The Law of Jungle Ch. 02

Bhaskar said, "Now, I will request my best friend Arnab to continue the story where I left."

Arnab started his speech, "Ultimately, the Government approached our fathers, made them emissaries to contact this rare tribe. Our fathers had a detailed discussion with the Tribes, tried to convince them to bring them to the mainstream of civilized society, but they were not agreeable and were very much adamant to confine themselves in the jungle only. Further, they made their own tribal law that no outsiders will be allowed to enter their territory, only our fathers and their heirs/family members will only be allowed to enter and stay with them. Accordingly, our fathers reported the details to Govt. Later on, the Indian constitution passed a special Act to protect all extinct Tribes of India, and this Tree tribe was protected under special Regulations of the constitution along with Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands under the Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation of1956. As per this regulation, nobody will enter into their areas without the approval of the Government and will be punishable under law. But our fathers were given special approval by Govt. to enter and exit from their area at any time. After some years, during the annual festival of Tribes, our fathers accompanied me and Bhaskar to the jungle and introduced us before all Tribes. From then both of us would attend their annual festival along with our fathers.

These Tribes are also good artists, they could carve a statue out of stone. In the process, both Bhaskar and I learned the tribal dialect and could easily communicate with them. After some years, our fathers died when we both were young. Our fathers were like demi-gods to Tribes, so to remember them and to honor them, they have made two big statues of our fathers which are placed in the entry of their hamlet. After the death of our fathers, we both have continued our family tradition to visit and attend the annual festival of Tribes once in a year, and we both will be staying there for a month with the Tribes."

Archana (Bhaskar's wife) interrupted, "Ohhh, now I understand why you two vanish suddenly for a month together?"

Kaberi (Arnab's wife) said, "Always, these two will make a plea that it was a business-related staying." Both the granddaughters chuckled.

Arpita said, "I wonder, how our two grandmothers didn't get the slightest hint of the Tribes when our grandfathers were visiting jungle regularly throughout so many years."

Arnab smiled at two granddaughters, and continued his speech, "Let me reveal a big secret before our family members. After the death of our fathers, both Bhaskar and I became an ardent worshippers of jungle Deity Masombango as we felt her direct blessings on our family. Today, we both are very rich and prosperous only due to the direct blessings of this jungle Goddess, so to attend the annual festival of Tribes is essential for us when the Goddess is worshipped once in a year by the Tribes. Let me brief you on some more details about the Tribes. The Govt. is much more concerned about the survival of this Tribe because this tribe is rare and Govt. is afraid of their extinction and felt that their protection is required. We both are authorized Govt. Agents to report Govt. all the facts about the Tribe as we both have direct access. Over time, the population of the tribe has reduced to some extent due to natural calamities and some incurable diseases. We both have tried several times for availing medical facilities for them, but they wouldn't accept.

You will be surprised to hear that they are very much expert in herbal medicines, and they will treat themselves from any disease through some wild medicinal herbs which are much effective and could beat our modern medicine and drugs. The most surprising facts are that there are no venomous snakes in and around the jungle or near the inhabitants of the tribes, and secondly, you will not find any mosquitoes, it might be due to a lot of herbal plants in the jungle which might be carrying sanitization and anti-insects' air. As per the latest census reported to Govt. by us, the total population of the tribes is 600 in numbers. With the aid of Govt., we have repaired and renovated the abandoned Bungalow where we both friends usually stay, and now it has turned into a beautiful bungalow the tribes would take care of housekeeping, they have planted beautiful flowers and fruits in and around the Bungalow. Another peculiar thing is that the tribes are cultivating a special type of rice which when cooked will emit an essence, a fragrance spread to some meters distance, and it will taste sweet. Our fathers revealed to us that the tribes would cultivate this aromatic rice through the permeation process of wild herbal juices mixed in grains before cultivation.

Over the years, there have been slight changes. The Tribes felt the need for metal equipment, matchbox, kerosine, lantern, scissors and razors for cutting hairs and shaving, and other essential items which they needed in their day-to-day life. So, to fulfill their needs, we arranged a barter system after discussion with Govt. officials. Once in a month, the traders will gather outside of the jungle, just near the forest check gate. The tribes will come with their sweet rice, honey, fruits, berries, and other jungle products in exchange for their essential needs from the traders, and the Govt. forest officials would help to facilitate this process. Their sweet rice is in such a demand that it is very costly, and export quality of rice. You can have a taste of it in five-star hotels only where rich people demand it more."

He stopped for a moment, then continued his speech, "Let me tell you more details about these tribes and how to reach them. When you go deep into the jungle, first you will come across the Bungalow which is situated in an open high place with a slope downwards from where the height of Bungalow would be approximately 60 feet in height. You cannot see anything below, only deep and dense forest spread over everywhere. There is a walkable path from Bungalow which will lead you to this dense forest, and after walking 10 minutes in the forest you will reach a place where the statues of our fathers are placed, and which is the entry point from where you can see in yours left and right side two hamlets consisting of a lot of tiny huts. It is just like a 'V-shaped. There is one Village head of these two hamlets, who is the law enforcing authority of them, his words are the law. Usually, the village head is chosen by all the tribes of these two hamlets once in ten years amongst them depending upon the caliber, intellectual level, expertise in archery and hunting, and leadership quality of a tribe. If they are satisfied with the present leader then he could continue for another 10 years. This democratic process was initiated by our fathers.

The members of the tribe are united by kinship bonds. Many tribes obtained their livelihood from agriculture. Others were hunter-gatherers or herders. Most often they combined these activities to make full use of the natural resources of the area in which they lived. In various ways, the tribes retained their freedom and preserved their separate culture. It is just like a utopian state." Arnab stopped, then asked, "Can anyone tell me what do you mean by 'Utopian'?"

Dipankar, son of Bhaskar replied, "Uncle, it is an imaginary and indefinitely remote place. a place of ideal perfection especially in-laws, government, and social conditions."

Arnab continued, "Exactly, you are right Dipankar. This tribal society is completely far from the madding crowd and lawless city like ours, there is no crime, rape, murder, and completely peaceful society, where you can roam freely day or at night, no protection for women is required. Whenever we both friends go and stay there, we derive such mental peace which I can't express unless you feel it. The radius of this entire protected area is 150 km, full of dense forest, big mountains with 4 nos of beautiful waterfalls. The entire area is full of fauna and flora. In our fathers' time, this area was full of wild animals like Royal Bengal tigers and leopards, but it is pity that now those wild animals are completely extinct except Indian wolves and Hyenas who live in the core of the jungle. These wolves and hyenas never come out from the core of the jungle towards the hamlets of tribes rather they are afraid of human beings. The jungle has plenty of spotted deer and sambar (a dark brown woodland deer with branched antlers) monkeys, rabbits, and other mammals.

You can see a lot of valuable trees like Teak, Saal, etc. and apart from these, you can also find tangy Imli (Tamarinds) trees with a lot of mangroves, Palm trees, and also coconut trees in the forest. The entire area is enriched with various sweet fruits and berries like Mango, coconut, pineapple, Papaya, Targola (It is the fruit of an indigenous variety of palm trees), custard apple, Jackfruit, Banana, Bel (Wood apple), Orange, Lemon, Lime, and a lot of other countless fruits which is difficult for me to describe in details. Apart from this, you can find various berries like, Jamun (blackberry), Amla (Indian Gooseberry), delicious Jhar-Beri, Karvanda (Carissa carandas), Star Fruit (Carambola), Indian Raspberry which is aptly known as Rasbhari, serviceberries, lingonberry, elderberries, blueberries, and Wild plum, etc."

"Ohhh...stop Grand paa, my mouth is watering," cried Bipasha.

Arnab smiled and continued his speech, "Now let me explain about their social life. These tribe people are strongly built with height up to 6 feet, black like African negro but the difference is that they have long hairs unlike negroes who have curly hairs. Previously they were naked, but our fathers trained them in weaver arts, and now they wear Coarse clothes in multi-coloured, a female doesn't wear a blouse rather she would wrap her entire body in single clothing. But on the occasion of their annual festival when they worship their Deity, the ordinary tribes would wear deer skins in their loins, and the village chief would wear either wolf skin or hyena skin. Unlike us, they would not use soap or shampoo at the time of bathing rather they would use some special kind of smooth soil on their bodies and hair which would make their bodies clean, and their hair smooth, so there is no need for combing their hair.

"They would brush their teeth with neem twigs which is a natural antibiotic in nature along with Triphala tooth powder, the Powder consists of Amalaki (Phyllanthus Emblica), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) which prevent all kinds of mouth ulcers. When their elder person gets too old, they would follow their old traditions, they would build a treehouse in jungle, just near their hamlets and the elder person would live there alone, his kiths and kins would provide him food all times there. In a particular place, you would find a small jungle of teak trees on mounds and a heap of soil that looked different from other jungles of trees. That is the graveyard or burial ground of tribes. After the death of a tribe, his family members would bury him on the ground with a huge mound of soil above. They would plant a sapling of teak on the mound of soil, and water it regularly till such time when it becomes a big teak tree. They believe that the spirit of the dead man will live in that tree forever."

"Really, it is interesting in my research," Debika said.

Arnab resumed his speech, "All of our family members are grownups, so I don't hesitate to throw some lights upon their obscure social life. Polygyny, wherein a man has multiple simultaneous wives is not allowed rather Polyandry, wherein a woman has multiple simultaneous husbands is allowed, I mean, one woman could have multiple husbands simultaneously but it is not regular practice and it happens in rare cases. The tribes usually prefer one wife and one husband throughout their life. I think our dear daughter Debika, who is a professor in Anthropology would understand the concept better than others. Here, our fathers put some restrictions on their marriage, our fathers forbade them for a marriage between two direct bloodlines, for example, marriage between paternal cousins. Marriage will be performed before the deity by exchanging garlands between bride and groom, and the marriage ceremony will continue for a week with feast and pleasure. They would prepare some intoxicating drinks made from palm trees as well as from decomposed rice mixed with accumulated juices of some wild herbs which are stronger than wines like Rum and whisky. After being intoxicated, all of them would start dancing with the tune of the beating of drums. Rape is strictly prohibited and punishment is death. Our fathers had seen only one case wherein the culprit was bound in a wooden plank before the public, and the archers of the tribe started shooting arrows on his body, and the culprit died within few minutes. There are no such cases to date as the tribe regards it as sin and heinous crime. That's why I consider women are very much safe in the tribe."

Arnab asked for a glass of water. Then he took a sip of water and continued his speech, "Every male and female could have a physical relationship with anybody willingly, but there is a restriction, if they are caught red-handed, the village chief will impose a penalty by means of some quantity of rice levied on the lovers. After that, the lovers are bound to marry each other irrespective of the fact that one of them is married or unmarried. If unmarried then it is normal, and if married then he or she has to leave his wife and her husband entering into a new nuptial. It means as long as you are not caught you can continue the relationship with anybody. The pregnancy of a woman is always welcome in the tribe which is considered sacred, no question is asked about the fatherhood of a baby if the woman is married. If the woman is unmarried and pregnant then the person who is responsible for the pregnancy has to marry the woman. The tribes believe in an arranged marriage. When a girl reaches her puberty stage then she is eligible for marriage.

Similarly, a boy when he grows a beard, he is eligible for marriage. But the most peculiar and obscure thing is that after the marriage of a new bride and groom, the bride has to spend one month each with the elders of the family. The elder persons of a family refer to the groom's father and grandfather whoever is alive. After that, only the newlywed bride is allowed to stay with her husband. If out of a physical relationship with elders during this one-month stay, the bride gets pregnant then it is considered sacred for the whole family, and the future baby would be considered the first heir of the family. But there are further restrictions, after spending one month with the new bride, the elders would never touch the bride of the family ever again which is a social taboo and considered as a sin."

It was twilight. The evening was just approaching and it was not dark, still, there was daylight. Arnab finished his speech and looked towards his friend Bhaskar who was sitting beside him.

Bhaskar got the hints and said, "We all should have a break for evening snacks and another round of coffee. But before that, I wish to know about the college vacation of our two granddaughters, as they had informed me earlier that this month, they were going to have a long vacation."

Bipasha replied, "This week is our last week in college. Again, our classes will be resumed after a gap of two months. So, we have a vacation of two months continuously."

"What's the probable cause of such a long duration of vacation?" asked Bhaskar.

"Grandpaa, the final examination of the university for last year students are going to be started from coming week and it will continue for two months. Since we are 1st-year students, and our course is almost finished, the college authority feels that they shouldn't continue our classes during this examination period. Further, they have assigned us some field projects, the reports of which we have to submit after 2 months," explained Arpita.

"Well, then let me inform all of our family members about a program we two friends have devised two months before. Two months before, we two friends were discussing our visit to tribes to attend their annual festival, the tradition which we both have been carrying forward for the years after our late fathers. Their annual festival is scheduled to start this month, after 10 days from today. During the discussion, all of a sudden, our two daughters Deboshree and Debika stepped in as they wanted some advice from us. Debika is a professor of Anthropology, and she wanted to do something unique research in her field. Similarly, Deboshree is a researcher cum scientist in National Rice Research Centre, and she also wanted to do something new for her research. Then we both friends suggested Debiika research on this Tree Tribe, and Deboshree researches the sweet aromatic rice produced by these tribes. Both our daughters happily agreed.

Their pilot projects are already approved by their authorities. So, we planned to take them along with us during our visit to tribes for attending the annual festival and stay there for two months instead of one month so that our daughters could complete their Research works. In the meantime, our two granddaughters had informed us that they were going to have a long vacation after two months. Keeping in view of all factors, we had a second thought, why not taking all of our family members with us to the jungle to attend their annual festival? For some years, the tribes are insisting to see our family members for an introduction with them. We two friends agreed that this is the right moment and opportunity to introduce our family members before tribes, and planned accordingly. Just before one month, Govt. had required certain data about tribes, and we had to visit the jungle and stayed there for a week.

During our stay, we obtained all the necessary things including the new mattress, new bedsheets for eight rooms of the Bungalow, all necessary grocery items along 4 nos of new bicycles. All things are stored in Bungalow under the care of tribes. We also informed them that our family members were coming to join their annual festival. Everything is ready, only we have not fixed the date of the journey. It is only an overnight journey from here to reach the place. We have arranged a big vehicle which will be driven by Bipin. Mihir will be our cook in Bungalow. Both Bipin and Mihir are included in this trip. All of us will be away from our home for two months on a jungle safari, with tribes. What do you say all?" asked Bhaskar.

Everyone cheered and consented. They could feel the thrilling experience to be in the jungle from now. Debashish, son of Arnab raised a question, "Uncle, two problems are coming to my mind. One is electricity and the second is water including drinking water. How can we spend 2 months without light and drinking water?"

"Let us first discuss water. There is a mountain just backside of the Bungalow. For the ages, during the rainy season, water will fall from the top of the mountain and will be stored in a place surrounded by big rocks. In times, it has become a natural embankment of water and turned into a big natural water pond. Since the water is stored on a rocky surface, the water is very cool and clear like glass. The water remains always full throughout the year, when again in next season it gets rainwater from the mountain, the excess water overflows towards downwards by means of a small stream running towards River Kangsabati near the hamlets. Although the tribes are living near the bank of River Kangsabati, this natural stream from the water embankment would serve them for additional water resources. So, due to this natural cycle of water, you will find freshwater throughout the year in that natural water pond which is situated just 100 meters away from the Bungalow on the backside.