 |
| 'Green' is the Colour |
Many development professionals & Agri-science specialists call it a practice
'primitive' in nature. Maybe this notion's the reason why concern State depts.
have never taken it as a part of their responsibility- to acknowledge Jhum
farmers the way they acknowledge those who till the low lands to eke out a
living. The thing is, they know not much about the art & 'Life' associated
with Jhum cultivation. They do not know that it is much more than the mere
actions of "slash', 'Burn', 'sow' & 'Reap'. In fact, there could be no
people who know the highlands better than the people who make a living out of
it and call it their ‘Home’. For, they have been sustaining their lives and
have managed a self-reliant economy for generations, since time immemorial,
with traditional yet ‘judicial’ community-driven management & use of the
abundant forest resource. Yes, to us, it is a tradition- the invaluable
traditional knowledge being passed on by our forefathers, a tradition our lives
are so attached with, a tradition that’s going to die hard. Our entire cultural
life is based on the phased activities of jhum cultivation and a life closely
knitted with nature, our cultural festivals derived from it.
Some
anthropologists argue with the ‘modern’ definition of Jhum cultivation, on a
similar note that we’re giving here. They somehow understand better than the
rest of ‘Them’. Yes, we chop off trees and clear the forest to start farming,
yet ‘Jhum’ is still regarded as one of the earliest and traditional art of
replenishing the soil. We may hurt the earth?- yes, when it is done on a scale,
large enough to pose a threat to (ab)normal climatic conditions. Yes, when the
jhum cycle is too short, but not as much as mega builders would hurt it. Mega
projects loots the earth’s resource, Jhum farmers borrows the same.
Do we
need alternative livelihoods?...Yes, Jhum cultivation do not generate much
income nor surplus food to trade. Do we need to shun Jhum farming?---Maybe,
when people get a better source of livelihood, they will. In fact, many have
taken up other activities, leaving their Jhum fields behind. But should we
totally leave behind this life?---Maybe, with better alternative source of
livelihood, people will soon leave behind this life associated with cultivation
in the highlands. But here’s a reminder: even if all households should find a
better alternative to Jhum farming, the art & tradition of it all has to be
preserved by the community in its original form, so as to sustain their
traditional ‘roots’ for future generations to thrive on. Jhum cultivation has
something to do with livelihoods, a thing to do with ecology---much more to do
with our indigenous way of life.
