Author:
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: January 29, 2003
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/Newsitems.asp?ID=IEO20030129122345&Page=O&Title=This+is+India&rLink=0
More and more of Chhattisgarh's
Pahari Korba tribals are giving up their drinking and meat-eating habits,
thanks to a philanthropist and saint who had 50 years ago started a revolution
of sorts in the state's adivasi belt, some 425 km from Raipur.
The Pahari Korba tribals _ who number
roughly 32,000 and are confined to the three districts of Sarguja, Jaspur
and Korba _ used to be known for their drinking and meat-eating habits.
However, they are a changed lot today _ they are turning into teetotallers
and vegetarians. They have also started sending their children to school.
And all credit goes to Gahira Guru, philanthropist who lived in the '90s.
``People of the region had great
respect for Baba (Gahira Guru). He started with a Ramayan and Gita path
_ two sessions a day _ but it slowly took the shape of a big social movement
in the area,'' says Ruchi Prasad Yaduvanshi, whose father was a follower
of Gahira Guru. ``Several of baba's followers took a pledge to stop drinking
and become vegetarians and also motivated their children to go to school.''
The opening of a Sanskrit Vidyalaya
at Sabarwar in 1965 by Gahira Guru played a major role in transforming
the lives of the tribals who started realising the importance of education.
The vidyalaya has now grown into
a full-fledged residential educational campus with a middle school, two
high schools and a higher secondary school.
Today, over 700 tribal boys and
girls get free education at the vidyalaya. The day starts with early morning
prayers, followed by regular teaching sessions. Cultural activities, games
and computer education are also part of the curriculum.
Gupteshwar Ram, a Std X student
at the vidyalaya, says his parents had motivated him to go to school. ``My
mother wants to see me educated. I will make sure I complete at least my
higher secondary before returning home,'' he adds.
However, the region still lacks
proper roads and electricity among other things. ``The fact that the Pahari
Korbas are now asking for roads, electricity and health facilities is itself
a sign of change in the area. Gahira Guru's efforts are bearing fruit,''
says Lalit Kumar Singhania, chairman, Environment Energy Foundation, a
Raipur-based NGO.
