The quality of life of Birhor tribesmen can be improved without disturbing the traditional culture.

An unusual calm prevailed over the picturesque stretch of trees and bushes in the forest and nature seemed unaware of the struggle that was to ensue soon.

A shrub swayed with a jerk as a black silhouette emerged from the thicket. Ready with his sharp weapon, a semi-naked tribal negotiated his way through the bushes. He had been waiting for a wild rabbit for over an hour now and he was sure he had seen one disappear into the dense growth of shrubs.

The rustle of dry leaves was followed by a suppressed screech a few yards off. The wild rabbit, probably calculating its next move ? whether to come out of the shrubbery or stay put till the tribal meandered elsewhere ? made the vital mistake of breaking the silence.

The tribal?s practiced ears picked up the rabbit?s shriek, that cut through the deadly silence of the forest and the hunt began.

Ultimately, the tribal succeeded in cornering the rabbit into a small net. The animals was at the mercy of the tribal , a Birhor, who would take his three-kg catch into his kumba ? typical conical-shaped huts made of leaves. This would be a day of feasting for him and his family. The Birhor rued his luck for not catching more animals, which he could then sell for anything between Rs 25 and Rs 100.

For centuries, the shy Birhors have been an integral part of the forests. But with rampant felling of trees and poaching of animals they have been left with little option but to make ropes, brooms and mats. The money they get after selling these items barely make both ends meet.

Known for their shy nature, the Birhors, numbering about 500, usually avoid any contact with ?outsiders? and prefer the safer confines of the woods of Hazaribagh, Gumla and Ranchi.

Earlier, government officials and NGO members used to visit the Birhor settlements with essential commodities like foodgrain and clothes. But with the rebel threat looming large, government officials and even the NGOs shy away from visiting the remote Birhor villages. Even researchers are giving the Birhor settlements a skip.

Ajit Sahay, anthropology professor at Ranchi University, who has visited Banaso, Vishunpur, Chalkari, Tenughat, Siddhebara, Bagodar, Vishnugarh, Bundu and Netarhat villages between 1971 and 1995 to spend time with the Birhors, said: ?Earlier, we used to visit the Birhors without fear. But today it is unthinkable for students and teachers to visit these places because of the Naxalites. The government claims that it reaches medicines and other essential items to the Birhors. But I listen to such claims with a pinch of salt. Fear of the rebels has forced several NGO activists to come back from these remote villages. The dwindling number of Birhors is a matter of great concern. But there is little that can be done because of the rebel threat.?

Sources with the welfare department said the government and other agencies tried to build community halls in these areas to bring the Birhors into the mainstream.

The Tribal Research Institute had apparently sent officials to the remote areas with medicines and food to improve the living standard of the Birhors. The tribals, however, could not be persuaded to join the mainstream.

But, Sahay, who has done written a book on this primitive tribe titled, ?The Birhors and nomadic tribes of Chhotanagpur: A case study?, says: ?One can take facilities to improve their life only when one lives with them. When one can?t even visit the tribals freely, how can they make such claims. However, some NGOs, including the Ramakrishan Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangh, have been doing a commendable jobs among the Birhors.?

Sahay says Birhors should be ?helped without disturbing their natural lifestyle?. ?Their living standard should be improved. But in order to do that the social activists should live among these tribals. But the government should take immediate steps to tackle the problem of Naxalism to ensure free movement in these areas,? he added.

Referring to the ?futile? government attempt to make the Birhors live in community halls, Sahay said: ?Way back in the 80s, the government had built a community hall and forced some Birhors to live in it. When an official visited the spot after a month, they discovered that each family had built a kumba inside the hall. This was an eye-opener. If education, or anything modern, has to be taken to them, it should not disturb their traditional ways.?

Shiv Charan Singh