Learnt a lot of things while visiting Totopara, the village which is the only habitat of India’s smallest tribe and one of the world’s smallest indigenous ethnic groups ‘Toto’. The number of surviving totos presently is just 1678. The drive to that hamlet was difficult yet a rewarding one. We had to cross a number of dried riverbeds, the ominous yet so very beautiful Lankapara forest and the picturesque Ballalpur village and finally the maverick Hawri river, a character in herself who fascinated me for her pristine beauty, her rich flora and fauna and last but not least the mysticism surrounding her. Someone who has not been to that place is surely missing one of the most beautiful secrets of Bengal, the forgotten river and its unbridled beauty. Once she quenched our thirst for the unknown, we finally reached the Totopara, India’s last frontier before the mountains cease to be ours. Yet the birds, the elephants, the little squirrels or the giant leaopards often forget the marked territorries or the borders made by the humans and they keep on spreading the love and making it across the boundaries.
Once you reach the picturesque Totopara, you will be greeted by those simple, ever smiling people who take no time to make you feel at home. Be that beautiful homemaker drying the chillies on the front porch or those young kids playing our forgotten game ‘Danguli’ or those youngmen making a group to clean their own village, everywhere with every person you just feel one simple yet empowering word ‘Positivity’. We interacted with a group of youngmen who were cleaning the village and on being asked the question why there was no media, they ducked the question and answered that their good works are for the future of their next generation and not for any media coverage. My mind was instantaneously transpoted to the place I hail from and realized the difference in our mentalities. The smallest tribe in this whole country is striving hard to achieve the goal of ‘Sustainability’ something we all preach about yet practise so little. I bowed to their God and Goddess Ishpa and Cheima for making them so innocent yet so hardworking and for keeping them alive amidst so many hardships. Never thought of clicking any selfie with them. It is nothing but our venomous culture which may spoil their young generation.
But yes, we had a few group photos and a few clicks where you can have a slight idea of their physiomorphic features. We thankfully accepted their traditional food ‘Marua’ and as the Sun was setting, we called it a day and hugged their ‘Mondal’ and hit the road. I must mention that the roads from Madarihaat to Totopara are so very well maintained wherever nature has allowed and the state Government deserves all the credits for the same. I urge all of you to visit the place, know about your own heritage and to be proud of it. Those who have been there may post their precious comments.
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