227
CHAPTER 6
TRANSPORT, COMMUNICATION AND ALTERED MODES OF EVERYDAY LIFE
More than a century ago Champaran had not a single road worthy of name. There
was not much of trade and commerce within or outside the district and the
produce was taken to the nearest market in bullock carts or ponies or by head
load.
There was another reason why this frontier district of Bihar did not have much of
communication and transport. The physical contiguity to Nepal was not much of a
boon. Robberies were common and it was easy to escape to Nepal after
committing a crime. Before the advent of British in this area Sarkar Champaran
Saran which included West Champaran as well, had a number of Rajas and
Zamindars and they were all anxious to make as much money as possible but very
few of them bothered to give proper roads within their area. They were like some
small Satraps in their jurisdiction. The rivers and streams were also a problem.
Floods were also an impediment. (Chaudhury: 1960: 332)
The Nepal wars were the first landmark in the history of development of
communication. Some good military roads had to be made during the Nepal wars
and lines of communication were established.
This district had flourishing opium and saltpetre industries in 18th and 19th
centuries. Saltpetre was not confined to any particular area. It was necessary to
have fairly good roads for the transport of both the finished and unfinished goods
in connection with these two industries. There was no question any power vehicle,
228
and bullock carts handcarts, horse drawn vehicles were in use. These conveyances
did not require a modem road with a proper sole.
Another great landmark, which improved the means of communication, was the
sugar and indigo plantations, which commenced from towards the end of 18th
century. Although strictly licensed Europeans were encouraged to settle down and
acquire consolidated blocks of land for sugar and indigo plantations. In the first
few decades of the 19th century we find that planters had penetrated into the
interior of the district and were actively engaged in cultivation of sugar and
indigo. Now both these crops are such that the produce must be utilized quickly.
The English factory at Patna with various sub-stations in other districts
encouraged trade and commerce. Good lines of communications were a necessity
for indigo and sugar planters. The only modes of conveyance at that time were
carts, ponies or bullocks or human agency. There was development of
communication on these lines.
The traffic of the district was closely connected with river traffic and some of the
ghats had big annual receipts, which went into the pocket of the landlords who did
not care for the improvement of the ghats or roads. The increasing quantities of
products -opium, indigo, sugar and rice called for further improvement of road
and river communications in the interest of the men who grew them.
The next landmark in the history of the development of the communication was
the movement of 1857. This movement showed that proper communications were
a necessity for proper administration.
The roads in 1906 may be described as fairly sufficient for all parts of the district
except the north of Bettiah now headquarter of West Champaran district. There
were indeed three main roads from railway to different points in that tract with
one road running high across the centre of it, but at that time there was no
network of subsidiary roads as in the rest of the district and wheeled traffic was
229
possible only in the dry season. The rude tracks along with carts managed to find
their way were interrupted by the numerous water-courses from the hills and for
the most part produce had to be conveyed by pack bullocks.
Another significant factor affecting the problem of communication in this area is
that Public Works Department came into existence for roads only as late as 1946-
47. With the advent of PWD taking up some of the roads, there was a distinct
improvement and a rapid expansion of road communication.
Before passing on to the modem phase it has to be mentioned that the area has
had the advantage of a fair sprinkling of forest roads and canal roads. Roads
within the forests were a necessity for the proper exploitation of the forests.
Although cart traffic was prohibited on the forest and canal roads they helped to
connect villages and to encourage a certain amount of produce being carried on
head-load, pack-bullocks and pack-ponies. It may be mentioned here that in the
early days the most common and probably the only means of conveyance was
bullock carts. The bulk of goods traffic was carried on bullock carts. Elephants
have also been a means of conveyance but limited only to the very rich.
RAMNAAR-SOMESWAR ROAD
This road was provincialized in 1956. Important places on this road are
Ramnagar, Gobardhana and Someswar hills. The famous shiva temple of
Soumeswar is connected by the road with Ramnagar .For around 7 miles the road
passes through forests and hills. There is a Forest Rest shed at Gobardhana in the
14th mile of the road. River Belore and Synahi cut across the road in the 5th and
16th miles respectively. The village of field work Bakhari Bazar is situated
midway on this road.
Bus and Rail link are available till Ramnagar only. From Ramnagar there
is no proper pucca road linking to Someswar hills and hence there is no suitable
230
Ramnagar - Someswar Road
231
transport system. This kachcha road is also frequented by many big and small
holes making the movement very slow, tiring, difficult and uncomfortable.
Ramnagar block is the most undeveloped block in West Champaran district in
every respect. Movement on Ramnagar- Someswar road is very scanty and erratic
and unpredictable.
People of the area move on foot or if possible on bicycle or bullock carts if
available which takes nearly three to four hours from Rarnnagar to Bakhari Bazar.
Irony of the situation is that most of the time the MLA representing the area has
been the Minister in the Government of Bihar.
As reported by the villagers, around 1965 a Post Office was opened in the village
Bakhari Bazar. It covers almost the whole of panchayat or even beyond that.
Obviously there is inordinate and undue delay in the delivery of letters or money
orders. Before opening of this Post Office letter used to take many weeks to reach
its destination because the nearest Post Office was in Rarnnagar.Even though
Bakhari Bazar was on the Rarnnagar - Someswar road there was undue delay in
the delivery of the letters. The Tharus living in much interior area had to face
more acute problem. It was just like living in an island cut off from the rest of the
world.
Around 1988-89 there was no single TV in the village. There was no telephone
facility even. Radio can be seen in only few houses. It was learnt that TV can be
found in the Parsauni village or in Bakwa village, which is around three Kms
away from the Bakhari Bazar Village. So most of the people of Bakhari Bazar
were deprived from watching TV.
The Tharus specially the young boys and girls are very fond of visiting melas that
is fair and also cinema. For this they even cover long distance on foot. The
cinema has an immense impact on them, which can be seen the way they dress
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
232
themselves. They are very fashionable in a way. They are fond of filmi dialogues
and filmi songs. They usually go to Ramnagar covering 12Km + 12Km =24Km
for watching Hindi films.
In 2003 when I visited Bakhari Bazar I come to know that there are
now TV sets in twelve households. This means that this village has come directly
in touch with outside world through terrestrial telecast of National Channel of
Doordarshan. There is no possibility of cable network because there is no supply
of electricity and also cable network is not economically viable. It is not possible
for the Tharus to bear the expenses of cable for they can hardly manage their both
ends meet. Even now there is neither any telephone nor any PCO booth in the
village in the village.
Thus we see that in this age of globalization and technological revolution &
communication boom here is village, nay , a region which still dose not have the
basic infrastructure even after around six decades of independence. There is no
233
proper road, no regular and proper transport system, no electricity and only
rudimentary communication network. This region is an island in itself almost
completely cut off from the rest of the world. Consequently there is lack of
education, lack of awareness, lack of development but extreme exploitation by the
outsiders and extreme poverty. Unless you resort to agitation or violence you are
not heard or your problems remain unaddressed or unresolved. You do not hit the
headlines of newspapers or breaking news of electronic media.
Even today this Tharuhat region of the land of Champaran cries for attention, as
the Tharus are still vulnerable to all sorts of exploitation, suppression and
oppression, as the process of apartheid is still prevalent in its cruelest form. But
till today this area has not hit the headlines or no reporter of any channel has
visited the place and reported the pathetic and inhuman conditions of the people
for its Breaking News.
Harinagar, which is the nearest Railway station, is almost 12 Km away from
Bakhari Bazar and now has been linked to different parts of the country after
conversion of narrow gauge into broad gauge. Chhitouni River Bridge has been
constructed and rail link has been established between Bagaha and Gorakhpur and
thus connecting West Champaran district from all the comers of the country.
Satyagraha Express and Saptkranti Express run on daily basis from Raxaul and
Muzaffarpur respectively to Delhi via Harinagar. Apart from that there are trains
for Amritsar, Dehradun, Hawarah(Kolkata) ,Mumbai also.
Narkatiyaganj Railway station is the nearest junction touching the Tharuhat
region. Table below gives the details of the trains either originating or going
through this junction and thus now connecting almost every nook and comer of
the country through rail.
234
Narkatiyaganj Raillway Junction
235
NARKATIYAGANJ RAILWAY STATION
TRAIN TRAIN NAME FROM TO RUNS NO.
515 Passenger Train Sonepur Narkatiyaganj Daily 411 Passenger Train Muzaffarpur Gorakhpur Daily 5215 Narkatiyaganj Muzaffarpur Narkatiyaganj Daily
Express 407 Passenger Train Sonepur Gorakhpur Daily 529 Passenger Train Muzaffarpur Gorakhpur Daily 5273 Satyagraha Raxaul Delhi Daily
Express 5211 Jannayak Darbhanga Amritsar Daily 9040 Bandra Express Muzaffarpur Bandra Tue.,Thurs.,
Sun 5653 Jammutawi Guwahati Jammutawi Thursday
Express 5051 Purbanchal Howrah Gorakhpur Saturday
Express 2557 Saptkranti Super Muzaffarpur Delhi Daily
Fast ..... ,
5001 Dehradun Muzaffarpur Dehradun Monday Express
9270 Bapudham Motihari Porbandar Monday Express
5201 A I ntercity Express Hajipur Narkatiyaganj Daily Except Sunday
221 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 5523 Gandak Express Jainagar Narkatiyaganj Daily 205 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 5531 Sitanchal Express Jainagar Narkatiyaganj Daily 207 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 215 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 217 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 219 Passenger Train Darbhanga Narkatiyaganj Daily 201 Passenger Train Bhikhna Narkatiyaganj Daily
Thori 203 Passenger Train Bhikhna Narkatiyaganj Daily
Thori 283 Passenger Train Bhikhna Narkatiyaganj Daily
Thori
236
This has really created a revolution in the region and opened the floodgates of
opportunities for the people of the region. This will definitely have far reaching
consequences on the development of the region. Movement of the people will
become faster and easier. Now they need not go to Muzaffarpur or Patna for
visiting various places of the country either for education or for trade and
commerce or for any other purpose.
The Tharus of West Champaran like other tribes are attached to their own land,
own culture and own community. They do not want to go outside of their 10ca:Ie.
They used to enjoy the company of their own people. They even do not want to
send their young sons outside, Ramnath Mahto says:
"Hamar laika je ghar mein"tahi ta sabhe chinhi,na rahi ta kehuna chinhi, chahe u
M.A. B.A. na ho jaye."(If my son stays at home everyone will recognize him. If
he does not stay no one will recognize whether he may obtain M.A. or B.A.
degree.)
But now the situation is changing. The Tharus of West Champaran have started
moving out of their village and Tharuhat area in the search of employment and
not for profit maximization. Now their survival itself is at stake. Landholdings has
decreased due to a:Iienation of land by the non-Tharus and thus making most of
them landless labour. There is lack of rural employment opportunities. Triba:I
youth are even being implicated by the police in false cases. Now terror of Lal
Salam is troubling them. Maoists put their flag on the land and grab it by force.
The Tharuhat area is vulnerable to Maoist because of its nearness to Indo-Nepal
border. Tribal youths are even being implicated by the police in false cases when
there is Maoist attack. Tharus are moving out of the area in the form of labour in
Delhi Shimla, Punjab, Kashmir, Gujarat.
Fortunately or unfortunately this area has now been directly connected through
Rail with a:Imost all parts ofthe country. There are now two daily direct trains for
Delhi running through this Tharuhat area namely Satyagraha Express and Sapt
237
Kranti Express. Apart from that it has also been directly connected with
Dehradun, Punjab, Kolkata, Mumbai and other important places of the country.
This means that the area has been well connected with rail and it has now become
very easy for the Tharus to move out. Centripetal forces which has bound the
Tharus of West Champaran for the ages, is now weakening due to various obvious
reasons and centrifugal forces are compelling them to move out of the area for
rojgar and survival.
It would not be out of context to mention my personal experience when I was
coming back to Delhi by Sapt Kranti Express on 20th March 2003. When the
Train stopped at Narkatiyaganj Junction. One young boy in beautiful jeens and T
shirt entered into my compartment i.e. Coach No. S 2 and sat on the Berth No. 37
just in front of me. I could not ie'sist my temptation of talking to the young boy
who looked like belonging to Tharu Community. My guess was right. His name
was Dinesh Kumar (Mukhia) a Tharu from Jamania Village falling under
Narkatyiaganj - Bhikhna Thori section. He was going to Delhi where he works
as a tailor in a tailoring shop, prepares salwar,sameej and chunni . He stays in
Malviya Nagar and along with his brother Umesh earns more than ten thousand •
per month. Around seventy five persons belonging to the Tharu community from
West Champaran are staying in Malviya Nagar and earning by doing the job of a
tailor in different tailoring shops. Migration like this for employment is not only
making their economic condition better but also bririging about an attitudinal
change in their outlook and behaviour. Dinesh Kumar told that not only his
economic condition has improved but also the condition his father who is landless
and works as a carpenter in the village. The house at the village has now become
Pucca and equipped with facilities like Tele Vision and Radio. He further says:
"Pahile Narkatiyaganj hi aawe mein ghabrahat hot rahe. Ab ta Delhi awat jaat
bani. Kauno perashani nayeekhe, kauno ghabrahat na ho la."
(Earlier we have inhibition in coming to Narkatiyaganj itself. But now you see we
are going to Delhi and coming back to the village. There is no problem, no
worry.)
238
He was feeling very proud of being from the same place as that of Manoj Bajpaei
the famous film actor. When I told him that the Tharus of West Champaran have
been included in the list of Schedule Tribe in January 2003 he replied that I am
aware of but I have no knowledge of the facilities available to a Schedule Tribe.
Thus we see that migration and movement of the Tharus of West Champaran have
statted and with this the process of change in their outlook, behaviour, attitude
and also condition of living. But these changes are at slow pace. The Tharus of
Bakhari Bazar have not reached at this stage. Migration from their village still is
negligible.
Linking roads to the Tharuhat region are still not in good condition and hence
unmotorable.
Rarnnagar
Someswar road is
crymg for
attention even
today. We have
entered into 21 st
century and
communication has become very fast and smooth but this part of the country is
still in a neglected state. The connecting road is in shambles and dotted by big
holes and cracks. There is no proper transpo11 system. When I visited Bakhari
Bazar in 2006 I had to face almost the same problem and trouble which I faced
when I first visited the village in the later years of nineteen eighties. Unable to
find any proper transport I had to reserve a Tanga owned by lshwar Thakur who
also became ready after much persuasion and on the promise that I would return
before the sunset. Due to bad road, it appeared that if Tanga did not run properly
and carefully, it might tum turtle.