village

Dadi sat in the sun, watching Ratan and Jai walk off up the valley and disappear over the hill. She was feeling restless, and decided to go to her favourite spot near the stream to sit. She walked along the cowdung covered track to the stream.

The stream was a meeting point for the ladies of the village. A common working area, where washing utensils, clothes and even having baths was less a chore for the company. No one was there. Of course, the filling of water was done, and the women were busy with the morning cooking and cleaning, before they would come to the stream for the washing.

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My village is situated in Tehshil Baijnath and District Palampur of Himanchal Pradesh ( India). It's name is Kanarag. It is 8 km from Baijnath. Baijnath is small town, situated on Pathankot-Manali national highway. It is famous for its ancient lord Shiva temple. About my village, there is not associated any historical event with it, however it is unique in many sense. My lots of memories are associated with this. This is a small village with 30-35 houses, which includes the 10 houses of Katoch’s (Rajputs) and 10 houses of Gaddi’s and 15 houses from the lower castes. Though it is small village, but it is unique in its structure. Here everybody is dependable on others. Most of the lands are owned by the Katoch’s, approximately about 80%. It is difficult from them to manage all the lands. Therefore the help of people from lower caste is taken. This is the main resources of earning for the people of lower caste. Gaddi’s are wondering caste of Himanchal Pradesh. They mainly own the goats and cattle’s. In summers they go up hills with there cattle’s. In summers the snow melts and new grass grows in abundance. They reach there to utilize this opportunity. They live there in hills for up to six month and come back before the winter starts. These all castes are totally dependable on each other. Nobody can survive without the help of other. Gaddi’s exchange their cattle’s and goats for food with the Katoch’s and others. Gaddi’s even provide lot of medicines and rare vegetable grown only up hills. These medicines sometimes cost for $200 to 500 dollar per kg. But because of unawareness and non ability of buyers, they sell them for very less cost. Second my village is unique for its water system. This area is prone for water shortage. But the elders of village has very wisely constructed a small canal from a place 3 km away to the village. This canal was made by villagers with great contribution by my late grand father Sh Uttam Chand Katoch. This canal includes six small bridges, made to about the contamination of water. Due to this canal our village has not seen any water shortage. Third is the calm environment of my village. This calmness is like a meditation. One can hear the voice of river water two km away. People talks from km’s away can be heard. In cities, we will ever get this opportunity. I invite people to explore the beauty of my village and Himanchal Pradesh. You will really like this for your life.

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