5.Chapter 2.S.St.Shifting Habitation

Chapter 2

Shifting Habitation

2 Shifting Habitation Migration or shifting means change of residence from rural to urban areas, from urban to rural areas or from one country to another.  Mankind and migration have been linked to each other since the ancient times.  Life would not have been possible without migration.  The ancient man migrated from one place to another in search of food and shelter.  He began living a settled life when he became a producer.  He grew crops on a piece of land till the soil was fertile.  People who follow shifting agriculture He abandoned it when it lost its fertility.  Then he grew crops on a new piece of land.  This was known as shifting agriculture.  This mc hod helped the soil to regain its fertility to produce better cops.  However, this type of migration was carried out within a limited area.  People were scared to travel to far away places due to many myths and superstitions.  During the British period, this orthodox thinking underwent a great change owing to spread of modern education.  The British encouraged Indians to migrate 7

overseas to set up or work in British colonies.  Many Indians signed agreements to go abroad for a fixed time.  After that they had the choice either to come back or stay on in the foreign lands.  Moreover, educated Indians did not believe in the superstitions.  They enjoyed traveling abroad.  In present times, migration is quite common all over the world.  There are many reasons behind this like - • People migrate for financial stability and better job prospects.  • Some people send their children abroad for a better standard of living.  • Many people migrate for better educational opportunities like schools, colleges or professional institutes.  • Some people migrate to get political rights due to loss of faith in their own country.  People also migrate after marriage to different parts of their country or abroad ,.  Migration is like a chain.  The first person who migrates sends "Happily Settled" information to his / her loved ones in the native country.  Then others also migrate to the same country.  In such cases, the migration is voluntary.  Sometimes the migration is forced.  It may be due to a natural disaster, i.e.  flood, famine, landslide, tsunami, earthquake, etc.  Do you know?  The Kosi River is known as' Bihar's Sorrow as the frequent floods cause massive destruction.  The floods destroy hundreds of human and animal lives, homes and standing crops.  Flood affected areas of Kosi 8

Many people have to migrate due to man - made disasters like fire, terrorist activities, clearing of area for construction of a dam, housing complexes or widening of roads.  Sometimes people are forcibly shifted out of their homes by some powerful group.  Demolition of some illegal colonies or the loss of employment opportunities also account for migration.  Unfortunately, whatever the reason may be, the poor are the worst affected.  Look at the picture.  Krishn and his friends are going to Punjab in search of employment.  This is seasonal migration as large number of labourers are required at the time of sowing and harvesting crops.  They work on farms where wheat, rice or sunflowers are grown.  Krishna with his friends going to sometimes the workers / peasants are Punjab attracted by better wages and better living conditions.  But most migrant workers have to face many hardships.  They have to live without basic facilities, such as shelter, sanitation or safe drinking water.  The condition is worse when they migrate with their families.  The women and children face many problems.  They have to live a life of loneliness, far away from their relatives.  The children cannot get even the basic education and thus, remain illiterate.  Do you know?  The massive migration of rural work force to urban areas has resulted in women taking over the cultivation of small landholdings to run their houses.  Many farmers had to move to urban areas and give up their traditional occupation of agriculture after they lost their land to zamindars and money lenders.  People following other occupations, which were dependent on agriculture, also had to shift from rural to urban areas.  9

Ram, a blacksmith of Rampur, in Uttar Pradesh, had to migrate against his wish to earn money to feed his hungry children.  Most of the farmers in his village were hit by the drought.  All agricultural activities had come to a standstill.  There was no work for Ram.  Most able - bodied persons from his village had shifted to cities to work as casual labor - carrying loads, working at dhabas or construction sites.  Some people were even forced to beg.  Ram - a migrant Strangely, the suffering of migration is not limited to villagers or illiterates.  Many rich and highly educated couples settled in urban areas or foreign countries also face many problems.  They live away from their families.  Though they earn a lot of money, they lack the companionship provided by the family.  In urban areas, they have to spend long hours in traveling over long distances.  They are unable to devote much time to the children, who are mostly looked after by the servants.  These children miss out on sharing, caring and values ​​that are a part of traditional joint family system.  However, migration also brings happiness to many people.  Migration between India and Nepal has existed since olden times.  Many Indians moved to Nepal from Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh hundreds of years ago.  They carried Indian culture, religious beliefs, customs and traditions with them.  It led to the building of a unique mixture of the two cultures.  Indian Constitution recognizes Nepali as one of the 22 official languages ​​of India.  10