Batrohi’s attempt to tell the pains and tales of ‘Khas’ ethnicity in Himalayas through his latest book
Batrohi’s attempt to tell the pains and tales of ‘Khas’ ethnicity in Himalayas through his latest book
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, March 30
The inherent pains of establishing an identity of a simple brave, vibrant ancient ethnic group, having its own life style, value system and richness of tales but cheated in its own land by the clever people of other ethnicities who became lords through royal patronage, has been depicted by Laxman Singh Bisht alias ‘Batrohi’, in his latest composition titled ‘Kalbisht, Khasiya Kuldevta’ published by ‘Samaya Saksh’ publication, Dehradun.
‘Batrohi’, a well versed Hindi writer and professor of the language, has tried to portray the pain through his recent work of social essays in the book. A leading Hindi writer of eighties, Batrohi is a retired professor of Hindi from Kumaon University who had also taught the language in some European countries. He is also known for his obsession with ‘Khash’ ethnic society of ancient era that was dominated by Brahminical society using clever tactics and royal patronage in earlier era of Uttarakhand history.
Besides representing the prevailing tales of ‘Khashiya’ society, the writer has also mentioned history of the ‘Khash’ ethnic people beginning from facts of historian Dharmanand Koshambi via Mahabharat, Tulsidas upto Khash family law complier LD Joshi of 1929.”Khash society was basically a matriarchal society that was later dominated by patriarchal Aryan society,” claimed Batrohi.
The theme of essays is on a well known Kumaoni legend turned deity, Kalbisht, a Khash youth living a nomadic life in Binsar hills of Almora, who became centre of envy of Sakram Pandey, a Dewan of the then Almora royalty only due to his natural appearance empowered aesthetically by his ever playing flute in Binsar hills during his routine of grazing his animals which attracted laters’ wife Kamla, who used to love his flute music, calling the nomad in her palatial house.
“In the conspiracy theory of killing of Kalbisht, lies simplicity of Khash ethnicity and conspiracy that had begun with advent of royal patronage to undermine the dominant Khash society of the hills that was not well equipped to understand such plots but continued its struggle to save its identity which has been continuing till now,” says the writer in the introduction of the book.
The writer also cited tales of Gopuldi of Gwalde Kot (Court) and his brother Sheruwa Paik (strong healthy person) and an forgotten sprit of his clan, to solemnise ‘Shradanjali’ ceremony of her after her death by his clan members who gathered at Kushvarta Ghat of Haridwar.”Such ceremonies to worship ‘Matra Devis’ (mother goddesses) is prevalent in Khash society showing dominance of mothers before the Aryan tradition of dominance of male god’s reached our society,” claimed the author.
The writer says that the legend of Kalbisht reflects pains of that agrarian class that was compelled by exploiters to worship their own gods by making the exploited people completely helpless socially as well as politically.”In the religious society of India, such exploiters, of the so called upper castes, in the name of religion and caste, always used lower castes for their own interests,” said the writer.
The book, written is an attracting styles provides good reading of mythological tales and their description defining ancient Khash ethnicity of Himalayas and ends with prevailing resentment that despite struggle of Kalbisht to establish parallel values of his society in challenging Brahiminical hierarchy, his tale has been converted into a interesting love story. ” By this way, we lost parallel values of our ancient Khas society that is our core identity,” said Batrohi.
