Alwar, Rajasthan — On the flat, 200-metre-long summit of Bhanokhar mountain sits a Devi temple, beside which lies a water tank that supplied the entire village just three or four years ago. On one side stand the temple and tank; on the other lie ruins of Rajput residents from 1500 AD. A well on the mountain, locals say, yielded the Devi’s sculpture during excavation. At the outskirts stands Kanni Ki Haveli, built by a rich man named Kanni. Small holes on the mountain stones — which some villagers attribute to freedom struggle bullets, though that explanation is somewhat ridiculous — complete the picture. This mountain operates as the central theme in the frame of Bhanokhar.
A Brotherhood of Many Faiths
Bhanokhar is quite popular in Alwar District for its diverse culture. People from varied backgrounds live here in proper brotherhood. The ST community, particularly the Meena caste, dominates. A significant portion belongs to Scheduled Caste, while Muslims, Rajputs, Baniyas, Pandits, and Darogas exist in smaller numbers. In ancient times, social discrimination was too harsh here, but it has since seen an incredible downfall.
Around fifty years ago, most occupations were traditional — barbarhood, Kumhar (pot making using clay and chak), Mahavar (cleaning), and others. Now only five percent practice traditional jobs, and that too out of passion without compulsion. I thank BabaSaheb Ambedkar for such upliftment of lower castes.
Facebook, Farming, and Shopkeeping
Today, Facebook is making a reasonable amount of money for young lads aged 20-30, who run pages promoting products and blogs. A great number have government jobs; some work in brokerage. Farming, once entirely traditional, has seen a revolution through hybrid seeds and fertilizers. Shopkeeping remains the most traditional practice still thriving. Lakhan Seth, Surendra Seth, Dwarka Seth, Murari Seth, and Suresh Pandit run grocery stores and sell water and electricity fitting items.
The government PHC is a disappointment — the appointed doctor seems to have no knowledge of medicine. Children Happy and Archana are the main schools, but I don’t find them good enough for study. Most children go to nearby towns like Kherli, Mandawar, and Laxamgarh, where schools are quite better. It is disappointing that most students must travel to Jaipur and Delhi for academics and competitive exam preparation. It would be awesome if required means were available in the village itself, fulfilling students’ needs at minimal cost. A decade back, there were more schools like Moni Data and Apex, but old ones shut and new ones arrived to no avail.
The Silent Struggle of Women
What is most disappointing here is women’s condition. Women still live in Parda — covering their face — in front of older males like fathers-in-law and husbands’ older brothers. They must live their lives on lines provided by their husband or other males. After marriage, they are merely allowed to pursue their own ambitions. Even when permitted, they are burdened under household chores and caring for every family member, which leads them nowhere except to having children.
Bhanokhar’s mountain holds history. But its daughters hold untold stories — waiting, still, for freedom.
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