Tharu community: A blend of age-old culture and modernity
2
Patna: With
women empowerment
being a big theme in today's social and political discourse, there is an indigenous community in Bihar where women have long been enjoying an empowered lifestyle. The women, inhabiting 'Tharuhat' in the 'terai' region along Bihar-Nepal border (mostly in West Champaran district), are not only economically self-dependent but also manage their families well.
As the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is commemorated on Aug 9, a lesson or two can be learned from the lifestyle of not just these women but the entire Tharu community, which resides in six 'tapa' (zones) in West Champran.
The Tharu people are an ethnic group indigenous to the 'terai' region in Bihar and are recognised as a scheduled tribe by the Govt of India. They say they are about 2.5 lakh in number, but the govt figure is slightly less.
Secretary of Tharu Kalyan Mahasangh, Deep Narayan Prasad, said that women have a high reputation in their society, and enjoy more social and economic rights in their family system, compared to others. Like, the 'Tharuhat' women play an active role in fishing, chasing animals away, business and above all choosing their life partners.
The women of the Tharu community have also formed self-help groups pursuing different businesses.
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A sizeable number of these women are engaged in the production of bathing soaps from the milk of goats reared by them. These special soaps are in high demand among the health-conscious people living in metropolitan cities, said Suman Devi, the leader of a self-help group at Kadmahiya village in Bagaha-II block. Soap manufacturing has, of late, emerged as a popular cottage industry in this area, she added.
In recent times, education has played an important role in their socio-economic development.
Secretary of Bhartiya Tharu Kalyan Mahasangh, Rabindra Prasad, however, regretted that the women of this region are facing great difficulties in pursuing their higher education as there is not a single college in the entire Tharuhat. While some guardians afford to send their wards to distant places for higher education, a vast majority are compelled to discontinue their education after Class XII, he said.
Deep Narayan said that the Tharu culture is very eco-friendly, and all their practices and religious activities are deeply related to nature.
Their residence, food, clothes, art, religion, economy and many other parts of life are nature-based, and they try their best to maintain the ecological balance. Tharu people worship mainly their tribal Goddess 'Bhumsen' (Mother Earth).
Marriages in Tharu community are considered an act of god, and hence both bride and groom are worshipped at the time of marriage. No dowry is demanded. When the marriage is fixed, a token amount of Rs 5 or 11 is offered for the marriage, said Deep Narayan.
Rabindra said that about 500 marriages are solemnised every year in the community.
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