its adjoining area. Soon their Keol1thal State used to be Koti, a place about five miles from Chaunri. Sometime later the fame spread all over the nearby States. again attacked Keonthal and HearIng this the people of the said area during the battle the palaces at Koti were decided to request them for help to get rid burnt. Then the Raja decided to shift his capi­ of the state of anarchy A secret conference tal from Koti to Junga, a place about half a of the influential people was held which elect­ mile from the present Chaunri. A palace was ed four representatives to be sent to Rupar bltilt by an expert architect whose name seems These four ambassadors explained the entire to have been lost in the course of time. The state of affairs to the chief at Rupar and pray­ tl uJition holds that in the third storey of the ed for help. palace a wooden joy-ride horses were fixed on The chief moved by their grief and agony a rail, which used to move 011 it, by the air sent one of his brothers for on-the-spot study pi\.. ;sure by a special mechanism. The Ranis of the situation. At that time a Sirmur army used to enjoy this ride. general was in possession of the fort He was Time pass~J and once a Raja of Keonthal sitting in the fort smoking his Hookah. He happened to dismiss his chief minister. The could be seen from a hill top. When they deposed chief minister slipped off to the neigh­ reached the hill-top the deputation pointed bouring state of Nalagarh and hatched a cons­ out to the chief's brother that the general was pin\cy against Keonthal. One night a surprise sitting in the fort. attack was made and the palace was set on The chief's brother sent a mess1lge to the fire. But the Raja managed to escape through general throwing a challenge for duel. "The some secret under.!!f"Ound passage. Next day man winning shall rule". he wrote. The gene­ he collected hIS people and fought with the ral got infuriated on receiving the message insurgent.s. In the battle the Raja of Nalagarh and ordered his men to attack and arrest the and the ex-chief minister were killed. The head intruders. of the Raja was buried in Junga and it is eus- tIlE VILLAGE 3 tomary to put the said Tilak on the fore-head Kharentu Maili. Khalasi, Bagri, Digthali and of the sw:ceeding Raia standing on the place Ghat. Of these the first four existed till merger where the head is buried. The palace was as feudatories of KeonthaL Mailog, recomtrucled and stands even to this day. . . Tarhoch. Sangri and Kum­ thOl~gh in a dilapidated condition. harsain arc described as having freed them­ selves during the occupation and As the British influence increased in the~c forrr.. ,,:d independent States. The others are no hill areas and with the influence of the western longer separate principalities. and have been way of life. the need for a modern style palace absorbed in this or other States. was felt. The area of the present Chaunri was almost ul1!nhabited then and it was thought This account of the eighteen subordinate fit that the new capit;!l be constructed at this thakurias is perhaps somewhat exaggerated, place. Moreover. this place was quite vast as Kumharsain was certainly subject to and well suited to the needs of the headquar­ at the time of the Gurkha invasion and was ters of a State. afterwards expressly declared by General Ochterlony independent of all but the para­ Consequelltly in 1900 A.D. the then ruler mount Government. Keonthal itself was probab­ Raja Mahendra Sen got constructed a palace ly in the same position to Bushahr very short­ for his heir-apparent Raja Bir Sen. Slowly and ly before the coming of the . steadily it started developing and finally 'Chaunri village came into existence. When the G~rkhas arrived, then the chief, Rana Raghunath Sen, fled to Suket. where he History died. leaving an infant son Sansar Sen, born in exile. Sansar Sen returned to his father's State Since Chaunri was the capital of the State, in 1814 and his guardians, when called upon it may be of intere::.t to give here the history by Sir David Ochterlony to contribute money of Keonthal State*. or territory towards the expenses of the Gur­ kha war, chose to surrender eight of the six­ An ancestor of Jhe ruling family is said to teen parganas of the State to the British. These have establisbcu himself at A11ahabad in the together with part of the State were time of Shahab-ud-Din Ghori. to avoid whom handed over to Patiala for a nazarana of he had fled from Bengal. His son Rup Sen Rs. 2,80.000. wandered still further afield and carne to Rurar. in the present Ambala district, where The remaining eight parganas were secured he built a fort and established himself as a to Rana Sansar Sen in peppetuity. by Sanad petty chieftain. He was however. constantly No.77, dated 6th S~ptember, 1815, and later at war with the local Muhammadans and was on Punar, a tract then scarcely cultivated or ultimately over-thrown and slain by them. His even inhabited was made over to him by Sanad three sons fled in different directions: Bir Sen No. 19 of 5th April, 182l In 1830, twelve to Suket. Giri Sen or Tam Sen to the present villages were acquired by the British Govern­ KeonthaL and Hamir Sen to Kishtawar in ment for the hill stat,ion of Simla, and in ex· Jammu. Each founded a State and the present change the Rawln pargana of wakna in the Raja of Keonthal claims to be the 77th in Bharauli ilaq-'d was transferred to the State in descent from Giri Sen. exchange for the land on whieh the Bishop Cotton School, Simla now stands. For centuries the chief feature of the State's history was the perennial triangular contest :rhe people of Pu~ar were in former days between it. Sirmur and Bushahr. in the course renjarkable for ferocIOus courage whIch was of which first one and then another became not characteristic of any of their neighbours. supreme, and in turn lost its position. Mr. Fraser, who marched through the tract in May 1815, comments in his 'lJimala Moun­ Tn 1800, on the eve of the Gurkha invasion, tains' upon t~e curious circumsta~c~s o~ a high Keonthal is said to have been the overlord of spirited and mdependent race eXIstmg 111 com­ eighteen minor thakurias. viz., Koti, Ghund, plete isolation, surrended by the "poor subsu­ Theog. Madan. Mailog. Kuthar. Kunihar, ed creatures" of J ubbal and Kotkhai, in a coun­ Dhami, Tarhoch. Sangri, Kumharsain, Rajana, try not particularly inaccessible. Previous to the *Sim1a Rill State's Gazetteer (Keonthal). 'tHE VILLAGI:'.

coming of the Gurkhas, Punar was, according had driven from Simla. He was rewarded with to Mr. F:aser, nominally a part of Jubbal State, the hereditary title of Raja and a valuable but the mhabitants never dreamt of acknow­ khilat. ledging the authority of the Jubbal Chief or of paying him any reveNue. They could muster Raja Mohindar Sen succeeded Sansar Sen 1,000 fighting men, and although they had in 1862. jJ ruled for nineteen years. His large villages and plenty of cultivation, were father had left him a legacy of heavy debt, confirmed marauders and were guilty of all which he succeeded in paying off. He died in kinds of atrocities on their less war like neigh­ 1882 and was followed by his son Raja BalbiI' bours. They excelled in guerilla tactics and Sen. of whose reign internal disorders were a long after the complete reduction of Sirmur feature, until 1899 it became necessary to ap­ and Jubbal, it cost the Gurkhas years of fight­ point a Government manager to carry out a ing before they could introduce even a samb­ regular settlement. lance of their authority into Punar. Finally Raja Balbir Sen died in 1901 and was suc­ they defeated the Punar army in a bloody ceeded by his son Bijai Sen. The present Ruter battle at Matil, and laid their villages waste. Raja Hitendra Sen is the son of Raja Bijai As soon as the British declared war against the Sen. Gurkhas, the men of Punar rose and massacr­ ed the parties of Gurkhas soldiers, whom they Residential Pat~ern had tempted inta their country to collect re­ venue. They then proceeded to besiege a Since villages in thcse parls of the hills are Gurkhas detachment in the fort of Chaupal, situated over slopes, it has been a tradition and Mr. Fraser considered that the prompt here that higher-ups in the s~ciety preferred to surrender of the Chuupal garrison to his bro­ construct their houses on higher level, Chaunri ther's force of irregulars. sent early in 1815 to is sprawled over a gentle slope. Raja's palaces ascertain the state of affairs in Jubbal, was overlooked the entire village. Then there is a due to fear of falling into the hands of the small bazar consisting of shop-cum-house flats. lawless savages of Punar. Nevertheless the On the lower levels are houses of the villagers. harrying. which Gurkhas gave them, seems to Somewhere houses represent a cluster and have broken the spirit of the Punar men, for elsewhere the houses are dotted over the fields. since the establishment of British influence in As far as pos~ible they try to have their houses the hills they llave not been especially conspi­ nearer their land and the construction of a cuous for turbulence. house largely depends on the availability of Rana Sansar Sen behaved well in 1857 and some suitable land. The school is situated in hospitably sheltered at' Junga several Euro­ one corner of a big ground. Just ncar the peans. whom the scare of the Jutogh mutiny baza r is a police institution. Rajput. Brahmins and Koli ar~ the predomi­ the journal of Anjuman. nant castes in Chaunri. All of them except one arc Hindus. Besides these. there are six other They are divided into two main sections. tIle castes namely Sud. Khatri, Turi, Lohar, Chamar Uchamlia or Sud of the hills and tIle Newandia and Bhangi. or Sud of the plains.

-Castes Khatri-The Khatri occupies a very different position among the people of K otis-General Cunningham believes that the from that of the castes the hills of the Punjab were once occupied by a which we have just discussed. Superior true Kolian race belonging to the same group to them in physique. in manliness and in as the Kolis of Central India and Bihar, and energy. he is not like them. a mere shop-keeper. that the present Kolis are very probably their He claims. indeed. to be a direct representative representatives. He points out that DA the of the Kashtriya of Manu, but the validity of Kolian for water is still used for many of the the claim is as doubtful as are most other mat­ smaller streams of the Simla Hjlls and that there iers connected with the four-fold caste system. is a line of tribes of Kolian origin extending The following extract from Sir George Camp­ from Jabbalpur at least as far as Allahabad, all bell's Ethnology of rndia describes the position of which use many identical words in their voca­ of the Khatri so admirably that I shall not bularies. and have common tradition of a here­ venture to spoil it by condensation. The Aroras ditary connection with working in Iron. whom he classes with the Khatris. I shall describe presently:- Sud-The Suds are almost entirely confined to the lower hills and the district that lie im­ "Trade is their main occupation, but in fact mediately under them as far west as Amritsar. they have broader and more distin­ Their headquarters are at Ludhiana and the guishing feature. Besides monopolising neighbouring towns of Machhiwara and they the trade of the Punjab and the great are, I believe. unknown outside the Punjab. part of Afghanistan and dOlng a They are almost wholly mercantile in their good deal beyond those limits, they pursuits though occasionally taking service as are in the Punjab the chief civil admi· clerks ~dnd occupy a social position markedly nistrators and have almost all literate inferior to that of either the Baniya or the work in their hands. So far as the Khatri. They wear a J eneo or sacred thread Sikhs have a priest-hood. they are. made of three instead of six strands and many moreover, the priest or gurus of the of them practise widow marriage. With the ex­ Sikhs. Both Nanak and Govind were ception of a few who are Sikhs they are almost and the Sodis and Bedis of the present Hindu, but are, in comparison with the other are Khatris. Thus then they arc in fact mercantile castes, very lax in the observance of in the Punjab. so far as a more ener­ their religions. They indulge freely in meat and getic race will permit them. all that wine and in habits, customs and social position Maharatta Brahmins are in the resemble very closely the Kayaths. The tribe is Maharatta country,.besides engrossing apparently an ancient one, but I can obtain no the trade which the Maharatta Brah· definite information as to its origin. Various mins have not. They are not usually fanciful derivations of the tribal name are military in their character, but are current. for the most part of an opprobrious quite capablel)f usiJ)g the sword when nature. 1 atterupted to make inquiries from necessary .. Altogether there can be no some leading SUds. but the result was the doubt that these Khatris are one of the assemb1ing of a Panchayat, the ransacking of most acute. energetic and remarkable the classics for proof of their races in India. though in fact, except Kashtriya origin and a heated discussion in locally in the Punjab, they are not THE PEOPLE

much known to Europeans. The proper, who receives a customary share of Khatris are staunch Hindus and it is the produce and performs certain duties. In somewhat singular tha~, while giving the east of the Province, he sweeps the houses a religion and priests to the Sikhs, and villages, collects the cow-dung, pats it into they themselves are comp~ratively cakes and stacks it, works up the manure, seldom Sikhs. The Khatns are a helps with the cattle, and takes them from very fine, fair, handsome race. And, village to village. as may be gathered from whut I The following table will give an idea of have already said, they are very gene- caste-wise distribution of the households:- rally educated ...... ". Caste-wise distribution of Households Turi or Hessi-The Hessi appears to'"1;hare. with the Lahar, the distinction of being the CaIlLe Home. Persons Moles Fema, holds lee only castes recognised among the B~ddhists. of Spiti, the other classes of that SOCIety eatmg Brahmin 11 34 18 16 together and inter-marrying freely. but ex ... Bania 1 2 1 1 Bhullgi 4- 2~) 1:3 16 eluding these two from social inter-course. Cha-muF 5 28 12 16 The Hessis of Spiti, however, or rather the J)arj"e 2 J 2 8 4 Jut 1 3 I .J Bedas as they are called there, the two names Koli 14 6il ~6 30 referring to the same people, do not appear to Khatri 1 5 :I 2 have returned themselves as of that caste, as Lohar 1 4 1 3 Raj put I".' :;H 18 II all our Hessis are Hindus, whereas all the Sud 3 5 3 2 people of Spiti except two are returned as Turi 1 8 2 6 Buddhists. Houses The Hessis are the wandering minstrels of Generally'the houses are scattered over the the higher Himalayan valleys. The men play gentle contours of the hill and at times these the pipes and kettle drum, while the wo~en are in cluster especially nearabtmt the bazar. dance and sing and play the tambourme. The houses are oblong in shape because to They arc (in Lahaul and Spiti) the only class have such houses minimises the expenditure that owns no land. 'The Beda no land and on the development of the site which other­ the doo- no load' is a proverbial saying. He wise might be incurred for excavating and is called the 18th caste which is not required, levelling the uphill side. As far as possible for no one win eat from ..the hands of a Hessi. houses are built in some selected spot near Yet he has his inferiors for he himself will the fields. Generally houses face west but not eat from the hands- of a Lohar br of a there is no superstition attached to it. The Nath, in Kulu equivalent for Jogi. He is geographical situation of the plot is the decid­ ordinarily a beggar, but sometimes en.gaged ing factor. The houses are double storeyed in petty trade, and to call a transactlOn, a having a projected verandah in front of the Hessi's bargain is to imply that it is mean first floor. The ground floor known as Obera and paltry. The Hessi or Hens;, as the word is invariably used for keeping cattle. Although is sometimes spelt; js found in Kangra, Mandi there is a separate kitchen no bath or latrine and Suket. is constructed in the hbuse. Rajput and Brahmin are the well-known After the selection of the site and levelling, castes of the Hindu society. Lohar is a foundations are dug to a depth of 2 to 3 feet synonym for a blacksmith. and to a suitable width. Dry boulders are The name Chamar* is derived from the filled up in the bed of the foundations upto Sanskrit Charmakara or "Worker in hides". about l' height. Sufficient ramming is done But in the east of the Province, he is far more to make it even and compact. Random rubble than a leather-worker. He is the general coolie stone masonry is then done in off sets upto and field labourer of the villages.. the plinth level. The gap between the wall Bhangi-The Chuhra* or Bhangi is the and the excavated ground is then filled up sweeper. He is one of the village menials with flints and earth. Mud mortar is a com­ mon cementing material. The entire wall may *PulljaU Caste~ b.Y Sir DelJzil Ibbetslln-J!Jl U. 7 THE PEOPLE also be constructed in dry stone masonry. to press the lower layer of the slates. A lap Cement pointing on the faces of wall is also of about 6" is kept at the ridge over the cross seen in a few houses, which is done by slates to avoid the leakage from the ridge. scratching of surplus mud mortar from its Sufficient projection of about 2' is left out in face. This is not much common. the rafter as well as in purlins to protect the :-valls from the cross rains. A W\loden ceiling The standard width of the outer wall is 1'-6" IS usually provided. The space between the but the inner walls may be constructed as thin roof and the ceiling is used as store and is partit.on walls. Wooden joists of rectangular ca]]ed Changar. secticTI framed together at regular intervals After completion of the roof. construction are placed along the outer faces of the walls in of floors is taken up. Joists at regular inter­ order to kee.p equal distribution of super­ vals are placed over the beam with both ends imposed load. This also serves as a resistance resting on the opposite wall. Thick planks to seismic thrust of the earth, though are then nailed over it to form the the people may not be aware of this fac~. finished surface for the first floor. A thick Structural stones are available in the vicinity. These are dressed before use and undressed !ayer <;>f w~ll puddled mud is then spread over It. whIch IS left for season conditioning for a stones are also used if the financial position few days. then a sealing coat of cow-dung of the owner does not so permit. The outer and mud is don'e over it which covers the face of the stone is dressed to form a four c.racks caused during the cbnditioning. At sided regular shape. Stone binders of length tunes. the planks are left uncovered but in equal to the full thickness of wall are also that case these are planned to form a smooth dressd. These binder stones are placed at 3 surface. to 4 feet intervals in each layer of masonry. The stones being conical when placed to To make the ground floor, the natUral bed form a wall leave a hollow gap in between of the earth is watered and is well rammed. which is filled in by ruts and flints mixed The waste material such as flints and pebbles with mortar to make the waH a sblid struc­ are filled in to raise the height of the ground ture. to the plinth level. Well puddled mud mortar Openings for doors, windows and niches mixed with straw is then spread to form a are kept in the wall during the stage of its level finish. After the floor is half dried, cbW­ construction. A thick stout wooden board of dung coating is given to make the surface suitable thickness is used instead of lintel smooth and to plug the cracks. In a few cases over the door or a windbw. After leaving the ground floor is paved with thick slates or necessary gaps for the bearing of the beams flat stones. and joists which form the first floor at later Shutters for windows are also fixed to the stage, the wall construction is carried on the frames already placed at the time of wall level of the first floor roof. The shorter walls C~)llstruction .. A canti-Ievered Chhaja is inva­ bn both sides are further raised to form a nably kept III the front portion of the first triangle to support the roof gables. floor which serves as an approach to the Thereafter, roof is laid. On the top of these r~oms. The projection is usually 5 feet in triangular 'walls a log is placed to form the WIdth but may vary according to the needs ridge pole. Rafters at suitable intervals are an.d mean: of the oW.ner. Bracings to support then placed in position across. One end of thls Chha]a are provIded at regular intervals. the rafter is notched and placed on the ridge Traditional local finishing materials are pole and the bther rests on the wall. used to. decorate the hbuse. White washing is Purlirigs are fixed across about 9" centre done eIther. with> th~ local white clay called to centre. However, the spacing ranges M akol or WIth t~e hme prl1cured from Simla. according to the length of slate, which is a For colou! washing and painting, Geru is common roof covering material. On the pur­ used. Pamts and glasses have not been in lins slates are nailed from the bottom of the much use so far but of late their use is on gable towards the ridge side allowing a lap t?e increase. $tructural. st~l and other mate­ 'of 2" to 3" to avoid leakage at the joints and nal are procured from Simfa. 8 THE PEOPLE

'Ceremonies connected with comtruction of The local names for various parts of a the house-When a new house has to be house are:- constructed the family priest. is invariably consulted for the selection of the site. Founda­ Door .. Dwar tion stone is laid at the mahurat fixed by the Foundation .. Maniyad purohit in the south east corner of the site. A copper pot or kalash and a coin is placed Roof .. Chhapar below the stone. The pries!' attends the cere­ Ceiling .. Ultaehhllt mony for which he is given some foodgrains. ghee and gur. Some sweets or gur is distri­ Obara roof .. JlIer buted. :'Ilaill beam .. Majhe While erecting the first door, purohit, the Wall .. Bheet family priest. ties round the frame of the Cant i·1 ('Y('red Ohbaja door a small piece of cloth containing a .. Tum; kangan. an iron ring. a supari. a kandi and a coconut. A peacock feather is also hung. Dress Gur or sweet-meats are again distributed. Cotton as well 85 woollen clothes arc worn. Similar ceremonies are also performed while During summer and rainy seasons. USUJlly placing the main beam for the ground floor they wear cotton c1o~hes. Since winter is - roof and the main beam for the first floor severe, woollen clothes are used. For all their roof. requirements. they purchase mill made cloth. Gharasni-On an auspicious day, after the Though cloth is also available at the local house is complete. a ceremony known as shops, often purchases are made from Simla. gharasni is performed. The family purohit Men's Dress works out an auspicious time for house entry. or -It is the head-gear. Often Before the ceremonial entry hawan is per­ colourful are wrapped round the head formed to invoke the blessing of the Gods. A on festive occasions like marriages a.nd fairs. garland of pee pal leaves is tied round the On marriages. it is a must for the bride-groom. door, which signifies putting on the janeo A is worn as a substitute for round the house. Five to seven Brahmins are the turhan. During Raja's regime. it was cus- feasted on this occasion. The near relatives 1Jomary not to appear before the Raja bare­ and the neighbours are also given the feast. headed. Even to walk bare-headed in and Wages-The daily wages for a carpenter around the palace was not permitted. Of late, and a mason are from Rs. 4 to Rs. 6 and for there is a general tendency to move about with­ a labourer f~om Re. 1 to Rs. 2. out any head-gear. If at all, any head-gear may Timber Rates-The timber required by the be necessary-topi gets preference over the villagers for the consU'uction of a house is turban. available to them at concessional rates from Kameez-Two types of shirts with and the Forest Department. They have to submit without collars are prevalent. Since Simla is their applications to the Department through quite close. the impact of modern fashion is their Pancha,yat. The concessional rates apparent on the designs of their dress. Its charged by the Forest Department are:- stitching charges vary from Re. 1/- to Rs. 2/-.

Tree species Rate Kuchha-While working in the fields or doin cr some manual work, men often wear Ra. kuchlla or an under-wear. The tailor charges 2·00 Deodar about fifty paise as sewing charges. Kail 0'50 Pyjama-It is a common form of lower gar­ Chll 0'50 ' ment usually made of cotton bU1i in winter pyjamas of coarse tweed or hand spun hand Fir 0'12 woven patties are also worn. Younger genera­ OAk tion, however, prefer to get on trousers. Some­ times, grown-ups use pants. though they arc 0'12 Ot her specitl8 less likely 110 pay any attention to its crease. THE PEOPLE 9

Coat-Coarse or fine tweed coat are worn Collyrium or kajal is employed to blacken in winter depending on the financial condi­ the eyes. tions of a family. It is also on the pattern Ornaments for the head--Chack-lt is a prevalent in Simla. gold or silver bowl like ornament worn on the hair over the top. Every newly wed girl wears W oolle1l Sweaters-Woollen and cotton it and it is a mus~ in the list of ornaments sweaters are often used more so by the school­ given at the time of_ wedding to the bride. going children. Floral or other pattern are embossed on it and it is fastened on the top of the head with the WOMEN'S DRESS help of a mauli or paranda. Average' weight is four to twelve tolas. Sa/war-The pattern of the salwar IS Just the same as prevalent in the Punjab. Suthan, Maang Tika-lt is a gold ornament for the tight trousers at the ankles, used to be worn fore-head. Its average weight is nine mashas by t.he ladies in the past but now it has gone to two tJOlas. into disuse and only old women might use it at times. Ornaments for the ears-l1ragar-Ear rings of gold. Weight about two tolas. Kameez-It is a long full-sleeved bloHsc Kante-Ear- rings of gold or silver weigh­ It extending upto knees. is a combination with ing about a tala. a salwar. Dandi-An ear ornament worn on the -It is used by women tio cover upper portion of ~he ear. Made of gold or their heads. silver.

On festive occasions, though the cut of the Darotu--Gold ear rings of about one to'la. garments are the same. as far as possible new clothes are put on.-The dress discussed above Ornaments for the nose-Besar-A long is either stitched by the local tailor or a,t nose ring held by a chain or mauli thread Simla. There is no diff!!rence of dress among attached to the hair by a hook to relieve the the various castes and all dress alike. strain on ~he nose. Generally of gold. Laung-A nose ornament of gold having Foot-wear-Shoes of all types are used. a S(.few. Average weight is 6 mashas. They purchase their foot-wears from Simla. Mllrki-A nose ornament of beetle leaf shape, worn in the centre of the nose. Made Ornaments of gold, weight about a tala. Though silver ornaments are in vogue. a Ornaments for the neck-Chhara-A neck­ few items of gold are also possessed by the lace having a-number of silver and moonga households. Well-ta-do families may have more beads. gold jewellery. There is one shop of a gold­ smith in Chaunri but usually Simla goldsmiths Haar-A silver necklace having five to and sarals catoer to their needs. Traditionally seven chains of silver. Weight about forty to heavy jewellery has been in use but, of late, seventy tolas. Made of gold, silver or rolled­ there is a growing tendency among the people gold. to use comparatively lighter ornaments. Tin­ Ornaments for the wrist-Chhalbale­ sels, glass bangles and immitauion jewellery Round solid bangle having ghungru on it. are worn on quite an extensive sdtle. Hair pins, hair clips, mehndi and other cosmetics Chura-Silver bangles. -_ are also used by the women for make up. Mehndi or henna is used to dye hands and Gajru:-Round hollow bangles ha,ving feet on marriage occasions. Often the leaves of teeth on its 'body. Silver weighing about 20 a, local shrub known as binchi are substituted to 25 tolas. for mehndi. Lip-stick and nail polish may also be used by the slightly sophisticated women. Kangnu-Thick silver bangles. ]0 THE PEOPLE

Ornaments for the [ingers-Chhap-Silver pickles or jams from Simla. At times mano-o or gold rings. pickle is also prepared by procuring undpe mangoes from Simla. Ornaments for the toe-Pajeb, Ihanjal" and Tore-Anklets Bayali--The supper consists of maize or wheat chapa!is and the usual daIs and vege­ Food Habits tables. Often raw onions may be served with The staple diet of the villagers consists of IUllch or supper as salad. There is hardly allY maize and wheat. There are two categories of difference in the dietary habits of the people the families residing in the village-agricul­ exce~t that the menu may vary depending all turist and non-agriculturist. Those who till Ihe economic condition of the household. land subsist on the produce of their land. But Rice is not locally grown. The farmers those who are engaged in other professions whenever they wish to take it have to pur­ have to purchase food-grains either direct chase from the market. The families who from the farmers or from the market. have migrated from Kangra District are in the The farmers have sufficient to feed them­ habit of taking rice at least once a day pre­ selves and whatever surplus they produce is ferably at IUllCh time. Majority of the villager~; sold out. In the absence of irrigation facilities prefer maize to wheat. the vegetables grown in the village are seasonal. -Cabbage, brinjal, tomatoes, keraTa The monotony of the usual menu is broken pumpkins, reddish. beans and potatoes are by the various festive occasions and marri­ the principal vegetables grown. Occasionally ~lge'). On marri,\ges special dishes are served vegetables are also brought from Simla by with rice in the feast thrown to the relatives those who may visit the place in connection and friends. A few shops in the village bazar with some business. also sell some sweet-meats like bedana. besa/l pal... laddus and jalebi. Tea shops sell DaIs which are commonly used in the pakallras. the much relished snack. kitchens are mash or urrad. maSllr. gram, moong. and kulath. The fats in use are ghee. Barring a few vegetarians. fowls. fish and mustard oil and hydrogenated oils. eggs are eaten occasionally. Being Hindus, Dupahari, the lunch and Bayali. the supper beef. of course. is a taboo. Fish is brought are the two main meals besides the breakfast from Ashni Khud which flows a. mile down the village. cl!elli":__Breakfast consists of chapatis left over of the evening repast and lassi or tea, Another important item is sattu. which although fresh chapatis- may also be prepar­ is eaten by the working people like those ed. Non-agriculturist families may take slight­ employed in agriculture or in labour. This is ly sophisticated breakfast in which some taken in the afternoon with water or lassi snacks like buns. rusks and bread may especially in the summer and thc rainy accomp:;my the tea. season. Maize or wheat chapatis taken with cooked Some special dishes arc- dal or vegetable is the lunch. Those who rear milch cattle also take chhachh or Tassi with Babroo or Bhaturu-The kneaded flour is the lunch. Chatni prepared from amchur or kept throughout the night to allow it to fer­ anardana is often served as an appetiser. ment and then small thick chqpatis are pre­ pared of it. It is taken mainly in summer as Some kind of pickles are also taken to add fermentttion is easy during these days. to the taste of the meals. These may either be HallVo-Ts prepared by frying flour or wji prepared in tM homes or_ procured from in ghee and by adding gur or sugar syrup to bazar. Galgal, a kind of citrus ft:uit. is the it. main constituent used in preparing pickles in home!. Jimikan(J and ginger are also added Karhi-After wetting mash or mawr dal to it for variety. Mustard oil serves as the over night. it is ground into a fine paste. The preservative and the pickle is stored in earthen­ paste is then dissolved in fassi and cooked wares. A few well-to-do families may procure after adding salt and spices. THE PEOPLE II

Khataie-Khataie or chatni is the ap­ fire and adding milk to taste. But milk pro­ petiser. A mchur or' anardana is used in its duct like lassi or chhachlz is widely used prcparatiol1' which is taken in the morning with wheat or maize bread. This may again be served at I< heer-Rice and milk boiled together to lunch time. Fresh milk is put in an earthen thick consistency with some sugar. vessel and a little chhachh added to it. This is left till evening when more milk is added Pakaura-To make it besan is made into to 'it after boiling and the whole is transferred paste. Salt, spices and chillies are added to to another earthen 'vessel to prepare the curd. taste. Then potato or onion chips wrapped Early in the morning the curd is transferred in this paste are fried in ghee or oil. to another big earthen vessel and churned Patallde-Ghee is put in a hot iron pan with a wooden churner. This is always done and wheat flour, diluted with water to make by the elderly lady in the house. The bcrtter a paste, is carefully spread with the hands that floats on the surface is collected gently over the pan. When baked patande is ready. with hand and kept in a separate vessel. The It is taken with kheer or ghee and shakkar. liquor is called chhachh at' lassi. To obtain ghee from this butter it has to be heated on Poori-Small rounded' chapati is fried in direct fire in a metallic vessel and kept to rest ghce oJ hydrogenated oil. It is prepared all and the clear ghee is gently poured into an­ festive occasions and served with cooked other vessel and stored'. vegetables or halwa. Smoking-Smoking is fairly wide-spread in this part of the hills. Even children in Siul ke laddu-Whenever fasting is under­ their teens start smoking and quite a good taken on religious occasions cereal diet is not number of women also smoke. especially the taken. Phalahar consisting of fruits and non­ old ones. Hukkah has been the traditional cereal diet is eaten to break the fast. Gur tobacco smoking device. But during the last syrup is prepared to some thick consistency decade the use of cigarettes and bidis has in which roasted siul or chollaie seeds are been on the increase. Inter smoking from the mixed. Round_ balls known as laddus are then same stem of hukkah between the different prepared with hands. Siul-ke-laddu may form castes has been a taboo. Since hukkah is diffi­ one of the items in the phalahar. cult to be carried to the fields while working there, cigarettes and bidis are preferred. U skali-This is prepared by pouring the paste of ri<;:e flour in small cavities of a local 'Drinking-Drinking is not so common. Of stone-pan called uskali and cooking it for course, the people may at times enjoy some wine purchased either from the wine-vend sometime. It is usually taken with ghee ~ihd sitakkat. shop situated in the vicinity or from Simla. The wine-vend shop sells only country liquor Some families originally belonging to but superior wines are procured from the Kangra District of Punjab also prepare their liquor stores of Simla. favourite Kangra dishes like madrah and The Utensils-Chaunri is almost a semi­ [Juldah. Madrah is prepared with beans or urban area and the influence of Simla is quite white grams. These are soaked in water over apparent On these people. All their utensil night and then fried in ghee. Spices and curd requirements are met from Simla. ill appreciable qua1J.tity are added with a Brass and bronze utensils are in commaIf' little of water and the whole mixture is allow­ use besides some aluminium wares. Also ed to simmer on a low fire for sometime. The earthen pots and a few wooden vessels are dish is very much relished with rice. Puldah enwloyed. The vessels used for fetching and is obtained by adding curd to vegetable storing water are eart~n gharas and brass cllrry., or copper vessels called balrcmis; toknies and gagars. Metallic utensils are generally pur­ Milk does not form part of their daily in­ chased at Diwali when every household take. For the last decade or so the emphasis usually makes a little addition to his store is more on tea which is prepared by bbiling of utensils because it is SQ. L/B(N)3SCOHP--4 12 THE PEOPLE

Birth Customs of clay, which is subsequently pierced by an Women who work hard-in-hand with their arrow. This is done to dispel the evil effect men in agricultural operations, are by nature of the star. sturdy and robust in health. Such a woman Behaie -An image or 'Behaie' is made b~ does not take any special pre-natal care ex­ clay and cow-dung, in which a silver coin is cept a few superstitions. She does not visit placed. This 'murti' is then worshipped with forests, river or any other unfrequented the recitation of mantras by the family place. Neither she sees a dead body nor would purohit. Behaie is kept in the family for life look at any eclipse. It is believed that if the time and is worshipped on every birth day. mother happens to view an eclipse during her On death it is consigned to same stream. pregnancy, the child may develop some deformity. However, she continues to do light At the end of 'Sutak' on the twelfth day work at home and in the fields but she is not house, clothes and metallic utensils are allowed to carry heavy loads or. to perform cleaned but earthenwares are thrown away hard labour. and are replaced by the new ones. The fiobrs are coated with cow-dung. Women belonging to non-agriculturist families, are simple house-wives attending to On this day, hawan is per.formed by the household chores. Even ordinarily they are family priest. Panchgavya. a mixture of not called upon to attend to hard duties so gomutra. ganga-jal, milk, curd and ghee is - they lead a normal life during pregnancy administered to the mother five times. This also. of course, observing the arove suver­ mIxture is then sprinkled all over the house. stitions and precautions. The family is now considered clean and can At the time of confinement, some elderly mix with others. The family deities are lady of the house, ah:mgwith a dai attends brought back from the temple for regular upon her. Services of the trained nurse or puja. dai are also requisitioned, if need be, from The purohit is requested to cast the horo­ the focal hospital. scope of the child. If some stars not found The exact date and time of the birth is favourably placed in the janam-kundli, the noted. This is Clone to prepare the horoscope purohit suggests some aIm-giving to avoid of the child. Sobn after the birth, the child the evil effect of the planets. The father of is batbed in luke-warm water and given honey the child performs this accordingly. The first to taste: Some iron implement like a knife, letter of the Child's birth name is also indi­ a sickle or an axe is placed under the cated by the priest from the hbroscope. The mother's pillow to ward off any evil eye. A birth name is applied to the boy only at his pinch of gugal, mustard or ajwain is thrown marriage and at the ceremony of his being in the smouldering fire of cow-dung cakes invested with the sacred thread. But the name cbntained in some vessel in the labour room. of a child, by which he becomes known is The incense thus emitted is believed to clean given by the parents according to their the atmosphere of the room. choice. Nalwa-chhedan or cutting of the umbilical, Food for the mother-The mother is served cord is done by 'dar or the nurse attending with milk and dry fruits -like almonds, raisins. on the child. dry dates, cocbanut and sonth or dry ginger. The entire house-hold is considered un­ A special preparation made of ghee, sonth, clean for a period of eleven days. During this almonds and dry-dates is served daily to her period. called 'Sutak\ no bne accepts meals with milk. During 'Sutak' days, she is not or drinks from any member of such a house­ aiven any bread or any food-grains. A daily hold. Family deities are sent to near-by ~assage of ghee preferably cow's ghee is temple for daily puja during -these days. given to the mother and the child followed by a hot water bath. This massage is done Sh.ashti Pujan-On the sixth day. two cere­ by some elderly lady br 'dai', w~o knows the momes Rahll-bhedan and Slzasl!ti-pujan are job, Chillies, meat and sour thmgs are pro­ performed. As image of Rahu planet is made hibited. THE PEOPLE 13

Ghutti-It is an indig~ous medicine con­ Similarly in the case of a female child, a sisting of some extract of local herbs. li~e ceremony known as karan-bhedan or the ajwain, banafsha or rose leaves. ThIs IS piercing of cars is perf,)rmed instead of the either prepared in the home but most of the hair removing. villagers prefer to use the ready-made ghutti Jancos are worn by Brahmins and for this of the reputed pharmacies available in Simla. an important ceremony is held. Janeo con­ Due to the urban influence, Gripe-water has sists of three threads of spun cotton of vary­ also come up for use. Ghutti helps to tone ina length according to caste. The length of up the digestion of the child and helps to R~jput and Brahmin janeos is ninety-five regulate the bowl movement. and ninety-six chappas respectively, a chappa representing the length of the cord that would Nam-karan-Name-giving ceremony is per­ go round the four out-stretched but closely formed on the day of purification. Father or held together fingers of the right hand. purohit whispers the selected name of the It is usually worn over the left shoulder child in the car of the baby through a conch. and under the right arm and its tripple form He says, "0. Balak, here-in-after named as is supposed to symbolise , such, may you live long!" Purohit is given and the Hindu trinity. Janeos are to from Rs. 4 to 10 on 'the purification day. be prepared always by a Brahmin and should Two more ceremonies known as Suryav­ be removed at frequent intervals and must lokan and Bhumiupveshan are also per: be replaced if ,broken. It is in-auspicious to formed on the twelfth day wear a khandit or broken janeo. Also ready­ made janeos are purchased from Simla. Suryavlokan-Purohit conducts the mother Yagyo-pavit san'skar is held between the and the child outside the labour room recit­ age of eight to sixteen years. This is done at ing some mantras. They then view the sun. an auspicious time found by purohit. Brahma A rupee is given to purohit. bllOj, the feasting of Brahmins, is done be­ Bhumiupveshan-After Suryavlokan, some sides the ceremonies laid down in the scrip­ land in the room is smeared with cow-dung. tures. If owing to certain reasons, the cere­ Right leg of the child is then made to touch mony cannot be performed during the period. the place. the ceremony may be ct)mbined with the marriage ceremony. This marks the end of the ceremonies on purification day. Again on the twenty-seventh Marriage day, nine planets are worshipped and havan The marriages are performed according to is performed. Vedic rites, which are arranged by the parents through the good offices of either a Ann-prashan Sanskar-For a male child, priest or some relative. The priest examines on the fifth and for a female child on the the horoscopes of the boy and the girl and sixth month, this minor ceremony is perform­ if the position of the planets is found favour­ ed. A grain of sattu and honey is adminis­ able, the match is settled. On successfu! tered to the child at an auspicious time. completion of the negotiations, the girl's Thereafter, mouth of the child is rinsed with father sends some laddus, a yagyopavit, a water, brought from the river having fish. supari, mauli, kungu and some cash usuaI1y Rs. 1.25 to the groom's father. The boy's Mundan Sanskar-When the male child father also -sends some sweets, glass bangles attains the age of five, an auspicious date is ,md a few clothes for the bride. This is called asked for from purohit to remove his hair. kurmai or tikka and the ceremony is con­ The hair are then removed and kept in ox­ ducted by a Brahmin by performing nav­ dung, which are ultimately thrown in some graha pllja. The ladies of the~ghbourhood river prefera,bly Ganges. Some families have their family Goddesses like Jawalamukhj and gather and sing auspicious songs, gur or Chintpurni in Punjab. 'They visit the temple shakkar being distributed among the gather­ of their respective goddess and it is there mg. that the hair removing ceremony is perform­ Marriage alliances are contracted among ed. unrelated persons of the same caste or some- L}B(N)3SCOHP-4(a) 14 THE PEOPLE times among very distant relatives. But these is called tambol and all the relatives give are prohibited amongst pers'Ons of the same some -cash to the boy's father as tambol and gotra or with close relations. No inter-caste Re. 1.00 to the boy's sister also. The wife marriages are contracted as a rule but a of the elder brother of groom puts kajal in divorcee may sometimes marry a person of the eyes of the groom and two to three rupees a different caste. are given to her in return. The mother of Generally marriage is performed soon after the groom then gives her breast to the groom the kurmai ceremony, but sometime this may perhaps to remined him not to relegate to take place after a considerable time. When background the mother who brought him up the parties decide to h'Old the marriage, they on her breast. The groom attired in the best consult the priest who fixes auspicious days clothes brought by his maternal uncle then and details of all the ceremonies that are to leads the marriage procession either in palan­ be performed at the time are reduced to quin or on the horse back. The younger writing on a piece of paper called lakhnautri brother of the groom also sits with him i'l for which the priest is paid Rs. 1.25 and some the palanquin and he is called sabhalara and gur. Intimation of the dates fixed for the shadows him closely till the marriage is com· marriage is sent to the relatives. Just a day or plete. The family priest goes alongwith the two before the actual marriage is to take marriage party. place, the relations gather at the house an'd The marriage party is led by the band the maternal uncle of the groom or bride which the villagers hire at Simla. or Solon. who comes to participate in the marriage is Poorer people may get local orchestra con­ given a special welcome. His sister receives sisting of shehnai. dhol, nagara, narsingha him at the door steps singing welcome I songs. and kamal. The position of the maternal uncle is im­ portant and he als'O brings with him some On reaching the bride's village, the party clothes and ornaments according to his finan­ is received by bride's purohit and her brother. cial position. The articles brought by him Shakkar, Supari and mauli are given to the are duly displayed to be seen by the other groom. The party then goes to the place of its relatives and neighbourers. If the marriage is stay where refreshments are served. of a boy, the mama brings the and the clothes to be put on by the groom. In case The bridegroom goes to the bride's house. of a girl's marriage he besides bringing His aarti is taken there. The father then clothes and a few ornaments also brings gives sankalpa and a garland of flowers is clothes for his sister which she· puts on at the put round his neck. Then he returns and time of kanyadan. dinner is held. At the auspicious time the bridegr'Oom is The groom's father sends his family priest then led to the mandap where the bride is on an auspicious day to the bride's house _ also conducted by the maternal uncle and with a few ornaments, clothes, dry fruits, the usual ceremony of kanyadan accompani­ mehndi and batna. The purohit brings back ed by going round the sacred fire is performed with him the detailed programme of the amidst chanting of Vedic mantras by the marriage. A day.before the departure 'Of the priests. Suhagpitari consisting of ornaments, bara(, oil is rubbed in the hair of the groom. clothes, mewa, mauli, kumkum and supari This is tel ceremony. The navgrahas. Ganesh is given to the bride under the recitation of dnd Kalash are worshipped to invoke their certain mantras. blessings for successful termination of the marriage. The marriage party is now given tw'O feasts although previously 5 to 7 feasts used to be The bridegroom then puts on new clothes given. These feasts are called dhams and and his maternal uncle ties -the_sehra over his when the marriage party has taken dham, pagri. The relatives present on this occasi'On the kinsfolk and other neighbours are also bless the groom by touching his sehra. Before fed. The dham consists of boiled rice. two getting ready for the departure, the bride­ to three types of cooked daIs and a sweet groom gives some dry fruits and some coins dish. These meals are prepared by Brahmins tied in the handkerchief to the purohit. This who are well-versed in this art. The meals tHE PEopLE 15 are taken sitting on the floor in a row and\ Since it is considered very in-auspicious to are served on leaf-platers called pattals. die on a charpoy, the dying person has to be removed to the floor. The death bed is arranged The parents of the bride and maternal on the floor, besmeared with cow-dung. Some uncle observe fast so long as lagan ceremony kusha grass is also put under the bed. is not complete. They take their food there­ after. The marriage party together with the It is a conviction with the people that the bride departs the next day in the afternoon dying person must give some alms before and the bride is given some dowry accbrding death. Because the things, which he gives to the means of her father. The dowry may away in charity, help him on his heaven-ward consist of a few ornaments of gold and silver, journey. says that the dead a bed, a bedding and clothes. In well-to-do persOn has to cross a heavenly stream Betami houses, a radio set, a sewing machine and other on his long journey to Yamloka. The river is nick-nack, hair oil, soap, dressing case, tea said to be full of horrors beyond description. set may be given. Someone might give a cow To cross it, one requires some help. So Godan or a bulfaloe also. Before departure, the bride or giving away of a cow in charity has been puts on new clothes brought by her in-laws prescribed in scriptures. The cow thus given, and her hair are also combed and done up. manifests at the time of crossing Betami and She wears chonk brought by her in-laws. the person crosses it by holding on its tail. When the general feasting is over, - the Cow is usually given in daan before death marriage party returns with the bride who is but if the cow is not readily available or the carried in a palanquin. She cries bitterly. This financial poSition of the family does not per­ is really a poignant scene and all those who mit, some cash wrapped in a peice of cloth is are present on the 'occasion give a send off to given in token of Godan. Scriptures and tpe the girl with a heavy heart and moist eyes. The last chapter of Gita is recited by the bed-side women sing special songs. under the belief that it gives solace and peace to the dying person. Besides Godan, items The bride sits in a separate doli which is like a piece of iron, grains, ghee, salt, gur, oil, covered from all sides and behind it moves soap and til may also be given away in charity. the palanquin or horse of the groom. The Panchratna consisting of gold, silver, copper, father of the groom throws some coins bver coral and tuisi-leaf followed by Ganga-jal the heads of the groom and the bride for is put into the mouth of the dead. Eye-lids which children of the village and others make and mouth are closed as a person breathes a scramble to collect. This throwing of coins his last. The dead body is gathed and wrapped is called warna. The band, of course, leads in kalan-the windjng sheet. this procession at the time of departure also Pinds-Balls of barley or rice flour are ana stops playing when the party has gone known as pinds. These are offered by way of out of the boundary of the village. sacrifice to appease various spirits. Before On returning home the bridegroom and the taking the body out of the house, a pinel bride are given a welcome by the ladies of the ~aIIed gram-pind is offered to Yameluta, the messengers of Lord . Half way between house. Their arti is taken and at an auspicious the house and- the cremation ground, a pind time, vadhu, the bride enters her husband's known as path-vishram is offered. Again house. This is called vadhu pravesh. After Kukshi-pind is offered at the cremation spending 3 days, the bride returns to her ground. Pinds are offered for nine days sub­ parents and both spend a few days there. Then she returns with her husband. sequently. From the very moment of death, an earthen Death Customs latnp is lit with mustard oil and cotton and continues to burn at the-place of death bed Last rites are performed according to the for nine days. On the tenth (fay, it is thrown procedure, laid down in the scriptures, con­ into the river. The significance of this lamp ducted by the priest and Acharja or the Maha­ is that the soul of the deceased is guided by brahmin. A dead body is cremated but the lts light, on its way to Yama, the lord of child) en below three and lepers are buried. Death, through the dark and horrible paths. i6 mE PEOPLE

The eldest son or the neares.1l relative per­ Barkhi-Subsequently every month on the forms the last rites. Conch is blown at regular date of the death, some food-grains, rice and intervals on the last journey. The dead body dal are given in charity to a Brahmin for is laid on the pyre with its head towards one year. On the first death anniversary, a North. The chief mourner then goes round rite known as Barkhi is performed. Brahmins the pyre beginning from head and lits the are feasted and clothes, utensils, bedding and' fire. The fire is first applied under the head a few rupees are given to the family priest. in case of a man and under the feet in case After this, no rite is observed till the fourth of a woman. anniversary, when Chabarkhi is observed. Here again Brahmins are feasted and the Small splinters of sandal wood are distri­ usual offering of clothes, bedding and uten­ buted among the mourners and they throw SIls is made to the family priest. Clbse rela­ tihese splinters. on the fire after the Kapal­ tives gather on the occasion of chabarkhi to kirya, a rite which entails tapping the skull offer their last condolences to the members of the body with a long bamboo pole thrice of the bereaved family, but this gathering by the chief mourner. When the body has takes a turn for merry-making if the deceased been completely engulfed with flames, the had died at the ripe old age, leaving behind people pay their last homage by folding their grand children. In that case, well-to-do people hands and return to their homes. Either on may also throw a feast to the Baradri and their way back or on reaching home, every other village-folks. one of them must take bath and wash all the clothes, he was putting on. After chabarkhi, rites -are over, the de­ When the body has been completely re­ parted soul is consigned to the category of duced to ashes, the chief mourner accom-­ pitras and every year during the month of panied by the priest and the Maha-brahmin Bhadra-Asvina, before navratras preceding collect cones, of fiingers, toes and teeth to­ Dusehra. Brahmins are feasted in memory gether with some other bones in a piece of of the departed soul for full fifteen days on cloth. These are sent to Hardwar for immer­ dates, according to Vikram era corresponding sion in holy Ganga within ten days after the to the death dates of the deceased persons. cremation. The period of fifteen days is called a period of shradhas and all deads including ancestors All the family members shave their heads generally upto the thir~ degree,. are ~emem­ as mark of respect to the departed soul. They bered during this fortmght. Dunng thIS fort­ sleep on the floor during the period of mourn­ night, Brahmins corresponding to the sex of ing. The family neither applies turka to the deceased are fed and feasted. thus a vegetables and pulseS' nor take turmeric and female Brahmin will be feasted in memory spices. of a female departed soul. Similarly a Brah­ min child is fed in memory of a dead child Kirya-Kirya is performed on the eleventh generally of the same sex. day by tJhe chief mourner. Brahmins are feasted and clothes, utensils, beddings, walk­ If by some chance or through the careless­ ing-stick, umbrel!a, shoes a!1d a. charpoy to­ ness of the members of the family, somebody gether with Rs. 1.25 are . gIven In chant~ t~ happens to breath his last on the cot, then Maha-brahmin. On the thIrteenth day, Spmdl the chief mourner generally goes to Pehowa ritual is performed in which, three pinds are near Kurukshetra to perform the last rites, again offered and five Brahmins are feasted. as the death on the cot is considered to be Dharam Shanti-Dharam-shanti is per­ unnatural death. Similarly in the case bf formed on the sixteenth day in which sixteen those, who die by unnatural death, e,g., by Brahmins and brothemood are feasted. committing suicide or drowning, last rites are Average number of people-- -attending the performed at Pehowa. Ho",:ever, me? with feast comes to a hundred. This at times may limited means generally dIspense -WIth the go upto two to three hundred jf the deceased necessity of visiting Pehowa. In such cases, happens 110 be very old. With this, ends the whenever some distant relation happens to period of mournings and the family resumes go to th;t place, he performs the token rites its norma] functions. to appease the soul of the departed. III Economy

During the pre-independence days when Non-agriculturists who have latdnes atta.ched Chaunri was. the headquarter of the erst­ to the house engage sweepers to clean them while Keonthal State. it used to be fre­ There is no electricity yet. and kerosene lamps quented by the people from all over the are employed by them. Some well-to-do fami­ State. In those days it was rather a small trad­ lies have petromaxes. This entails expenditure ing town. But with the merger of the State in on lighting also. Education is another item on Himachal Pradesh in 1948 it suddenly lost which a considerable amount has to be spent. its glamour and importance because all the as almost all the families are keen to get their State courts and offices located there had to be children educated. Periodical fairs and festi­ closed. Despite all this it is even now slightly vals may also cause some expenditure. more than a village retaining some of its semi­ urban characteristics. Moreover its nearness Non-agriculturists seem to earn sufficient to Simla has naturally been influencing the income to meet the requirements of their liv­ economy and outlook of its inhabitants. ing. Potato is the cash crop grown here. In 1951 abo..gt 90 maunds potato were grown Slightly less than fifty per cent of the which in 1960 increased to 240 maunds. This families arc agriculturists and the others follow helps them to earn some cash to purchase various other occupations. There is a tiny consumer gopds. Potato cultivation has helped little bazar continuing since State times. It has a few shops of general merchandise. tca and the economy of the village to a considerable extent, though this might have resulted in less ~nacks, tailoring and barber. Nearly all their consumer goods requirements are mef 'from production of foodgrains. They have not yet taken to orcharding or fruit growing as else­ this bazar but the villagers like to purchase more sophisticated articles from Simla. where in Mahasu District. Some families have got a member or so employed in government Being a semi-urban area, this has never been service in Simla or elsewhere in Himachal a self-sufficient unit in foodgrains. Though to Pradesh and this also supplements their in­ much extent the agriculturist familics might come. meet their requirements of foodgrains from the produce of their fields, other households For decades they have bee'1. keeping regular have to purchase this from the market. Food­ contacts with th~ outs!de world and which has grains and pulses are usually procured by its resulted in changing their outlook to a con­ shopkeepers from the grain market of Simla siderabJe extent. Still being cOl}s~rvative to a or the people from the adjoining villages might great extent, they never fight shy in imbibing 1)ccasionally bring some grains to exchange new ideas- and learning new things. We may for some consumer goods. sum up. the economy of this village as that of a suburb of a city. Social, cultural and There are no weavers in the village and they economic life of this place has always depend­ entirely depend on the mill made cloth purchas­ ed on the trends current in Simla. ed either from local shops or from Simla. Some sophistication in the pattern of dresses is Worker and Non-workers noticeable especially the younger ones like to wear lat~st deSIgns. Fashions are invariably There are 27 agriculturists, 6 general-mer­ influt!nced by the trends in Simla. chants, 1 ammunition dealer, 3 tea and snack shop-keepers, 3 tailors, 1 goldsmillh, 3 swee­ At times they may like to visit Simla to view pers, 2 barbers. I cattleJ:e_nding and 9 govern­ a popular movie or they may spend something ment servants. Besides this there is the Raja's on refreshments while in the local bazar or household, which may be classified as subsist­ in Simla. Some expenditure on barber IS regu­ ing on the privy purse from the Government larly incurred by every member of the family of India. Another one household whose head 17 18 ECONOMy

Workers and Non-Workers Classified by Sex and Broad-age Groups

Age groups Total Population Workers Non workers (Years) .--_..A.._~ ...... ----"---...... ,---~ P M F P M F P M F

All ages 228 114 114 137 82 55 91 32 59 0-14 . 70 26 44 1 .. 1 69 26 43 15-34 50 30 20 47 27 20 12 3 9 35-59 72 30 33 68 30 29 4 4 60 and over 27 19 8 21 16 5 6 3 3 is a sick man suffering from paralysis depend Workers by age-groups and occupatidhS-' on the support he gets from hisl relatives in The households, who are purely agriculturists, Simla. have almost equal number of men and women Out of the total number of 228 persons 137 workers. The largest number of workers come are workers and 91 are non-workers. The in the age-group of 15-59. A few families have largest number of non-workers come from the some subsidiary occupations though their main age group of 0-14. Moreover, the number of occupation is agriculture. female workers is less than the male workers.

Workers Classified by Sex, Broad Age-Groups And Occupations

I II III IV V Agriculture & sub- Age-groups Agriculture sidiary occupations Barber Business Service (Years) ..... --..A..-...... , r--A.-...... r--..A..-...... , r-~ ,.-..A.._---., P M F P M F P M F P l\I F P M F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

All ages 74 30 44 22 15 7 2 2 12 12 9 8 1 0-14 1 .. 1 ...... 15-34 21 4 17 11 9 2 1 1 4 4 4 4 .. 35-59 40 17 23 9 4 5 1 1 5 5 5 1 1 60 and over 12 9 3 2 2 3 3

VI VII VIII IX X Age-Group Sweeper Tailoring Goldsmithy Privy Purse Cattle tending (Years) r---..A..----., ,..-..A.._, ,.-..A._...... r---"------, r---..A..-""""") p M F P l\I F P l\I F P l\I F P M F 1 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 30 31 ------_. ------.. ------All ages !; 5 3 7 7 2 2 1 0-14 .. .. 15-34 :3 2 1 3 3 ...... 30-o!) 4 3 1 :3 3 1 1 1 1 60 and over 1 1 1 1 1 1

Hair-cutting is done by two males. Similarlr the Government of India. One female subsists only males are engaged in business .. Qne female on the income derived by seUing milk. and eight males are employed in services. Five It may be pointed out that here women males and three females are working as work hand in Qand with the men in agricultu­ sweepers. In tailoring and goldsmithy, fifteen ral operations. But women are not at all em­ males haven been found working. The Raja's ployed in household industries like tailoring household is subsisting on the privy purse from and goldsmitby. Shops are also run by men. ECONOMY 19

Non-workers by Sex, Broad Age-groups and Nature of Activity

DJpendbnts, infants Full·time attenda:lts Persons engaged and children not Age·grdups (years) Total or children attending only in h(·usehold attending school & Non·workers school duties percs:ms permanent· ly disabled , __--.A. __--. ,.----_..J\....,__ -, ,-_ -.A.-.---., ,----"-----, P M 1<' M F M F 1\1 F

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 10

All ag("s 91 32 50 11 15 13 21 31 0-14 6:> 26 43 0 15 17 28 15-:H 12 3 9 2 9 1 3.3-50 4 4 4 6" and over 6 3 3 3 3

Full-time students in the age-group of Paddy-It is grown both as rain fed and o to 14 are 9 males and 15 females whereas in irrigated crop. Under barani conditions it is the age-group of 15 to 34 are 2 males. In the ;l0wn broadcast in June, in irrigated areas the age-group of 15 to 34 there are 9 females and seedlings are Jransplanted in the fields in July. in 35 to 59 age-group, 4 females are engaged The rain· fed paddy is harvested towards the in household duties. Comparatively low num­ end of September or in early October, the ir­ ber of persons engaged in household duties is rigated crop is reaped from October to due to the fact that the women here work November. hand-in-hand with the men in agriculture and other occupations besides attending to house­ AgricuUural Practices-Since the village hold work. The infants and children not attend­ is situated over a hill slope, there is terraced ing school naturally come in the age-group of oultivation. The size of the fields is small and o to 14 where there are 17 males and 28 fe­ so are the land holdings. Traditional organic males. Very old or permanently disabled per­ manure' of cow-dung mixed with the leaves sons are 1 mate in 15-34 age-grbup and 3 males and other refuse is used. Compost is prepared and 3 females in 60 and over group. How­ by dumping the farm refuse in the pits dug ever, tnere is no beggar, vagrant, dependent either near the houses or in a corner of the woman without indication of source of income field. Chemical fertilizers like ammonium and others of unspecified source of existence. sulphate or super phosphate have not found much favour with tlie villagers since most of Agriculture the land is un-irrigated. Some enterprising farmers, of course, have begun to apply this The area under cultivation is 69 acres out manure to their irrigated fields. of which 9 acres are irrigated with the help of kuhls fed by the hill streams. Thus mostly The fields are manured as far as possible the crops are rain fed. The principal crops for every crop, but spedal manuring is provid­ grown are:- ed for potato, maize, wheat and vegetables. Rabi Crops-The principal rabi crops is After the first ploughing, the manure is wheat, which is sown in October. Generally scattered over the field and a second plough­ two to three pJoughings are given and the seed ing mixes it with soil. The seed is then sown is sown broadcast. It matures for harvest from broadcast. The ploughing, hoeing and har': mid-April to mid-May. vesting is dO'Ile with the help of traditional implements. The crop after being harvested Kharif Crops-These consist mainly 'of is brought to the Khalihatrwhicp are establish­ maize, potato, paddy and pulses. ed near the houseS'. The grains are threshed with the help of oxen. The grains are separat­ Maize-It is sown with the first showers of ed from the chaff by winnowing. In case of the monsoons. The fields are prepared after maize the ripe cobs are plucked from the the harvest of the Rabi cro_ps. standing stalks. These are dried lin the sun 20 ECONOMY and the grains are separated by beating the Name of Name of operations 'carried out cobs with wooden staves. For paddy ngrseries Month are attached to all the fields and the seedlings are raised in small beds. These nurseries September Harvesting of maize, potatq_ and french baal,S. are first manured intensively. TranSiplanting/ October Sowing of wheat, barley. Cullflet grass for is done from the middle to the end of July. the cattle for winter season. There is knee deep water in the fields for November Sowing of wheat and barley. about two months. December .. Prepare basins for plants and digging pits fur new pll1ntation. Agriculture Calendar Agricultural Implements Name of Name of operations carried out MOlith Name of Local Nam~. Cost Life Implement January .. Plantation of (temrerate fruits ]ike apple, peach :tnd plum.. Chemical and LOmpost Rs. manurit g of Plough Hal 10·00 Two years Yoke Jungra 5·00 Three years February .. PruJ:1ing of temperate fruit pI:tnts. Leveller Moi 5·00 Do Hoe Kasi or Kudal 2·50 Do. March Prepl1re lal1

Land Utilisation Statements for- the Last Ten Years in Respect of Village Chaunri.

Land under Perma- misccl- B"rren I,and nent laneous Geogra- and un put to CulLi· pastures trees, phi cal Forest culti· non ago vable I1nd other crop8 Current Other Net Total Area Yel1r area vable ricul- wastes grazing and fa.llo\y fallow area eropped more land tuml bnd grows land land ~')wn area than Il1nd not sown included once ---1-. 1 2 3 4 5 6 'f 8 0 10 11 12 13

1951·52 303 10 17 257 4- 1 65 107· 42 1952·53 303 40 17 257 4 2 64 04 30 1953-54 393 40 17 257 3 2 65 113 48 52 1954-55 303 , 49 18 255 4 67 p9 1955·56 393 49 16 257 3 67 124 57 1056-57 393 __,_. 49 17 257 4 66 123 57 1957·58 3!J3 41) 17 257 3 67 114 47 1958·59 393 41) 17 257 2 1 67 123 51 1959-60 3U3 40 17 257 4 1 65 102 37 1960·61 393 4!) 17 257 ,3 I 66 104 37 ECONdMV 21

linswar 1951-60 Kharif

Name of crop 1951 1\)52 H'53 10M IU55 H)56 IUm 1058 1050 1060

------~------~ 2 3 4 5 6 7 8- 9 10 II ------Maize 44 54 41 41 :39 41 41 41 16 ,1,8 (1) (4) (4) Potato :3 4 ,I, 7 6 6 7 7 10 8 (1) (:~) Paduy 5 7 6 (j 5 5 6 :I 2 2 (1 ) Vegotables i 2 2 2 1 2 2 5

q Orchard " :3 3 2 2 :I 3 2 3 :I ~ Ragi (Koda) 2 4 3 4- :I " 4 -1 3 2 (1) (2) (1) Pulses 4 2 2 2 - 4 4 6 2 Other Crops 2 2 4 4 3 3 ------_. ---_-- - Total 60 61 65 68- 70 68 71 67 48 68

linswar 1952-61 Rabi

Name olcrup 1952 1953 1 U5-1 lU55 1056 H157 1058 1050 1060 11:161 ------_------. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 o 10 11 ------_._------Wl16o.t 38 7 39 41 -11 41 27 4(i 37 :12 (17) (4) (1) (3) (2) (2) (3) Barley 4 1 4 6 6 8 11 7 g (3.) (1) (1) (1) Pulses 2 :: Gram Vegetable 2 3 3 2 3 Other crops 4 2 4 Potato Arc:\, of Crolls failed 20 4, 2 4 3 II 3 ------_------

Total 47 31 48 51 54 55 43 56 54 36 22 llCONOMY

Kharif Crops Statements with Produce of Land per acre for the last 10 years

Area. in acres and R_agi Miscel- Year produce in maundl! Maize Potato Paddy (Koda) Vegetable Fruits Pulses laneous Total crops

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

1951 1. Maj,ured area 44 3 5 2 2 3 1 60 2. Average prnducc 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total produce 352-0 90-0 42-20 12 0 60-0 300-0 3-20

1952 1. Matured area 43 4_ 7 4 3 63 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total produce 344-0 ) 20-0 59-,20 24 0 30-0 300-0 3-20

1953 I. Matured area 41 4 6 3 2 3 2 4 65 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total produce 328-0 120-0 51-0 18-0 60-0 300-0 7-0 24-0

1954 l. Matured area 41 7 6 4 2 2 2 1 65 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total produce 328-0 210-0 51-0 24-0 60-0 200-0 7-0 6-0

1955 l. Matured area 9 7 5 3 2 2 2 1 61 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 :I. Tohl produce 312-0 210-0 42-20 18-0 60-0 300-0 7-0 6-0

1956 1. Matured area 41 6 5 3 3 2 62 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 !,!-20 6-0 3. 'rohl produco 328-0 180-9 42-201 18-0 30-0 300-0 7-0 6--0

1957 1. Matured area 41 7 6 4 2 3 4 4 71 2. Average produce 8-9 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. T.otal produce 328-0 210-0 51-0 24-0 60-0 300-0 14-0 24-Q

1958 1. Matured area 41 7 3 4 2 2 4 4 67 2. Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total produce 328-0 210-0 25-20 24-0 60-0 200-0 14-0 24-0

1959 1. Matured area 16 10 2 ,3 [) 3 6 3 48 2, Average produce 8-0 30-0 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total proauce 128-0 300-0 17-0 18-0 150-0 300-0 21-0 18-0

1960 1. Matured area 48 8 2 2 3 2 3 68 2. Average prouuoe 7-0 30-1) 8-20 6-0 30-0 100-0 3-20 6-0 3. Total pro-lnce --:- - 384-0 240-0 17-0 12-0 300-0 7-0 18-0

NOTE:-ClaBs-willO produce is not available. ECONOMY 23

Rabi Crops Statements with Produce of Land per acre for the last 10 years

Area in acres Rnd MiRcella- Year produce in maunus Wheat Barley Gram Potato no'lUS Pulses Vegetables Total Ol'OpS

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1952 1. Matured area 38 4- 1 4 47 2_ Average produce 5-0 5-20 30·-0 6-0 .. 3. Total produce 100-0 22-0 30-0 24-0 ., 30-0 " 1953 1. Matured area 7 1 .. J 2 11 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 :10.0 6-0 2-20 3. Total produce 35-0 5-20 6-0 5-0 H).34 1. Matured area :i0 4 1 44 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 :\0-0 6-0 2-20 3. Total produce !f15-\) 22-0 .. 6-0 1955 1. Matureu area 4l 6 1 ., 2 50 2. A veru,ge produce 5-0 5-20 :\0-0 6-0 2.:;20 30-0 3. Total produce 205-0 3:!-0 30-0 60-0 .. 1956 1. Matured area 4l 6 1 .. .. 2 50 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 30-0 6-0 2-20 30-0 3. Total produce 205-0 30-0 :~O-O 60-0 1057 1. Matureu area 4l 8 1 2 52 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 30--0 6-0 2-20 30-0 3. Total produce 205-0 41-0 30-0 60-0 1058 1. Matured area 27 11 .. 2 .. 3 42 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 30-0 6-0 2-20 30-0 3. Total produce 135-0 60-20 12-0 90-0 JP50 1. Matured area 45 7 .. ., 2 2. Average produce 5-0 5-20 -30-0 6-0 2-20 30-0 3. Total produce 225-0 38-20 60-0 .. 19{"'<) 1. Matured are" 37 8 1 .. 8 54- 2. Average produce 5-0 5-;W 30-0 6-0 2-20 30-0 3. Total produce 185-0 44-0 6-0 240--0 .. l1J61 1. Matured area • 32 1 .. .. 33 2. Average produce 5-0 4.-20 30.0 6-0 2:'20 30-0 3. Total produce '160_0 5-20

Rotation of Crops Vegetable and Fruits-French beans, gourd, bitter gourd, raddish, peas, turnip, tomato, Name of Crop Kharif Rabi pumpkin, carrots, cabbage and potato are the vegetables generally- grown in the village. 1. Maizo Maize Wheat 2. Yotato Potato Fallow Mostly these are sown in the irrigated fields 3 .. Paddy Paddy Do. but in rainy reason some of these may even 4. Koda Koda Fallow or Wheat be produced in barani or rain-fed fields. A few 5. Vegetables Vegetables Vegetable or Wheat 6. Pulses Pulses Wheat or other farmers grbw vegetables on quite an extensive Rabi crops scale for marketing in Simla. Potato and beans 7. Wheat Paddy, Potato, Wheat Koda. Vege- are tne main cash earning vegetables. table, Pulses etc. Fruits have not been traditionally produced 8. Barley As above Barley here. Though some beginning in this direction has been made, horticulture has not so far been taken seriously. Moreqver, the lack of ade­ Pests and Crop diseases-The main diseases quate land holdings may be another cause for are late blight of potato, loose-smut of maize, this, apathetic attitude. Snme farmers have blast-smut of paddy, black-red striped-smut planted temperate fruit trees like apple, apri­ and hill bunts for wheat and barley, brown­ cot, plum, nashpati, guava;- lemon and peach. rot of stone fruits apple mildew and brown-rot There is a tremendous marketing potential in of pear. Protective measures to save the crops Simla for .these fruits and if the villagers from these diseases are being carried but by seriously devote their attention to horticulture, the Block authorities through their Gram it would go a long way to improve their eco­ Sewaks. nomic conditibns. 24 ECONOMY

Animal Husbandry Those families who rear buffaloes sell milk to the' halwais in the village bazar. The nearest place where veterinary dispen­ The following table gives the statistical data sary facilitie~ are available is J{asumpti. The a bout the livestock reared by the different cattle wealth 'of tHe villagerS"'consists of cows, castes in the village. It would appear that buffaloes oxen, sheep and goats. The common only agricultmist families are mainly interest­ diseases from which the cattle suffer are foot ed in keeping cattle. Poultry farming is also and mou~h mange and debility. Buffaloes and not keenly taken up. Number of sheep and cows of good breed are brought from Punjab. goats is very few.

Live-stock Statistics

~iilk cattle Droughtjhul]tlcks Goat/sheep Poultry Buff

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ------Brahmin 7 11 2 3 1 4 2 5 Bhangi 3 7 ..." 6 Chamar 5 16 3 8 1 8 3 3 4 Koli 11 32 11 33 9 33 .. 10 18 Lohar 1 3 1 2 • 1 1 Rajput 6 11 4 7 3 6 8 Suu 1 Turi 2 1 2

Castes not:shown in the table do not reat' any animal.

Village Crafts carried out. The tools and equipment, when­ ever needed, are purchased from Simla. There are no regular crafts fullowed in the village but a few households are engaged in Whenever an agriculturist needs some im­ different type of crafts in addition to agricul­ plements, required mos~ly on the occasion of ture. sowing. harvesting or weeding operations, he Cobbler-Two cobblers are engaged in provides the pig iron, purchased from Simla. making foot-wear for the local consumption as Apart from supplying the principal raw mate­ subsidiary occupation. Thbugh a majority of rial the agriculturist also assists him in ham­ the popUlation purchase ready made footwear mering the iron, or pulling at the bellows. from local bazar or Simla. The shoes made Generally the items prepared are plough-share, by these cobblers may be purchased for use hoe, sickles, axe and other minor items for while working in the fielgs or doing some agricultural use. Wooden handles are fixed by rough work. the village carpenters. Blacksmithy-The Lahar household in the Gold'Smithy-There is one goldsmith who vmage is engaged in the household industry has been traditionally making ornaments for of making agricultural implements. Besides the villagers. But of late, he has ceased to manufacturing implements, repairs are also work owing to infirmness. IV Social and Cultural Life

The villagers usually spend their leisure fruits, chvtlaie or og/a preparations is taken moments in playing cards, chaupar or chess. to break the fast. There is a dramatic club known as Hitendra Rakhri is the festival of sisters and Amateur Dramatic Club which occasionally brothers. Sisters tie a thread around the wrist of stages dramas and skits. Kirtans are also p~r­ their brothers as a mark of their affection and formed in which devotional songs are sung III ..good wishes~ The brother promises in return chorus attended by musical instruments like full protection and love for his sister and a~ harmonium, dholak and chimta. A family a token of that he gives some cash. If the invites the neighbours at some religious oc­ brother happens to be living away, Rakhi is casion for kirtan. Next time some other house­ sent to him by post and so is received the cash. hold may arrange kirtan. Often these kirtans Sophistication has brought in costly rakhis continue till late in tbe night. made of nylon and immitation pearls in the The villag~rs often visit Simla for various market. These are often purchased from Simla. purposes and they also take the opportunity­ lanamashtmi usually comes in the month of enjoying movies there. At times a few of August. It is celebrated to mark the birth persons may especially go to Simla. to view a day of Lord . People keep fast on certain picture if a particular mOVIe happens this day and offer prayers in the temple. Phal­ to be a popular hit. ahar is eaten. Kirtans are performed and de­ Gulli-danda, kabaddi, hide and seck, snake votional songs are sung in honour of Lord and ladder and pebbles are the favourite Krishna. games of the children. But women do not play Dussehra or Vijay Dashmi is celebrated any game. They keep thems~lves busy in in the month of October. This is celebrated household chores or in agricultural operations. to mark the victory of the good over the evil. Monotony of the daily routine is broken by It is said that on this day Ram killed Ravana the periodical f~irs and festivals. The people in the battle and rescued . P~ople pre­ for the time put on their best dresses and pare and eat good food. enjoy to their heart's content setting aside all A fair is also held in the village. The the worries of life on such occasions. Special school ground which- is quite spacious is dishes and gooa food are eaten. A brief des­ utilised for the purpose. An effigy of Lanka, cription of each of the fair Or festival made of· grass and dry pine cones and reaves, follows:- is erected on the gtound. An earthen pitcher Fairs and Festivals full of water is -placed in it. Ravana's effigy is also erected. The deity of Lord is Baisakhi or Bissu. This is the new year's broughf in a Palki from the temple to the day of the Hindu Calendar, and is celebrated site of the fair in a procession. The pitcher on the 1st of Baisakh. Earthen pitchers and is broken with a gun shot and the eJIigies are foodgrains are given away in charity to Brah­ set on fire. People sing -and dance. Arrow mins. Halwa, kheer or some other special fighting and wrestling bouts are held. Con­ dishes are prepared and eaten. fectioners and other vendors install their Nirjala Ekadashi falls in Jyeshtha. Its: stalls. Merry-go-round is enjoyed by the literal meaning is Ekadashi without water. On people. this day fasting is undertaken in which not Diwali is the most impofntnf -festiVal of even water is taken during the day. Seasonal Hindu ,calendar. It is celebrated with maxi­ fruits like kharbuza or kheera are offered to mum enthusiasm and gaiety. Villagers white Brahmins. Non-cereal diet consisting of milk, wash their houses and remove the defects 26 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE caused by the rainy 'season. Cow dung coat­ worship of Sheshnaag. This is dbne so that ing is given to the floors to give them fresh the family may have no fear of snakes during 10bk. On the day of Diwali special dishes like the year. patande, askali. halwa and kheer are pre­ 8liadra Shukla Haritalika-Only women pared and eaten. Houses are illuuminated with keep fast on this day and pray for the welfare earthen lamps and candles. Goddess of their husbands. is worshipped and prayer is offered for the well being and prosperity of the family. Karua Chauth-Women keep fast on this Often the youngesters_ make bon-fire of maize day for the long life and well-being of their stalks in the fields or in the courtyards. husbands. Puja is performed with an earthen Sweetmeats, khillan and toys made of sugar pitcher. Fast is broken after viewing the moon in the evening. are purchased either from the local bazar or from Simla. Mal Punya falls in the month of Ashvina. Some fast on this day. This marks the begin­ On the third day after Diwali Bhai duj is ning of winter season. Cows are worshipped bbserved in which sister applies tikka to her and garlanded. They are given balls made of brother and entertains him with good food. flour to eat. Lohri-Rice and pulses cooked together called khichari is specially taken on this day Folk Songs with ghee. During the night bon-fires are The hilI people have to work hard to eke made and people sit around them and sing out their living from small scattered fields. songs. They eat rewaries and parched maize They seek relief from their bone breaking grains. Rice and pulses are also given away burden by enjoying songs intimately connected in charity. The festival falls in the month of with their simple way of life. Their folk songs January. have been echoing in these valleys since Shivratri falls in Phalgun. Fasting is done times immemorial. The tragedy of urban in­ on this day. Lbrd Shiva is worshipped. Phal­ fluence is that man loses his simplicity and ahar, the non-cereal diet is eaten. Bilpatra is unsophistication. The folk songs which we specially offered to Shiva. are reproducing here were compiled by R. C. Temple. These were very much sung in Basant Panchmi falls in shukla-paksha of Chaunri on various festive occasibns to give' Magh. This marks the end of winter and expression to gaiety and mirth. These are ushers in spring. Basant means the spring. mostly historical odes depicting some past People often wear Basanti or yellow clothes events of the area. on this day. Yellow rice or halwa is prepared and eaten. Now we hardly see people in this viilage singing folk songs collectively. Folk dances Holi· is celebrated on the full moon day also are the things of the past. One may, of of Pha-Igun. It is celebrated with great mirth c'ourse, hear a solitary person singing his and joy. People throw colour and coloured care away in the fields or on his way to water at each other and the whole day is forests. The gradual city influence has taken spent in rejoicing and revelling. Holika's away the folk colour and charm but of the effigy is burnt. Hiranyakashyap, the famous life of these people. This tends to make them mythological demon king had a sister named mechanical and sophisticated. However, these Holika. The king issued a decree to his sub­ folk songs remind us of the rich heritage of jects to worship him instead of God. But his these people. own son Prahlad defied him and continued to Legends worship Gbd. Holika had a boon by which she could always escape unburnt from the THE LEGENDS OF THE PUNJAB fire. The king asked her to sit in the fire having BY Prahlad in her lap. She acted likewise but CAPT AIN R. C. TEMPLE by the grace of God the-clliJd escaped and THE STORY OF RAJA MAHI PARKASH she - died. Since then Holika's effigy is 'burnt OF SARMOR every year on the eve of Holi to celebrate the As TOLD BY TWO INHABITANTS OF JUNGA, incident. TH'E SEAT OF THE RAJA OF KYONTHAL Nagpanchmi comes in the month of (Kyonthal is the Hill State whose territories Sravana. Some people keep fast and perform lie about Simla, and thiS song relates the SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 27 story of a well-remembered fight between line, (the present chief Raja (by British patent the Rana of Kyonthal and the Raja of the of 1857) Mahinder Sen being 75th). and was neighbouring Hill Slate of Sarmor, more the person who fought Raja Malhi Parkash commonly known as Nahan. The geography of Naha~ at the Deshu . But his date of the song is strictly local. most of the places appears to have been AD. 1670-1693. mentioned lying in the limited Territories of barely within 600 years of that of Malhi the Raja of Sarmor, and the remainder with­ Parkash. Anup Sen's contemporary was Raja in those of the (now) Raja of Kyontha1. Its Budh (or Bidhichand) Parkash. 34th Raja of history is, of course, strictly local, and except­ Sarmor, who reigned 1674-1694 AD. ing the chief heroes, it js, in the present Going back. however, I find that the 33rd condition of 'our historical knowledge regard­ Rana Rup Sen, was Malhi Parkash's con­ ing the Hill States of the Simla District, quite temporary, and perhaps this is the Chief hopeless to ascertain who the many minor meant). personages, that figure in it, were). (Four of the hill legends about Simla will be g~v_en in succession as they bear upon (The song is called the "story of Mahi (or locaht~es . closely connected. geographically Mai) Parkash, Raja of Sarmor". This must and hIstOrIcally, and are all 10 the same dia­ be meant for Raja Mahi Parkash, the fourth lect. known as the Kyonthali to students of of the Surajbansi (Raj put) line of the these matters. The linguistic notes that follow 'of Sarmor, who, according to a manuscript are a guide to all the four stories). epitomised history that I have in Urdu of the Sarmor State, reigned in Samvat (Vikrama­ TEXT ditya) 1165-1174, or A.D. 1118 to 1127. The .-:--Har Raja Mahi Parkash Raja Sarmor. territories along the R. J amna in its moun­ Tabe bare. baras Mai Raja jori Kyonthal tain course, known as Sarmor. were conquer­ Narazi. red by one Sobha Rawal, a Surajballsi Rajput, a son of Rawal (not Rawal). Ugar Tabe ~ahan si* Raja taini fauj pai jori. Tabe J.~ dera aya tha Raja ra Balag riseri. Sen of Jaysalmir (founded according to Tad. Tabe Jl Balag ri bastaro goebhagiro . Rajasthan, n., 187, in Sam vat 1212 or AD. !) Tabe Dharmi Bahmani mat Ii kmai: 1158, by Bhatti Rajputs), who established Tabe Raja ayo goya charhiro dere aumi himself in the Rajban forests of the Khyarda jae. Dun in Samvat, 1152, AD. 1095, and called ~abe thali bhari moti ri bheta Raja khi himself Svehabans Parkash. He reigned from he. ]095 to 1099 AD. and was succeeded by Tabe Raja taini Mahi ghai pithri pheri. Raja Salbahan Parkash, 11 08-1117. Parkash Tabe hekri, Raja, pethri duni Sahiba is the peculiar designation of the Sarmor teri. ' , Rafas, the present Raja being Shamsher 10 Tab~. jn tu sune, Rajia, Bahmani ri Parkash, the 45th of the line. The name wazlnt ~ahan for the title of these Rajas is compara­ Teri bahin lao sunanganon; tu ja Nahani tlvely new, as that town was not occupied pheri! and repopulated till the time of the 31st Raja. Nahin sunda Bahmani cheori ra jana. Karam Parkash. who reigned 1616-1630 "Meri Kyonthal narazikhi jani hi jana. ?\Isi barron. chakaro, pagari; pahiro san­ AD. The discrepancy between Tad's date Joya." for the foundation of Sarmor by a J aysalmir 15 Tabe aj hukum Raja fa Nagni khi hoa. prince is a slight one compared to those that Tabe Nagni, rigari goe bhagiro devi. follow). SUnI_1i chhari goe N to bae goe na shan: (In the song Malhi (Mahi or Mai) Parkash Tabe Nagni ri garhi goe begi dari. fights ~nup (or Nup) Sen, Rana of KyonthaI. Tabe dheri ekki panjoej: goe Nagan choti. Accordmg to the manuscript Urdu history of 20 "~si ban on, chakaro, -pagari, shigi karo these chiefs, Rana Anup Sen was 67th of his rotI."

*80 in this t~xt, but si is unintelligible; probably should be Nah8fll. tFor arzi. LfB(N)3SCOHP-5 ~Panch ek, about 6vo, 28 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Tabe aj hukum Raja ra Sainjuni khi hoa. Tabe bashi lua tha pali, phumen rahi Talbe defF. a goya Raja ra Sainjuni ri kyuth. sairi. Tabe chhiri falij Raja ri, hoe dhaule dharo: Tabe bara juni* darue Raja kia ma­ halat Tabe tharra** charhe Tha'kuro, pandra haza'r: Tabe sare bhaiyo Kyonthal ra lambu jira Tabe Deshua re Dharo da goya mo' amla hala. lage; 25 "Tusi banon, chakaro, bugche; pahiro san­ 55 Tabe Deshua re Dharo di lagi goi la

85 Tabe bira laga bandukon ra megh jira 15 Then the Raja gave the order for (the gora: march to) Nagni at oncet. Tabe bira laga kamane ra jao jira pan a : Then the people of N agni ran away. Tabe bira laga talwari ra bijh ji chamako. Nagni was (left} empty and no one op­ posed them at all: Tabe ishu laga than bolda Nahani Raja: And the people of Nagni were very frigh­ "Toin Deshu Dharo bha:) ya Raja Sahib a, tened: thi nokhi ki". And about the fifth day Nagni was con­ 90 "Tabe ebe paki boi, Rajia meri Sidhi 1'i quered. waziri." 20 "Fasten on your turbans, my servants; "Tabe dudh sarda meri Nahani ebe leu and quickly make your bread:!:." dima khiri." Then the Raja ~ave the order for Sain­ Tabe eshu laga bolda Sidha Waziro, juni§ at once, 95 "Tuni picchu Rajia :t'\up Saina. jana And the Raja's camp came to the plains pheri." of Sainjuni. Tabe Sidha, kat ra Thakuro, baitha mehna Then the Raja fired off twelve junisll of deL gun powder; "Tabe Dcshu jita tha, Rajia aj hariro And all the brethren of Kyonthal shook dewa." like grass" 100 Tabe Raja goya seh Nup SaiD pichh1'o 25 "Fasten on your bundles. my servants: hati: put on your armour." Tabe ji Raja seh Maiya big1'i hua khush: Then the Raja gave the order for the Tabe Nahini Jaero kari loe bahot khushi. Desu Dhar at once. And the Raja fired at the fort of Desu TRANSLATION Dhar. Then the bards** of Kathri hit upon a The Story of Raja Mah, PClrkash of Snrmor. plan, to go to the camp of Raja Mahi. When Mahi was twelve years old the Raja of 30 Two seers (of food) were ordered as a Kyonthal quarrelled with him gift to the bards of Kathri. Then the Raja (Mahi) collected his army Then said they "Weare the people of the at Nahan: Raja of Desu."H And the Raja took up his statiGn at the At dead of midnight the camp was rob­ plains (If Balag*, and the people of Bah.g bed. ran away, Then the bards of Kathri went to the 5 Then Dharmi, the Brahmani, made a Court of Jonga (Kyonthal). plan; "Why art sleeping, Sir Raja, an enemy (That) as the Raja had come she would hath come to Desu?" go to his camp, 35 The Rajja of Jonga was walking about So she took a platter filled with pearls as his verandah. a present to the Raja. "Call you Ghila, the Chhibbar, and But Raja Mahi turned his back upon her. Dharta, the Bhiler." Then said she "Sir Raja, thy face and When Ghila the Chhibbar and Dharta the back are one to me." Bhiler were come. 10 If thou hear the Brahmani's petition, Raja Anup Sen (of Kyonthal) began to Raja, ask them thus: Take golden-bracelets for thy wrists; re­ "Mahi has come to Desu' what shall we turn thou back to Nahan! do?" ' He heeded not the wisdom of the Brah­ 40 ':Give (thy daughter) in marriage (to man woman. hIm), 0 Raja (Anup) Sen and enmity will be lost. "I must go on account of my quarrel with "u Kyonthal. Sitala, the Raja's daughter would not take her food. Do you fasten on your turbans my ser­ Then spake Ghila and Dharta settling the vants, and put on your armour." betrothal: '

* About 16 miles Nahan. ~Lambu-Lamba, a grass, aristiua "depress or setaeea: tLit today. Nagni is tho second stage towards Kyonthal. See Punjab Plants, Stewart, p. 249. tL.E., prepare for the way. **Koli, a -Caste occupied as bards and weavers. §Or Saini, the third stage. tti.e., of the conqu(\l'ol' : a flattoring speech :i.e., 18 mans or 14-75 lhll. ::This is a very do~,]Mul line. • LJB(N)3SCOHP-5& 30 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

(And so) on what free rights they had "The crop-tailed horses are now (only (the Raja) demanded double revenue. fit) for (treading out) grain."t (So they said) "The country has been 70 Then next spake the Minister of Nahan: robbed, 0 Raja, by thy servants and their "Going to the Raja Kyonthal thou hast horses. taken this army!" 45 Thy servants and their horses are to fight Then thus spoke the Raja's Queen: at the Desu Dhalr. "Raja, when thou wast warned thou Thy servants eat the rice and we drink wouldst not listen to anyone; the rice-water." Thou hast gone to Kyonthal and what hast thou done?" "Fight ye, too, (said the Raja) that are my subjects and I remit half the revenue 75 "I tell thee, my Lady Queen, do not re­ (from you)." proa'ch me. Then Ghila the Chhibbar thought of a Thou shalt see my revenge, Rani, for the plan: Desu Dhar. And senj; letters (papers) to the ministers Thou shalt see the affairs at Ratipani, my Que~n." and clerks. Then the Raja of Nahan made his prepa­ 50 When the night hald passe? away, the rations: army collected in the mormng. Twelve hundred horse and a hundred The rain was falling and the clouds low­ thousand in£antry.§ ered: 80. And the Raja's army reached Ratipani. And the Raja's army advanced and the The Raja let off eighteen junisll of gun hills became white (with their clothes). powder. Bentath the earth shook and above the Then advanced the eighteen Lords· and heavens trembled. fifteen thousand (men): The white vultures and the black crows And the struggle began at the Desu Dhar; collected: 55 The fight at the Desu Dhar! And the struggle was then at Ratipa'ni. Then spoke the follower of 85 Then the guns in exchange thundered like Gosaint the clouds: and the exchange of arrows was like the "Throw aside bows and arrows here and chaff from barley: look to your clubs." And the swords in exchange flashed like (With) slaying and slaying the earth and lightning. the hollows became filled: Then thus spake the Raja of Nahan: "My brother Raja (of Kyonthal), thou Abd heads and corpses were pITea up into didst much damag(;' at the Desu Dhar. fences. 90 The advice of my (minister) Sidha. 0 60 And the Raja (Mahi's) army was cut up Raja, is very good. like grass. I (the Raja) have plenty of milk in my Then they went-through the bushes or the Nahan I will bring here khir~ (for Desu Dhar. thee)".** Then thus spake Sidha, the Minister, The Raja (Mahi) who had come (sitting) who was wounded in the face by a! lance, upright in a palanquin was carried back and who did not turn back: prostra'te._ "In the Desu Dhar my power was useless, The Raja came to his senses in the plain Raja. of Sainjuni. 95 And heads and corpses began to be collect­ "0 thou Mahi, bring here my golden ed into fences". huqa:" Then thus spake Sidha, the Minister. "0 Raja Anup Sen, do thou turn back." In the golden huqa was the offering to Then Sidha, the Lord of Kot, spake (these) Devi. reproa!ches: "Raja, thou dost want the huqa' I have "Thou didst win a Dasu Raja today shalt but brought my life." , thou lose." "With what face shall we go to Nahan 100 Then was Raja Anup Sen driven back: now, Mahi?" Then thus spoke the Lord of And Raja Mahi was very pleased. Nahan: And great rejoicings were held at Nahan. ~-

"'The 18 thakurs or barons over whom the Kyonthal :j:Bathu, a species of chenopodium. . Raja ruled. §Meaning merely a vague large quantIty. . tMeaning Hanuman, the monkey.god; the god of warr. lIi.e. 27 mans or over 2,000 lbs. _ lora. '\fA pottage of milk and rice. ."'Give thee a plenteous reward. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 31

The Legends of the Punjab It is to be noted that Syama, is in the song supposed to possess title-deeds in the shape Volume I of copper-(plate)-sheets. In short the whole question of these mavis is very interesting, if BY not important. I have suggested that this CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE modern word mawawi or mavi, which I heard also pronounced mawahi and maavi. THE STORY OF SYAMA, LORD OF SORINI is the Arabic word, and our Indian Official term muafi, rent-free lands.} As TOLD BY Two INHABITANTS O_F JUNGA, THE SEAT OF TRE RAJA OF K YONTHAL (The geography and history of the legend are strictly local and call for no further (The history of the legend is very qlixed remark here. It is quite impossible, at pre­ and confusing. It relates the quarrels of Raja sent, to ascertain the history of the minor Na.rpat (sic) of Sarmor with Syama of Sohini, personages so frequently mentioned in it.) who is described as "jagirdar, pargana Sohini, ilaqa Sarmor". i.e. fief-holder in the sub-division Sohini of the Sarmor State. But as far as the lists in my possession guide me there never was a Raja Narpat Parkash of Sarmor. The 49th Rana of Kyonthal, how­ TEXT ever, was Rana Narpati Sen, and the legend Har Syama, Jagirdar, Pargana Sohini, Ilaqa may be explained possible by supposing that Sarmor the Raja of Sarmor's help was asked for in suppressing Syama. Nevertheless the legend Syama Sohini ra ban gaya mawawi,* distinctly calls Narpat, Raja of Sarmor, and Kara mo'amla Raja ra khai loa grahi. states tha~ Syama's fief was in Sarmor terri­ Gave maheshe parza ri ghai kare maji­ tories. Rana Narpati Sen of Kyonthal seems anLt to have lived about the beginning of the 16th Tabe dove jane Rigarue gallo pai lai. century A.D. His contemporaries on the Sarmor throne have left apparently nothing 5 Raja Narpat Pagiye di sunno: but their bare names and dates behind them. "Sach bolo, mere Regaru, kare japa tosi?" The mention of the Raja of Garhwal or Sri­ "Kene japa, Sahiba, dukha sukhi lai?" nagar, as the helper of Syama's son Sundar, "Tosi sach bolo, mere Regaru Raja kolhu does not help us, for no name is given, and de pilo." according to Sarmor history there was more or less continuous fighting between these "Ramen lai, Raja -Sahiba, mawawi ri mountain neighbours from the time of Raja gallo." Mandhata. Parkash of Sarmor, A.D. 1634- 10 Manj Deshu da, Rajia, Syma bana ma­ 1654 till the beginning of the century.) wawi. Mahil re badharo kho mangi chambi ri ·'Syama in the song is called the mawawi bahi. of Sohini, a word I have variously rendered Chambi ri hahi da kara Raja dekha. as independent, insurgent, rebel etc., as the Sat hoe Rajawali kara bina ditta. context warranted. In the MS. Kyonthal History the word is mavi and is described as "Kora ano mer a kagat, kalam ru dawat. indicatJive of a class, which it undoubtedly 15 Pahil likho chithi da Ram meri salam: is. They seem to have been independent Duji likho chithi da pionoli raghes. landowners in the hills, holding usually very small estates, but acknowledging no master Kebe ave meri Nahan khi, kebe rove nan and paying no one revenue or tribute. The mere deshi." MS. history says "mavi, yane khud sar log", Tabe do Raja re chakaro Sohi~tKhi dive. i.e., "the mavis, or master of themselves". Sohini jairo goe chaure baithi.

*From mua1l. rent free landa. tmu'avaza= oompensation. .32 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

20 Syami ri rangari mori manji dekhi: 60 Ghat tias Jimte re kari ghaya mahala: Syami ri rangari bhari Iai narilo; Dhoin ri badaH goya surjo jhima. Chaure khi ai hath ditta narelta. Syama baitha Sohini thate pandale shuno. Bavin pairo bando. "Tambe bolo, mera Ghorua, kaun ugma "Syama mawawi Sohini ra ghare hole ke Raja?" gaven?" , "Raja koi nitlgma, Taru ra nigh." 25 "Syama sutti rove Jaiya bangali ri daphi." 65 Tabe Taru ri fa'uj ai Sohini bare: "Tisha bio koin adimi jo Syami deo jag- Sohini ri bar., di Iai Taru re ago. avi?" • Syama seh Sohini ra lambi dHa hako. Tabe Thulie laya beti thali da chhenaka. "Dinaroa. kimua, :neri dhai khi ave." Sutta hunda' seh Syama jhumkiru ja~. "Tinon san on khi. Syarna, harnen koi na "Uba: uthe, bapua. goe Ravale ave." amino 30 "Kene khai na, betie, Ravele ri khati." 70 Bara dhoe barash Dohchi da bhare. Age niblo bahiro khi sauri 1'0 daliche. Ghar chine toin apne, tune* kati mahari." Manji rallne Sohini re bicbi goi satranji. Isho lagi boldi Syami re naro: Syama donon Jaiya tabe bahiro khi a'e. "Tere lure haziri, mere jaero dum." Chilke sel: Ia ga~ tab~ kachahri de baithe. Tabe isho Jaga bolda Sohini ra Syama: 35 Page da khole ti ne ka:gat ditti Syama re 75 "Kadhi bhili ratri? kadhi ola deshu?" halth. Tabe charhe aire rnohri Dha1gu Syama- ra Tabe Syama tine Jaiye bauchne lai. Kesu. Banchi banchiro kagat pai githi de phuki. "Choruat Koltua, in dhiri khi pala." "Tusi done ave boli, charhero Raja 1'0 Bhitaro dajatla sebe Chohuru Koltu: Rani. "Taru para nadri; lao Syamaji, gall." Raja dima: gaonto, Rani bhar laie pani. 80 Tinon ri ha'di khi Syama hasne laga: 40 Kale kare in re munhto, lambe deo dhake." "Je banhin tan di, meria Chu ua, landa Patha ditta shirash ganthri da bani. koe nin goli?" Kunko Raja ginero enni aini ave. Sohini ri sir da goya rno' amla lage: Tabe tinon Ra'ja re chakaro de lambe ditte Taru nigi ri fauj ra gha kata kia: dhake. T8!ru ningi seh Nahan ra tabe laga ronda:- Tabe Snhini seh chakaro pure Nahan khi hate. • 85 "Kati Raja ri fauj, han Deshu joga na honda." 45 Raja, baitha iha Narpat bara re dware. Tabe likhiro Tarue kagat Nahan khi ditta. Tabe rigarue Ra1ja boli, "Jaikari." "Sada kati, Tairua, ghaeni ra gha. "Bolo, merio rigaro, oh $yama ri hadi." "Patha ditta. Sahiba, shirash gathri da Tu aj mawawi kho ore leve swas." bani; Tes Taru ningi diayo goi dhir. Je kunke Raja genero me khi ennti fauj. 90 Jhura ro rulia haziri Kalsi khi dive. leve". Jab janda pari jandiye rain ru rat: !'IO "Mere ningi-Taru garh re ore leo shade. Tabe lage Dubi ri Kalsi pyuli re pat. Tu to bhari Iai ja fauj, bad a sam._a.n. Bahar da jat]a Rulia ru Jhura: Tu to bhairi lai ja fauj, _bad a samano "Pyuli ra Du\;lial tu pyuwal kholi." Mare begi jae goa akra Sohini ra mawawi. 95 "Tu kai ra admi? kine joga aya." Tarua nigia, tu to a, bo, Sohini phuki." "Nahan ra han admi, Kalsu khi aya." 55 Tarue nigi Jai fauj j~ri. "Tu kare ebho, Jhoria, bag manje dera. Change r:h~J')gE' loe haziri, changi ban­ :rabe bara. dima bakara bhalko re sabera. duko. Hadi galo jabe landiye baithiye rain ru Shinke daru re ba'dre hathi ri bandhe rat. pithe: 100 Tabe khole Dubi ri Kalsi pyuli re pat. Age nikala mohre de ri~e 'l."e [lishan. Tabe Jhura Raje ra haziri bhitaro khi Tabe charhi fa'uj Tarue ri Jimte ri ghati. diwa;

*!'OllQ, woo~: oadrel.. toOM. tFor the ciommon opprobrious na.me Chuhra.. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 33

Tabe pag da khola kagat dita Rubi re 145 Bete Syama re sairi khi da'Uriro pare: hath. Sairl manje Sohini re goya mo'amla lagi. Hema Chand Dubi lua kagat banchi. Bira laga' kamane 1:'a ~ao jaya pana: "Mahare begi jai goya akara Sohini ra mawawi: Bi a laga banduk ra meheg jaga goro. Siri manji fauj ra lekha roya na jokha. 105 Sat hui Rajawali Syama bala no navi: 150 Likhe Heme kagat Nahan khi ditte. Tan kho mangi, Dubia, Garh ri jamat. "Jali goi, Raja, karam; jali' goi bhag. Cha'ngi live haziri, changi Lahori Naili; Adhi fauj kati, Syama, adhi jali ag." Bhari live fauj, bhari live saman." "Sada .ka1t . Hemen, ghani ra ghao. Tabe Hema Chand Dubi loi fauj jOri: Tu ora ave Nahan khi live apni jan." 110 Tabe charhr-fauj Hema Chand re Kalsi ri Dharo: 155 Hima Chand hata Nahan khi pachho. Dharo tine kalsi kari paya mahala. Raja tine Nahan re mat pai kamai. Duji aya Hima majliye Nalhan re darbare. J amnu ro Syama sala hole bahinoL Do Raja re regaru Jarnnu khi dive. Raja baitha tha Nahane ru baradari. "- Hemll! Chand Kalsi ra bolo "Jaikari." Jamnu Banayak ora Raja bulaya. 115 Tabe dain duje ja'ikari puchho Raja nisho. 160 RaJa: baitha tha Nahane ra bara re dware. "Mahare goy a akara Sohini ra mawawi; "Mahare begi goya akara Sohini ra maw­ Raja ri fauj ral gha kata kaya. awi. Hima Chand Dubia, Sohini khi jana. Syama andiye Sohini re, deun nikra Bhari lai ja fauj: bhari saman." gaun." 120 Charhi Dubi ri fauj Jimte re ghat. "Khota Raja tu Sahiba, tan dhijda nahin." Gha1t tine Jimte re kari paya mahala. Raja tin:e Narpat chhun paya janeu. Jimte re ghat thai jarnre re buteo 165 "Raja. iive aman jo Syama, katne na Saz bane tine jamre goe jhuthi da chhoti. deun." "Bidhnia Badharia* baitha ka to hire? Gau re galo da Raja chaura taga. Tabe Jamnu Banayak Sohini khi diwa: 125 Daru bandde clJakaro khi ta1ka'ri ro sere." Daru band de chakare pai kang. Sohini jaeto chaure da baitha\. Syama ri rangari mori manji dekha. Patha patha daru a kikhe chakar mango. Daru re badare (ii gae chamki ago 170 "Bhai ri neori chaure da koin bai:tha." Adhi fauj Hima Chand ri goi darue band­ Syama ri rangari matri thai Syani. de jali. Bhari lai narelto lotra da panL 130 Adhi fa~j Hima Chand ri Sohini khi Syama ri ran$ari chaure khi_ ai. charhi Tise hath ditta narelto, tabe paire bande. Likhi Dubi kagat Syama mawawi khi ditti. 175 "Bag re phulro, tu kida aya?" "Syama, tu ora melo khi ave." "Syama ro Jaiya ghar hole ke gaven?" "Chupa rove tu sharm khi kalsi ra Dubi. "Mawawi suttf' re.ve Sohini re bangala da unche." Kai chari mahesh, aj gira lobit "Tisha bee koi admi jo abe deo jagave?" 135 Jape, tu, Dubia kal manjo ri hadi: Thuli Syama ri beti bang ale khi dive. Moven dhacha' tha, Dubia, chhai ru al." 180 Thr,ll beti Syama paya jag ave. Adhi fauj Hima Chand Sohini darbare. Sohini re bare di lai Himme ago '~Uba uthe, bapua, mama rua avi." Tabe Sohini ri sairi da goya mo' amla Tabc Syama ru Jaiya bahiro khi ae. lage. Syama milo Jamnun pidariye kande. 140 Bete nikale Syama! re sih jai gurrane. "Tabe, Jamnua sala, kine joga aya?" Ishu laga bold a Sohini ra Syama. 185 ;'Raia tine Nahane re tain joga laya." "Tuse bolun, mere betuon, in dhire khi "Kishi bani Syama. toen -Raja khi tan? pale" Raja Sathi. Syama nahin chakle man." "Poret Jalo, Jaiya, Teri Ian,!:!ri khoti." "Raja sahiba jamanua begi hal a khota, Bai Jai~a musalc adhi jS'gro chhoti. _ Raja tis Narpat nahin dhijda authi."

.For ban

190 "Churl was barabari nain, Syamaji. 230 "Syama gurawane khi tata karo panL" hondi." "Tabe tate pani, Rani. Syama na guro." Ishu lagi boldi Syama ri naro. Ishu lagi bolda Nahani ra Raja; "Bahin bhanje re tan khi hatia lago. "Syama katni Jiaya Jamna re kachh, Ra1ja tine Narpat chun paya naneu. Jo raja rakte tano re Jamna re machho." Bahn pandi lima apni, ghani na deun." 235 Syama nein Jaiya Jamna re kachho: 195 Syama ri rangari matri syana. Phat baya hongriro Chinna Chamare; "Syama nian jo Nahani khi ora' seh na Raje rakte tinon re Jamna re machhe. hato," Sat beton bichu da ik bhagiro diva. "Tave. rangari, to sajr.a gbeo: Seh Syama ra Sundaro goya bhagiro diva. Khota Raja Nahani ra nahin leunda1 jeo." Ishu lage holde Dagi Syama ra kiso: 240 Jimte re ghat da lamhi di goyal hako: 200 "Sat jiti, bapu. mo' amla, sat kini IaraL "Sih diva bhagiro, gheri chakaro shi1i: Ebe, bapua, Nahane khi api handiro chala. Tabe jane rna Syama re jabe lama Naha­ nialg." Jabe di goya Nahane cha'lo mahara na basu." Syama ra Sundaro jae diva Garwale. Syama ri rangari bhulbulue rone. Garhwalo jairo bhara bere da panL 205 "Baithiro. rangari, ji hatero ave." 245 Char... mahine Sundar re bhara tite pani. Tabe. Jam:qu ro Syama Nahan Khi dive. Chah mahine Rani bahiro khi ai; Raja baitha tha Nahan ra baradwari. Garhwalo ri Rani paya Sundaro puchhi: Syama Nahani ra Raja die jaikari. "Kai ra hola? kas ra! jaya?" Dindiye jaikari Raja pithri pheri. "Rani, Sohini ra bhumiya: Syama ra jaya." 210 "Hekri Raja pithri duni Sahiba teri!" 250 "Tais jaya soanet da ete kini joga aya?" "Rani, Raja tine Nahani re kiya satya Syama lai hadri Raja chupa shuno. nasho. "Tere, shune. Syama; sohni re moro." Sa.t ath kete ghar re, joru rakhi khawasi." "Moro mere sohni re sahi. Sahiba, the; Sundaro ri araz begi Raniye soni. Bahu ro betc khelne khi nein." Rani seh Garhwalo 1'i Raja hage divi: 215 "Bahu teri thi sobati, Raja, bere khi tha mang_o." 255 Raja hage Rani pai a'raz kari: Beta Syama ra Sundaro tabe bhitara "Kheshiye khi kheshti, Hahib khi Rani. shada: Joro zanun khi sada rirho, Sahiba, siro." "Raja tine Nahalni re ka kiya tera?" Sidha Thakura. mat de kamaL "Raja bada kata mera kurma, joro rakhi "Ebe bada kurma Syama ra de Nahani kha'Waso." ani." Raja Garhwalo ra! tabe harkhe bhara: 220 Syama kari paya, Jaiya, chakaro re hawale. 260 Tabe Raja Garhwalo pai majjat jori. Cllarhi fauj Raja l'i nia binya lekha. Hath pai thokari, pairo di beri. Age nikale mohere di naze re nishan. Sat kampani$ Raja ri Sohini khi divi. Sinke darue rc badre hathi ri pithe. Bada kurma Syama ra paya Nahani ani. Ai fauj Raja ri Nahani ri nere. Ishu Ia_!!i boldi Raja ri Rani: 225 "Bahu ani pai Syama ri: kas mahalle 265 Raja! Nahani ra baitha honda shuna. pan!?" Dhari ghoro Kalsi RawaIi duragi. Tabe Syama mawawi ra pthi goya kaleja: "Sach bolo, more regaru. kaun ugma Raja?" "Ore leve rangari rna khi pani 1'i alo." "Hamen khoya' ni, rigaruo, tais Raja ra Sat bete Syama re banOi-khana! de pai. kin?" Ishu lagi boldi Raja Ii Rani: "Aj, Raja, Nahani, Iaj pani ag."

*ThiB word is- purely English, meanin~ a. oompany of soldiers and its presence here is very instructive as illustra.ti· ve of the spread of English terms even .. mons the mGst remote a.nd backward of Indian populations. . . t=.uha.ne. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 35

Then two of the Raja's servants went to 270 Jo janda diwa jandiye Garhwalo re dar­ Sohini. bare. Raja laiya Garhwflliyc Syama ra beta." Going to Sohini they sat in the vestibule. Charhi fauj Raja ri. Nahani re darbare: 20 13yama's wife looked through the opening Syama ra SUI1daro tabe deiyo hako: (in the wall): Aj, Raja Nahani, lai pai ago Syama's wife filled a huqaj: and brought it; 275 Seh diwa tha jabe bhagiro, tabe goya tha Coming into the vestibule she gave the boli. huqa' into their hands: Raja Sijla mera badla aj goya chhiji." She bowed to their left feet~ Raja diwa milo khi munh leve hathiar. "Is Syama, the independent of Sohini, in "Raja, meri chhalre janri, jo bole rna his house or lin the village?" kabul." Chhari pae Raja Nahani re Sundare jori: 25 "Syama and Jaiya:1 are sleeping in a room in the house." 280 Raja Garhwalo ra pura Garhwalo hata. "Is there a person who will awaken Syama?" TRANSLATION Then Thulia, his' daughter. changed a The story of Syama-, the Lord of Sohini in (brass) platter. Sarmor. And Syama sleeping awoke with a start. Syarna of Sohini became independent, "Get uP. father, the king's (officers) have And ate up the Raja's revenue and property come." by mouthfuls. He took away the people's cows and buffa­ 30 "I have not eaten, my daughter, any of the loes as compensation (for revenue). king's dues." Two men of the Pninces brought complaints. First the carpets and rugs were brought-­ outside. ~ Raja Narpat heard them in his verandah: In th" midst of the vestibule at Sohini the "Speak truly, my Princes; what is your carpets were spread. complaint?" "What complaint, my Lord, of our joys and Then Syama and Jaiya both came outside. troubles have we brought?" At sunrise they held their Court. "Speak ye the trutlr, my Princes, (or) the Raja will work you in the oil-press."* 35 Opening their turbans~ they (the mesen­ gers) gave the paper into Syama's hand; We have brought, Sir, Raja, a complaint against the insurgent. And Syama and Jaiya took and read it. Having read the -paper they threw it into 10 Syama has become ,independent in the the firf. and burnt it. midst of thy country, 0 Raja." (The Raja) demanded the copper plates "You two come to say that the Raja and (books) from the palace chests. -Rani will attack us. . The Raja saw the revenue (statements) in I will give the Raja a little village and the the copper plates. 1- Rani shall ~etch us water! For seven reigns the revenue had not been 40 Blacken the faces** of these (men) and paid. thrust them away." "Bring me (a) clean (sheet of) paper. pen They gave (the officials) a pathatt of mus­ and ink. tard-seed tied up in_a bundle (saying). "Let the Raja count them and come here to 15 First write in the matter my salutations; fight." Next write the letter with yellow ink; Then they thrust out the Raja's servants: 'Either come to my Nahan, or remain not And the Raja's servants returned back to :in -my country'" Nahan.

*Work you as galley. slaves. t Lit., a cocoanut. t This is valuable as showing that they probably exist, § A very notA-ble custom; sister bowing to the brother. if they could only be got at. II His brother. ~ Allusion to the common native habit of tying up a paper or letter in the turban for safety. ** Disgrace them. tt A weight: two seers, or fOUl'lbs. 36 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

45 Raja Narpatl was sitting in his summer Choru and Koltu called out from inside. house: "Taru is within shot: let us shoot balls (at And his ambassadors said to the Raja, 'hail' him), Sir Syama." "Tell me, my ambassadors the news about 80 Syama laughed at their words. Syama." "If you have arms my Choru, why not shoot "He gave us, my Lord. a patha of mustard­ balls at (him)?" seed tied up in a bundle: In the plain of Sohini the battle began: (And said) 'Let the Raja count them and And the army of Taru, the Conunander, was bring an army here for me.'" cut up as grass; An] Taru, the Commander of Nahan, began 50 "Call here, My Commander of the fort, Taru. to weep: Taru, my Commander, thou must go to Sohini; 85 "The Raja's army is cut up, I am not fit to Take a large army and great equipments. return home." My insurgent of Sohini has become very Then Taru wrot"e a letter and sent it to arrogant. Nahan. Taru, my Commander; 0 do thou go and "The grass of the pastures is always cut, burn Sohinli." Taru.* Save thy life here from the insurgent 55 Taru, the Commander, collected an army. today." He took good men and good guns: And comfort came unto Taru the Com­ And fastened bags of lead and gunpowder mander. on the backs of elephants. First came on in front the standards of the 90 Jhura and Rulia, his attendants, went to spears: Kalsi: And Taru's army advanced to the Jimta And as they went the nigh and darkness Pass. fell (upon them). And they found the shutters of the tIoor of 60 They made a firing at the Jimta Pass. the Dubit of Kalsi shut. Clouds of smoke obscured the sun. Rulia and Jhura called out from the out­ Syama sat on his seat in his house at Sohini side: and heard it. "0 thou Dubi, open the shutters of the "Tell me, my Choru, who is this great door." Raja?" • 95 "What men are you? whence have you "It is no Raja, but Taru, the Commander of come'?" .. the fort." "Weare men from Nahan come to Kalsi." 65 Taru's army came to the fence of Sohini: "Do you, 0 Jhura, then place thy tent in Taru set fire to the fence at Sohiini. the garden: Syama of Sohini made..a loud call. And I will give you supplies and a goat Dinru and Kinru, come to my help." early in the morning." "On account of that treatment (of thine) Then they passed the night sitting and talking. Syama, none of us will come. .- 70 For twelve years We bore thy burdens in 100 Then the Dubi opened the door of Kalsi: Dohchi. And Jhura the servant of the Raja went You built your house and you cut down our inside, to on trees (for it)." And opening the paper in his turban gave it Thus spake Syama's wife: into the Dubi's lland. "Let thy attendants fight, and my servants Hem'). Chand, the Dubi, read the paper. go." "My insurgent of 'Sohini has become very Then thus spake Syama of 'Sohini: arrrgant.:j: " 75 "When will the night/pass? And when wm 105 For seven l"eigns Syama could not be ruled it be'day?" I asked from thee, thou Dubi, the forces of Then Dhagu and Kesu (sons of) Syama came thy fort. to the front. . -.... ~ Take good men and good guns from Lahore. "0" Choru and Koltu I reared you for this Take a vast army and take vast supplies." day." Hema Chand, the Dubi, collected his army;

"'This ill tb.e :Ra.ja.'s reply. t J. sub·dMsioll of ib8 :Br.shmam. : Content. of the letter. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 37

110 And Hema Chand's army advanced along 140 Syama's sons came out roaring like lions. the Kalsi hills: Thus spake Syama of Sohini: And he practised firing on the Kalsi hills. "I tell you my sons, I reared you for this Next Hema came into the assembly of the day." Nahan Court. ("May thy bad lame leg burn, Jaiy@)." The Raja of Nahan was sitting in the Jaiya took up his club and broke down summer-house. half the house-wall). Hema .chand of Kalsi. said (to him) 'hail'. 145 The sons of ,Syama came running to the plain: 115 When he returned the salute* the Raja And the struggle commenced in the midst spake to him thus: of the Sohini plain. My insurgent of Sohini has become very The exchange of the arroYy's was like the arrogant, chaff from barley: And has cut up the ,royal army like grass. And the swords in exchange fiashf'd like o Hema Chand DubL thou must go to lightning: Sohini. And the guns in exchange thundered like Take a vast 'army <:nd vast equipments." the clouds.£. 120 The Dub/i's army advanced to the Jimtll 150 In the plain the army could not be counted. pass: Hema wrote a letter and sent it to Nahan. And they fired (guns) at the Jimta pass. "Our fortune is destroyed, Raja, and oUt' There were jamrat trees in the Jimta pass, luck is gone. And the weight of the accoutrements:!: Half the army Syama has cut up and -half uprooted the J amra trees. the fire burnt up." "0 Bidhna, thou Treasurer, what art thou "Hem a, the ·grass of the pasture is always idly staring gt? cut. 125 Give out powder to my servants with 155 Come here to Nahan and save thy life." scales and weights." Hema Chand retreated back to Nahan. As he distributed the powder the men The Raja of Nahan contrived a plan. made a disturbance: J amnu and Syama were brothers-in-law% Each man demanded a patha§ of powder. Two relavivtX<; of the Raja went to Jamnu: The bags of powder caught fire. 160 And the Raja caned Jamnu. the Banayak. Half Hema Chand's army was blown up The Raja of Nahan was sitting in his in the distribution of the powder: summer house. 130 And half Hema Chand's army went on to "My insurgent of Sohini has become very SohiIlli. arrogant. The Dubi wrote a letter and sent it on to Bring me Syama of Sohini and I will give Syama. thee a little village." "Syama, come thou here and meet me." "Sir Raja, thou art false. I believe thee "Be silent for shame, thou Dubi of Kalsi. not". Yesterday thou didst graze my buffaloes, 165 (So) Raja Narpa(T touched his (sacred) today thou dost desire my life. thread~ "Raja, I will bl'ling' Syama, but I will not 135 Speak of what happened in the midst of let him be killed." the famine, thou Dubi: The Raja tore the thread off the cow's (When) I fed thee, thou Dubi, with curds neck.** and pumpkins II" The Jamnu, the BanaYp_k, went to Sohini: Half the army of Hema Chand (reached And going to Sohini sat down in the the) Court of Sohind. vestibule. Hema set fire to the fence at Sohini: 170 Syama's wife saw him through the window. And the struggle commenced in the plain "The likeness of my brother is sitting in of Sohini. the vestibule."

"'Lit., gave the second "hair," @The two lines in brackets relate an incidental quarrel tVibumum foetens. between Syama and his brother. tLit., the accoutrements being fastened. £This desoription Beems to be conventional. %Lit., were sister's husband and wife's brother (to §4 seers or 8 Ibs. each other. II.Al cucurbita maxima : see Stewart, Punjab Plants 'ljBy way of oath. P.97. *·By way of a stronger oath. 38 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Syama's wife was clever and wise: 205 "Sit still, my wife, if I go I will return." She brought a huqa and a cup of water: Then Jamnu and Syama went to Nahan. And Syama's wife came into the vestibule. The Raja of Nahan was sitting in his summer-house. I 75 She gave the huqa into his hand and fell at his feet*. Syama said to the Raja of Nahan, 'hail'. As he was saluting him the Raja turned his "Like a flower of the garden, how hast back on him. thou come?" "Are Syama and Jaiya in the house or in 210 "Thy front or back is the same (to me), the village?" my Lord."§ "My lords are asleep in the upper part of The Raja heard Syama's speech in silence. the house." "Syama, I have heard of thy golden pea­ "Is there anyone who will go up and cocks."11 wake them?" "It is true, my Lord, that I had golden pea­ 180 Thuli, Syama's daughter, went to the cocks. house. ~But) my Son and his wife took them away Thuli, Syama's daughter, waked them up to amuse themselves (with them)." "Get up, father, my unclet has come." 215 "Thy son's wife was beautiful, and was Then Syama and Jaiya came outside. asked (in marriage) for the Raja's harem."~ Syama fell on Jamnu's neck with affection. "Lowly women for the lowly, Queen for 185 "Jamnu, my brother-in-law, whence hast Kings! thou come?" For women and land, my Lord, heads are "The Raja of Nahan hath called thee always rolling!" home. "0 my Lord Sidha,£ think of some plan. Why hast thou opposed the Raja, Syama? To bring the kith and kin of Syama now to Thou canst not be the equal of the Raja. Nahan!" Syama." 220 Syama and Jaiya were handed over to the "The Lord Raja, Jamnu, is very deceitful. servants; 190 I have no faith at all in the Raja N arpat." Handcuffs were placed on their hands and "Sir Syama, flesh and the knife cannot be' manacles on their feet. equal (friends)." Seven companies of the Raja went to Sohini, Thus spake Syama's wife::t. And fetched Syama's kith and kin to Nahan. "The murder of thy sister and nephew will be on thee." Thus spake the Raja's Queen: 225 "Syama's son's wife had been fetched' in "Raja Narpat touched his (sacred) thread: which palace shall we place her?" , 195 I will take him to my arms and not suffer him to be killed." Then was Syama; the rebel, heart-broken; "Bring me here, my wife, a cup of water." Syama's wife was wise and clever. Seven sons of Syama were put into the "If thou take Syama to Nahan, he will not prison-house. return back." Thus spake the Raja's Queen; "Warm for me, my wife, some fresh ghi: 230 "Boil water and throw in Syama; I shall not bring my life back from the Then (spake one) "Queen, throw not Syama treacherous Raja of Nahan." into boiling water." 200 Thus spake Dagu and Kesu Syama's sons' Thus spake the Raja of Nahan; "Father, we have WOn seven struggles and "Slay Syama and J aiya on the banks of the fought seven battles: Jamina,$. And now, Father, thou wouldst go to That tJ.:le fish of the Jamnu may satiate them" Nahan. selves with their blood and bodies." When thou hast gone to Nahan no power 235 Syama and J aiya were taken to the banks will remain to us." of the Jamna; Syama's wife began to weep bitterly. Chimna, the Chamar, roaring dealth them heavy blows,

*T~is is .0. very. remarkable custom~na seems to be umversahn the hIlls. It reverses the regular Punjab' custo liThe signs of independence or royalty. tMother's brother. 1 m. '!fBera, a courtyard-here obviously haramsara a harem. tTo Jammu. £The Raja speaking. • §This Bcene and eJ:pr~s~ion seems to be conventional. $l'ha Sarmar state lies mostlv within tho basin of the River Ja01nna . , SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 39

And the fishes of the J amna were satiated "The Raja of Garhwal has come." with their blood. "We have done nothing to that Raja, my One out of the seven sons ran away. princes." It was Sundar, Syama's son, that ran away. 270 "Syama's son, Sundar, ran away to him: 240 At the Jimta pass he "gave a loud cry: And running away went to the Court of Garhwal. "The lion has escaped which you jackal servants (of Nahan) surrounded: It is Syama's son that has brought the Raja of Garhwal." You will know me for Syama's son when The army of the Raja advanced to the Court I set fire to Nahan." of Nahan: Syama's son, Sundar, went to Gal'hwal.* And Syama's son, Sundar, gave a shout: Going to Garhwal he drew water hl the 275 "Today, 0 Raja of Nahan, have I brought Court (of the palace).t fire. 245 For six months did Sundar draw water When I fled (from thee) I spake thus. thus. Raja, my revenge has today been altogether For six months did the Queen come out­ effected." side; The Raja (of Nahan) went out to meet them And the Queen of Garhwal fell to asking and gave up his arms.! Sundar: "Raja, spare my life who give my consent "Of what land art thou? whose son?" to thy terms." "0 Queen, Sohini is my country; I am Syama's son!" 280 The Raja of Nahan released the women of 250 "From that pleasant land why hast thou tSundar's- (family): come here?" And the Raja' of Garhwal returned back to Garhwal. "0 Queen, the Raja of Nahan has ruined us! The Legends of the Panjab Seven or eight of our house he slew and Volume I made our wives his slaves." BY Eagerly the Queen heard 'Sundar's prayer. The Queen of Garhwal went up to the CAPTAIN R. -C. TAMPLE Raja; The song of Neg; Bahadur, as sung in Junga, 255 And the Queen made a prayer' to the Raja: the capital of the Kyonthal State And they called in Sundar, the son of This is a love-song and probably refers to Syama: some in.trigue' in the hills about Simla "What did the Raja of Naha~ to thee?" which attained to local notoriety. Baha-­ "The Raja slew my kith and kin and our dur or Sabda, as he is called in the song, wives he made his slaves." is described as having been a Negi, orr Mili­ Then was the Raja of Garhwal filled with tary Commander in the Keonthal State, anger. but when he lived I have been unable ·to 260 And the ~aja of Garhwal collected his find out. There is n.orthing in this song army. which would give the least olue to his The army of the Raja advanced (in num­ date.) bers) beyond reckoning. (The geography to the song is local as usual. In the front went the spears and the excepting as to one place which I saw near standards: (and) Srinagar in Garhwal.) Bags of shot and powder on elephants (It is valuable for its grammer a!1d vocabulary, backs. but its disjointed and spasmodic nature has The army of the Raja approached to Nahan. made it very difficult to render the doubtful words and paSJiages. It seems to consist of 265 The Raja of Nahan sitting there heard it: a long string of locally familiar images and (That) the drums of some king were being beaten on the Kalsi hills. proverbial expressions. which it would re­ "Tell me, IllY princes, who is this great quire a native of K')lOn.thal to adequately Raja?" explain, could one be found~ to do so). • Called also from its capital Srinagar. It is now a British tLt., with his arms in his mouth. A curious custom . hill district under the Commissioner of Kumaun in the North West Provinces. t Bera again llsed for a. palace. Sundar has turned him. Belf into a water-oa.rrier_ 40 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE TEXT Chand bachhre surijo. Sabda, ghane ri tare. Hemen tosi nan bichhre, bhag bichhre Rag Nigi Bahadur mhare. Nigi gawanda na Bahadur gale pare roya Ath phuto ra takhta, nau phut ri ~kari. shoka: 40 Ik karta gharto ra, Sabda, duji flkro thari. Chhoti rekam ri laichi live than'de pani ra Bhul phulla gulab ra, rakha pather pande. Iota. Heme, ganda, thari tain, tosi pai nan lande. Bahadur re ghartu dhishu dura da Dilli. Khara khariye shone araz meri. Ishi rahi jiu di mere jishi dahin khi billi. It karta ghar ra. duj! zarab teri. 5 Ghyo bharmin ghire tel bhatmin kuppe. Mana silgi maniye, dhuan honda na lac. 45 Dhuro re badli pande puri 1\dhi. Kothi parri ,* Naliyei' talao. Bara kati baras tere hukurn badi. Gujji lagi bedno, honda pagra na ghao. TRANSLATION Jongo re bere da hola pathar ra miro. THE SONG OF NIGI BAHADUR 10 Chatro rove jio da murakh dio sarli lira. I cannot sing of Nigi Bahadur as my throat Devi re mandar di holi ghungru re mala. is dry: Koe bhari akhti? shigi lime sambhalo. Bring me small cardamoms in a cup of cold Mahari biro kho soan dhiso Kanhar.:t water. Bahadur's house seems as distant as Delhi.£ Dhire hoe bhalre, teri bhuli na naviro. (The 'longing) of my heart is as a cat's for 15 Mahare ghar .da dhishu bangala tera. curds. Rati mintiye supne hoe kaleja ri liro. 5 I will fill pitchers with ghi and leathern­ Goro charo ganole, charo maheshi Karole.§ bottles with oil. Rati mitiye supne jani banoti shirwe. My heart burns in my heart, there is no smoke nor flame. Lani nan dosti, Bahadura. hi dosti buri: There is a hou~e at Simla, a tank at Naliya. 20 Hishi lago dilo di. jishi mas di churl. It penetrates unseen (for) "the wound is not Dhai baitha surijo, Bahadura, gadi baitha visible. mahant. The roof of the p

*Shimla, the local pronunciation ~f Simla;­ ~Phuto, phut, very interesting corruptions of tho English tNear Simla, word 'foot'. t25 miles from Simla. £Proverb Dilli dur hai jt is a far cry to Delhi. §Said to be near Srinagar in Ga.rhwal, @Kecp their own counsel. IlSeven miles from Simla. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 41

I will give thee flowers of silver. if thou The Legends of the Punjab release the secret of thy heart: A black-coated maina* Bahadur, and green Volume I coated parrot. BY Fi:t;,'3t thou dldst give me hope, Bahadur, and afterwards didst deceive me. CAPTAIN R. C. TEMPLE 25 The lamp-black in thine eyes, Bahadur, Madana the brave, Lord of Chaw'a, as sung and the beauty of thy face have devoured me. in the Kyonthal State Great love (for thee), Bahadur, and the (This exceptionally fine and poetical legend devotion of (every) moment and hour relates to some war, or rather fight, bet­ devours me. ween the neighbouring states of Junga (or I wilJ. sow sarsont in Delhi, and rait in front of Delhi!. Kyonhtal) and Kahlur (or Bilaspur) about the year A.D. 1680. The date can be fixed Another has eaten the half-cooked relish; I have been disgraced. more or less approxima~ely as being in the The flower bloomed on high, and on high time of Rana Anup Sen of Kyonthal it withered. (1670-1692 A.D.) his contemporary on the Bilaspur throne being Raj'a Bhim Chand, 30 Had it been my lot, it would have fallen the 35th of his line, (A:D. 1672-1693), quickly (into my lap)§. according to the manuscript epitome of the o Cuckoo! sitting on the branch of 'the history of .that! State in my possession. Raja. wfllnut tree: Bhim Chand is th'ere stated to have been Why should I waste the day in the (use- the successful warrior this legend makes him less) Hope of my beloved, Bahadur? out to be.) The Rani's ekka@ has passed along the Sogi road: (The geography is again strictly local and Where a girl's heart is attached she can­ beyond what is above sta~ed there is no not tolerate a rivaL history attached to it. The human interest, 35 'l'he swans eat in the sea, £0 Sabda! the however, that the bard has infused into it fishes lin the broad_ rivers. is unusually great.) I was (for loving thee) for ever, in the 'Cnd thou didst quickly separate (from me). TEXT The moon parts from the sun, 0 Sabda! the Har Madana Sardar, Mauza Chaura, Ilaqa stars from the sky. Kyonthal. I and thou are not separated, our fates are separated. "Jou Karaukall, toin Chaure ~hi jana." Joua Karauk diwa Chyonti ri Dharo: The wood is of eight feet, and the beanl (wants) nine feet. Joua Karauke jatha Madana Bharo~. Joua Karauk, jatho, titiye shun~ na koi: 40 My first ~nxiety is for the house, Sabda, my 5 Jou Karauke ditti Piri ri gali. second anxiety is for thee. Tabe Matlane Bhare shona koili da khare. The rose-flower blooked and I laid it on a stone: • "Jithe tosi ave mard Koti re thinge. It W,as for thee, ungrateful! thou dJidst not Ashya bharman Raja ra, tuso ghani ghar­ receive it. man dinge. Stand awhile and listen to my prayer. Joua Karauk to bishiye da hela. The first anxiety is for my house, the next 10 Bade Chaele tan dec nan koin thela." for thy injuries. "Maeli ro Malangonan ra nikala dhuan! 45 The cloud from afar has split in half. Shoni da nan pire ra muan!" I have passed twelve years obeying thy Odu J;:O Madana donon chhire khi shade. commands. "Raja Sahiba hamun kadhi nan dhija!

*i.t., the talking maina, which is much valued. £Aocording to a well·known mYth-:-­ tSarson, Brassica compestris; rai, Brassica Juncea.'. IISaid to be the same as Chaudhri. They are two kinds of mustard. 'IlBhar-Sardar. ~This appears to allude to some proverb, or perhap8 Dilli may mean in my hears'. §So interpreted, but hala has not been really translated. (f' \ ('onveyanoe in whioh one pony is dir'Ven. 42 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

15 Chire khi keshi jao hemin pachia bhatija?" "Raja baitha Nup Sain baradwari. lilU chhere khi tuso jani jana paro." Tissi fauj Raja boli 'jaikari.' Madana. Bharo goya thar-thar kamhi. "Chale, ji Udu chachia, Chirmate, jamin: 60 "Kishi ai, Rajia, chhiro ri mhari bari." Sharru Chanal da hemin dhanon balamin." Tabe fauj Raja araz kari: 20 Udu ro Madan don on Chirmate dive. Raja ~ahiba arazn mani. Sharru ri Chanaliye! Sharru ghar ke Raja lai Sahib ri zori. gaven?" Apni fauj Bhare ki taiyar. "Sharru Chanal hola: bhitara sutia." 65 T.idu da Bharo diwa Tundalo Kawali. ',Sharru Chaualiye! Sharru ditta jagavi." Tundalo Kawali da Bhar ghar khi jatho. Sharru Chanal thar-thar kamba. "Mere masheshi ro bhatale bhitaro khi 25 "Bharo ri dhanon khi meri nahar ni bania bano." lamba." Tide da chala diwa Bharo Tundalo ri serio "Nahar ni je tere, Sharrua, hemen bani de "Tetiye baso Bhara bhain t-eri Sahiba." shile." Sharru Chanal tabe bald a laga; 70 Gadambar,j bhain leiye dudh ra katora. Odu ro donon Madana bhunen de baithe: "Chiori jati di hondi na shundho. Sharrue Bharo ri dhanon kari pai taiyar, Chhiro khi jandiye lei namala dudh." 30 Odu ro Madana: donon ghar khi ae. Gadambari bhain ditti sarli lira: Buddhi mai bata tabe ata. "Gadambari, to roi na piti. Madana ro Udu tarkash shai. 75 Auman jabe hatiro niman shadiro gharo. Buddha: tapu de kan da bere: "Tu Bharo betia, janda tu pachhro bhire" Soe diman maheshi gabhano gav,in." Tida ra chala diwa Beshi re panere . 35 Odu ro M'adana donon hoe taiyar. Beshi ri Bamani ai paneri. Bamue odwe tabe biro Ie pago: Beshi ri Bamani bharwe tango. Donue seh maecho tabe uchhni lago. Bamue Bharo odwe ditte koele khi pego: 80 "Dekhiyo, chioriyo, is Bharo ra Rang!" Titniye tha Kachhiye chhirwe chhikha: lksi Bamani tabe 'Bhaiya' bola' 40 Madana Bharo batitha betiye da jani: "lsi jawani koe chhiro khi chala?" "Maele re chhiro da kabhi jiunda na hato." "Raja Sahiba man dhija nan anthi." "Rabali 10 khelave betre Kesu. Tisse doe bain da balto khole; Chhiro kho aela bhalre dese.;' 85 "To pura hate ghar khi, tere dando khi Udu ro donon Madana Jur1g~ khi ae. hole." 45 Raji baitha Nup Sain baradwari: "Ethin baltoe mere dand na chhijo. Udu ro donon Madana Jungo khi ae. Tida ra chala diwa Bhar Seri ri ghat: Dittiye 'jaikari' Raja puchhne lai: Seri ri ghat lai rasoi. ISeri ri ghat da ung,a Mac1i khi dekho: "Udo ro Madana, don on chhiro khi jao." "Rajiq Sahiba, tQ._ kabhi nan dhijo hemo; 90 Maeli Malangene nikala: dhuan. Madane Bhare hukum fauj khi kiya: 50 Ch~ero khi heme donen kishe lai loe pichicr bhatija?" "Maeli Malanganan man kho dhishia ~um; . "Palasho ri nall lani dingiye jhari." Bano tosi kamaro, shigi karo roti." Joua Karauk diwa Chyunti ri Dharo: T.ithe kho fauj divi Maeli ri serio Joua: Karauk dharo da jatha. 95 "Samjhe, Bhara, tan khiye paknaro ai." Tabe J oua Karauk diwa ehaur! _re biro: Pahili inni khi tme pakari talwaro: 55 "Ishu chala chhiro khi ape Sahib Raja. Pahili fauj katiro dharani bichave. "Samjhe, Bhara Madana, dujri inni." Lai dhiriye thandka sabhe Jungo khi shade." Dujri fauj khi sambhali dhanon: Tabe Chaur'e Palashu ri na~i Junge ai. 100 Katiro fauj dharni bichad. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 43

"Tau samjhe, Bhara Madana, Chhij1'i innl." Jou, the Karauk. went to the Chyontl Chhij1'i fauj khi Bhare pakara dagasa: Hills.'!.' ChhiJi Bhare fauj dharni rulana. Jou, the Karauk. spake to the Lord Madana; "::)amjhe, Ehara Madana, Chauthi ai innL" J ou, the Karauk, called out, but no one 105 Chauthi Hhare mni khi pakari banduk: heard him: Banduk l'l gollye ghal fauj dhal. 5 (So) Jou, the Ka1'auk, cursed his family. "Samjhe. Bhara Madana, panjvin inni. The Lord Madana standing in his verandah PanJvin pakhar'l kill aangaro sambhala: beard him. Katiro pakharo dharni rulavi. "All of you men that come from Kotit are 11U Chhel mm khi pakal'l rambi: scoundrels. Chhei inni" Bhare dharm rulavi. I will pay the Raja eighty (rupees as a fine) "Tu samjhe, Bhara Madana, Satvi inni, and beat thee well with a stick. Sahiba." , Jou, thou Karauk. thou art an habitual bribe-taker. "udua chach1a, mere hath nan roha kein! 10 In all Chael% no one will give thee (even) Sakhne hath bairiye ebe mara chachia!" a scrap (of food)." "Smoke has arisen in Mael£ and Malan­ 115 Puro da bolula Kahluria Sau: * gan!£. "Kebe bande chali, Bhara, kebe barcha May thy family, perish for thy not bear­ baun?' ing.§ "Sari Kahluro, teri bandi na jao!" (Thus) were Odul! and Mariana called to Kahluriye Saue ghaya barcha baL the fight. Chhati baya barcha pithl nabara. "The Lord Raja never spares us! ~ t5 How can we, uncl~ and nephew, (both) go 120 "0 Udua chachia, ebe bairi mara! to the fight?" • Ghar banati na mera lutia liwa: "You must go to this fight." Aman bole bapu hage, 'Bharo Chakari khi. The I Lord Madana began to tremble diwa'" violently. Udue Chachiye tine kamaro kasha tai ra. "Come, Sir Uncle Odu, let us go to Chir­ Kamaro kashiro doli da chukka. mata;**. 125 Tido re chale ae Beshi re panhere. We will have our bows mended by Sharru, Beshi ri Bamani ai tabe _panhere. th~ Chana!." "Kal ka gabharu jo aj ehukhiro ana." 20 Odu and Madana went together 'to Chir~ Beshi ri Bamani lei dudh 1'a katora. mata. Titiye tabe chhari pai Bhare Madane pran. "0 wife of Sharru the Chanal! Is Sharru .. at home or in the village?" 130 "Mathrua Tureba, ebe biora kare baja. "Sharru, the Chanal, tis sleeping witlTin." Ethe 1'a bajna jo shuno Junge Raja. "0 wife of Sha'rru, the Chanal! Awaken Hate aya Madana jai goya ,ina1'a." Sharru." Tide ra chale ae Chaure ri biro. Sharru. the Chanal, tremb~ed violently.tt Buddha ru buddheri dile sarli liro: 25 "I have no gut ready long enough for my 135 "Raja Sahiba, hemin kadhi nan dhija: Lord's bow." Chhiro khi do lae the pichia ro bhatija." 'If you have no gut Sharru, then make Kebru 1'i seti di loe chitta banavi. (the string) for us of hemp." Udue chache tine ditte Bharo de dago. Sharru, the Chana!, began to make (the string); TRANSLATION Odu and MaJdana both! sat on the groundt.!: And ISharru made ready my Lord's bow; Story of Madana, Lord of Chaura in the Kyo,nthal State. 30 An'd Odu and Madana returned ,home. The old mother kneaded the flour (for "0 J ou Karauk, thou must go to Chaurtr." them):

·Sau-Sa.rdar. tClose to Cha.ura. tThis is the order of the Raja of Kyonthal to Jou to %Near Chaura. call Ma.dana to help him in a battle, £Division os Kyonthal State. §Meaning th,at he had come to say that.. there was fighting and that these people would not hear his sinnmons 80r help. IIUncle to MadaM,. ~TlJ.is is Odu and Madan&. complaint. **In Chael. ttBecause he would have to work for nothing for the chief. UTo watch him. 44 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Madana and Odu filled their quivers: fiO "How has our turn, Raja, come for service The old father filled his ears with cotton %% (so soon)?" . "0 my Lord, my son, if thou go, then fight And all the host be s01,lght the Raja. In the year." But the Lord Raja heard not their petition 315 Odu and Madana were both ready. The Lord Raja used oppression and force. Then they put on their clothes and bound The Lord (Madana) got ready his army. on their turbans; And both their parents began to caress 65 Then the Lord (Madana) went to Tundalo them. and Kawali.@ My Lord hav,ing put On his cloth-es went At Tundalo and Kawali the Lord (Madan a) into the verandah; called out thus to his house: At that same moment his babe Kachhi "Fasten my buffaloes and oxen inside." sneczed.*. From thence ·my Lord (Madana) went to 40 And the Lord Madana knew that he would the Tundalo plain. be defeated. "My Lord, now is the Lady, thy sister, dwelling here." "I shall not return alive from the fight at I Mael, (tho\lght he)." 70 Gadambari, his sister, brought him a cup (Spak~ he) "Let me caress and play with of (fresh) milk.% my chIld Kesu. "Womenkind have no sense! " (said I will ret\!_rn from the fight after many Madana). days." "On my way to the fight thou hast brought Odu and Madana went both Junga. me (fresh) milk!" 45 Raja Anup Sen was sitting in his summer­ Gadambari, his sister, cried out aloud. house: "Weep not and lament (thus), GadambarI: Odu and Madana 'said (to him), 'ha,il'. When he returned that salute the Raja' 75 When r return back r will br,ing thee to began to ask (after) them: my house. "Odu and Madana you must both go to r will give thee a milch buffalo and a cow the war." heavy with young." "0 my Lord Raja, thou dost never excuse Thence he went to the tank at Beshi.£ us: The brahmanis of Beshi came to the tank; 50 Why dost send us both, uncle and n(!phew The brahmanis of Beshi fi'ned the place to the war?" , (with their numbers). "I will dig up the (very') 'bushes from the 80 "Behold," said one, "my women, this Chief's valley of Palash."·f - doing!" Jou, t?e. Karauk, went (again) to the Then spake one of the Brahmanis. "My ChyontI HIlls: brother: ~l~ Jou, the Karauk, called out in the Why go to the wars in this (time of thy) youth?" Then Jou, (he Karauk went into the land of Chaura: ' "The Lord Raja would not at all excuse me." 55 "The Lord Raja is coming himself t thO She took of]' her bracelets from both her war. 0 IS arms. He has called every wearer of a silver zone:j: to Junga." 85 "Go thou back home. these are for thy fine." The whole valley of Chaura and Palash came to Junga. Thence the Chief wen t on to the Said pass.*'" Rh aja Anup Sen was sitting in his summer Ouse. -- "These bracelets will not pay the fine." At the Said pass he ate his food. From the To him the host said, 'Raja~?il'! Sairi pass he looked down into Mael:

o/cAo%Tha~ he might not hear the bad news * very bad omen. • @Villages, a stage from Jnnga. tIn Chael. He means to S8;0 th t h '11' %A bad omen. whole popula.tion. ~ a. e w. Impress the £Second stage from Junga.. all aduli males. ;i.6., **l'hird stage frClll JUllga. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 45

90 The smoke was arising in Mael and Mal­ 125 Thence they went (back) to the tank of angan: Beshi. My Lord Madana gave the order to the Then the Brahmani came to the tank: army: . "I seE' the smoke (arising) in Mael and Mal­ "The strong man of yesterday is carried angan. back today." Gird up your loin~ and hasten over your The Brahmani of Beshi brought a cup of food." milk. ThenCE: the army went to the plains of (But) .at that very moment the Lord Madr:ma Mae!. gave up his life. 95 "Have a care, my Lord, thou wilt be oppo­ sed.'·*~· 130 "0 Mathru, thou Bard, change now thy For the first assault the Chief seized his music.* swon{" That when the Raja of Junga hears 'the The first line were slain and streweu upon notes from here the ground. He may know that Madana is brought back "Have a care, my Lord Madana, there is a second line." dead." For the second line the Chief got ready nis Thence they went to the land of Chaura: bows: The old father and mother raised a loud 100 The (second) line slain were skewed upon cry: the ground. 135 "0 my Lord Raja, thou hast never spared "Have a care, my Lord Madana, there is a us: third line." For the third line the Chief seized his axe: Sending both uncle and nephew to the The Chief destroyed utterly the third line. war." "Have a care, my Lord Madana, the fourth In the Kebru plain they built the pyre, linC! is come." And Odu, the uncle, burnt the Chief there. 105 For the fourth line the Chief seized his I gun: Education The bullets of the guns destroyed the Literacy has been defined as the ability to fourth line. read and write a simple letter. According to "Ha ve a care, my Lord Madana, for the this. the village can claim 104 literate and fifth line. For the fifth (line of) enemiefl educated persons. This works out to 46% he got .ready his battle-axes: literacy. 14 males and 9 females have com­ The enemy were slain and levelled with the earth. T j pleted primary or basic education while 4 110 For the sixth line he seized his knives: males are matriculates and one male is inter­ mediate. 48 males and 28 females are just The Chief levelled the sixth" line with the earth. literates. The educational position seem to be "Have a care, my Lord Madana: there is much better compared to over-all literacy a seventh, my Lord!" position in the Pradesh, which is 17.15 per "0 Odu, my uncle, there is nothing in my cent. Of late, the people are getting all the hand! more keener to get their children educated. My enemy will now slay me empty-handed, Moreover, nearness to Simla had already my uncle!" awakened educational_ consciousness a~ongs.t 115 From the opposite side spake the Lord of the villagers. Table on next page shows the Kahlur. detailed statistics regarding the position of :'Either be mv captive, my Lord, or I thrust literacy in Chaunri. In my spear." "Thou wretch of Kahlur, I will never be There irs a Government Middle School in thy ca:ptive!" the village. To begin with it was establishe,.d The Lord of Kahlur thrust in his spear. as a Primary School by the erstwhile Keon­ The spear entered his brest and came out thaI State in 1902. Subs~quently in 1927, it at his back. was raised to middle standard and since then 120 "0 my uncle Odu. the enemy hps slain me! it is functic,rung a~ such. Take not my (blood-stained) robes back to my house: It is housed in a spaciously built~ding having eight class-rooms and three store (But) tell my father and mother that 'my Lord is gone on service'." . rooms. The building was constructed in 1928 Hjs l}ncle Odu bound up his side. during the reign of the then ruler of Kenn­ Bmdmg) up his side he placed him in a doli. thaI.

**The taunt of the enemy. *i.e., The bard who accolllpanied the force must llOW change his martial music for that of a funeral. 46 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE The staff position during 1961 was 12 A very gbod play-ground is attached to the teachers, out of which were 2 trained graduate school, where games like football, volleyball, teachers, 2 senior teachers, 2 O. T., 3 basic kabaddi, badminton, kho-kho and basketball teachers and one physical training instructor are played. The students take keen interest in besides a lady teacher. The number of stu­ these games. They have won some distinctions dents in the year 1961·62 was: in the annual inter-school tournaments. Boy 'Students 96 There is a library having 188 English. 584 Girl Students 39 Hindi, 143 Urdu and 109 Sanskrit books. Only one Hindi Daily is subscribed. Total 35 This institution cat~rs to the pebple resid­ ing in the radius of about eight miles.

Statistics Regarding the Position of Literacy in Chaunri

Illiterate Literate without edu- without cational educational Primary Total ststndard standard or Ba~ic l'IT atriculate Intermedia te Graduate Age-groups (Years) Population educati'_n ,.___ .A.. __--... ,._.A.._.. ,. --"-----, ,. --"- .. ,. --"------, ,.--"--., r- .A..------, P M F M F M F M F M F M F M F

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

All ages 228 114 114 47 77 43 28 H 9 4 1 0-14 70 26 44 16 28 7 9 3 7 15-3' 49 30 29 8 20 9 7 10 2 3 35-59 72 3q 33 13 22 11 11 1 1 1 60 and over 27 19 8 9 8 10

Public Health and Sanitation A good number of V. D. cases come to the hospital for treatment. The patients. register­ There is a Civil Allopat)1ic Dispens~y and ed from 1952 to 1960 are:- a Hospital in the village under a med~cal o~­ cer incharge. The 'hospital wa~ establIshed ~ No_..r V_D_ 1920-21 during the state reglll?-e by RaJ~ Year cases registere.:! Bejai Sen. The capacity of the m-door hOSPI- tal is fourteen beds. 1952 26 1953 28 The common diseases in the area are dy­ 19M 15 sentery, malar!a. and i~digestion- A fe~ ca.ses 1955 3 1953 4 of typhoid alsb occur m a year. VaccmatIon 1957 6 is regular. 1958 29 1959 19 The number of patients treated annual from 1960 27 1958 to 1961 is:- For serious cases. the villagers have to visit Name of Disease No. of patients trallted in r-----..A.~--_. State Hospital. Snowdon. Simla where latest -1958 1959 1960 medical facilities are available. 1 2 4 Sanitation-Though there are no rural ------latrines. the same exist with the bazar and 50 272 290 government buildings~ The villagers go out Dysentery 399 Malaria . 170 539 in the nearby forest. Drainage is natural be­ Typhoid . 7 1 27 Tuberculosis . 38 17 5 cause of the slopes. Habits of the people are SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 47 clean. The people take regular baths and the are--construction of 2 bridges on Been Khud use of. toilet and washing soaps is universal and Saingan Khud, 2 irrigation schemes of and their appearance is clean. They regularly Pujarli and Bharanli, laying of 2,300 feet of wash their clothes and there is also one washer­ pipe line in )unga besides 2,000 feet of pipe man, who caters to the businessmen and lies in Padrew, construction of 16 miles long government officials and Raja's household. bridle path from Kamhatti to Kyainal and a Household utensils and also the inside of the small children park near the middle school house are kept in a clean state. Due to the building in Chaunri. city influence, there has been an awareness Nayaya Panchayat-Nayaya Panchayat to cleanliness. There is a regular water supply Junga Circle covers the village. It was estab­ and fresh drinking water is freely available. lished in 1960. Its term of office is also for 3 Panchayat years. Total membership is 15. There have been no regular caste or com­ The Nayaya Panchayat is empowered to munity Panchayats in the village even prior try civil suits to the value of Rs. 100. Besides to coming into existence the present Gram this, it has also been empowered to try crimi­ and Nayaya Panchayats. However, the minor nal cases of petty nature and the case under day to day disputes used to be settled by the the trespassing of cattle act. village elders commonly acceptable to both the disputing parties. Since regular Paneha­ Criminal cases tried and disposed of by the yats have not been constituted, the following Panchayat are:- is the information with regard to them. Gram Panchayat-The Panchayat which Rc0tion of "lIenee No. of cues covers Chaunri is Gram Panchayat Junga, with its headquarter at Junga. It covers, 21 S("ption 50!) J1'(, 1 villages of the entire Junga Patwar circle. Section 406 IPe 1 Since the population of the village in Hima­ Section 417 IPC . 2 chal Pradesh is comparatively small, one Pan­ Section 429 am! 290 I1'C 1 Section 2S3 1PO IS chayat covers a group of adjacent villages. Se,pti()l1 174 IFf' ! Secti,m 42611'0 1 Total membership 21 Secthn 3z3/5(\(\ {PO 1 SCf,tin" ..J.!)7/4!l8 , Scheduled Castes reserved seats 7 Section 228 . ! Women seats 1 Section 488 J1't' J Sectinn 277 . • 1 Sept'on 291) ]PO . 1 The President and the ViGe-President are 84 1'anphaYf,t Rlli Art 1 honorary office bearers. The Secretary of the Se~ti"n :;21\11'(' . 1 Soc'lioll 510 !P(' . 1 Panchayat is paid a fixed monthly salary of Sodlon :>23,504 rrr. I Rs. 50.00. The Panchayat elections are held Roc inn 283 11'0 1 every three years and the sitting members are Se(,tlon 504 JPC I eligible for fresh election. Gram Panchayat usually helps in bringing 15 civil cases and 48 cases of demarcation about somjhota (reconciliation or compro­ of land ha.ve also been disposed of by the mise) in simple disputes, Shramdan contribu­ Panchayat. These figures are upto April, 1964. tions in developmental activities, construction Ca'ie studies of some disputes-We give of roads, pa,ths, kuhls, baolis, repair of paths, below a few i1lustrat~ons of the types of cri­ street lighting, cleanliness of the village, cons­ minal cases dealt with by the local Pancha­ truction of rural latrines and urinals and yat:- recommendation for allotment of nautor land. - Case No.1 The Panchayat was established in 1954. At D DjO -_ - D.S. present it is housed in a rented building. G.S. s/o W.s. The development projects in which the Case filed in the Nayaya Parichayat on the Panchayat has aided by way of Shramdan 8th April, 1960 under Section 509 IPC. 48 SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE

Summary of the Complaint-It was alleg­ Since V. K. is the accu~ed's son his appli­ ed by D. who was a student of VII class of cation cannot be accepted under section 83 the local school that the accused has been of Himachal Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act. teasing her on her way from school for some­ Hence rejected whereas the application of the time past. She requested him so many times complainant has been accepted. Case adjourn­ to behave well but of no avail. On the 7th ed till 20-9-1960. April when she was going to her home from the school alongwith a few primary girl stu­ 20th September 1960-1n the previous sit­ dents, the accused met her on a road curve ting this Panchayat allowed M. R. to plead and began to tease her. He then caught hold the case of the complainant. As he is found on her and laid her down to defile her chas­ to be complainant's husband's brother, the tity. But at that moment S and his wife C case was reconsidered and that it has now em their way to gharat happened to pass that been decided to reject this also. way. The accused got frightened and Jeft her threatening to see her again. Since his ac­ Charges were read out to the accused but tions were posing a serious threat to her he denied all of these. The accused has in­ person, it was prayed that a suitable action formed that he filed a revision petition in be taken against the accused. this connection with the Sub-Judge, Mahasu and that he does not want to produce any Proceedings-The charges were read out witness before this Panchayat. Case again ad­ to the accused which he admitted before the journed till 24-9-60. Panchayat bench. 24th September 1960-The accused filed Decision-Since the accused admitted the an application before the Panchayat to trans­ charges levelled against him, this Panchayat fer his ca,se to Sub-Judge and to stop the pro': imposes a fine of Rs. 50.00. This Panchayat ceedings. has a knowledge that the accused is a noto­ rious person and often teased the girls. He Since there is no provision of stopping the is also warned to behave well in future. proceedings under Himachal Pradesh Pancha­ yat Raj Acb, on every such request, it is de­ Case No.2 cided that the hearings should continue till F WfO N orders under Section 93(2) of Himachal Pra­ desh Panchayat Raj Act are received from the G.R. si6 M.R. Sub-Judge. Case filed on the 10th September, 1960. Complainant's witnesses have been record­ Summary of the complaint-The com­ ed and the case is adjourned till 30-9-60. plainant was collecting dryiallen chil leaves in her ghasani (grazing land) on the 12th 30th September 1960-The Panchayat has ,August. 1960 nearabout 3 P.M. when two received a request from the complainant that buffaloes belonging to the accused entered the statement of Shanti, one of her witnesses her grass land and began to eat the grass. may be recorded at her residence which is She was abouJ to drive them out when G. R. granted. the accused objected tojt and started abusino­ Besides this, an order from Sub-Divisional her. On her assertion that the land was he~ Judge was received to send the entire case to and that he has no right to graze his buffaloes him before the 10th October, 1960. Case ad­ there, the accused gave her a blow on the fore­ journed till 15-10-60. It is also decided to head near the left eye with his staff. It bled pro­ record the witness of Shanti on 15-10-60 at fusely and had swollen. It was, therefore, prayed 10 A.M. at her residence. that proper action be'taken against the accused. 10th October 1960-1n' the Court of Shri Proceedings-The case Game for- -h~aring Prakash Chand, Sub-Divisional Judge, Dis-' befo~e the Panchayat. Both the parties nave trict Mahasu, Kasumpti. applted that V. K. from the accused's side arid M. R. from_ t~ .complainant's side be Revision under Section 93(2) Himachal allowed to plead theIr respective cases. Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1954. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 49

Both the parties were present. They submit­ But the people in general are not very enthu­ ted that since they have reached a compro­ siastic about the cooperative movement. A lot mise, the court is requested to drop the pro­ of educative work is required to achieve the ceedings of the case. desired goal. I n this connection we may re­ The court accepted their compromise and produce here an extract from the General closing the proceedings announced. Review Report on Rural Credit Follow up Cooperative Movement Survey, 1959-60. The fourth in the series-re­ leased by the Reserve Bank of India. The Chaunri Cooperative and Multipurpose Society Ltd., Junga was started in 1952, the "The fact that the problem of cooperative tota! membership at the time of investigation development one that runs deep into the was 155. Out of which 23 members were socio-economic structure of rural India, makes from Chaunri. The activities of the society it necessary to have a thorough and periodi­ covers a number of subjects, that is, loans, cal study of the growth and impact, as also distribution of potato seed and chemical fer­ of the short-falls, of the movement. It is a tilisers besides running a general merchan­ result 'of one such study in fact that we know dise shop and a ~ugar depot. 101 pers'ons have now that inspite of the so-called remarkable been given loans upto Odober, 1964. The growth of credit cooperatives throughout the shop earned a profit of Rs. 4,883 upto June, country, these achievements have been any­ 1960. Its share capital was 15,066 in 1961. thing but spectacular, the obvious reason be­ The. society also helps in marketing agricul­ ing that the forces of transformation were not tural produce of the villagers at competitive as powerful as those that were _sought to be rates. cOUtlteracted", It appears th~t the society has been doing a fairly satisfactory work since its inception. (Quoted from the Eastern Economist). V. Conclusion

Chaunti or Junga as it is generally known ever it was at that time. llaving been the in the adjoining areas represents a village State headquarters for so long a period it may which has had its heydays during the State be conceded that there has not been left much regime. Some vintages of faded glory are still of rural aspect of the life of the people. Rather discernible in the form of Rajmahal and a Junga would appear to have imbibed urban few other spacious buildings there. During ,influence to a great extent. There is nothing the state regime, being the capital or Raj­ that the village can boast of except its past dhani of the State it had the proud privilege history which does not in any 'Way help the of being the centre of activities and people people or the place. It is now an ordinary from all over the State had to come at one village though having the facilities of educa­ time or the other for getting their various tion, water taps, a police station, post office needs fulfilled. The business at that time was and a few shops. quite flourishing. But with the merger of the Junga has recently attra,eted the attention State into Himachal Pradesh, Chaunri cease 'of the admini"tration and efforts are being to be an important town and that too not an made to save it from further deterioration. important one. The district headquarters be­ For that purpose a Police Training Centre has ing situated at Kasumpti. people started been set up there which has addeu to the wending their ways to that place. Junga is population of the village. In addition to that not ev~n a tehsil headquarter and so only trainipg headquarters of Home -Guards have those who have got to go to Junga visit this also been established there. These steps are. place with the result th~t the business slumped it is hoped, likely to attract some families and the ruling family also shifted to Simla. At of government employees. This may help the the time of survey the village presented a businessmen a little otherwise on account of deserted appearance with no future prospects. its geographical situation and being situated In the preceding chapters an effort has been at the dead end of Simla-Junga Road it has made to study' the social and cultural life of little or no chances of d~velopment in any the people and their econOl.nic position what- other sphere.

L/B(N)8SCOIU>-500-28·3·69-GIPS .50 CHAUNRI IN PICTURES

Distant Vi.ew of Simla Kasumpti on way to Chaunri

Way to Chaunri Junga Bridge f rom the Hilt Top

Fishing in Ashni Khad Water Fall Raja/s Palace ... ,.-"~

Timber depot Wood carving

lnother emp!e House structure

",

, -' Civil Defence Training Centre, Junga

Police Training Centre, Junga A fuel wood tree

Clearing stones from fields Plough

Ploughing in Progresli Potato field Washing dirty linen

• LIST OF 1961 CENSUS PUBLICATIONS OF HIlVfACFIAL PRADESH ~-

Chitrari, Chamba Tehsil (~ri~e Rs. 3.6.0). . ': S!la.krori, &eohi Sub~Tel!sil (Pric~ Rs. 3.00) Devi 'Kothi, Chaurah Tehsil .(Price' :as. 3.10). Batal, Arki Tehsil' (~:r:ice' 'Rs._ 2.45) Maingal, Chamba Teh~il Shathala, Kumharsa~n :Sup-Tehsil _(rP-rice Lakkar Mancli, Bhattiyat Tehsil Rs.5.50). Hatli, Bhattiyat Tehsil ,(Price Rs. 3.15) Delath, Rampur Tehsil Brahmaur, Brahmaur Sub-Tehsil ,(Price Rs.4.20). Chergaon, Tehsil (P-rice ;B.s. 4.65), Kupha, Parmas, Malet and Karoti Gijari, Theog Tehsil (Price Rs. 2.45) (Thamoh) Pangi Sub-Tehsil .(!price Chaunri, Kasumpti Tehsil Rs. 4.40) Basal, SoioI!- Tehsil (Price Rs. 4.10) District Mandi Chaupal, Chaupal Tehsil Chauntra, J ongindarnagar Tehsil (I:r~ce District Sirmur Rs. 3.251 Rajana, Rainka Tehsil (Price Rs. 5.75). Bir, Mandi Sadar Tehsil Moginand, Nahan Tehsil (Price Rs. 3.75) Kot, Sarkaghat Tehsil (Price Rs, :4:.05) Kolar, Paonta Tehsil (Price Rs. 3.45). Panjain, Chichot Teh~il K!amrao, Paonta Tehsil {Price Rs. 3.20j Nalag, Sundarnagar Tehsil _(Price Re. 1.00). District Kinnaur _ Pangnd, Karsog Tehsil (Price Rs., 2.95). Kothi, Kalpa Sub-I>ivision .(Price Rs.3.55), District Bilaspur Nachar, Nachar Sub-Division .(~rice Dabhla Dari Ghamarwin Tehsil (Present) Rs. 4.05). De~li, J3ilaspur S~dar :I'ehsil Kanum, POQ Sub-Division .(Price Rs. 8.7Ql

CElY.'lRAL GOVERNMENt PV13LIGAT10NS

1961 Census Rep'ox:t, Volume XX-Himachal~radesh, will be in the ~ol1owing parts-

I-A General Report V-B(II) A study of Gaddi Sc~edul~d:.Tribes I-B Report on Vital Statistics of the Decade and affiliated castes by ProL Wilham H. including rep,rints' Newell (Price Rs. 2.90) - I-C Subsidiary Tables VI Village Survey Monogrcwhs ,(-31 Yilla­ II-A General Population Tables and Pri­ ges). mary Census Abstrac~s (Price Rs. 1.75) VII-A Survey of Handioraf>ts II-B ~cono~ic Tables (Price Rs. 5.50) II-C Cultural & Migration Tables (Price VII-ACI) Gold and Silver Ornaments Rs.7.·50). (Price RSI. 1,5.00) - III Household Economic Tables (Price VII-A(II) Art of Weaving (Price Rs. 8.25), Rs. 3.60) VII-B Fairs and Festivals (Price·Rs. :17.90) IV Report on Housing and Establishments (Price Rs. 15.50) VIII-A Administration Report-Enumera- V -A Special Tables on Scheduied Castes tion Cfor official ~se only) ". and Scheduled Tribes (including re­ VIII-B Administration Report-Tabulation pri,nts (Price Rs. 6.35). (for 'o:ijicial use only~ . - ..:. - _ V-BCI)' Eth'lographic notes on 'Scheduled Cas1es & Scheduled Tribes IX.... Maps (Atlas! 1961 CENSUS HIMACHAL PRADESH GOVENRMJENT PUBLICATIONS

District Handbook-Chamba (Price Ra. 6.90). District Handbook-Mandi District HandbO'ok-Bilasipur (Price Rs. 6.05), District Handbook-. Mahasu District Handbook-Sirmur District Handbook-Kinnaur (Price Rs. 4.80)