A different perspective on Eastern Himalayan societies
The collection by Zubaan tells another story of survival and breaks the myth of the role of women
I have visited several Himalayan villages and have had the opportunity to interact with some of the hill tribes and communities. What has always intrigued me is the role of women in these societies. They are not only homemakers but also have a distinct role in the economy of the household, whether through farming or any other form of economic activity. And yet, there exists invisible boundaries in these traditionally male-dominated societies. Whether it is in Nepal, Darjeeling or the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the dominance of men in a family in particular or society in general is stark and widely accepted. And yet, women are curving their spaces and establishing their identities as, to use the words of Maya Angelou, “phenomenal women”.
Beneath Magnolia Skies is an anthology of these phenomenal women who have walked the beaten path no doubt, but on their own terms. There are also stories of women like Sunita (And the Sky Becomes Clear) and Manmati (Gangtok) who quietly allow family take over their personal spaces.
The collection of action and non-fiction from Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills — edited by Mona Chettri and Prava Rai — presents a wide spectrum of the lives and survival stories of women, especially from the lower stratum of society.
But beyond the stories of women, some of the chapters in the book give a broader picture of the changing socio-economic contours in the region. The stories of migration are about “gendered migration” and the lives after that. While the migration of women from Nepal was mainly driven by livelihood opportunities, that from Tibet was more about the political reasons.
Migration driven by economic needs has traditionally seen men shifting from their original places to cities and town offering better opportunities. Women migrating for jobs has always been a taboo in societies in Nepal, and yet, numerous women had to embark on the journey keeping in mind the needs of their families. In Memories of Migration from the Eastern Himalayas, Nangsel Sherpa and Shivangi Khadka speaks to women, now in their sunset years, who were forced to or who chose to migrate to north Bengal with the hope of a better life. Dawa Bhutia, Mariam Shakuli, Pasang Dolma, Naumati Subba and others reminisce their journeys to Darjeeling district and talk about their lives in the current times.
The stories are a unique narration of women in various spaces, whether as porters, homemakers, or professionals. The surveys and research reports in the collection are an important insight into the evolving socio-politico-economic fabric of the region and the role of women in it.
In Labour and Migration: Women Bhariyas in Darjeeling Hills, author Ambika Rai traces the history of women porters in Darjeeling. While this space of work has always been dominated by men, there is documentation of women porters too. With time, the number has only increased owing to economic needs and wide-scale unemployment in the hills of Nepal. This is one of the collections in the chapter that not only tracks women as workers but also draws a picture of the evolving economic condition of the region.
The lucid presentation of the Eastern Himalayan region, which has hitherto been recognised by its ethereal natural beauty and magnanimity of the Himalayan range, adds a new dimension to how we perceive the societies here. The collection tells another story of survival and breaks the myth of the role of women here. It is a collection worth possessing and valuable read for those who are keen on understanding the anthropology of the region.
Book: Beneath Magnolia Skies: Writings from Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills; Publisher: Zubaan; Pages: 313; Price: Rs 695
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