Banwari’s Unique Skills are getting extinct

May His Tribe Increase

Finally after a long search, we found a person who could weave the old types of cots. An old man was trying to weave one of our old cots. I asked his name and very confidently he said Banwari. He has developed hunch back. I did not bother much and ignored him as one of the ordinary weaver. I returned to the spot where he was weaving the cots and saw his facial profile from the side. I recognised him as Banwari who was several years senior to me in the village Lower Primary and later in the Middle School. I straight went to him and he confirmed that he is the same Banwari whom I had last met in 1963, when I had shifted from village school to Sainik School. He knew me and had kept track of me by village gossips, but I had forgotten him and unfortunately during my numerous visits to my village, I never had an opportunity to meet him.

I recall that when I last heard about him, he was working as a peon in the newly established Block Office in Wazir Ganj, Gaya, Bihar. I spoke to him at lengths and he narrated his life story in brief which I thought is the best for me to begin my blogger.

Banwari was born in 1942 in a then a remote village in Dakhin Gaon: a traditional feudal village. He started going to school at the age of 12 but used to be very regular and studious. In his 12 schooling years, passed Matric with 2^nd Division which was very creditable by any standard. He did not study further, but was employed as a temporary peon in the newly established Block Office. Those days a deprived class boy passing Matric with 2^nd division and that also living amongst the feudal society was unheard of.

He applied for a job with the BMP (Bihar Military Police), he was selected as he passed in all the mandatory tests. He was waiting for the final call letter, of course he got it but 7 days late. He went to the BMP Centre in Ranchi, but it was too late. He investigated as to why he got the letter late. He discovered that the Post Master had handed over the registered letter to a person with Feudal attitude who deliberately delayed it till the expiry date and then handed it over to Banwari. Banwari was too meek and docile to go to some authority to get justice. He swallowed it like a bitter pill and tried for job in another Central Government Organisation. He again got selected but when it came for the verification of his credentials, the village feudalistic negative attitude of some influential people denied him this job. Banwari was disappointed. Again he took this bitter pill in a positive way as the will of the God. He left the village for work in the nearest metro Kolkata (Calcutta) where he worked on various odd jobs. He also worked in Delhi for some time.

He returned to the village when his wife was sick in 1999. She could not live long and died in 2000. He has two sons and two daughters. He lives in rotation of two months with his two sons. He gets the old age pension of INR 200 per month from the Government. Although, he lives with his sons in rotation, but he is not dependent on them.

He has one of the unique talent of weaving rope cots (what is locally called as Charpoys and Palangs. The frames are made of wood but it is woven with various types of strings). This type of cots are quite popular all over India. We find these in most of road side Dhabas (restaurants). But this weaving is almost extinct in my village. Even the suitable ropes, that used to be available in plenty are now available at far distant markets. When he completed weaving one charpoy and a machia (machia is the local name for a small low seating, string woven with wooden frame. Machia used to be generally used for seating while cooking, while hand grinding wheat etc. Today I find a few as an aesthetic decoration pieces in some seating rooms. Some of these cost almost INR 2000 or more in big metros) I asked him as to how much should I pay him. He demanded just INR 200. I was ready to pay him more.

I found him a very self-assured person and self-dependent full of pride and humility, earning his living at this ripe age of 73. I asked him “don’t you get tired by seating and standing several times while knitting a cot”. He replied “it is good for my health that I sit and get up several times. This has kept my knees in perfect condition.”

He tried to teach his skills to a few of the modern youth. They all refused to learn stating that it’s too tough and tiring. His weaving skills are unique with conspicuous designs.

His full name is Banwari Das “Bairagi”. He has added Bairagi to his name after he adopted to Kabir Panthi—followers of Saint Kabir Das, a 15^th Century Mystic Poet Saint. This has led him to be pure vegetarian, no drinking, no smoking, and no killing of animals, not to cut trees/plants— leading the life of a puritan.

Banwari with his products after three days of Hard Work