Our Tribals

Tribals who are our 'aadivasis' have been great lovers of Nature and living happily in jungles far from the crowd of towns and cities, unless they are employed there. I have been told for the fact that they do not mix with their non-tribal village people, may be they are suspicious of them! That is called "tribalism" and might have given rise to "naxalism" in many parts of the country. But, tribals are very pure at heart and they love peace in the lap of Nature. They worship Nature as their God. Being away from the mainstream of the society, they seldom take mainland people (Dikus) for granted. This is the story I have heard from my father, from one of his job postings.I was a kid then. 

" One day, I found an aadivasi youth in search of some job, passing by my house astonishingly limping. He looked at me with pain writ large on his face. He was bare-footed and in rags. 

I called him in and asked him to be comfortable on my sofa. He hesitantly sat down on the floor. I served him with a glass of plain water which he readily took as he was quite thirsty. Then I asked him what is the cause of his limping. He showed me his left leg with big thorn pierced into his ankle. He seemed to be helpless as he could not reach the thorn so easily as to extract the thorn with his hands.

I made him consolable when I brought a bodkin from my office table and asked him to stretch his affected ankle to me. He did so with ease. Then I promptly used the bodkin to extract the thorn from his ankle. Thank God, the bodkin was found useful in relieving the pain he has all been going through.

He looked at me with profound gratitude. I requested him to stay with me for some time so that he was able to move out freely. He agreed. He did not stay with me as a guest but as a help doing all kinds of chores for me. I could not prevent him from doing so as he was loving and sincerely doing his job to "repay" my goodness shown to him. After a week, he was ready to head back his home. I gave him a pair of chappals and some money as a token of love. I gave him my phone number. He left with tears in his eyes. 

After some time, a phone call came to me, the caller being none other than that tribal youth calling from far away state where he had got employment opportunity. He enquired about my well being and if I need his help for household chores.

He was so determined to leave his well-paid job for my sake. I assured him since I am all right at my place, he should single mindedly do his job there and earn as much money as he could. He was Dalesar by name. He often enquires about me and assures me of being my help whenever I need.

I was so overwhelmed by the purity of his heart and sacrifices for his love and affection for those who show respect and fellow-feeling to him that I still remember him with fondness".