IRS officer’s efforts help Totos get spiritual centre renovated
Times of India | 5 November 2024
Jalpaiguri: The efforts of a bureaucrat have finally given the spiritual centre of one of Bengal's smallest tribal groups the renovation it needed for years. The Totos of north Bengal, who have a population of merely 1,644, worship mother nature at their ‘demsha', which also serves as a spot for exchange of cultural thoughts.
When IRS officer Atul Pandey first came to Siliguri as joint commissioner of income tax in 2021, he made a visit to Totopara and was shocked to see the condition of the small hamlet nestled in the lap of the Himalayas along the India-Bhutan border. On interacting with locals and studying about them, Pandey realised that the fast-depleting tribe needed external support to preserve their culture and traditions. The demsha was in a dilapidated state and Pandey decided to start with its renovation.
"I approached many people, companies and firms that I knew, seeking their support. With everybody's help, the demsha could be given a facelift. It's important for us to preserve our indigenous culture and heritage," Pandey told TOI. As he ran from pillar to post to collect money, many came forward to help. "When Pandey approached me for a small donation, I readily agreed to his noble cause," a Siliguri businessman said.
The demsha is usually made of bamboos and has a spread of ‘kash' flowers on the roof. However, members of the tribe have been finding it increasingly difficult to get either of the two. With Pandey's efforts, a concrete structure was made for the demsha. An entry gate was also constructed. "This means a lot to us... mature bamboo is difficult to get these days and kaash hasn't been growing too well on the Teesta's banks. We are really indebted to Pandey," said Ashok Toto, president of Toto Kalyan Samiti, an organisation working for the betterment of the community.
From Alipurduar's Madarihat, one has to cross seven rivers — Bangri, Titi, Purney Khola, Kalikhola, Dayamara, Jarip, and Howrikhola — to reach Totopara. Once, the Totos possessed 1,993 acres of land in the region. During the Left Front's time at the office, however, as much as 1,646 acres of Toto land was taken away from them. There are 410 families in Totopara, and only 195 of them have papers for their lands.
The language of the Totos — Yaa Waa — is listed as critically endangered and is at the final stage before extinction. Yaa Waa shares no close relationship to any spoken around the area — Nepali, Bengali, Hindi or Bhutanese. The Totos fear their language, culture, history and way of life will soon be consumed by an education system that forces their children to speak Bengali. Under the leadership of some like backward class welfare officer and Padmashree awardee Dhaniram Toto, the tribe is fighting hard for its language and culture. Pandey's efforts have helped them take a major step.