Bundelkhand… first impression

I shifted to Dehradun in March 2012, joining one volunteer organization PSI. My first project here was "Gram-swaraj Abhiyan - Developing self reliant villages in Bundelkhand", Bundelkhand? Do I have to work in Bundelkhand? I had mixed feelings! What the hell, I have shifted all the way here to explore north India, beloved himalaya, rivers, culture, people and to have lots of adventure. Adrenaline as well as Serotonin (happiness hormone) was rushing through my blood. I shifted from dry, hot region of Maharashtra, i.e. Khandesh and all you want me is to shift back to the similar region. Bundelkhand has become synonym for "spells of droughts", means water scarcity, scorching heat, deadly hot breezes (loo in local language). I was bit disappointed, but bit excited at the same time. Otherwise how would I get a chance to be in that part of India, no? I immediately googled about Bundelkhand. I found many attracting keywords, which were enough to keep my exuberance flowing.

Legacy of Chhatrasal Bundela… the region is known by his name.  He is of same importance as Raje Shivaji has got in Maharashtra. It means I will be able to explore history, historical places, culture etc too. Moreover, I heard the stories of friendship of Chhatrasal Bundela and Raje Shivaji from both Maharashtrian friends as well as colleagues from Bundelkhand. I felt connected. (Bloody regionalist I am!)

Eminent Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi… Again I felt connected... strong woman and she was also from Maharashtra and married to Maratha king. Same pinch for caste. (Bloody casteist I am!)

Khajuraho... wow! World-wide attraction to the ancient erotic sculptures! ;) These people were damn creative. Well I was thinking from the artist point of view only, okey! Lets explore to know more as intuition says it can't be just Eros giving them rise.

Panna tiger reserve... “Pleasure in the pathless woods; There is society, where none intrudes; I love not man the less, nature more” – Lord George Gordon Byron

Panna – City of diamond... Well, I won’t get any chance to see any diamond freshly taken out from mines, many big mafia lobbies are behind it. So there is a big society of mafias, dacoits and political leaders which intrudes into the forest and nature.

Temples of Orachha... second highly worshiped place of Rama after Ayodya. History and culture cannot be separated out.

Kalinjar fort... my attraction is 22 connected lakes at fort, traditional water harvesting and little bit of trek as main door is 10kms away from main entrance

And dacoits... Yes dacoits too, similar to those shown in Bollywood movies like Gabbar, Man singh, Pappu yadav etc. These dacoits are interesting. Interesting in a sense, if you are caught by them and you think you can get away safely by offering all your belongings, money and jewelry, then you are wrong. You have to be ready to be thrashed by them, as they too have ethics and values. They believe in “pasine ki kamayee”  and marane ke liye bhi to pasina galana padata hai bhai! 

I started searching for papers, news, videos etc on Bundelkhand.  Again and again I came across the fact, "Droughts - man made calamity". Like other regions of India, the droughts in Bundelkhand are not only attributed to natural calamity but also the human action and inaction destroying the equilibrium. The actions of destroying the natural resources of Bundelkhand, corruption which denies the access to poor what is rightfully theirs, human actions in creating societal barriers denying access to those destitute and dis-privileged and government's inaction (lack of political will power)  to really uplift the poor.

I got my first impression about the region and my quest for exploring new region, people and culture has begun... 

- Seema