Cultivating Watermelons, Igniting Change

Moving away from the predictable traditional crop, eight Jaheraya SHG women’s decision to cultivate watermelons sprung from an attempt to prove their worth as independent farmers, who could take vital decisions regarding farming and marketing produce; it was a subtle defiance of patriarchy, of the annihilation of men farmer’s beliefs about a cash crop and of a small example of change that is unstoppable now.

Introduction

D URDURA IS LIKE ANY quintessential Santhal village on the fringes of a forest, with a small stream flowing through it. A big board saying ‘Welcome to the Similipal Tiger Reserve’ greets visitors as they enter the village from National Highway 49. As the wheels of my bike move towards the village of Durdura, big hills begin to appear on the slowly and gradually changing landscape. A cool breeze touches my face as I travel over hectares of land, eyes soaking in the serenity of the view.

Every spring, the smell of mahua flowers reminds the tribals of the impending agriculture season. All the men and women get busy, preparing their agricultural lands to grow paddy. Paddy cultivation is practised across Durdura village during the rainy season. The village has 319 families belonging largely to the Santhal tribe, who reside across six hamlets.

Of the nine Self Help Groups (SHGs) operating in the village, one of them is the Jaheraya SHG which has 10 members. This SHG has taken an exemplary step in agriculture, bringing about a change in their lives that is engraved in the history of Durdura village. The change is a blow to the patriarchal thinking of society that constantly presents men as great farmers and the women as mere labourers. There are very few moments when a PRADANite is left speechless in front of the community. This was one of them. It was my first experience, and I was just amazed by the conviction of the eight Santhal women, who wanted to experiment with watermelon cultivation.