Sadvabana Samavesh in Kandhamala

Sadvabana Samavesh in Kandhamala

 The District of Kandhamal of Odisha is in the eye of storms for the profound catastrophic wave generated in the religious and cultural field of the sons of the soil the Kandhas. The Kandhas living in the woods of Kandhamal where once upon a time boasting of their rich cultural heritage and were a happy lot of people with the grace of Mother Dharani Penu (the Mother Earth). With a history of fragile relation between the tribal Kandhas and schedule cast Panas  the intrusion of missionaries into Kandhamal with a purpose of converting, the situation deteriorated beyond imagination. A silent turmoil started in the mental areas of the simple unsophisticated sons of the soil the Kandhas due to the exploitation of the converted Pana Christians. The Christian missionaries started their conversion activities employing the methods which is called by the locals as the Lady, Paddy, Hen, Pen (i.e. allurement, favor, fear, persuasion, and gifts). The converted Christians with the active support of the missionaries tried to grab by hook or crook the land and property and the employment opportunities from the local Kandhas.

In this dwindling arena of exploitation of Kandhas in the hands of converted Christian Panas under the active support of the missionaries and their fabulous foreign funding Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati appeared in the area as a taran har to the local exploited Kandhas. His presence, preachings, innovative steps, and initiatives to improve the social and spiritual values, culture and tradition, education and health care etc. created hope and confidence among the exploited sons of the soil. Through the establishment of schools for the local Kandha students the education could spread in the area, the children were otherwise treated as second grade in the missionary schools. The establishment of cooperative societies and introduction of appropriate agricultural methods (step irrigation) and water management schemes (Canals, and Check Dams) could provide the simple poor Kandhas a good source of income and save them from the exploitation through sale of their property for a meager sum when needed. The spiritual satsangs and mahila bhajan mandalis could bring in spirituality, cohesiveness and social awakening among them.

With the passage of time the Kandhas were made aware of their rights and the wrong done towards them by the outside intruders. The legal process for the return of the land taken away from the native Kandhas stated generating a shiver which culminated in a conspiracy to thaw the process by any means. The converted persons who have snatched way that employment avenues of the local Kandhas by forged cast certificates have started this concerted activities against this simple hearted Kandhas. The vanvasi Kandha gradually became aware of their rights and the exploitation rendered out to them by the converted.

In this cultural war between the sons of the soil and the intruders; the exploited and the exploiters; Swami Laxmananananda Saraswati became a martyr only for his service to the unprivileged, exploited and the downtrodden. The exploiters were very jubilant at the assassination of the guru, guide, protector, and friend of the downtrodden Kandhas of Kandhamal, who seemed to them as their ring leader.

The death of a saint who was eighty four years old, started a shock wave in and around the Kandhamal district - his sacred sphere of work. This has culminated in the struggle between  the exploited and the exploiters with the loss of precious lives from both the sides. The Kandhas became easy target of converted who were very influential and educated so as to manipulate the administrative modus-operandi and instigate the police system. The exploited Kandhas in order to escape from the subsequent atrocities of the police and apathy of the administration, fear of the attack from the exploiter converted, went back into hiding in the forest and underwent numerous trauma and torture. The influential educated converted could influence the police and administrative system for fabrication of false cases in the name of slightly educated Kandha youths so as to throttle the uprising, in order to project a seemingly equal / secular character of the system. In the pretext of Maoist the leadership of the Kandha community were being eliminated to throttle the uprising of the social values of the Kandhas and make them leaderless so that the primitive race can be easily exploited int he future. The human rights of the exploited Kandhas were never looked after with due sympathy. They could not avail the basic necessities for the preservation of their human rights.

In this context the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (R.S.S) stood up for the stern stand of the revival of lost hope and courage of the exploited Kandhas of Kandhamal. To show solidarity at the time of the systematic exploitation of the down trodden Kandhas the RSS started a congregation of the activists for the revival of the dwindling courage and self respect of the simple hearted Kandha as their brethren in need and deed, standing by their side with the promise of hope and uplift-ment.

In the coronation field of Kandhamal 930 RSS swayamsevaks assembled for a solidarity with the exploited Kandhas in purna ganavesh. More than 1160 swayamsevaks participated in the march past in the town to restore confidence among the public. One of the most important aspect of the function was the participation of hundreds of sangh swayamsevaks demonstrating various Sahrireek (physical) activities including ancient martial arts like Danda, Niyudha, and Vyamyog a synchronised exercise. The hundreds of cyclists marched towards the town from numerous nearby cities holding saffron flag, a symbol of courage and knowledge, dedication and sacrifice. It was a spectacular scene to observe and appreciate culmination of all of those young cyclists, who were singing patriotic songs all their way. Thousands of families attended the program and from all the places far and near spending their own money and time for food and transportation. It was inspiring to see persons like Kansa Kaanra and Kartika Kaanara who work as daily laborer making chips and Rabindra Mallik and Suman Mallik from Tikabali who work in brick making factory also attended the function taking time off from work and spending their own money.  

Senior Pracharak Sri Harihara Nanda was the chief guest of the function and he mentioned all the work done by Swami Lakshmananada Saraswati in the last four decades from school to hospitals, from irrigation to horticulture, to bringing in roads and banks to Kandhamal and how the brutal attack on his life was a well though out conspiracy to derail all these developmental work in the district and create turmoil and hatred in the society . He mentioned that only a strong, vibrant, cohesive and united society can live up to all the challenges and lead towards all round prosperity. He encouraged everyone to get involved and take part in the effort to organise the society, take part in socio-culturalactivities  and  sewa work wholeheartedly. The other dignitaries (adhikaris) present on the dais were Pranta Karyavah Sri Gopal Prasad Mohapatra, Khyetra Karyabaha Sri Satyanarayan Majumdar, and Vibhag Sanghachalak Ma. Ramesh Sahu.

The exploited and harassed youths of Kandhamal have again tried to stand up to occasion for preservation of their identity, culture and traditions. It was started for a new revival after facing the exploitation for decades and decades under the hand of the exploiters. The new endeavor for starting of the development in social and cultural sector was already settled in the mind of the exploited youths and families of Kandhamal, which will certainly translated in his native place in the anticipation of a better and prosperous future.

Rabinarayan Panda

Prantaprachara Pramukha,Utkala Pranta,Odisha

Email-ravinarayan.panda@gmail.com,mo-09439466663