RAJKOT, GUJARAT, INDIA

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The mathura lambada tribe

My journey is a story if my adventurous hunting for a very rare tribal cast, known as Mathura banjara in India.

My hunt began when I saw a photograph and exhibition held in a tribal center at Ahemdabad in Gujrat in year of 2002, The photograph was of some rare tribal cast which I had never ever seen any where in my life, Their most integrating part of this tribal was their big mountain like hair gear on head. Their minute I saw the photograph, I was so fascinated that I decide to take their photograph of my own, I love photograph especially of rare things.

So out of curiosity & excitement I asked the curator Mr. Arvind Ghosalkar, Museum Curator-Gujarat Vidhyapith. I came to know that photograph was taken by curator him self, way back in 1960 almost 40 years ago, by 2002 this tribal was thought to be no more say was at the edge of disappearance. he also said that this tribal cast easies in southern par of India, he was traveling all India that time they have taken these photograph now at setly where they have taken they don't know , but as I also at edge of extincting & may be now in 2002 it is thought to be no more so he wasn't sure about their current existence, any way this information was enough as I thought I didn't loose faith I decided to find this tribal at any cost. I have ask curator for more information, Fortunately curator had got some information that He got picture in A. P., I m from Gujarat and was walking at Hyderabad, capital of A.P. at that time. So it was easier for me as I thought then.

And my really journey is beginning, I went back to Hydra bad and stated asking about the tribe of there local friends.

I didn't get any positive respond from any one whom I have asked. One day suddenly and ideas clicked me and I took my friend to visit tribal welfare center office. I met the head of the department and asked about it, but I think my luck was one-step back or say I was running further, I don't know but meeting the head also didn't solve my problem. I felt bed when She said She had never heard of such tribal & its now even registered in my office. But still as a kind gesture he allowed as to use the department's library…

As we were searching for the references I saw a curator I went to him hoping to get some information about it, after failing to get information from the books. I gave him description of the tribal & he just slated blankly like he isn't have time to listen to me. Anyway I gave my card and told them if he has any information just give me a miss call I would phone him back. I didn't expect much positive attitude u see…

After one week I suddenly one day got call form one the curator he suggest me to read political sen sex book. That has reference; I went to the library and read the book their same result no reference about their location … god helps now I thought.

And a thought clicked, I again called the creator I have met in Gujarat. I had ask for more information he recall some thing more about that tribal cast by then he told me that it may be in nizamabad district. Nizamabad district is quite large but my friend encouraged me to visit nizamabad at least we may get some information.

So I and my friend packed our bags for Nizamabad it was quite a big totally urban city I started asking every one I meet but it was difficult I didn't had photographs I didn't have even knew their name what they do nothing all I had is descriptions still I didn't lose hope, but same answer every where " don't know" "sorry".

I was so broken I decided to give up & go back to Hydra bad. I went to the bus station & wanted to ask some one, which bus goes to hydra bad. I saw one constable watching us as I was different person in the south Indian crowed, I went to him and instead of enquiring him about the bus I asked him about this tribal people. This time I didn't expected any miracle but for a last try.

To my great surprise he said "yes" & I was so delighted He told me he has seen them long back in 1980 interior town in Kamamreddy district. I ask for more information…He told me it was a dangerous area due to highly active naxalite, & I should stay hare to night and go for it in morning since it was already dark. I hearty thank him and went away.

Instead of stay in nizamabad we took a bus of Kamareddy. We reached kamaraddy district and it was already 10:45 pm by then, so we decided to stay there in a small hotel. At night by 11:30 pm I just went out I thought may be I get some information, there was a tea stall near hotel, I went there to having tea when one old man came to me and asked for a match box, I told them I don't smoke He lit the bidi (a kind of cigarette) from the Chula and started smoking I just asked him about his tribal if he know, he told me to take a bus for gandhari mandal and get down to the last station, there I may get to see these particular kind of people…all night I didn't sleep I was thinking about tomorrow…

I woke up with a great hope by 5:30 early in the morning by 6:10 we were at the bus station. The bus arrived bye 6:30am me and my friend boarded in there bus, we were just two in the bus excluding conductor & driver. I asked conductor If he has seen such people he nodded say sometime they come to station of gandhari mandal at last we reach station after couple of hours it was a small village…

We saw a family sitting at the tea stall I was so amazing it was like my dream come true the women sitting there had a headgear and she was looking so gorgeous, with here kids.

I wanted to see the place where they live. So we decided to follow then where ever they go after few minint they started moving and I long to follow there for half an hour into the wood. Then I was in the small Kasba I wished to take snap but first I thought to meeting their head, so that they don't misunderstand us we met Mukhiya of the kasba he was a truly gentlemen but illiterate so he told his son, he is a bit literate, he took us to saw the town he requested me to remove the shoes as they beloved that it was built by lord Krishna. I walked in the town with bane feet in the muddy, sticky stiff road which I normally dislike but at that very time I enjoyed each and every bit of it I was in my dream land some another world I clicked photograph until I exhaust. I was really on cloud nine then. I will never every forget my those moment and journey of it…

The mathura lambada tribe…..

Written by Alpesh Parmar

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