Merry night out with Robin Hood

Merry night out with Robin Hood
Santanu Saraswati
Shikaripara (Dumka), May 22—“Get inside your car and follow mine. You are now in Durga Soren’s captive. I will treat you to the best-ever programme of tribal music and dance that you have ever seen.” Durga then laughed like a 16-year-old child, throwing his head back and shaking it. As he guffawed, he twirled his long handlebar moustache and looked up. There was only one option: Obey him.Durga Soren, son of JMM-S chief Shibu Soren and party MLA from Jama, is the unquestioned leader of the Santhal community in Shikaripara. A tribal warlord, who has already taken the rein from his father, for routing out the communal forces from this State and empowering the tribals in their own home land, has already many criminal cases, including murder charges, against him—was my host for the night. His father is fighting the election this time even after wining the Rajya Sabha seat.He is banking on the committed support of tribals and other backward castes living in Raneshwar, Kathikund and in the dense forest under the Shikaripara block.Durga’s motorcade moved out of Barmasia towards Ranibahal village, 35 kilometer away and deep in the forest surrounding the Massanjore dam. It was way past midnight and Durga was six hours behind the schedule. Just before Pattabari, drunken locals who broke into loud racy song stopped his convoy. The language was difficult to understand, but the tune sounded great. Durga got down from his car and did an impromptu gig.“Follow me,” he shouted to the locals. The drunken tribals staggered after his convoy, which crawled to Ranibahal village, a kilometer away.At the village, a raucous party was on. Santhals, Mundas, Pahariyas and other tribals dipped their wooden cups into a huge vessel of mohua (a local brew). Durga’s arrival excited the tribals even more—since he is their Robin Hood—the hero who saves them from all odds. Tribals entrusted with maintaining order at the venue rained lathis on their brethren and asked them to sit down. The programme of Santhali folk song was about to begin.Durga sat on the makeshift stage. “I am ready,” he said. A pretty young tribal girl started her song on the greatness of their own—“Durga bhaiya”, his role as a destroyer of those who oppress the tribals. She sang on the role—how Durga protects them from the evil spirits of BJP.The drumbeaters went into frenzy. Cymbals clashed, drums and dholaks beat in a heady rhythm and the tribals swooned. The music and mohua was beginning to have their effect.The programme continued till three in the morning. As many as 20 singers performed. It was now time for an interview. Durga was not tired. He would not be, considering all his operations were conducted in the dead of the night. And he has his goal too—“Fight for justice.” And that too, for the common tribal mass of this region.“I am no robber,” he said. “Just a savior of the people. Would so may people have turned up and stayed for half the night if they did not love me?” Durga asked.“I am a poor man. The upper castes, communal BJP thinks we are loosing. But “Baba” (Shibu Soren) will crash them. They (the BJP) captured booths last time. This time, we have made special arrangements for those who capture our booths,” Durga observed. EOM.
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