SHODH YATRA DIARIES (CHURAH VALLEY, HIMACHAL PRADESH)

I was most excited when I was selected for the journey of exploring the unexplored. What is Shodh Yatra? What was I looking forward to? What all did I see in the Churah Valley region? Did I get the answers I was looking for?  There are many questions I want to answer. 

Before that, Lets understand what Shodh Yatra is all about. 

Shodh Yatra is to undertake a journey for the search of knowledge, creativity and innovations at the grassroots. Shodh Yatra is an attempt, on the part of SRISTI, to reach out to the most remote parts of the country with a firm belief that the hardship and challenges of natural surroundings are prime motivators of creativity and innovations. Shodh Yatra aims at unearthing such traditional knowledge and grassroots innovations.

A group of IIMA students led by Prof. Anil Gupta started this journey towards one of the remotest parts of Himachal Pradesh i.e. Churah Valley in Chamba district. The place lies safe protected by the mountains and is one of the most unexplored regions of the country. This is also why it has conserved not only the environment but also managed to kept its cultural identity intact. 

To reach this place, one has to reach Pathankot and take a car or bus from there. The journey from Pathankot to the Churah Valley region is around 150 kms and takes 4-5 hours. While I was travelling, I got immersed in the beautiful creations of nature. The feel of the cool breeze together with the sight of magnificent mountains, refreshing flowers, clear sky, flowing water and the greenery made me forget everything else. For the first time in my life, I was living only in the Present. And I realised, this is the best way of living. 

SCHOOL KIDS

I want to share my experience of interacting with the children from various schools in that region. The schools in the region were very lively. My first school visit was a primary school in Ilwas. A girl named "Anisha Begum" was conducting the physical training session for the kids. She was also a student. I wish I can be that disciplined and confident!! 

There was another school, a bigger one, in Devikothi. Regardless of how low one is feeling, the kids will fill you with happiness, energy and excitement as soon as they enter through the gates of the school. The walls of these schools had some messages that deeply influenced me. 

We conducted an ideation session with the school kids. The kids had to submit ideas on grassroots innovation. The level of maturity shown by them was unimaginable. Their conduct, behaviour, compassion,  the ideas themselves were amazing. I would like to share few ideas below: 

- Certain areas there were not having water of drinkable quality at all. But, these children cared. When several feet snow falls and damages the roofs, it's no good. A little child, Bhupendra, of class 6, gave an idea of having a drone like structure with 3 buttons, one to suck the snow, another to melt it and third to drain that. The machine could move from one roof to another removing snow. The idea was so noble and brilliant at the same time!! 

- One kid wanted "flying houses". We were confused initially. When asked more, he explained that he wanted to free up space on the ground so that more schools could be built for other children.

- Another girl named Anu, of class 11, in Bunderi Village mentioned that she wanted a grass-cutting machine to be designed which not only cuts the grass but also bales it; making it easier to transport and save time. 

- Many kids suggested a mechanism which won't allow vehicles to start if the driver is drunk or is not wearing a helmet. 

- Another girl suggested a mechanism in vehicles that will relay information about a jam to the vehicles behind, and thus, the drivers will avoid going forward and blocking the rescue and remedial operations when such a situation arises. 

The leaders of today can learn from these children the art of empathy, engagement with unsolved problems and effort to suggest simple solutions rather than learning to live with problems unsolved. 

HERBAL HEALER

Besides learning a lot from these school kids, I got the opportunity to also learn a lot from the experience of one herbal healer, who mentioned innovative ways to mix herbs to treat various diseases.

Ayurveda is based on 3 points on pulses which determine everything - from disease symptoms to human behaviour. He gave solution of myopia using a bird like owl's body part/feather with one herb and applying on eye. Some plants like Kord are near extinct because people are taking out seeds before season and hence it gets damaged. Cash Compulsive economy - villagers also sometimes destroy environment as they are short of cash, they do practices which helps in short term but damages environment in long term.

Inspite of all the knowledge, I was shocked to hear him say that all this dies with him. He was sad because he was not able to help save lives using his skills just because he was not certified. Honeybee and Sristi are trying to appeal to govt to create laws to certify experts in unorganised sector to practice.

MANGLI VILLAGE

This was the last village in the region. One will miss out a lot if this place is not visited. This village is full of surprises. The folk music and the dance performances by the locals came as a surprise, and I enjoyed every bit of it. They had a unique way of performing the cultural dance in group where one member would come in centre and others will form a circle and try to emulate the central person. The dance form was naturally enjoyable and the atmosphere was full of joy. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

The journey tested my physical limits, my ability to enjoy the present without thinking about past or future and my interests in knowing a remote rural community were fulfilled. It was one of the best trips that I have had!!