A sneak peek into the lives of Lodha people of Sundarban

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Our country has numerous tribes with variety of culture and livelihood. And we the so called civilized people hardly know about them. Most of us have imaginary ideas about them. Till the time I got associated with an NGO, I also never heard about the Lodha tribe, who has an interesting history of their own. However, I am not here to discuss about their history. I just wanted to share whatever I came to know about a particular section of this tribe living in Sagar Island in Sundarban (West Bengal).
The Lodha people of Sagar Island reside in a village called Mayagoalini. There are around 23 families of Lodha living in this village still maintaining their originality. Just 2/3 years back, the other caste people living in this area used to consider them untouchables. They were not allowed to mix with commoners. They were not allowed to fetch water from the same pond from where others used. So, they were living a secluded life.

However, things took a little better turn for the Lodhas when an NGO came forward to support them. But things were not so easy as the Lodhas had been used to their tribal life and any change came as a sudden shock for them. With the help of Gram Panchayat people, a non-formal school was started for the Lodha kids, who have never thought of going school earlier. The main livelihood of the Lodha people here is catching crabs, snakes, rare birds and animals and later selling them to earn bread and butter. They also eat crabs and other creatures as they do not have enough earning to afford better meal. So these hunters could never imagine sending their children to school, which is useless according to them. They think if their kids learn the art of hunting at a tender age then their life would be better.

After lots of effort from NGO people and local enthusiasts, some Lodha families started sending their kids to the school. But their only aim was the tasty meal and good clothes given in the school and not the education. So, as soon as the kids are free from school, they run to help their parents in catching crabs near shore. The lady teacher, who approached the Lodha families to send their kids to school, was abused many times and they came to hit her several times. Now, after 2/3 years,  the Lodha families are now sending their kids to the non-formal school. Moreover, this has also changed the mentality of other caste people who used to consider them untouchables. Now, they also send their kids to the same school with Lodha children and all of them study and play together.

However, it’s not happy ending of the plight of the Lodhas and their condition. Till today, most of the Lodha families go for hunting and catching crabs to sell them. The main reason behind their poor condition is illiteracy. None of the adult member in this area is educated and they have limited their world within this island. They cannot think of going outside for alternate livelihood option. One more thing spoiling their lives is ‘alcoholism’. While talking with a panchayat member, I came to know a strange reason behind their alcohol addiction. The Lodhas cannot afford two times proper food so they prepare this ‘desi daaru’ and try to remain unconscious of their hunger for sometimes. But, now it has become addiction as they pass their leisure time drinking alcohol only. 

However, NGO and Gram Panchayat people are trying to offer them alternative way of using their leisure time.
Whenever, the kids are given new warm shawls for winter season, their parents take it away and the kids are sent school in dirty clothes. They do not understand the value of cleanliness so most of the time the kids suffer from this or that ailment. They do not prefer to go to doctors too even though there is a government health centre running in their area. Once, an NGO took them to Kolkata to show them the developed world but the kids ran away from there. They complained that the rooms they were staying were too much lighted during the night and they could not sleep on soft beds! They are used to their dark small huts in hard beds.
During our visit, we tried to talk to a Lodha kid, who ran away because his family was waiting for him near the beach to collect crabs.

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