Voiceless Budhni & Voracious Khap Panchayats

Budhni Mejan- a tribal teenager in her fifteen reached the dais. There were all VIPs. In the middle there was none other than Nehuruji- the then Prime Minister. Budhni was different that moment, she was quite confident and looking anew in her tribal outfit. Her face was dazzling and attractive. Indeed, she stood for future India and aspirations of millions. Shortly, DVC (Damodar Valley Corporation) would be opened with much expectation. The mega project would deliver water in dry tracts Bengal. Farmers would harvest more & more. The beginning was ready. Unnerved Budhni , in her pretty attire , glazing look and deep eyes marched smartly. She put visible red-tika(red-mark) on the forehead of the Prime Minister. Thereafter, she garlanded him. Nehuruji touched her with affection. . Snooer a loud voice waved and mesmerized the mass. Nehuriji wanted Budhni to inaugurate DVC . A history was seeded in the world. A tribal, indigenous guy was going to open the greatest Dam. At the climax, Buttom pushed the bottom. All clapped. India as well as the world saw a history. The climax went on. Budhni was addressing the mass in in her language. All understood what she had spoken with out knowing santhali.

We saw another history when Budhni returned home. Khap Panchayat (local community administration) had called an open meeting. Charges were leveled against Budhni. Leaders said Budhni had violated customs, traditions and culture of tribal community. The serious charge was that Budhni garlanded Nehuriji. All participants unanimously agreed to outcast her. Karbona-the home & abode of Budhni rejected her. Budhni cried out but Khap rule prevailed. With pain & sorrow she left her adorned village. She was alone. She moved here & there no body gave her shelter. Later, Sudhir Datta an employee of DVC accepted her & married. Surprisingly, urbanized DVC people were more apathy to her. She was sacked from service with out any reason. Days passed off, Budhni was forgotton, but she never forgot her home. She tried again and again to live in her soil. Pitifully she was refused every time. The unruly males negated her inner voice. Budhni lost her village, lost her job and lost sympathy from others. At the age of 58 she brought her case to the notice of Rajib Gandhi-the grandson of Nehuru occupying the chair of Prime minister. Rajibji listened to her and directed to DVC officials to reinstate her. Budhni won the battle in the context of employment but failed to get her own soil. I searched Budhni fervently. I could not meet. Last month I met many tribal of her area. I told them about her. No body recognized her name. However, suddenly I got news from internet Budhni left the world.