Patalkot
We can get Bus from Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College,
Jabalpur for Chindwada within the interval of every 20 minutes.So, we took the
bus for Chindwada at 1.30 afternoon on 05.02.2014 and reached Chindwada around
8’O clock via Shivani. At Shivini there is a Talab spread in a large area and
in the middle a island is an attractive point.
Shivni is a very important point as from this place roads
are diverted towrds Nagpur, Balaghat and Chindwada. The roads from Chindwada
are of very good condition and the people here are fan of Mr. Kamalnath the
Congress leader as he has given his attention on the development of this region
at his best efforts. This is the reason in spite of many demerits of Congress
party , the people of this place are devotee of Congress party. The roads of
this quality are available at very few routes in Maddhya Pradesh otherwise the
condition of roads in MP is hopeless.
On reaching Chindwada we stayed in Lake view Hotel Saket. In
front of it there is a huge size of Talab. It could be more beautiful if the
civic body take some care of it. We (me and one of my best friend) took food
(made by me at my Jabalpur house)at the hotel room and after that both of us gone for a night
walk. On walking we observed that a Picture Hal at Big bazaar. We decided to
watch movie Jai Ho and pass time and relax. It is good movie.
Next day the 06.02.2014, we hired a taxi for Patalkot as
this was the main target of this trip and to study about the tribal living in
the peculiar surroundings and specially to examine the educational standard of
the children and their teachers. We were waiting for the taxy and so, we decided to have some breakfast at
Pawar restaurant. We started for Patalkot at 8’O clock and the taxi took the
route via Police line, BAIL(ox) Bazar,Mansarovar complex, Bus Stand, Indira
Gandhi Chowk and from here the taxi took a right turn for the Pachamadhi high
way. On reaching Parasia we have to pay a toll tax of Rs.18/-. In Parasia main
market there is a lovely Chat corner named ‘Parasia Chat Bhandar’. After
Lucknow, I liked the Chat of this place. Then we reached Newton Chikhli. This
area is known for Coal mines. The road of this part is also known as Tamiya
Road as the next important place is Tamiya. There is dense forest on this road
and at some places good forming also. Onwards to Tamiya there is a village
Pandu Pipariya village. From this village we have to take right turn for
Patalkot. At the turning point I purchased Jalebi, Bhajiya, Chuda-Dalmoth etc.
with a precaution that in onward journey the probability of eatable is
available or not. We reached Patalkot via Jaitpur village around 10’O clock.
Patal kot is a peculiar place and how the people are living
here is more surprisable as to reach Patalkot valley of Ratedh Area we have to go down about 200
stairs and thne to do tracking for rest of the way which is not easy. But for
the tribal living here is not a problem they are walking like us on plane.
After this tracking of more than 200 meters deep, we reached in
the valley where a Govt. primary school surrounded by few small villages was
opened. Here sun remains till 4’o clock in the evening. In this school only one
guest teacher 11th pass was
present as he told but I had doubt. However the other four teachers were not visible. All the four teaches are doing B.Ed.(correspondence). The Guest teacher himself could not read the
first paragraph of the first lesson of the English book of class V. The
attendance of the children was also very thin. I taken a class of students of
Class V and taught them small letters of cursive writing. They were very happy.
All the village people were very happy on offering them that I wanted to live
here to teach children as well the teachers free of cost. They were willing to
arrange accommodation for my stay. I have decided to stay there for two weeks
in one round to examine the requirement of the things needed there. Rest of the
things depends on God.
The poor standard of Education in Govt. schools of MP is due
to the entry of teachers mostly guest teachers of poor standard. According to
me this is a defective approach of the Govt. to deceive the children and to
play with their future. Soon this disease should be rectified and this would be
possible only after Educational Reforms. From the school I observed KHAYI. I
asked from a women about that
place .She did not tell me exactly.Actually that is a rainy river Latter I gathered
information that on going down opposite side more than the slope which we had covered, there is Raja Gufa (cave) where sun rays are reaching for two-three hours. This is
actual Patalkot. Next time when I will come for teaching, I will certainly roam
around all the places of this area.
After V Class the children have to take admission in a
senior secondary school which is in a village on the top of the hill and so
children have to do up and down. The Govt. may install a rope way system for
the up and down for them. I will not suggest for construction of road as on
building the road, the urban people will make the peaceful environment of
this area polluted.The Department of Tourism( Center & State )may take initiatives to install the rope way for assisting to the tribal specially students to reach their school and charge ticket from the tourists and earn revenue.
The most of the population of this area belongs to the lower
cast ‘Bharti ‘of Tribals. These people have lots of knowledge of Herbal
medicine and they sell at the top of the hill to the tourists who come to see
this natural huge well type valley. I also purchased few jade –Buti viz.KEWKAN(This is used for pain in joints
and it used by crushing it and mixing in the gram flour and fry its
Bhajiya-pakouri),Hathpan ( it is for removing swelling in feet) and Forest
ginger and leaves of Rak Virad( used as tea and these two
together for curing cold and cough). On this hilly land SAME
beans are found in plenty. Its dry seed is in white creamy in colour. This type of Same bean( in
a little bit in big size) is also found in Portblair(Andaman).
My second visit to Patalkot:
My second visit to Patalkot:
The Ptalkote has many circles and
each have its respective names. I visited Patalkote 2nd time and
lived In a village of RATHED area for three days from 14th to
16th February,2014 and left it on 17th Feb. morning. I
reached Patalkot around 7.30pm in the moonlight on 14th ,Feb.and did adventure to move down the deep hill and reached the valley. Everywhere it was a pin drop
silence except we could listen the noise of wind and see the lovely valley from
the top of he hill in the full moonlight. On 16th Feb. I walked
around the hills about 5 Kms. , some time getting down the slope of the hills
and some time riding the steep elevation of the hills and reached Middle school
of the hills of CHIMTIPUR area.
In the schools of Sarva Shikcha Abhiyan in both the places of Rated and Chjimtipur, the
teachers are making fun of the profession of teaching. They hardly come to
schools and teaching /learning to children is a task of distance.
The Primary school of Rated has four regular teachers and one local resident 12th pass Guest teacher. Being the resident of that are he only comes as per his choice and keeping silent to the children and cry to stop them from making noise. Yes one thing is very punctual to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to children. The School building has two rooms only . One room is for students of class 2nd &3rd and the other is for class 4th nd 5th. However the room of classes 2nd &3rd is occupied by the belonging s of the Ashram . Ashram has a better building made up of a hall where only a in charge of the Ashram who is a lady lives. The DPC of the kitchen and the Ashram has good filling and have suitable DPC height to be safe from the rainy water. However, the DPC of the school building is under the well and it is flooded in rainy season and so no enters in the class and the school is almost closed in this season. It is good that school is closed in rainy season for the sake of the life of children as the building material used in its construction is of very poor quality, number of cracks are in the walls and roof of the building. It may collapse in near future. It looks another Ghotala which needs to overhauled. The situation of the teaching is in the Chimtipur Middle School which has hostel also only one lady teacher of Samvida is teaching all the five classes of primary section and the children of middle classes are on the mercy of God as the teachers are enjoying somewhere else. The school building is good of this place.
The Primary school of Rated has four regular teachers and one local resident 12th pass Guest teacher. Being the resident of that are he only comes as per his choice and keeping silent to the children and cry to stop them from making noise. Yes one thing is very punctual to provide breakfast, lunch and dinner to children. The School building has two rooms only . One room is for students of class 2nd &3rd and the other is for class 4th nd 5th. However the room of classes 2nd &3rd is occupied by the belonging s of the Ashram . Ashram has a better building made up of a hall where only a in charge of the Ashram who is a lady lives. The DPC of the kitchen and the Ashram has good filling and have suitable DPC height to be safe from the rainy water. However, the DPC of the school building is under the well and it is flooded in rainy season and so no enters in the class and the school is almost closed in this season. It is good that school is closed in rainy season for the sake of the life of children as the building material used in its construction is of very poor quality, number of cracks are in the walls and roof of the building. It may collapse in near future. It looks another Ghotala which needs to overhauled. The situation of the teaching is in the Chimtipur Middle School which has hostel also only one lady teacher of Samvida is teaching all the five classes of primary section and the children of middle classes are on the mercy of God as the teachers are enjoying somewhere else. The school building is good of this place.
The question is why the Govt. and Administration is not
giving attention on quality education. Is School for learning or for eating only ? Are Shalas schools or Dharamshla? In our school days the
the name of schools in Hindi were Vidyalay or Pathshala. When and why does this nomenclature has been changed into
SHALA. Rather is justified in the present scenario as these Shalas are Dharmshalas
(where you can stay and have food ) not Pathshalas as teaching and sports are not primary work.
{Teachers are being engaged in clerical work as there are no
clerical staff in most of the Govt.schools in the villages.}
In Rated covering number of smalls village have only one
well on a hill and difficult to reach this place. The Civil Administration //State
JAL SNSADHAN SAMBHAG,Chindwada /Centre should give attention on it and do efforts
to make a well in each village of this area so that the resident could get
drinking water facility. There is need of making a BANDHA in the rainy river in
the Rated Hills to store the water which could be utilized by the residents of this
place to cultivate agricultural production and in this manner the forest could
be saved as they are cutting it for earning their livlyhood . Thirdly a rope
way system should also be installed from vally of Rated to the top of the hills
of the Patalkot for residents of this difficult terrain so that they could have
minimum public amenities and live like a human being. The students who are
doing everyday up and down the hill to reach their school after class Vth
should be provided this rope way free and the tourists should be charged to
compensate the cost of installing it.
On returning from Palakote on 17th Feb,2014 morning by taxi, I taken a left turn from Parasia to Shivani Cole mines area. after covering a distance of 10 Kmts. we reached our destination. Here I met with the manager of Mine No.2 Mr.Surender Singh and I introduced myself . He became very happy with my objectives of
roaming the villages and my stay there to teach children. He happily accepted my desire to visit coal mine. He offered me a glass of water and then tea and latter provided me shoe,cap, torch and a stick went long with me to shoe me the functioning of the mine.After going about 200 meters deep , he introduced me number of staff people doing their respective job specially the person who was the incharge of Electrical Dept. and he was also the leader of the Union
and asked an Engineer whose name was Mr.Yogender Kumar, to go along
with me to show how the blast is done and the Cole is being lifted. I went long with him another 100 meter deep to 5B Sim.This was a wonderful experience of my life.
On returning from Palakote on 17th Feb,2014 morning by taxi, I taken a left turn from Parasia to Shivani Cole mines area. after covering a distance of 10 Kmts. we reached our destination. Here I met with the manager of Mine No.2 Mr.Surender Singh and I introduced myself . He became very happy with my objectives of
roaming the villages and my stay there to teach children. He happily accepted my desire to visit coal mine. He offered me a glass of water and then tea and latter provided me shoe,cap, torch and a stick went long with me to shoe me the functioning of the mine.After going about 200 meters deep , he introduced me number of staff people doing their respective job specially the person who was the incharge of Electrical Dept. and he was also the leader of the Union
and asked an Engineer whose name was Mr.Yogender Kumar, to go along
with me to show how the blast is done and the Cole is being lifted. I went long with him another 100 meter deep to 5B Sim.This was a wonderful experience of my life.
V.N.Sondhi
manuansondhi@gmail.com
Nice one... I can memorize my childhood visit to patalkot..
ReplyDeleteThanks Deep for your encouraging comments.My purpose of writing is to bring it into the notice of our Govt. and Administration to uplift the -economic status and try to fullfil the basic requirement of the common Tribal of the Tribal areas without disturbing their cultural heritage and bring them into the main streem.
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