Nearly Extinct Tribe Toto and Totopara (Totopada)

a group of visitors at Madarihat Railway
Station going to Totopara.

TOTOPARA, A HABITAT OF NEARLY EXTINCT TRIBE TOTO.

On bordering area of India and Bhutan, there is a village named Totopara. It is in Birpara-Madarihat Block of Alipurdwar  District of West Bengal state in India. By its name, may some people know that that is an ancestral place of nearly extinct indigenous tribe Toto. They are mongoloid Burmese people.  The bitter truth about this tribe is that they are least numbered tribal people in the world. Their total population is 1584 (as on 16^th jan, 2015, as told by the Panchayat Member (Local Body) of Totopara). As he said, some of Toto live in neighboring country Bhutan. But their actual number is not known yet.

a market place in Totopara

As we talk about the village Totopara, it is still lacking many modern facilities. There is a primary level school which is established in 1990. And a high school established in 1995. There is a health Centre. Some quarters for health workers are seen there and one guest house. The guest house is an antique attic wooden house,  an attraction, design made on wood. Electricity connection was done before 4-5 years. Some people are using electricity, still many are out of its use. They have fetch water from farther places by using a polythene’s black pipe. Some people have some means of storing water like smaller tanks, drums etc. Scattered village in the green vegetation has grown betel nut (Supari). Besides, they grow millet in their field. Keep pigs, goats, cows, fowl like chicken etc. Some of them collect Broomsticks from near-about forestry or even they grow the plant. Many of them travel 2 hours everyday to pass into Bhutan area for doing some job or contractual work. This is an additional support for earning their livelihood. 

Local hotelier serving Rice Dal
to the visitors

When you begin to enter into the Toto’s village, you may feel as if you are entering into a reserved place of 19^th century or before that.

World’s smallest tribe, having only member of 1584 persons are almost illiterate. Now a days, few kids are going to school. But they have a great challenge for further studies after class 10. They have to go out of village, they can’t do collage from their home, for which most of the Toto can’t afford, they are financially weak. On the other hand, the place becomes isolated in summer because of rivers' high flow in monsoon. 

Visitor Enjoying the Difference
of Toto Village.

We accept that the Toto is most indigenous tribe of West Bengal of even in India. Only now, we have seen one-two collage going student or graduated students. But it is a good symptom that now a days, young generation is attracted towards education. About 150 students are going to school now (as told by Panchayat member).

A RIVERBED as a road WHERE JEEP RUNS IN WINTER.

Visitors in a picnic spot of Totopara.

If anybody wants to know about the location of Totopara, it’s in newly carved Alipurdwar District of West Bengal state in India. Previously, it was in Jalpaiguri District. It’s in Birpara-Madarihat Block, to the east from Siliguri (which is nearest biggest city). The ancestral habitat of Toto is in Doars (Duars/Dooars/Doors). After crossing Riti and Titi forest, to the north of Birpara town, east or north-east of Lankapara, Makrapara, Dalmore, Ramjhora, Garganda, Hantupara tea gardens, to the east of Hantupara tea garden, surrounded by Titi forest area, by Torsha River there is Totopara. You can get a Commander Jeep from Madarihat. From Siliguri, anyone can fine a bus up to Madarihat or one can travel by train too.  From there one has to go by Jeep which is available time-to-time is winter season. In summer, the place is naturally closed for four months since it is

River Torsha (Far) and it's tributary
river (dry riverbed).

surrounded by forests and rivers. The riverbed, on which the jeep runs, is dry in winter, making Jeeps run little easy. And for four months and so far, Toto people store food and other commodities, since the rivers are full of water and any jeep can’t ply then. Totopara is in closed antic. Houri River is one which allows Jeeps/Commanders (four wheeler vehicles) etc. to run on its bed in winter season. There is Torsha River to the east of Totopara, if the river is crossed, people can reach Jaigaon, a bordering Town of Indo-Bhutan Border, in Alipurdwar district. The town extended to Bhutan area is called Phuntsholing.

Hillocks of Bhutan at the
Background of Totopara
(near picnic spot).

Nearest village to Totopara is Ballalguri. It is 5 kilometer to the south of Totopara. Area of Totopara is almost 8 sq km. From Madarihat, it is 22 kilometer far, a rough road joins National High Way 31, but driving goes along the riverbank/riverbed. There is no road. Really different. Everybody feels difference here.

Total population of the Toto in 2011 census was about 1400, male 750 and female 650. Their only home in India is Totopara. Indian government has registered them as indigenous tribe. Their total

A Toto girls running Food Court.

number is around 1500, they live there in Totopara, so if you want know about their culture, language, tradition etc. you have to know from them. The tradition, culture is survived only within 1500 people. They are really nearly extinct tribal people. But recently, young youths are coming forward for safeguard of their culture, language and traditions.

Toto tribal has their own language, but they don’t have their own script. Now they are using Bengali script. Or they write in Roman.

Old Toto woman collecting broomsticks on the slop-land.

Now a days, few Totos are doing research on their language, script, culture and tradition. They are writing their history. They are collecting documents regarding the same. Bhakta Toto,  who is working in a Gramin Bank (Rural Bank) is compiling Toto  dictionary and Jagadish Toto is doing post graduate in Sukanto University in Bengali language in Dhupguri. He also is doing research on tribal and their language. Female also is coming out for education. This is possible here because there is no sharp gender discrimination in this tribe. Totos are sensible for their culture, so that it is still alive in them. Toto language is Tibeto-Burmese family language. Still some special steps should be taken for upliftment of the society and their culture as well as language. But, some number of Totos can speak Hindi, Bengali and Nepali languages too.

A guest House in Totopara.

Their culture partially resembles with the culture of Bhutanese people, that is to say, marriage. The place is adjacent to Bhutan, may be, because of which, their culture is influenced. To be accepted as able for marriage, bride should have given birth of a child. If she has a child, her marriage is accepted. When a girl agrees for marriage, boy takes the girl to his home. After having a child, their marriage ceremony takes place. First condition of their marriage is this that the bride should be a mother, or she should have a baby. Both side’s parents then agree for their marriage ceremony, they perform it greatly.

Divorce is not as easy as you may be thinking. A Pooja (ritual offering to god)  should be done which is more expensive than that of a marriage. Because of this, bachelor men and ladies think well before marriage. Married couples also hardly think about divorce. After this expensive Pooja, the divorce takes place. After divorce, the couple can live separately, remarriage or remain single. This culture is not similar to other main Indian cultures. But India is an incredible country where not only paternal system of society exists, but also maternal system of societies are on practice. We can see different types of culture and traditions in India. Nearly extinct Toto’s culture is one amongst the variety of culture and tradition.

As already mentioned above, they are nearly extinct people, family planning is banned in them by the government. Nobody can inspire them for family planning and they also cannot accept family planning. But as talked to some of the

Toto couples, they showed their disgust. They said, “family planning is banned in one way, on the other, we are poor, we cannot give good education to our kids, or good health services. So what the fate will be with babies if we keep giving birth of babies but  void of giving them good education, food, clothes etc?” We cannot disclose their names here. They said that they could follow the government policy but there must be a reliable policy for their kids’ education and health service.

A kitchen house of Toto tribe.

Their way of earning is  full of courage, strength and vigor. Some of them go for work to Bhutan crossing the nearest border. Sometimes, they sale nut (Supari) which is grown in Totopara. Nut is sold in the market. Totos sell livestock too. Their earning source is limited. But there are some naturally beautiful places, some people come to visit the place. There are some picnic spots where local youths (specially girls) sell things. Some of them run Hotel and Rest House for visitor. 

Turmeric Powder best medicine for Tonsillitis

Turmeric Powder best medicine for Tonsillitis

It’s an Ayurvedic type of therapy in case of Tonsillitis. Tonsil is a part of our mouth. It is on either side of mouth just behind Uvula, behind the joining point of tongue. Just say, at the throat. Infections (it has many type) on Tonsils causes Tonsillitis, at any age. Even baby can suffer this problem. The work of Tonsils is like access controlling. Like, it plays a role of safeguard for any harmful bacterial access to our body. Also it keeps in balance the immunity system/power of our body. Sometimes, because of bad food behavior, we can suffer from Tonsillitis. Even baby.

Pain in swallowing food or any drink is its first symptom. Feeling feverish, bad breath, mob like below ear, difficulty (some sort of sound) in breathing while sleeping etc. also are common symptoms of Tonsillitis.

Avoid – oily food, spicy food, sour, chilly food, refrigerated cold drinks, cold water, ice-creams, chocolates, apple, banana,  guava, pepper-mint/ hall chocolates, yoghurt/curd etc, bathing-shower in cold water or swimming in cold water, getting wet in rain etc.

Do – intake- hot soups of leafy vegetables, beans, roots like carrot, beat etc. drink hot or lukewarm water only, hot milk (avoid cream). Bathe with warm/lukewarm water. In winter Tonsillitis becomes severe, wear warm clothes plus muffler around neck all the time.

Ayurveda – Ayurveda has its total cure. Turmeric (root) or powder is the medicine for Tonsillitis. Do this for 4 to 6 months (according to acuteness of the Tonsillitis)

1.       Take a glass of hot milk, mix a teaspoon of turmeric power in it and sip. (Morning and before bed in the evening= 2 times in a day)

OR

Take a glass of hot water, mix a teaspoon of Palm Candy and a teaspoonful of Turmeric power in the hot water and sip. (Dose as above).

2.       Mix a teaspoon of Turmeric powder and little salt in hot water and gargle. (2 times/BD Daily).

3.       Be careful, for curing Tonsillitis there must not be any complicacies of constipation, and sinus. so take soup of green vegetables which helps in clearing our bowl in the morning. Clear sinus first.

4.       After every meal, take a small piece of Turmeric (root) in your mouth, so that Tonsils get wet with its medicinal factors. If you have no Turmeric root, take little Power in your mouth and swallow slowly.

5.       Be careful, we should keep our mouth clean all the time for curing Tonsillitis, so we need to brush after every meal. If its winter and water is very cold, use warm water for this purpose too.

If we try this simple way of curing Tonsillitis by ourselves, I am sure we will find it effective and void of side-effect.

Salt+Sugar+Water best for Low Blood Pressure

This is my personal experience, I have corrected my Low Blood Pressure (LBP) by using simple Home made drink.
This is applied specially in the Morning.
Take a glass, fill with water, put a pinch of salt (the salt we use at our kitchens) and half spoon of sugar in it. Stir, mix it properly. If you like, you can add half cut lemon juice by squeezing in it. Stir and drink. Say hello, very very good morning to your friends as you feel so light as well as good. Can you repeat this for a month? Then you will find no complicacies of Low Blood Pressure. Nice, Feel nice.
If you want to spent little more money, in place of this, you can drink a glass of ORS water every morning, which also is effective for maintaining blood pressure. Or, if you want to spend some more money, go to the Nursing Homes, get admitted. It is up to you.
How do you like my idea? If you like this Home Made Low Blood Pressure maintaining Drink, please give me your comment or opinion.

May be Women trafficker using alternative way

Few days back, three married women lost from their locality, together. They even have children, 6 to 12 years old. They, as told by their relatives, were very nice brides. Caring. One of lost women's husband said, she loved him and care him too much. She had no boyfriend too. She did not go alone for shopping or even outside home. But she went missing while she had gone to hospital from home. She had fever, She informed her family members and went to hospital, but that day, there was no one free to go with her. She did not come back.
Three ladies' relatives are still searching in different places. One dubious Charactered Mean Man is also not there in the village. He also is not seen anywhere, absconding.
It is suspected that the trafficker are using another way of trapping women since now a days maximum number of women and girls are aware of trafficking problem, their ways of women trafficking, ''alluring in love and propelling to hazardous zone''. or alluring of Good Job, High Profile Job or Highly paid Job, bla...bla...bla...
This Idea is not working anymore, so the trafficker might have changed the way. They must be using some type of ''chemical which makes people senseless ''. So, It is specially for women and girls, please walk out in group, shout and try to shout for help if your friend(s) is/are being dragged in to a car (whether it is known or unknown) try to read car number and memorise it. Inform police immediately.
If you read this, please Share this with your friends and social worker who may give more suggestions to us to be safe from such Nara Pishach (Blood Sucker in form of human being).

School dropout : a big problem

School dropout has become a big problem in our society. Either the socio-economic condition of the society is getting down, or the government policy is lopsided, it should be judged by the educationists of our society, but the problem continues. Now a days, exodus of such youths has become a trend in rural villages. They are heeding towards big cities of the country India or if the are graduate/under graduate, they go to Nepal for finding some English Medium Schools for employment as a teacher.
Another problem knitted with this  is marriage underage. Not beyond  Teenage, Most girls and boys choose to settle before 18. In some cases, girls at even 13 and boys at their 15. This is obvious that such interlacing problems are tagging some other problems.
To attract the youths of Teenage, everybody, each part of the society (not only government) should come out with conglomerated plan and with bold and brave heart, otherwise, this will be a losing game. No chase is better. But the important side is that, we should do this. 

Women and Girl Child

I want to change the concept of our society towards women and girl children. Specially, men think that the women are machine or a mechanism for fulfilling their sexual desire; pillar of a home is a man, not a woman; women are inferior and men are superior; girl children need not go to school and get education; girl child foeticide bla...bla...bla...
Me, I am a woman. I can do whatever a man can do. I serve better than a man in my desired service field. I work more, even in home after office. I have to keep my husband and child happy, I look-after both of them; also I need to care guests. I cover all these things, so my husband also realises this and co-operates me.
It is sure that women should be forerunner of our society in it's development. We should educate female children also. Awareness should be spreaded in the society.