DEVI'S STORY : A GARHWALI WOMAN

For many weeks, a strange man had been visiting, bringing gifts of fruit, sweetmeats, garments to the home of Devi's parents ; Devi was ten years old ; the second of, at that time six children - and the eldest daughter. Later three more siblings were added to the family. Her father was a tailor and a famous "Badi" - traditional drummer. Her family was one of about forty other Harijan families, living on the outskirts, of a large mixed village, spread out at the foot of the Temple Mountain ; So called because the temple of Mother goddess is built on its top. This temple is famous all over Garhwal.

Devi soon came to know that the visitor, was her prospective husband ; Child like, she was indignant, then angry, when teased by her companions, on their daily wood & fodder gathering trips to the forest. But a few weeks is a long time in the life of any child ; And Devi too forgot.

One day, Devi returned from the forest, with a load of firewood, almost too heavy for her slight body to carry ; She threw it off her head at her front door and wiped the perspiration from her face and throat, with her head cloth and went indoors ; She was hungry and asked her mother for something to eat. A number of neighbour women were present with her mother, helping her cut a mound of vegetable, kneading huge platters of flour, laughing and joking - the festival of Dusshera (the harvest festival) wasnext day. Devi thought, these preparations were for a special "Pooja". She was rapidly disillusioned. One of the younger married women, tole her, "Well Devi, tomorrow by this time, you will be a bride ; mind you, take good care of your husband, his brother and above all, your father in law. There has been a great tragedy, in that family."

It was getting dark outside, but now Devi became aware, of the enclosure and tent that had been erected to one side of her house. She wandered that way and saw a number men and boys and even the priest, preparing a place, where the sacred fire would be lit. Other auspicious plants and leaves and earthen vessels of water were also arranged ; Being the only girl there, she hurried away again, still not realizing, what all this "marriage" meant. She went in the inner room where her younger brother & sisters were whispering among themselves. She ignored them, took her place on the sleeping mat pulled the cotton quilt over her self. Soon, she dropped off to sleep, surfeited with a long day, of sun, fresh Mountain air and very hard work.

Sometime during the night, she woke, to hear her mother telling her, that she must get up and get dressed now. Still drugged with sleep, but obedient to the summons, even though not understanding - she allowed herself, to be led out to the back of the house, where she went a little further and squattedto relieve herself. Her mother kept telling her, she must hurry - the water she dashed on her face, hands and feet, from the bucket outside, was cold and made her shiver; It also woke her up completely.

Her female relatives did not leave her in any doubt, as to the reason for all the noise, lights and drumming, the talk and laughter that was going on all around outside ; As they dressed her in new beautiful red garments, putting silver anklets on her feet, bangles of red glass on her wrists, slipped the jeweled nose ring into one nostril, then finally draped, the red head covering, heavily embroidered with gold thread, over her head and drew it down to cover her face. Devi had submitted to all that had gone before without demur - but this covering up of her face, that had been open to the elements far as long as she could remember, scared her. She felt as though she had gone blind - at the same time she couldn't breath ; She cried out and tried to throw the veil off her face - but some young married woman, who had joked with her earlier, seemed to divine her feelings ; Perhaps she remembered her own time, not so long ago - and soothingly talked to Devi, raising the veil as she did so, to gently pat the child's cheek ; Lowering it into place again as a call came from outside that everyone was waiting for the ceremonial "gift" of the child bride to be given.

Devi passed out of the door of her father's home, into the care of a very unusual man. A man as near as she reckon now, to be about twenty years her senior ; This man was a village taylor. He had been married before, when he himself was only an adolescent ; For some reason they had parted, but the two sons from this marriage remained with him. During the monsoons two years previously, some

members of the family had gone mushrooming - seven members partook of the preparation - all sevendied that night. (There is a belief here, that if a poisonous snake crawls over a bed of mushrooms, even if edible ones - they become poisonous.) The husband was fasting that day ; his younger brotherand father were away from home on business. These three and a female relative were the only ones to survive ; Even the two young sons died.

This was the tragedy, that had led Kishan's father to look for another bride for his son, from among his own community - his search lead him to Devi's home.

Devi in her sedan chair, accompanied by her husband and new "family" went to her home about ten kilometers away. Not for long though - after two or three days, she grew homesick and begged to go home. Kishan, realizing her innocence and her tender age took her back to her paternal home. The years passed. The visits home became fewer ; her life as "daughter" in her home began to pass more agreeably- Devi's husband remained husband in name only. He was good to his child bride - dressing her in the latest fashion - being a tailor by profession and a good one - he was able to do so.

When Devi was 18, they consummated their marriage ; A year later, they had a daughter ; Five years later still, a son was born, followed closely by another son ; Soon after that, two abortions and one miscarriage later, Devi decided on sterilization. Failing fortune, her husband's poor health, were also instrumental in her decision.

This hill woman, gentle in her ways, totally illiterate, deeply attached to her husband, now for the first time, is working outside her home, as a domestic aid - to make ends meet. All three children are attending school. Her daughter, who is in her sixteenth year, is studying in class eighth. Have times changed even in these sleepy mountains ?

Marian Srivastava 150, Panditwari Extension Dehradun - 248007