I CENSUS OF-- INDIA 1961 VOLUME XX-PART VI-NO. tf HIMACHAL PRADESH A Village Survey of KOLAR [Paonta Tehsil, Sirmur District] Field Investigation and Draft DJ CHUNILALSHARM.A. Edtior RAM CHANDRA PAL SINGH of the Indian Administrative Service SUPERINTENDENT OJ CENSUS OPERATIONS HIMACHAL PRADESH I@- ~ • e-t 0- .Q.. G- o- e- li:::. ;:I}- Il ~ 0.- ~ 0- ~ .... ~ ~ Q:-Q- ~ <.J Q \c ..0 o-~ ~ Qo- 0- ... Q ~, :ot .ar ~~ ~ :.. Il 0- ... Q- (]I- ...."I .... ;;;. ~t:;:)....~ -Q- ~~ R:I-- ~ Cr- c:::r-- ~ 1 ~o b z Contents FOREWORD III PREFACE vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS viii 1. THE VILLAGE 1 Origin of the Village-Physical Aspects-Flora-Fauna-Climate. Tem­ perature and Rainfall-Source of Water. 2. THE PEOPLE 6 Castes-Religion-Households-Residential Pattern-House Type­ Household Goods-Utensils-Dress-Ornaments-Food and Drinks­ Family Structure-Inheritance of property-Statistics relating to Age and Sex distribution. 3. BffiTB, MARRIAGE AND DEATH CUSTOMS 18 Birth-Marriage-Death Customs. 4. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE 23 Social awareness-Leisure and Recreation-Fairs and Festivals-Reli­ gious Institutions-Untouchability-Social Status of Women. 5. EDUCATION, PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAm:I'ATION 26 6. ECONOMY 28 Sources of income-Workers and Non-workers-Income-Expenditure -Indebtedness-Mortgages. 7. AGRICULTURE 35 Occupational Pattern-Agricultural Calendar-Land Reforms-Land Utilization Statement-Ownership of land-Price of land-Pests and Diseases-Tools and Equipment-Natwe of expenditure in connection with various operations-Marketing of Produce-Animal Husbandry­ Case studies of milk yield-Sericulture. 8. VILLAGE CRAFrS lSI Carpentary and Blacksmithy-shoemaking. 9. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, CO·OPERATIVES AND PANORA· YA'l'S M Community Development-Co:.operative S.ociety-Village Organisa­ tioM-Family Planning. 10. CONCLUSION 59 APPENDICES APPENDIX I-Extract from 'Punjab Castes' by Denzil lbbetson 61 ... APPENDIX II-Agricultural Research Station at Dhaula Kuan 63 APPENDIX 111- Glossary 64 ApPENDIX IV-List 0/ Hindu Months in Vikrami Calendar 65 APPENDIX V--Conversion Table 65 APPENDIX VI-Geological Survey 0/ India, Calcutta. Sirmur District. 66 APPENDIX VII-Flora-Sirmur District 73 APPENDIX VIII-List of Wild Animals-Sirmur District 78 APPENDIX IX-Questionnaire 80 (ii) Foreword Apart from, laying the ,foundations of demo­ a picture for the whole State in quantitative graphy in this subcontinent, a hundred years terms on the basis of villages selected statisti­ of the Indian Census has also produced elabo­ cally at random. The selection was avowedly rate and scholarly accounts of the variegated purposive: the object being as much to find phenomena of Indian life-sometimes with no out what was happening and how fast to those statistics attached, but usually with just enough villages which had fewer reasons to choose statistics to give empirical underpinning to change and more to remain lodged in the past their conclusions. In a country, largely illite­ as to discover how the more 'normal' types of rate, where statistical or numerical comprehen­ villages were changing. They were to be pri­ sion of even such a simple thing as age was marily type studies which. by virtue of their liable to be inaccurate, an understanding of the number and distribution. would also give the social structure was essential. It was more reader a 'feel' of what was going on and some necessary to attain a broad understanding of kind of a map of country. what was happening around oneself than to wrap oneself up in 'statistical ingenuity' or A brief account of the tests of selection will 'mathematical manipulation'. This explains help to explain. A minimum of thirty-five vil­ why the Indian Census came to be interested lages was to be chosen with great care to re­ in 'many by paths' and 'nearly every branch of present adequately geographical. occupational scholarship, from anthropology and sociology and even ethnic diversity. Of this minimum of to geography and religion'. thirty-five. the distribution was to be as fol­ lows: In the last few decades the Census has in­ creasingly turned its efforts to the presentation (a) At least eight villages were to be so of village statistics. This suits the temper ,of selected that each of them would contain one the times as well as our political and econo­ dominant community with one predominating mic structure. For even as we have a great deal occupation. e.g.. fishermen. forest workers, of centralization on the one hand and decen­ jhum cultivators, potters. weavers. salt-makers, tralisat;on on the other, my colleagues thought quarry workers etc. A village should have a it would be a welcome continuation of the Cen­ minimum population of 400. the optimum sus tradition to try to invest the dry bones of being between 500 and 700. village statistics with flesh-and-blood accounts (b) At least seven villages were to be of social structure and social change. It was ac­ of numerically prominent Scheduled Tribes cordingly decided to select a few villages in of the State. Each village could represent a every State for special study, where personal particuiar tribe. The minimum population observation would be brou~ht to bear on the should be 400 the optimum being between interpretation of statistics to find out how much 500 and 700. of a village was static and yet changing and how fast the winds of change were blowing and (c) The third group of villages should from where. each be of fair size, of an old and settled Randomness of selection was, therefore, character and contain variegated occupations eM:hewed. There was no intention to build up and be, if possible. multi-ethnic in compos i- tion. By fair size was meant a population of the mode of inquiry suggested'dn the Sep­ 500-700 persons or more. The village should tember 1959 conference, introduced groups mainly depend on agriculture and be suffi­ of questions aimed at sensing changes in at­ ciently away from the major sources of titude and behaviour in such fields as mar­ modern communication such as the district riage, inheritance, moveable and immoveqble administrative headquarters and business property, industry, indebtedness, education, centres. It should be roughly a day's journey community life and collective activity, social from the above places. The villages were to disabilities, forums of appeal over disputes, be selected ~ith an eye to variation In,terms village leadership and organisation of cultural of size, proximity to city and other mea~ of . life. It was now plainly the intention to pro­ modern communication, nearness to hills, vide adequate statistical support to empirical jungles and major rivers. Thus there was to' 'feel', to approach qualitative change through be a regional distribution throughout the statistical quantities. It had been difficult to State of this category of villages. If, how­ 'give thought to the importance of 'just enough ever, a particular district c(:mtained significant statistics to give empirical underpinning to ecological variations within its area, more conClusions', at a time when my colleagues than one village in the district might be select­ were straining themselves to the utmost for the ed to study the special adjustments to them. success of the main Census operations, but once the Census count itself was left behind in It is a unique feature of these village surveys March 1961, a series of three regional semi­ that they rapidly outgrew their original terms nars in Trivandrum (May 1961), Darjeeling of reference, as my colleagues warmed up to and Srinagar (June 1961) restored their atten­ their work. This proved for them an absorb­ tion· to this field and the importance of tracing ing voyage of discovery and their infectious social change through a number of well-devis­ enthusiasm compelled me to enl~ge the in­ ed statistical tables was once again recognised. quiry's scope again and again. It was just as This itself presupposed a fresh survey of villa­ well cautiously to feel one's way about at first ges already done; but it was worth the trouble and then venture further a field, and although in view of the possibilities that a close analy­ it accounts to some extent for a certain un­ sis of statistics offered, and also because the evenness in the quality and coverage of the consanguinity' schedule remained to be con­ monographs, it served to compensate the pure­ vassed. By November 1961, however, more was ly honorary and extra-mural rigours of the expected of these surveys than ever before. task. For, the Survey, along with its many an­ There was dissatisfaction on the one hand cillaries like the survey of fairs and festivals, with too many general statements and a grow­ of small and rural industry and others, was an ing desire on the other to draw conclusions 'extra', over and above the crushing load of from statistics, to regard social and economic the 1961 Census. \~ data as inter-related processes, and finally to examine the social and economic processes It might be of interest to recount briefly set in motion through land reforms' and other the stages by which the Survey enlarged its laws. legislative and administrative measures, scope. At the first Census Conference in Sep­ technological and cultural change. Finally, a tember 1959, the Survey set itself the task of study camp was organised in the last week of what might be called a record in situ of ma~~­ December 1961, when the whole field was care­ rial traits, like settlement patterns of the vil­ fully gone through over again and a programme lage; house types; diet; dress. ornaments and . worked out closely knitting the various aims of footwear; furniture and storing. vessels; com­ the Survey together. The social studies section mon means of transport of goods and pas­ of the Census Commission rendered assistance sengers; domestication of.