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From The Shadows Of The Mountains Life & struggles of a Jaunsari woman- Devika Chauhan As told to Dr Satyendra Srivastava (With an essay: The Women's Movement in India- A Brief History; By Sreela Das Gupta) Table of Contents1. Prologue32. At the feet of God43. A family in exile54. Home coming65. A Working Woman96. A brush with History117. Rural Development128. New Challenges139. Talking tough & talking sense1410. Tubewells and Fish-farming1611. Mountains Call1712. Tribal Commission1813. Snakes & Ladders2014. Specters in the gloom2015. Homeward flight2316. Three Jobs at a time2417. Self Governance2518. Marriage - the mirage2520. Epilogue28The Women's Movement in India : A Brief History29Appendix One : Chronology30Appendix Two : A Certificate32Endnotes33

Preface Fleeting images of women in the media represent two ends of the spectrum: either she is seen bringing down a leopard with one blow of her sickle - OR she greets you from outer space as the first woman cosmonaut. What has happened to all the women in between? Astronomers in the sixties applied themselves to the study of dark lines, called missing bands, in the spectrum of rays coming from the distant stars; It gave them valuable insight into the atmosphere of those stars. In somewhat the same way, this series of Readings for Better Life attempts to study the missing bands in the social spectrum: contemporary women of Himalaya, whose stories have never surfaced in the media; the women who have something important to say to society. Vivekanand once said: A nation must first learn to recognize and venerate the quality it wants to produce in its people. Looking at women's movement in India and particularly in the Hills, one does not find enough of that happening. From the Shadows of the Mountains, the first in this series, is the life of Devika Chauhan, a worthy daughter of Jaunsar who still continues to love and serve Himalayas. As the new state of Uttaranchal emerges from the shadows of the old, we will work for a society which appreciates and honors what women continue to contribute. Cyril R Raphael October 26th, 2000 RACHNA - SBMA Dehradun

1. Prologue "Why should anyone be interested in my life? What use could it be?" - Devika smiled, while I shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. I had come, looking for a straightforward interview after having heard about her from a mutual friend. Sitting in the small drawing room of her home in Dehradun, at this our first meeting, I was left groping for an answer. Was it a typical manifestation of our oriental humility? Or did she actually believe that? By our middle class standards, at a glance, her achievements did not appear extraordinary. Our society has fted and forgotten many civil servants. Even being a woman does not add up to much, now in the late nineties. I turn the question around and send it back to her: "Devika ji, you come from a large joint family; you must have had many friends as a child; Can you think of any girl from those days, who has lived a life comparable to yours?" She is lost in thought for quite some time; It is a long journey, spanning many decades, cities and villages, numerous faces and relationships, which she must pause to ponder, before answering; But now I got the opportunity to study her _ a tall, fair, well-built lady, late fifties perhaps? with aquiline features, typical of the Yamuna valley. The creases on her forehead indicated she was used to analytical effort and intellectual labor, her demeanor that of one in authority; A child came and served us tea. Gradually, a picture emerged as we conversed. In the early fifties when even male literacy was quite low in the UP hills, she graduated with science subjects; When Jaunsari women lived a silent, invisible existence in the home and the fields, she joined government service and worked as a Block Development Officer _ the first woman to do so in the entire state of Uttar Pradesh and subsequently rose to become Assistant Director, Social Welfare1. As if, being a woman in a man's world was not challenging enough, she had to contend with a lifelong physical disability _ a limp. Even after retirement, from government service, she did not refuse the responsibility of being Block Pramukh (Kalsi block) when the Jaunsari community literally thrust it on her. Thus she was pulled into local self-governance of this region in 1997. Her involvement with people and voluntary agencies continues even today, in her sixties. She serves on the board of Society for Motivational Training and Action (SMTA)2. She still gets highly agitated when she hears of yet another young woman having been branded as a `Dagan'3 in some remote village of Jaunsar.. There is no stagnation in her life current. Does such a life have relevance & inspiration for women, especially in the hills? This line of inquiry, we have tried to pursue in the following pages. 2. At the feet of God Devika was born into a Rajput family in Rakhtaar village near Nagthaat in Chakrata tehsil of district Dehradun in July 1933. The caste factor does not lead to much difference in the quality of life in the hills. Her grand father, Shri Gannu Singh became blind at a very early age _ in his early forties, rather unusual in itself. He had four sons and one daughter. Loss of vision led to considerable hardships for the whole family; Two of the sons were quite young; the eldest _ Bahadur, only eleven, had to become bonded labor at a small hotel in Nagthaat- in exchange for a loan, which his father, Gannu Singh had taken from a shopkeeper. A common enough occurrence at that time. While Bahadur was still in his early teens, his marriage was arranged. In the course of time Devika, the fourth child, was born under unusual circumstances; Burgi Devi, her mother had gone on a routine trip to collect fodder from the jungle; An area, strewn with boulders in this forest, was known as Dev-gud-gudadiya (Stones lying at the feet of God); Here, she suddenly went into labor and delivered a baby girl, helped by her companion, a Harijan woman. The cord was cut with a sickle _ the blade honed by constant use. She had already lost two male babies, after the first born girl; she was disappointed at the birth of yet another girl; In sheer desperation, she told her companion to throw the baby into the ravine! Her companion remonstrated, " Bhoi, why do you say that? Who knows, instead of any sons, this little girl might take care of you in your old age.." In remembrance of this wild, rocky place, this little girl was named Devasi. Years later a Bengali family friend in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, changed it to Devika, after the famous cine actress of the forties. But instead of lying like stones at God's feet, she was meant to seek her own destiny - unlike the majority of girls born in Jaunsar in that era. In those days, Nagthaat was on the old pilgrim trail to Yamunotri. A Rajput pilgrim couple watching Bahadur, were impressed by his initiative. He was a handsome young man, by this time. They negotiated with the shopkeeper, paid him some compensation and took Bahadur back to Rajasthan with them. This gentleman was a minister to the old riyasat (state) of Jodhpur. The time _ early forties. At about this time, ten month old Devika in Nagthaat, developed an abscess on her left hip; Traditional treatment current in Jaunsar in those days, was used on her; A red hot iron spindle was pushed into the abscess while her aunt pinned her down; It drained the pus, but caused atrophy of the muscles and a limp _ which has lasted the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Bahadur had been educated upto class ten after which he was trained as a Mukhtar- a legal occupation, something akin to the present day lawyers. At intervals, through the years he kept visiting his home and family in Jaunsar, from Jodhpur. Completing his training, he moved to Indore and set up his own practice; Here again he was adopted by a childless Thakur couple. At the suggestion of this family, he invited his wife and children to join him. Devika's second uncle brought the family down to Indore. Devika was now about 3 years old. Her elder sister Malo Devi, had been adopted by her issueless third uncle and remained in the village. 3. A family in exile For Devika's mother, this was a strange new world, coming as she did, from the backwoods of a Jaunsar village; But she made the best use of the opportunity, by teaching herself how to read with the help of her husband and some kind neighbors. A time came when she was able to read the Gita on her own _ to her great satisfaction and joy. She also discovered that her harsh foster mother in law, had already `adopted' many children and thrown them out on one pretext or another and now had hopes that her foster son- Bahadur would marry a "better" girl from Indore itself and thus she would see the face of her grandson someday! This was an amazing piece of knowledge for her. In Jaunsar, girls in the family were never considered a burden or `bad luck'. It was a period of constant learning and considerable stress for Burgi Devi and her daughter Devika. For example, when a big piece of firewood fell on Devika's hand resulting in a deep gash, the mother in law, through adoption, refused to take them to the hospital; Devika's father was not at home; Finally, Burgi Devi, in desperation used home remedies and dressed the wound on her own. In the school Devika attended, Art and Music were compulsory subjects; Her Library teacher, encouraged her to read widely; From Bankim, Sharat, Tagore to Mahadevi, Prasad, Premchand and Rahul Sankritayan _ nothing escaped her attention. `Shrikant', `Anand Math' and `Kankaal' were some of the books, which left an enduring impression on her mind. Her father was becoming popular as a Mukhtar; He often told his wife that Devika had to be educated well if she was to survive; Infact, sometimes he used to dress her up as a boy_ in a shervani and chudidar pyjama and let her run errands usually expected of boys. One chore, which Devika enjoyed as a child, was to dash off to the local stock market nearby and report to her father how his shares were doing! One Deepawali, her father gave a ten rupee note to her uncle and cousin brother to buy eighteen kinds of vegetables from the market for the Annakut ritual; Both men threw up their hands in consternation, saying it was impossible for that amount of money. Little Devika took up the challenge promptly; She went to the market, cajoled and exasperated a vendor so much that he gave her vegetables of much more than eighteen kinds - a little of everything he had in the shop. She returned home gleefully! A lot of the grit, which Devika was able to call upon in her later life, she imbibed from her father around this time. He was sympathetic to the independence movement; His hero was Veer Sawarkar. He had grown up in Jaunsar but because of his chosen profession, had seen life and society intimately. He had struggled to make a niche for himself and believed that initiative was the only difference between man and man. Bahadur Singh's foster father had been dead for sometime; Now, the foster mother too died. Her children adopted earlier, now gathered to share in the property; Devika's father dealt with them justly and took care of them even to performing the last rites in some cases. Devika was eleven and in class five, when her father died. On his deathbed he whispered- India will be independent soon _ but unfortunately I won't be here.. Preparations for me are going on up there _ a golden cord ties me down_ but soon it will snap The year was 1947; the month, probably April or May. A maternal cousin of hers, who had accompanied the family to Indore, had taken a loan to ply a taxi; This taxi had been impounded in a legal wrangle; Yet the loan had to be repaid; In the meantime the death of her father, head of this extended family in Indore, created a crisis; Her uncle, who had brought the family down, was now working in Malwa Cloth Mill; But after her father's death, the family's financial situation deteriorated and It was decided to sell the big family house to raise funds; Her uncle tried his hand at business but it failed; Finally, the whole family returned to Dehradun; Devika gave her class eight exams just before leaving Indore. 4. Home coming Burgi Devi recalled what her husband used to say about Devika. She decided she must continue Devika's education _ even if it meant selling everything. With this purpose uppermost in her mind, she decided to stay near Dehradun instead of the village home in the mountains; She settled down near Vikasnagar where the family was able to buy some land and devoted herself to cultivation, raising a few head of cattle and send rations and other supplies to Devika in Dehradun regularly. Devika, her Uncle and aunt stayed in Dehradun in a cheap hotel owned by a relative, so that Devika's schooling could take off. Thus, for three people they had to pay ninety rupees per month. Since her uncle was not working, it was a difficult phase. Her maternal uncle and many other well to do relatives, even though based in Dehradun, did not come forward to help; Why should anyone be so concerned about a girl's education- was simply beyond their comprehension. While in class nine, Devika became friendly with two girls _ Madhuri4 and Sukala; Mr Bhatnagar, Madhuri's father, agreed to his daughter's request and let Devika stay with his own family at their home in Dehradun. There were no girls' hostels or any other arrangement for students in those days. This arrangement only meant that Devika had to help with household chores while pursuing her studies. At times, it was considerable hard work. Devika stayed with this family from 1951 to 1956. But there was an interesting interlude during this period; Before joining the Bhatnagar household, she had known a Sindhi family. After returning from Indore, Devika's family and the Sindhi family had stayed together in a small hotel. Devika and this family became fond of each other. The family had left West Pakistan, at the time of partition, in dire straits. They were able to bring out only some cash and jewelry _ all of which was being spent by the sons on new business projects and good living. The family comprised a widowed mother, two grown up daughters, the two sons, their wives and children. Two years passed and Devika was caught up in her studies. One day quite by chance, she ran into the same Sindhi family; But now their circumstances were very different; All the business ideas had fizzled out; The two sons had just disappeared one after another _ presumably to look for work elsewhere. The family was almost destitute. "Devika, will you come and stay with us?" The old mother lovingly stroked Devika's chin and asked hopefully. "Whatever rations you get from your village, might tide us over this phase.." Devika was pained. This was the same family who had showered her with love and luxury, when she had stayed with them and now, after so short a time... She immediately made up her mind. She left the Bhatnagar household and moved in with the Sindhi family. Even though she had a tough constitution, her body soon broke down. All the dry rations she was able to muster from her village was far too little for this family of four adults and five children; Every second day, they were having to live on tea and `snacks'. Within a few weeks, she fell sick and had to be taken to her mother in Vikasnagar, forty kilometers away. Fortunately, in the meantime one of the sons, got in touch and began sending home some money regularly. The vicissitudes of this family and the quiet determination and dignity, with which those three women went about their life, left a lasting impression on her. Devika dreamt of a medical5 career; But science was not being taught at MKP Inter College in Dehradun those days. The principal assured her that the following year science classes would be started . She got admission in the first science batch; But all three friends _ Devika, Madhuri and Sukala, failed class ten! Devika failed her math's test by just a few marks; The transition from a settled life in Indore and subsequent uncertainties had taken their toll; Then she shifted to DAV college, Dehradun, from where she passed Highschool with a good second division and did her Intermediate with Biology. All this time, since her father was dead and her uncle was not earning anything, she faced great difficulties in arranging for her tuition fee. Mr Gulab Singh, a distant relative in Dehradun, agreed to pay her fees; But he frequently forgot! Thrice she was turned out of her class for non payment of fees; On the last occasion Devika cried for the whole day and went to sleep deciding to forget about college studies for good and go home _ whatever that meant! That night she dreamt of her father _ He caressed her head, pulled her close and said _Don't worry my child. Here, take this. She saw him actually handing her twenty-five crisp one rupee notes, she tucked them under the pillow safely and went to sleep. Next morning Madhuri and Sukala, as was their wont, came to call her, on their way to college; she hunted for the notes which ofcourse were not there. Was it not only a dream after all? She refused to go to college. She knew exactly what her class teacher was going to say to her. She trembled at the very thought of the humiliation _ of being turned out of the class again; Her friends insisted that they would think up some good excuse on the way; Finally, she agreed and decided to take the chance. That day, they took a shortcut to their college, through the Kutcherry (District Court) compound. Suddenly her friends exclaimed _ "Look Devika, there goes Gulab Singh ji _ your Jija (brother in law). Let us grab him before he disappears in the crowd." Cornered by three young girls, in the bustling grounds of the district court, he quickly took out some money there and then! Strangely enough they were all one rupee notes and there were twenty-five! Devika paid her three months fees and life was back on track. After doing Intermediate (pre-degree) with Biology, Devika continued in DAV College as a graduation student in the science stream. The principal, Mr R N Saxena had conducted social research in Jaunsar Bawar. He was so taken aback by a Jaunsari girl pursuing science study that he awarded Rs 10 per month as a scholarship to her6. Devika knew that going for medical training was beyond her means7; What was she to do after college? For a girl from the hills, options were few; Life in the mountains was tough and uninspiring; She began her search for a job. Through a coincidence, she was offered a short assignment by Mr Bahadur Ram Tamta, Sub Divisional Magistrate of Chakrata; His Assistant Development Officer, Mrs Krishna Goyal had joined recently. She wanted a volunteer to take her around, to get familiar with her working area in Chakrata hills. While this brief assignment brought Devika a little money8, she also got her first glimpse of the challenges of the rural development and women's place in it. While in BSc second year, Devika was called to Lucknow for an interview for the post of District Organizer (Women); She raised a loan from Krishna Goel and went. She had already submitted the certificate9 issued by Mr Tamta and was hopeful of getting this job. After sitting the whole day at the venue in Lucknow, she discovered that her entire application with all the impressive testimonials was "missing"! She submitted a fresh application. Finally, she was called in, to face a panel consisting of Mr Radhakrishan (Head of The Sociology Dept, Lucknow University), Mrs Karkood (Deputy Director _ Social Welfare) and others. Mention of the word Jaunsar, started the ball rolling; What had the Anthropologists said? What does the community itself think about it? By now Devika had seen enough of the world both in the hills and plains; read from Pearl S Buck to Kanchanlata Sabharwal; She handled all their questions about polyandry in Jaunsar with objectivity and composure. A few months later, she received her appointment letter; Devika took a loan of ninety rupees from Mrs Goyal again, and reached Lucknow to join her first job; But when Mrs Karkood (Deputy Director _ Social Welfare) realized that Devika still had to finish her graduation, she shook her head regretfully; `No. You can't be appointed after all.. Child, go back and complete your studies first.' Devika saw the chance of a life time slipping away from her. She had taken a loan just to travel all the way to Lucknow, by herself. In sheer desperation, she blurted out _ Madam, you must give me the assurance that I'll get this same job when I return after completing my BSc in a few months.. She had known want for so long and wanted desperately to support her mother as soon as possible. 5. A Working Woman She was thrilled when the university results were announced in the summer of 1956; She had graduated with good marks; Even more surprising was _ Mrs Karkood kept her word; Within a few days of her BSc result, her appointment letter arrived. With in five days, she was to join at Fatehpur, near Kanpur. But she had no money to travel! Kripa Ram Joshi, a family friend and well-known English teacher of Government Inter College, Chakrata, referred her to Mr Rangaswami, who was an officer in the cantonment board in Chakrata; Earlier he had, very discreetly, helped with her fee during graduation. He was a man of saintly nature and always helped Jaunsari students wanting to study further. She was crying when she met him; With such difficulty she was able to get this government job _ a second time! and now it seemed to be slipping away from her again; Rangaswami said _ "Why are you crying? You wanting to work! Is that the limit of your ambition in life? You should be studying at this age. Can you go to Bangalore for higher studies? Would you like to? That can be organised, you know.." This was his way. Instead of saying- I will do it, he would simply say _ Something will be done (Ho jayega). People rarely understood the source of such optimism, such humility and considered him queer; His sister also hadn't married _ like him; Both came from an aristocratic family of Karnataka and loved serving people _ without any fuss10. At last, when he failed to prevail upon her, he went in and came out with his wallet. He emptied it on the table. There was just enough money for her travel; He promised he would send some more later. Now, how to travel to a place like Fatehpur, which she had difficulty even locating on a map? Her uncle flatly refused to escort her to Fatehpur. `Women working outside the home is not our tradition!' - was his stand. Devika replied indignantly_ `If society will take care of my mother and myself for the rest of our life _ FINE; otherwise I must work.' Finally, Mr Bhatnagar, her friend Madhuri's father, accompanied her. On the 7th day of her joining in Fatehpur as District Organiser (Women), she received a money order of Rs one hundred from Mr Rangaswamy; When she got her first salary a month later, she returned the hundred rupees to Mr Rangaswami by post; He sent it back with a reproach. This was in total contrast to what her relatives had done. For example the uncle, who charged her double to get her a scrap of paper - her medical fitness certificate. It was a difficult posting; Fatehpur was an underdeveloped rural area famous for feudal crimes. Rural Development and District Administration in the late fifties was entirely man's arena; Women were neither trusted as capable of handling it, nor were they tolerated if and when they disproved that myth. They were looked upon with amusement, disbelief, consternation and even indulgence. Their numbers were few. Particularly at Fatehpur, they survived hardly a year; they went away with a lot of mud flung on their character; That was the ace in the hands of their male detractors. Purely by chance, a distant relative of hers _ Mr Balbir Singh was also working there, as District Planning Officer; Devika had her first brush with him one day, while travelling in a jeep; It was a casual pat cum caress. But the reaction it drew from Devika, in the presence of the driver shook him. She insisted on the jeep being stopped and got off immediately; He learned his lesson well and never tried it again.. A sudden inspection by the District Magistrate took place, a few months after her joining. Early one morning, none of the district officers except herself, were found in the office; When she came in, he controlled his temper and language- and said in great surprise: "What on earth is the Government bent upon? Such young babes are being recruited for administration!" "How do I know? I suppose they and the selection board know better, sir" _ Devika calmly replied. A few days later, at a social function, this same gentleman put his foot over hers, while she was serving him Tea; Whatever may have been the intention _ Devika reacted spontaneously and exclaimed aloud "SIR! your foot! It's hurting!" He collected himself promptly and the incident passed off; Later his wife and daughter became Devika's great friends. These incidents gave her some inkling of the world into which she had been thrown; also of the double standards to which men subscribed, in the name of Indian culture. Woman in office was expected to behave one way and woman in home, another. In the meantime Mr Balbir Singh was replaced by a DPO of scheduled caste _ Shyam bhayya, as she came to call him; Balbir briefed him about her and asked him to help her as a senior colleague. Demands of the work were such that they had to work and travel together; This offended local Thakurs11 and politicians immensely; Devika after all was a Chauhan Rajput. Tongues began to wag _ though nothing improper ever transpired. Finally, things came to a head and orders for Devika's transfer came from Lucknow. To be transferred under a cloud of calumny - No, Devika decided to resist it tooth and nail; When she confronted Mrs Karkood in Lucknow, she sympathised but expressed her helplessness; Here, Devika met Kamla Bahuguna, wife of Shri Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, an eminent socialist leader. Kamla said, "Devika, you are young; Even I, as a social worker, have often been called a Paturia (prostitute). Take it easy. It will pass." Eventually, good sense prevailed; Her transfer was cancelled but the axe fell on Shyam bhaiyya. He was transferred because of this intense lobbying against him. Devika silently watched as the caste and departmental politics rode rough shod over the principles of natural justice. The next DPO was a puritanical conservative Brahmin _ who observed her suspiciously for many months, before finally learning to trust her as a responsible colleague. Once that happened, he inundated her with many responsibilities. Much later, during a farewell function organised for Devika _ who was moving out as a BDO, he confessed _" I was mistaken: Ganga coming out of the mountains can never be impure." 6. A brush with History While in Fatehpur, she faced her first real challenge in 1958; Indira Gandhi, who was then coming up as an astute politician through the Congress hierarchy, was going to do a four kilometer walk (Padyatra) through the region to attend a big Mahila Sammelan (women's meeting); It was after all her father's constituency; Opposition parties had decided to oppose the event; Since Indira was not holding any Government post, her security was to be arranged unofficially and invisibly; Not only this, but a sizeable participation of the masses, particularly shy rural women had to be ensured in the face of belligerent opposition. It was a loaded challenge for the district administration. As usual, DM and DPO deputed Devika to organize it. She was quite popular among the local women's groups; Harijan women, living close by, were skeptical of the whole thing; When Devika convinced them that this foreign returned lady was actually going to visit their huts, they went all out and made many ornate arches out of the items of their livelihood _ like brooms, hubble bubble (Hookah), coconut shells, winnowing trays etc. Initially her colleagues in the district administration, were doubtful but as the arches came up, people realized that these 108 gates did not just welcome the guest, but spoke volumes for the innate creativity of the poor working women. She decided to welcome Indira in the traditional Indian way; Again her colleagues questioned the idea _ saying that the lady (Indira) had lived more in the west than in India and therefore would be quite ill at ease with things like teeka akshat12 etc. They were proved wrong. Indira enjoyed every moment of it. As hundreds of gram sevikas, trained by Devika, sang the march past song- Hum Hind ki hain nariyanJalti chingariyansamjhe na koi hameFulon ki kyariyan13 -hordes of rural women came out of their houses and thronged the four kilometer path from Khaga to Hathgaon in Fatehpur district- and made the event go down in people's memory as part of local history. Devika's first meeting with Indira took place just before this Padyatra. She was offered a lift in a jeep while walking to a village one day. Not recognizing one of the occupants as Indira, Devika accepted the offer; Once in, a debate started about the importance of clothes you wear versus your behavior as a social worker; Devika insisted that it was the behavior which mattered; she had already seen the brusqueness of a Congress woman organizer and its effect on potential supporters! Devika ofcourse did not know to whom she was talking. Indira in a khadi sari with head covered, insisted that clothes, hairdo etc make or break the rapport with the community; Devika was wearing a nylon sari and her hair was tied in two plaits! But each discovered who the other was and soon became friendly; Indira, like her father had a special place in her heart, for the people of the hills. During the Padyatra, in mid speech, at a huge gathering, Indira received the news that she had been elected as president of All India Congress Committee _ a milestone in her political career. Devika accompanied her to the village of the local MLA. When the time came for Indira to sit on the floor and have her meals with local women, MP and MLA14 who had slandered Devika, now, apologized, and supplicated with folded hands, to convince their womenfolk to sit and eat with Indira. They said, `we are sorry that we believed hearsay and acted upon it, without cross checking facts. This will never happen with any woman officer in future.' During their march, a Communist Party worker threw a rolled object in Indira's path. Devika picked it up promptly. It was only a pamphlet, fortunately; But this act of hers was appreciated very much by the police and the CID. Another memorable event was when, just before addressing the women's meeting, Indira turned to her and asked with great innocence, "Devika, what do I say to this mammoth gathering now?" Devika about to suggest something, suddenly saw the humourous side of the situation and said, "What didi? Are you pulling my leg? Haven't you already taken on so many bigger crowds in the last seventy two hours?" Finally, brushing aside her organisers and security, Indira entered the homes of those Harijan women, who had built ceremonial arches; drank water and spent some time with them. Before leaving _ Indira asked her name once again, hugged her and made her promise that she would organize a women's conference in Chakrata and invite her to participate. Failing to do this one thing in life, Devika regrets even today. After returning to Delhi, in one of her speeches, Indira quoted _ Hum Hind ki hain Nariyan Devika was thrilled when she heard it on the radio. Her next meeting with Indira, was in Gorakhpur many years later when she went to give her a memorandum _ to declare Jaunsar Bawar, a tribal area. 7. Rural Development In the early sixties, rural development had not become the refined social engineering feat, which it is today; Rural communities rarely understood the process and the priorities; This made the job of development officials like Devika extremely difficult. Grass root women workers like Gram sevikas often became the object of distrust, slander and undesired attention; Eventually, because of this negative `press', Government abolished the women's cadre from the rural development services at block level, some years later. A case in point was the occasion when Devika and her Gram sevika were going to a Silmi village in Khaga block; She saw some village women further afield, returning from their ablutions in the gathering dusk. They laughed and joked as they walked back leisurely to the village, with sideways glances at the visitors. Finally, someone said in a loud whisper - "There comes the paturia (prostitute) with her `madam'." Devika leapt off the cart and caught hold of the young woman in a long veil. "No, no, no. I didn't say that." Devika was not angry or hurt but wanted to use the opportunity for initiating a dialogue. "Now, listen carefully. Look at me and say - What difference is there between you and me? You are married so you are in a veil. I am not. You work at home, I work outside; Isn't that all? But you too are a woman _ just like me. How can you say such hurtful things to another woman? Now take me to your house. I must spend a day with you; Then you will understand." The woman herself was illiterate but her sister in law was class three pass. Devika decided to use her as Gram lakshmi in her adult education program. Later on she helped this woman to pass her class eight exam under Vidya Vinodini, a program which gave a chance to school drop outs to acquire formal qualifications; As a positive fall out of the incident, many other women took advantage of this initiative. When the budget was released to construct a `Panchayat Ghar' in Silmi, villagers decided to name it `Nari Niketan'. Nari Niketans were made in many more villages and became the official residence of the Gram sevika, who till then had to make her own arrangements. Even if such initiatives did not change the overall performance of adult literacy programs, they did procure a better place for field level women workers in the community's estimation, in Devika's block. 8. New Challenges Devika had spent about three years in Fatehpur and another two in District Kanpur as Assistant Development Officer (women); In the meantime an opportunity presented itself. A vacancy for Block Development Officer (BDO) was advertised. Though constitutionally it was open to women, no woman had tried it, till then. It was a tough administrative job but Devika felt confident enough to tackle it. She applied through the proper channel; Months passed with no response. She made a written representation to the Chairman, Union Public Service Commission (UPSC); finally, she was called for an interview at Allahabad, after a few more months had elapsed. The first probing was about her capacity to walk and her speed; Devika replied that as a hill woman her speed was as good in the plains as in the hills, if not better.. Next question was _ if she had ever actually timed herself; She understood that a reference was being made to her wearing her watch on the right wrist _unusual those days, that too, for women; Now she had to open up and talk about her childhood dreams; She had had this fancy that whenever she could afford a watch she would wear it on her right hand _ since the left was used for wearing routine things like bangles etc. She was further quizzed about matrimonial practices of Jaunsar. Among 120 male candidates, she was the only woman who was selected and thus became the first lady BDO in the state _ a considerable achievement by any standards. Now her problems started in real earnest. She was to go to Haryana, for the first module of the BDO training, but Mr Ghulam Hassan, the principal of the training institute, wrote back saying that he did not have any arrangement for women trainees! After this unexpected setback, she did the five and a half month training at another centre at Bakshi Ka Talab, Lucknow. In the meantime her cadre, District Organizer-Women (DOW) was abolished and merged with Assistant Development Officer-Women (ADO-W). Her status remained something of an enigma during this training; She was not treated as a departmental candidate and hence did not receive any scholarship. Nor was she getting any stipend or salary from her erstwhile department _ she no longer existed for it. Or was it due to the fact that she was a woman? This was a phase of great stress. She had to support herself, her mother and a few other relatives; And above all, had to continue her training. Being a "single" woman had other drawbacks too, of which she was frequently reminded. It was the time, she recalls, when she was vulnerable; Certain decisions taken now finally led her into an unhappy marriage. More of it later. At the training centre in Lucknow, the arrangement was no better than Haryana; One more bed for Devika was put into a five bed dormitory of the Gram Sevika hostel; Being the only woman in an all male batch, unwanted attention was being constantly thrust upon her. As a part of course assessment, every trainee had to participate in physical training, which could not be arranged for a single woman trainee; The course incharge asked disparagingly_ What are you going to do, Devika, as substitute? Eventually a gram sevika decided to help her and Devika staged a Shadow play on the Vishwamitra-Menaka episode from the Purans. The theme behind it was: Despite all their learning and physical prowess men who have not controlled lust _ how pitiable is their condition! The husband of a friend of hers sniggered, "So, now, Madam ji is going to dance on the stage as Menaka _ the temptress?!" Eventually on the day of presentation, in the large auditorium, as the recorded music played in the background, and the sharp features of Devika appeared in silhouette on the screen in front of Vishwamitra, the sage, seated in meditation, the hooting stopped. Behind the screen, Devika and the other girl continued enacting the ancient episode. The sage who had set out to seek diamonds went away with glass beads. The message was clear to the budding bureaucrats in the audience; They often went to the field with noble thoughts of serving the poor but got deflected by `other considerations'; Her presentation was adjudged the best item by all; Her detractors _ among whom were some stage artists as well _ apologized and congratulated her. They were sent to Officers Training Centre Agra, for block placement as part of the training. Many officers came to have a look at this thakur girl from the hills who had the audacity to be a Block Development Officer! A very senior officer looked straight into her eyes and made a withering remark about polyandry in Jaunsar; Devika knew that other communities could never comprehend this issue in its true spirit; What was worse, they did not have the openness to seek an understanding. The result was an ethnocentric, self-righteous world view. Devika felt hurt and even though only a trainee, decided to deal squarely with the gentleman. With her heart thumping, she said, `Well sir, as a social custom, Polyandry has served the needs of our community in the past; We see in it only what it is _ a social strategy of survival; Others will see _ whatever they have in their own hearts. Has it not been said, that the world is only a mirror?' The topic was hurriedly dropped. But Devika realized that such `incomprehension' would keep coming her way and she had to deal with it, without squeamishness or shame. 9. Talking tough & talking sense Her first posting as BDO was in Farrukhabad in southern UP in January 1961. Her predecessors and colleagues _ most of whom were stalwart men- physically, did not take kindly to the idea of this wisp of a woman with a limp, being in charge; They refused to wish her _ the commonest courtesy; In the end, she was able to break the ice during the farewell function organised for the outgoing BDO, some days later. When her turn came, she smiled and spoke with a quiet intensity and conviction: `People not wishing me doesn't hurt; But People refusing each other the bare minimum chance of proving their worth -' She looked around slowly at each of those assembled, then continued quietly, `Why, we all owe that much to each other on this earth! We must do that and then- let only truth prevail !'15 A few days later, her next ordeal caught up with her. A massive demonstration was being planned by the twelve political parties of the area to protest against the administration; The fact that the concerned BDO had already been moved out, carried no weight with the politicians of the "hell fire and brimstone" genre. Mr Yadav, a Socialist Party leader, notorious for being outspoken _ came and gave her notice of it. Three days before the event, she developed high fever! Mr Yadav visited her again, and offered with a sneer, "BDO saheb, running fever? Shall we call the demonstration off!" "Don't worry," Devika groaned, "If I have power to stand up, I will receive your delegation personally. Just tell me which officers you want to discuss your problems with." Her uncle, who was staying with her, was anxious and worried, but Devika made the necessary arrangements. All the relevant officers were notified. At the appointed time about two hundred people gathered, shouting "Murdabad Murdabad _ Down with the BDO!!" Devika came out and said, "I have just joined; My predecessor has already left; So whose inefficiency and high handedness are you protesting about?" There was silence and then some people shouted among themselves, "Didn't we say so? This fool of a Yadav is taking us on a wild goose chase. Brother! Let us go home." Mr Yadav and what few people remained, were invited for discussions. Mr Yadav as usual, started a strident denouncement of bureaucracy. Devika had to step in- "Look, I am only a link between people and their chosen government. I inform Government of your problems and I inform you about the various programs and policies developed by government for you; We can not change policies.." "No, no- you can do everything if you would" Mr Yadav interrupted. "I wish what you say was correct; If I had all those powers I would have changed the face of this place _ But a BDO has her limitations _ you must understand that, Mr Yadav." Mr Yadav now tried a different approach: "Tell me, BDO saheb, do you think Rs 300 per Bigha16 is enough for the seed, fertilizer and insecticide to raise a potato crop?" "No, it is not." Devika knew, he had a point there. "Then why is your cooperative worker giving only Rs 300 per Bigha to farmers? Infact it comes to Rs 600 per Bigha but your men have been taking their cut all along." Devika ignored the allegation and sarcasm and asked for the elaborate family plan registers. Opening one, she placed it before him and asked- "Mr Yadav, whose signatures are these, certifying that only Rs 300 per Bigha is needed to raise the potato crop?" "Well, Farmer's. But what does he know?" "If he raises the crop he is supposed to know. Now let us cut out the past; Let me ask my colleague here. Can you sanction Rs 600 per bigha?" The District Cooperative Officer scratched his head and said, "Devika ji, if your staff can make new family plans based on new assessments and you justify it, I think I can do my bit." It meant launching an entire field exercise all over again but Devika's team persisted. The District Cooperative Officer accepted the new plan and Devika's block had the distinction of being the only block which gave Rs 600 per Bigha to its farmers as a loan from the Cooperative. It also started a new chapter of working together with the community and its leaders. This new ethos helped Devika to score the highest loan recovery rates in the state; It also helped in solving two other long standing issues. Close to her head quarters, there was a village, just 400 meters away from the famous Grand Trunk Road. But there was no road actually going to it; For years, three families, who had their land in between, had refused to permit the construction of a link road. Similarly, a Primary school nearby had become a shuttle-cock between Zila Parishad and Primary Education department for nine years; For want of maintenance, it looked more like the ruins at some archeological site; Children sat out in the open in fair weather and stayed home in foul. With a lot of initiative, tact and just plain stubbornness, Devika solved these two problems as well, to the community's satisfaction. She was touched when, a few years later in Nainital, she got an invitation from the villagers to come and inaugurate the new school building; She also got the Presidents Silver medal for excellent work during the 1961 census in Farrukhabad. Strangely enough, she discovered that people attributed both her failures and successes to her being a woman; It seemed you just could not win. 10. Tubewells and Fish-farming Boring tubewells was a big developmental initiative in many parts of Uttar Pradesh in the sixties; This was the period when Government was chasing the green revolution with one pointed devotion; Environment and falling water table were not the over riding concerns of policy makers. BDOs were given definite targets to achieve, for the boring of tube wells; But technical clearance had to be taken from the Irrigation and Canal department, before block administration could begin boring. It used to take years; Consolidation of land holdings (Chakbandi) was also underway at the time. Chaudhary Charan Singh, then agriculture minister, held a meeting in Allahabad. He was known for his poor opinion of women officers; In the meeting he was railing at the slow progress in Tubewell targets; Everyone was nodding his head; When nobody tried to enlighten the minister about the real problems, Devika stood up and said, "Sir this poor achievement is only to be expected _ what with the ongoing Chakbandi and the years taken by the Irrigation department in giving us the necessary clearance; Infact, I have a suggestion to make; Why doesn't the Irrigation department provide us with the list of criteria for boring tubewells and blanket permission to do so? If, let us say, 95 % of the criteria is met, we could go ahead with the work, while formalities were attended to by the Irrigation department at their own pace?" The minister, to the great surprise of many, almost immediately accepted her suggestion. Another important change she was instrumental in bringing about was fish farming in Farrukhabad - both at individual and community level; The Ganga being close, no one had ever considered the commercial potential of this idea; Aided by Mr Lal, a veterinarian on her staff, who briefed her about it in the first place, she went around spreading the word; Finally it caught on. Many Village councils organised community labor to develop ponds; Tubewells and canals were used to fill them with water; Very soon, individual farmers also jumped on to the band wagon. Years later in Gorakhpur, Devika heard with joy that Farrukhabad had topped the state in Fish production. 11. Mountains Call In 1962, once again, opportunity was beckoning. Devika came across a departmental advertisement for Regional Assistant Director (Women _ Food & Nutrition) under Department of Harijan Welfare. The best part was _ it was to be located at Nainital. During the UPSC interview, Devika discovered that it was the same board which had selected her as BDO one and a half years ago; Recognition was mutual and the first question was- "We selected you as a lady BDO so that you would be an example to others; You are leaving that cadre? Why?" Devika responded with the thought that must have been dormant in her mind for some time, "I have worked in the field for the last six years; Now, I want to work at policy level; influence it, change it - if I can. I dont think any one will be the loser in this process." Her medical Board and all other formalities, were soon over. At last, the time came, when she had to pack up and move on. Many parties were thrown in her honor. But district authorities decreed that she could not leave before the Block Development Committee elections - a few days away, were over. Though not as high profile as elections for MP and MLA, BDC elections had become contentious in Farrukhabad, because of high politicization of these bodies. Even otherwise, in this belt of Uttar Pradesh, Politics and crime had blurred borders. In these elections, the ballot was cast by Village Pradhans and since there were twelve political parties, stiff competition was expected for each of those thirteen posts; The MP and MLA of the area were also there. As BDO, ensuring fair elections, was her responsibility; But whatever one did, it was rare not to be accused of partiality. Open violence was a common occurrence. As the proceedings were about to begin, someone broached the topic of her transfer; All the leaders, pradhans, MLA and MP spontaneously chorused, "What a loss for our region! We will never get another BDO like her." She promptly replied _ "If you have such a high appreciation for my work, why don't you give me a befitting parting tribute?" "Just name it, Madam." was the immediate response. "Let it be a unanimous election for the BDC. Let people say Devika Chauhan's block is the only block where enemies became friends and chose consensus over contest. Do you have it in you?" She asked seriously. They were taken aback at this bold idea- but could not back out now, challenged by a woman especially! So, by consensus, one post went to each party _ but then what happens to the thirteenth post? Time for closing the polling was drawing near; If all twelve parties decided to contest for this last post _ Devika knew, they would be back to square one. She took another bold step. She said very disarmingly "You all know which is the biggest party in this region _ Instead of hammering at each other, why don't you give this thirteenth post to that party and be done with it? Or do you want to go to the ballot box now and break your word?" Her suggestion was taken up with alacrity and a potentially contentious event passed off peacefully. Devika was quite impressed with herself! So were her colleagues. 12. Tribal Commission The most significant event of her five year tenure in Nainital was the visit of the third Tribal Commission from central government in 1964-65, to identify genuine tribes and make recommendations on their behalf; Till then, no ethnic group had been declared a scheduled tribe in the state. Earlier two commissions had done a rapid assessment but nothing tangible had come out of those efforts. Shri Anil K Chanda, an ex-IAS officer was the director of the third Tribal Commission. His team consisted of many senior government officers; Devika was given the responsibility of helping the commission in conducting the survey. This high powered team held many meetings with District officials all over Uttarakhand, as it made its way towards Dehradun in its final stages; Devika realized the importance of this survey; Mr Chanda, as was his wont, had been lavishing many gifts on tribal people, where ever he went with his team, closely studying and documenting their culture, dress, food, dialect, songs and dances, etc. Devika would kept protesting, "Sir, I am afraid by the time you reach my people, your coffers will be empty." Mr Chanda would laugh and assure her to the contrary; Mrs Chanda was from Bengal and was a writer and painter; She too was anxious to see Jaunsar. Though not long before, and even at the time of this survey, many Jaunsaris, considered it an affront to be thought of as tribals; Their peculiar customs were due to their descent from Pandavas17 and thus they were no different from mainstream Hindus _ they contended. Devika was aware of this section in the community; but she was hoping that the pragmatism and far sightedness of others would prevail eventually. As this team inched its way to Chakrata, she felt a strange tension building up with in her. In the meantime, the party was joined at Chakrata, by a Mrs Menon, head of the Indian Red Cross, who had come to visit Red Cross Hospitals in the region; Since Mrs and Mr Chanda, had their physical limitations18 and couldn't undertake a strenuous trek, Korba- a village on Chakrata - Dehradun road, near Sahiya, was selected for their visit. Mrs Menon, on that fateful morning in the government rest house in Chakrata, asked- `Mr Chanda, where are you three off to, so early in the morning?' `Korba village ofcourse.' Mr Chanda replied joyously. `Sure?' She queried in a peculiar tone and continued, `People are waiting there with their cudgels to welcome you and your party. The ANM from Korba was here just now and was telling me so..' Mr Chanda was taken aback... `Devika, what is this I hear?' Devika was getting ready and hadn't heard anything. She said jokingly (years later, she rues that moment whenever she thinks of it)- `That is the tribal character for you, Sir! Can't tolerate strangers too close..'19 Mrs Chanda was all ready to leave; she cried out in disappointment; she had so wanted to see any Jaunsari village; Mr Gulab Singh20, a respected elder, was there and offered to take them to another village- but Mr Chanda refused to go out at all, he was so pained by this unfortunate incident. Devika felt ashamed and alarmed now; The commission could go away leaving the Jaunsaris behind _ that was one very real possibility. Next day, Devika was requested to put on the traditional dress and was photographed as part of the essential documentation of the Jaunsari tribe; it was the greatness of the man, Mr Chanda, that despite this ugly incident, he carried on with the job in hand. As it turned out all eight districts of the UP hills got recognized as home to one or other tribe21, including Jaunsaris, on the basis of his recommendation. In a meeting with leading intellectuals22 of Jaunsar, the Tribal Commission discussed various modalities, next day. Initially, Khas was chosen as the name of this tribe since Khas kanoon had governed them as their traditional law since the `old days'; it was also supported by historians as a specific entity _ but the term `khas' covered only two castes _ Brahmins and Thakurs. Devika had come face to face with the Harijan question in a much wider context_ as a bureaucrat working in the UP plains; She realized that this step, would totally miss the point if Harijans and Koltas were bypassed. Therefore, it was suggested that this tribe should be called Jaunsaris to include all; In this way, it became the only tribe in the country, to be named after the region it inhabited. To prevent misinterpretation, the commission qualified this definition by adding that the benefits of this reservation should extend only to the aborigines of the tribe. Even after recognition as a tribe by the Government of India in 1967, the controversy did not end; On atleast three occasions attempts were made to take this recognition back or whittle it down on one pretext or another; but Devika and other Jaunsaris23 in strategic positions in Delhi and Lucknow were able to stall it. For quite sometime, District magistrates would hesitate to issue a tribal certificate to Jaunsari students. Finally Devika, knowing bureaucratic ways well, took up the issue at senior level, got clear government orders issued and circulated to district administrations. 13. Snakes & Ladders Turning back to her own career in Nainital, Devika recalls the worst crisis of her service years in 1967-68; Chaudhary Charan Singh, who was the Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, abolished women's cadre at block level about this time, and all incumbents were dispersed to different cadres as Multipurpose health workers, teachers etc. One morning, Devika woke up to find that she was to hand over charge of the vehicle, typewriters, files etc. to her Social Welfare department in Lucknow and _ she couldn't believe it _ she was to join as an assistant primary school teacher in some unheard of village! She was shocked by this sudden quirk of fate. Bureaucracy and political bosses believed in making hay while the sun shone but small fry like Devika often ended up paying the price in this game of snakes and ladders. Infact, there were more snakes than ladders. Devika protested but to no avail. A clerk in her office had been suggesting a trip to the Punyagiri Temple, about hundred kilometers from Nainital, for quite some time; It had been made immortal in Jim Corbet's writings; Now, orders had come to hand over the jeep to the department in Lucknow. But the clerk insisted that if the goddess wanted, they would visit Punyagiri in the same jeep; Laughing this fantasy away, Devika and her driver drove off to Lucknow. Her departmental head (Mrs Karkood) was to receive the charge, but her daughter went into sudden labor; The other officer told Devika next day _ "Why have you brought it here? This vehicle would be needed back in Nainital and until further orders you must keep it in your charge!" The same day, she chanced to meet the Secretary. He was shocked when told about her orders to join a school as teacher; He immediately realized that a serious lapse had taken place; From one gazetted post she could only be transferred to another gazetted post; To rectify this, he offered her an upcoming assignment in Gorakhpur. In the short span of a few days her fate had undergone many swings. When she returned to Nainital in the same vehicle, to everyone's surprise, her clerk insisted with a broad grin, that this was a clear `sign' from the heavens that the Goddess of Punyagiri was working on her behalf and that now she had no excuse but to visit Her and permit them to accompany her! Off they all went to Punyagiri, picnicking and shouting _ Glory unto the eight armed One!! Salutations to the Beauty who rides the lion!! After more than a two hundred kilometer to and fro journey, this vehicle ground to a halt in a workshop in Haldwani. The mechanic looked quite perplexed, "How did you get to Punyagiri & back? Both tie-rods are broken!" 14. Specters in the gloom Superintendent of the Protective Home (Nari Niketan) for women rescued by the State under various acts - this was her new assignment in Gorakhpur. Every girl, every woman within the four walls of this home was an indictment of people and society outside. This was one job which gave Devika a close and often saddening glimpse of the flip side of humanity; Post modern society would hang its head in shame - at what man had done to man, as Firaq Gorakhpuri once cried out; Many of these women, finally, returned to their families; some stayed on and each had a touching story to share. Devi, Brinda, Rani - and Gayatri who committed suicide; they all left indelible impressions on her mind and gave her a glimpse of the women's world and the few options in it. Rani's was one such broken life, which Devika was able to mend in time. This beautiful nineteen year old girl was picked up by the police at Gorakhpur railway station in a state of shock and disorientation: torn dirty clothes, matted hair and begging passersby for cigarettes; She was not alone; There was 13 year old Baby with her - whom she claimed to be her niece. The officer who arrested her wanted to `entrust' her to a `respectable' family from where she could be sent back to her home as soon as contact could be made; Despite all the cigarettes Rani had smoked, her mind was still clear; She insisted on being produced in a court, whatever the outcome. Later, as more information became available, thanks to the investigator at Nari Niketan, it appeared that Rani came from a good family background; that she was used to better things in life. Devika proposed that if she supplied the address, she could be sent back to her home at once. Rani resolutely shook her head: "Just give me any old garment to wear and left overs to eat, I won't crib; I will never go back. NEVER.." then after a pause - "But yes, do send Baby home, please." Two days later, Baby's parents came and took her away; Rani did not budge from her room. In bits and pieces over time, Rani's story unfolded. She was a foundling adopted by a Christian family (Masseys) of Kanpur; They had only three sons and Rani was a welcome addition; Years rolled by and the eldest son got married, then the first girl was born in the family; From that moment on, a sudden change came over old relationships. Rani felt her niece _ Baby, was now the centre of all love and attention; And yet Rani and Baby couldn't live apart for even a moment. The Aunt and the niece shared a very loving relationship. Mrs Massey and Rani began having frequent altercations. Mr Massey, the foster father, finally got her admitted to the Nursing training Institute and arranged for her to stay with a family friend. In the mean time, the Massey family moved to Delhi and settled down there. Back in Kanpur, Rani could not cope with the unwanted attentions she was getting in the family, she was staying with; A moment came when she panicked and ran to Delhi - only to be refused shelter by the Massey family. Not knowing which way to turn now - Rani decided to just run away and be a vagabond; And who should accompany her on such a dangerous trip but the faithful Baby! Later, when their absence was discovered, the Massey family filed a case of abduction against Rani in a Delhi court. Rani and Baby landed at Kanpur railway station and lived on charity; The only way she could get even with her family was to do exactly what they had done: ill-treat herself! When they stopped getting food and cigarettes, they jumped on a train and got off at Gorakhpur. It was sheer good luck that they finally landed in Nari Niketan. This was the sketchy story they were able to get from Rani. At Devika's insistence Rani again joined the nursing training in Gorakhpur - to pick up the threads of her life once again. One evening a young man visited Devika and expressed his desire to marry Rani. Devika already had had enough of such `nuisance', so she dealt with him at her rudest best. But he did not give up; Devika made inquiries and discovered that Raj John was a Christian boy and was working as a Physical training instructor in the local inter college. When Devika discussed the issue with Rani, she seemed favorable to the idea. The only hurdle was Padri John, Raj's father. In the meantime, Mr Massey, her foster father, turned up from Delhi, requesting Rani to write off her share in the family property; Devika reasoned with her: "When you have made up your mind never to go back to the Massey family - why do you want to keep this one string chafing at your heart?" Rani obeyed; In return, Mr Massey promised Devika, that whenever Rani's marriage would take place, the Massey family would fulfill all its obligations. Meanwhile, Padri John complained to the District Magistrate that the Superintendent of Nari Niketan was misleading and forcing his son into marrying an inmate of shady character. By the time, Devika was able to shake off this charge, a summons came from Delhi for Rani; The Massey family had forgotten to withdraw the old case of abduction against her! Besides the escort from Nari Niketan, Raj also accompanied Rani to Delhi - ofcourse unofficially; He hired a lawyer in addition to the government advocate; The Massey family did not press charges and Rani was acquitted. Now there was a new problem; After her acquittal, she was free to go wherever she wanted - except back to Nari Niketan! A Gorakhpur church had already announced the banns24 regarding their coming marriage; Rani could not live with John's family or his relatives in the intervening period. Where was she to go for these three weeks? Raj gave another application in the court specifying the situation; At last, his request was granted and Rani returned to Nari Niketan, Gorakhpur. Devika feverishly went about making all arrangements for the girl's wedding. The Massey family arrived with many gifts; Raj and his friends worked equally hard. Finally, the much awaited day came; All the girls of the home, put on their finery and got ready to bid adieu to Rani; There were many misty eyes; After the exchange of vows and rings, when the officiating priest asked Rani to touch the feet of the elders - She moved towards Mrs Massey! No one could believe it. Mrs Massey caught her by her arms and pointed to Devika - "If all the changes I see in you are correct then, there - she is your real mother. Touch her feet." Even Devika cried, like a mother. After completing her nurse's training, Rani began working; Padri John, her father in law, came round in a few months. This was one case with a happy ending; But there were many, which torment Devika even today; Like Gayatri - Half head shaven and face blackened and the reflexes of a wild frightened animal on the run.. Could she have saved her? That wisp of a village girl dangling by a ceiling fan in a dark room is a disturbing memory, which haunts her on many a quiet evening. There were several young girls, in pre and early teens, in this home; Some were there because their mothers were there; some because they had been rescued by the police and had no place to go; some were awaiting court trials; Devika took the initiative to ensure their education, at certain personal risk; She got an older girl, who was not involved in any police case, to act as escort for the girls. The group was sent to a good private school daily. Those inmates who were class ten pass, were given Homeguard training; This ensured some earnings and jobs once they left the home. Many of these girls continued to write to her years later; They got into different jobs; some married and life for them, moved on; some landed in trouble again; But whenever they turned to Devika, her resourcefulness, never failed them, or her. 15. Homeward flight Devika left Gorakhpur in September 1975 at the end of seven long years; She felt dazed, physically and emotionally drained and wanted only to get back to the mountains. But that was not to be just yet. A one year stint in a similar responsibility at Meerut and then a transfer to Sahaspur (Dehradun District) as Block Development Officer in the winter of 1976. Her mother was in Dehradun and her health was failing; She wanted to be close to her and serve her. Her marriage took place in 1975, when she was posted in Meerut; Her husband had joined ONGC by then; It was important to be in Dehradun now to tend her family and home-fires. It was a mixed home coming for the girl who had left Dehradun and familiar mountains, two decades ago, in her early twenties. First thing which greeted her was a very adverse entry in her service records - the first in her twenty years of service. Towards the end of one's tenure, all government servants seek and are granted a posting nearer their home district, so that they can put their home affairs in order before their retirement. Devika too was given this chance with the transfer order to Sahaspur; But DDO Dehradun wrote to her and requested her to continue in Meerut for a few more months and wait for his word. Devika had no objection to help a colleague, so she stayed on in Meerut. In the meantime a senior government officer and a well-wisher of Devika, phoned DDO Dehradun from Lucknow, to find out whether Devika was permitted to join at Dehradun or not; This was construed by the DDO as a complaint, initiated by Devika, against himself. Going to the other extreme, now he wrote to her - Join immediately or else face departmental action.. Devika who was unaware of all this behind the scene drama, was taken aback. Finally, she landed in Sahaspur and was hardly in the Block Development Office, when she was confronted by the DDO; He began firing her for the poor achievements of Sahaspur block in Family planning targets; This was a sensitive minority community. Devika replied - let me consult the community and my staff, before I say anything.. Next she received a letter from District Magistrate intimating that an adverse entry had been made in her service records in view of her highly unsatisfactory work etc. Devika felt the time had come when she had to exercise her right to self defense; In a written reply, she said: ..I joined duty on 20th Nov 1977; Not twelve hours have passed- and I have been given this letter which levels eight charges against me! Starting with the one which raises doubts about my capacity to work in view of my limp; Two government medical boards sat twice to assess that question - once when I was selected as BDO and next when I was promoted to Regional Assistant Director; Both these boards were satisfied about my capacity to work. Next it talks about my living with my husband and its effect on my work. If a man can live with his wife and work satisfactorily, is there any reason why a woman can not? Finally, you raise doubts about my job-related knowledge and competence! Do you mean to say that the department that has brought me up to this level of responsibility over the last twenty years knows nothing? The boards that promoted me from the level of District Organiser (Women), were ignorant? Will I have to show you all those certificates & commendations I have received in my long career?.. Later, achievements of her block demonstrated the truth of her words. In the meanwhile, she had made a representation to the Secretary and Chief Minister Sh H N Bahuguna. The case was settled in her favor and not only was the adverse entry struck out but she was also promoted to District Adult Education Officer, Dehradun - a responsibility that she held from 1979 to 1987. The DM involved in the above unsavory episode, later realized how he had been manipulated and used against Devika. He felt sorry and apologized. Having returned to her own people, Devika faced some of the worst challenges on the work front; Adult education was a program with considerable potential for good; But young men in Jaunsar Bawar had become so addicted to the enervating culture of grant in aid and subsidy that Devika was constrained to say, to the disbelief of many, in a government meeting, "I am sorry to say but the achievements of Adult education program in Jaunsar is merely ten percent, if that!" Mr Brahmadutt, the minister, consoled her, saying that even ten percent was an achievement among a tribe like Jaunsaris. 16. Three Jobs at a time The post of the principal of Regional Institute of Rural Development, Gurukul Kangri, Haridwar fell vacant in 1987. It was a very popular post and many people wanted to grab it; Fortunately Devika discovered that the son in law of her Shyam Bhaiyya, her colleague in Fatehpur years ago, had become Deputy Minister-Planning! A word to him ensured that she could spend the last four years of her service close to her mother and home. Little did she know that soon two more concurrent responsibilities would be thrust upon her. Project Director of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and District Development Officer (Dehradun) - these were the two additional portfolios she handled efficiently. She was finally among her own mountains and people; She could compare what she saw now with what she had seen earlier and elsewhere. Every government program became an opportunity to instill among people the spark of initiative and community action. As Principal, Regional Inst. of Rural development, Haridwar she introduced many new vocational trainings as part of self employment schemes. At the end of such a hectic, demanding but satisfying tenure, she received the rare distinction of being awarded `Best Officer of Uttar Pradesh' by the state government in 1991. The selection field included everyone from class four employees to IAS officers: In all, about two lakh candidates from all over Uttar Pradesh. It carried a cash award of Rs five thousand and a citation. When she retired in July 1991, everyone extended extraordinary help in processing her papers and pension etc. Reeta Sharma, the District Commissioner, tried to get her an extension on grounds of her physical handicap. But Devika was happy that it fell through. Mother, Burgi Devi, died in 1987 in the peace and security of Devika's care and love. Now her attention was taken up by two major concerns: relatives and others, needing help and counseling and - voluntary initiatives unfolding in Jaunsar; Margaret and Ruben of SMTA became close friends; Her residence in Dehradun became a kind of hostel where many young people from Jaunsar came to stay to pursue their studies; her nephew, who was selected to a medical college, was helped financially to go through the training; A niece was encouraged to seek a career in classical dance. Many other young lives have been helped on their way. Recently she was invited to participate, in an international workshop organised by Himwanti, an NGO, in Kathmandu in the last week of November 1999. It was about the role of women in natural resource management in the Himalayas. Back home in Jaunsar, she is aware, that things are far from satisfactory, where women are concerned. While change at policy level and its implementation is important, she knows that girl education is going to be the key factor in any future strategy. 17. Self Governance Panchayati Raj act came into force in 1994. Under this act one-third seats were reserved for women. But where were the women in the hills who had the inclination, time or skills to seek a place for themselves in self-governance of their villages and towns? There were hardly two women whom the Jaunsari people considered equal to the job of a Block Pramukh. When it came to relevant experience of dealing with government rules and officials, the necessary shrewdness for dealing with bureaucracy, people's representatives and political groups - Devika was the obvious choice; In 1997, she was elected as the Block Pramukh of Kalsi defeating her rival by a good margin. About two years have passed since then and many Gram Pradhans have threatened to bring no confidence motion against her. Devika smiles and says - `Who cares? I will only thank them.' Devika has been on both sides of Rural Development - a twentieth century phenomena whose mechanics and ethics continue to baffle all. While she would fight with bureaucracy for their ham handed, half hearted approach to rural initiatives, she would be equally disgusted with Pradhans who approached her for money spinning construction contracts and subsidy. Recently, when the BDO of her block, in consultation with her, published all the details of the budget allocations through local newspapers, the proverbial "all hell" broke loose. Even the local politicians, some of whom are distant relatives, seem quite unhappy with her. Over these last two years she has amply demonstrated that she is above all political loyalties. This, more than anything else, has disconcerted local politicians of all hues. At the end of the day, the pragmatism she has learned over three decades in government service comes to her rescue. She realizes that Rural self governance is a big experiment and people of this country will take quite some time to gear up to its requirements and potentials; Panchayati Raj is not for people who are in a tearing hurry. Devika is willing to wait and work, with her people in the mountains. Meanwhile, she dreams of a hostel in Vikasnagar for girls and boys, a women's polytechnic, researching and documenting the history of Jaunsar and ... The list is long and her enthusiasm, contagious! 18. Marriage - the mirage This is one aspect of her life, which required a lot of empathy and courage from both of us; it was postponed for the very end; To begin with, one thing Devika could never understand, was women who pursued a married man! The very thought she found strange. In her teens, she did get proposals from some eligible bachelors, both from within her own community and without. Whatever little she lost on the physical side, was more than made up for by a sunny temperament, helpful nature and a genuine interest in other human beings. In college she was one of the most popular girls; Infact Madhuri, her bosom friend, was piqued at times, because Devika was constantly sought out by other girls. All these early proposals did not lead to anything meaningful for two important reasons. One, Devika wanted to go for a medical career - a long pursuit; The other was her mother; Burgi Devi, could never go back to the large family in the home village, in the hills and now, in her sickness and old age, she needed frequent medical care. Devika had to be near her. How could she be sure that marriage would not impinge on her duty to mother? Years later she met DP - as she came to call him, in Farrukhabad during an official dinner; He was working there as Assistant Jailor; A distant relative, common to both sides, introduced them; DP had a pleasant personality but a miserable marriage. Many attempts were made both by his relatives and Devika herself, to get this relationship back on the rails - if nothing else, for the sake of Pushpa, their four-year-old daughter; Nothing worked and the wife eventually walked out. This was the time when Devika had resigned from her post as District Organiser (Women) and gone for training as a Block Development Officer; Since she was not recognized as a departmental candidate, she did not get a stipend; Yet mother and a nephew had to be supported; Also, battling long as a `single woman' in a male dominated hierarchy, she had reached the end of her emotional tether. Protection of the name of a man, based on however tenuous a relationship, seemed a big refuge. Yet, she told DP clearly that until he got a divorce, marriage was out of the question - equally unthinkable would be anything but friendship, as it had been so far. DP helped her much at this time, taking care of her mother and other relatives etc. Devika too in subsequent years helped and served DP's relatives a lot - earning their life long respect and love; Infact, all their colleagues, respected this relationship and referred to him as Devika's fiance. In the early seventies, DP resigned from his Government job, moved to Dehradun and joined ONGC. At last in 1973, DP was able to get his divorce; The intervening years had given Devika sometime to explore her feelings about marriage, her sense of gratitude to DP and her commitment to her mother and others of her family; She was thirty six and had seen enough of the world; But a commitment had been made. She felt inexorably drawn to it. After the mandatory one year's wait, their marriage took place in Haridwar in 1975; Relatives from both sides congregated, as did all her colleagues and foster brothers including Shyam Bhaiyya, to bless the couple. Soon after the marriage DP expressed his reluctance to keep Devika's mother as a member of their household; He also wondered why Devika must send money for her nephew's education. This, despite the fact that Devika was contributing much more to the home economy and there was no real scarcity. Suddenly, a change was visible in DP. The man, whom she thought, knew her and her life as an open book, started throwing innuendoes about her working contacts. The mother, he himself had taken care of earlier, became unwelcome now, in their home; At the slightest excuse, Devika would be insulted, at times in the presence of her junior colleagues; The threat of physical violence always lurked in the background. What could be the reason? Some kind of inferiority complex? Clash of cultures of Plains and Hills? Devika was not sure. But one day, when it became intolerable, she said, "DP, why don't you just lock me up and beat the hell out of me? You might feel better!" As soon as she became pregnant, she was told -" It better be a boy. I want a boy."Devika said, " What if it is a girl?""I don't know. I just told you- I want a boy." Devika knew now that her unborn child was in serious trouble. Another relative of hers had a miscarriage in her late thirties, just a few days previously; She took the extreme step - without bothering about the sex of the child she went for an abortion. By 78 - 79, they had separated; Pushpa, DP's daughter by the first marriage continued to visit her with her husband; Devika had done more for them than Pushpa's real mother had done; This couple and other relatives of DP, tried their best to effect a rapprochement, but too much water had flowed under this particular bridge. The mirage had taken its toll. All the tenderness, with which this relationship was nurtured against many odds, over many years, had vanished like dreams on a restless night. It often felt strange to receive news of each other's illness through a friend and to wonder about one's own reactions, feelings... In 1989, DP asked for divorce; Devika fought down a cold feeling of queasiness and replied, " You took the initiative in our coming together; You take the lead in the parting of ways as well; Rest assured, I won't contest it." That was 1989. Ten years ago! Now Devika has made up her mind to end this stalemate and apply for divorce. It has taken her many years and much soul searching. Finally she has found the courage to stand up against society's norms, one more time. After her retirement, she was able to make a house for herself and all her charges; Many of her nephews, nieces and girls adopted from Nari Niketan in Gorakhpur stayed here with her and pursued their studies; They were set up in life and even married off by this `aunt' of theirs. Whenever they are stuck in their work life or on the family front, Devika's telephone rings; A few calls from their aunt, and things are settled amicably most often; If nothing else, they have a big bosom to put their heads and cry on. Devika has not looked back, nor has she become bitter. When I ask her, " If you were to get a chance to live your life all over again, with major details still the same, would you like to marry this time?" Her reply is prompt, " Why not? Ofcourse I will seek friendship and marriage." "Then what happens to career? Your dream of becoming a doctor?" "When women are pursuing a field job, children do get ignored and family life is under strain; But there is no essential contradiction between women raising a family and pursuing a career. The trick is the timing. Early years when children are growing up, that is, until the schooling starts, woman must stick to the home, but after that she can seek her career goals; I know of many women who have done it." To draw her out still further, I persist, " Why wife, why doesn't husband take care of the children in those early years?" "Well, I am a great believer in the innate soundness of the Indian way of life. Family is a great strategy of human civilization to survive and EVOLVE; Yet for women to seek her own fulfillment in innumerable ways is only natural and legitimate; The need is to strike a balance; What mother can give to a child can never be given by the father, however loving. Yet, I oppose any idea that wants to chain women to home and hearth for her whole life. She must have her opportunities to contribute to wider society - to make it a better place for everyone." 20. Epilogue Silky, her Pomeranian paws me for attention while Nishu, her niece, serves us tea for the umpteenth time; Many hours over many days have I spent with Devika didi25; Many blunt questions of mine has she answered with the probity of a child, going over and over again, various details of events long past, her fears, her motives, ambitions, feelings of inadequacy and above all the unmitigated joy of having done `it'. I feel overwhelmed by the confidence she has reposed in me; Yet I still suffer from a nagging doubt: How much of the essential her have I really grasped? Been able to put on paper? `Didi, just one last question, then I can get lost.' `Yes?' `Government gave you many awards and recognition; People you served in remote plains still write to you, phone you; But did your own community ever felicitate you? write about you? A shadow flits across her face and is gone; Did I imagine it? `Naah. Scribes here didn't find me hot news. You think they are crazy like you?' She laughs out loud like a child. Her laughter echoes in my thoughts and drowns out any more questions which might have surfaced - and I take leave of her.... As I drive the forty kilometers home through the green and humid Doon valley, the setting sun catches the top of the Himalayan ranges on my right; Scattered human settlements folded at their feet, slumber in their shadows, as they have done for centuries; One little girl seems to have emerged from there. May be many more will take courage and explore the great world beyond, the world of initiative & enterprise, the world of opportunities... Her words beat a refrain in my mind- `People refusing each other a bare minimum chance of proving their worth - Why, we all owe that much to each other on this earth! We must do that and then - LET ONLY TRUTH PREVAIL!' The Women's Movement in India : A Brief History (Ms Sreela Das Gupta) "The women's movement has no beginning or origin. It has always existed as an emotion, an anger deep within us, and has flowed like music in and out of our lives, our consciousness and actions. We know from episodes in mythology, fables, folk stories, songs and humor that women, in different ways, have resisted their subordination whenever and however it has been possible. ... Gradually through time, this resistance has moved from its folk roots, from unconscious, solitary acts, to collective protest and schools of ideology. Today we see this organized form as a `movement' with `dates', `events' and `phases'. Yet it recalls familiar notes and rhythms in its new words, its issues and methods, as if they were simply variations in a huge cycle of continuity..." (Gandhi and Shah: Issues at Stake, Kali for Women, 1992) To review the women's movement in India systematically, however, it can be traced back to the 19th century, when women's issues became a central issue in the social reform movement, initiated by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Vidyasagar and others. These issues were related to Sati, widow remarriage, women's education - and more than what it achieved (which it did) - it opened up new windows for women, questioned the very fabric of social value systems and paved the way for alternative and liberal thinking. The early years of the 20th century marked an important landmark in the history of the Indian women's movement - women's participation in the national movement. The ideology for the movement was shaped by the times and was based on values of freedom, self-determination, equality, democracy and justice. Women were no longer subordinate; they were partners. This aspect of the women's movement is unique compared to other women's movements in the Western world where right to suffrage was usually the starting point for self determination and equality. With independence, the Constitution of India upheld the spirit of the national movement, that of freedom, justice, dignity and equality. In the post independence period, however, a gradual isolation from the nation building process led to the fragmentation of the women's movement. Women were no longer partners, and no longer free - they slipped back into their traditional roles in a patriarchal system. In contemporary India, the resurgence of the women's movement coincided with the post-emergency (1970s) upsurge in favor of civil rights and was strengthened by the mushrooming of women's organizations in the early 1980s. The issue closest to their hearts was to reclaim the economic, social, and political decision making spaces denied to them for so long. The Indian women's movement addresses a very broad area of concerns with passion and compassion. These encompass basic issues related to survival, livelihood and environment; to social values and their strange justifications of violence; to governance and corruption; to fundamentalism and war. The strength of the women's movement has been the fact that women have protested and achieved in different regions across the country - and at the same time have come together in awesome strength at the national level. This is because the basic issues for all women are the same - be they in the Himalayas, in the deserts of Rajasthan, forests of Madhya Pradesh, or slums of Hyderabad. Some of the noteworthy women's movement in recent times have been the Chipko movement and the Anti-arrack movement. The Chipko movement (mid 1970s) was essentially an environmental movement to prevent degradation of forest cover in the Himalayas. The forests were the main source of livelihood for the women who spearheaded the movement. The anti-arrack (alcohol) movement while prominently identified with Andhra Pradesh, has also been reflected on smaller scales across the country. Mahila Mangal Dals in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana (among others) have waged a continuing battle against alcoholism. The mobilization and long fight of women around the issue of the rape of Bhanwri Devi, a social motivator of the Women's Development Program in Rajasthan was also one of its kind resulting in a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court against sexual harassment at the workplace. The contribution of the Indian government in facilitating the women's movement has been in forming of the MMDs; and the more recent 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. In fact these Amendments in the mid 1990s were a pivotal step in providing impetus to the women's movement. With