Caste on the Move

At Dhanbad Railway Station in Jharkhand, John Marandi, a 24-year-old migrant labourer waits in a queue of around 200 passengers—most of them squatting, watching the police personnel guard the two general bogies of the Dhanbad–Alappuzha Express. Blowing loud whistles, shouting, and wielding their lathis, the policemen consistently ensure that there isn’t any stampeding or overcrowding in the coaches. John and his five friends eagerly wait to sprint towards the general bogies and secure berths for themselves and their friends, who will comprise their new family during the impending months in their destination town, Chennai. All of them hail from Latani, a minuscule village in Dhanbad with a population of 148 (as per the 2011 Census of India report), of whom 72 are men, with most of them migrating seasonally, throughout the year. 

On being questioned about the reason for leaving his village and going to Chennai, John explains, “Majdoori achha milta hain wahan. Yahan, sheher (Dhanbad) mein dihaadee 280 Rupya milta hai, magar wahan Chennai mein din bhar ka 340-350 Rupya mil jaata hai.” (Labour wages are better there. Here, in Dhanbad, daily wages are 280 Rupees, but in Chennai, they are 340-350 Rupees.) He further adds, “Gaon mein to 200 bhi nhi milta hai din bhar kaam karne ka.” (In the village, we are paid not even 200 Rupees for a day’s work.) 

When asked what work they would take up in Chennai, John pauses briefly before answering, “Raj Mistri.” His friends repeat after him, stuttering, “Raj Mistri.” John adds, “Abhi to Raj Mistri ka kaam sikhe hain, magar ab wahan jo bhi kaam mil jaye, kar lenge. Ek Seth Sahab hain, unke paas hi jaayenge, achhe aadmi hain, wo kuch kaam denge.” (Recently, we learned the work of Raj Mistri (a person who has mastered construction skills.) Whatever work we will get, we are willing to do it. I know a Seth Sahab (someone wealthy). He is a good man. He will give me some work.) 

John belongs to the Oraon/Uraon community, which falls under the Scheduled Tribes (STs). These communities traditionally depended on forests and farmlands for their ritual practices and livelihoods. However, some of them have become settled agriculturists now while others like Marandi are compelled to migrate. Studies suggest that poverty, debt, lack of employment opportunities constitute some of the primary reasons for the out-migration of tribals from Jharkhand. 

One of the window seats of the same train is occupied by Muniya. It is her first trip to Chennai, which she calls ‘videsh’ (foreign land). She is with her husband, Rahul Hansda, and their 3-year-old son. It is Hansda’s second trip to Chennai; he stayed there for four months last year. Though he is happy about his family accompanying him, he isn’t very confident about how Muniya will adapt to city life. He anxiously says, “Wahan hum khud hi itna pareshaan hote hain, yeh log to aur honge.” (Even for me, it is challenging there, so it will be even more difficult for them.) Muniya quickly interrupts him, saying, “Gaon mein akele thodi na achha lagta hai. Wahan videsh hi dekh lenge.” (It doesn’t feel good to be alone in the village either. At least, I will see foreign land.) Although unsure about the work she’ll find, she hopes to work alongside her husband at construction sites. She has previously worked in brick kilns near her village, Lehra Basti, and is open to working in affluent households (Babu log ke ghar).