THE flight to Patna reminds one of the alcohol ban in the state before touchdown. Outside the airport, large hoardings display banners of happy women. In 2016, the Nitish Kumar government fulfilled his promise to the women electorate-it promulgated the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, which imposed a total ban on the sale and purchase of alcohol in the state. But hardly 100 km away from the state capital, in Dalsinghsarai, Pinu Kumar Choudhary (29), is disillusioned.
A graduate in history from the Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Pintu was preparing for government exams, but did not have any success. A Pasi by caste, Pintu is now looking for employment as he cannot pursue his traditional family business of toddy tapping after the government's ban on alcohol.
Navigating Pintu's Life
Pintu's family has been in the business of toddy tapping for generations: his elder brothers, his father, uncles and cousins knew no other means of earning except toddy tapping. In 2016, when the ban was implemented, selling toddy became illegal.
When Pintu was 22, he had learned the life skill of his forefathers-climbing up the khajoor (date palm) and taar (palmyra) trees to collect unfermented neera in terracotta pots locally known as lavani. Pintu recalls that he decided to join his father and brothers in the family business as a fresh undergraduate student. People in his family were not in favour of Pintu migrating to big cities for work after the demise of his cousin son in Mumbai. Pintu recalls that his nephew, Arun Mahto's son, had gone for work along with many others from the village, but one day the news of his demise reached them. No one knows how he died, but everyone remembers that his body came back in a coffin. After that, no one from the family ventured outside for work.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 11, 2023 من Outlook.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة July 11, 2023 من Outlook.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Dera, Drugs And Despair
Punjab poll pitch is seeing interesting twists and turns this election season
Allure Of Hatefulness Beyond Hate Speech
Polarisation between the Hindus and the Muslims is an unappetising reality, an ugliness that will not go away even after the votes get counted
Shine Off Sonar Bangla
Since the ant displacement movements against the Left Front government in 2006-08, Bengal has seen increased corruption, communalisation of politics and the rise of welfarism
Carnatic Cauldron
For the BJP-led NDA, 400 paar will remain a dream if the South Indian states choose to look the other way
The Young & the Restless
A new crop of young Dalit leaders shine in Uttar Pradesh's political Armament
In The Name Of Ram
For the people of Hazaribagh, famous for its Ram Navamii, life is a tussle between peace, processions and politics
Shell Company?
The power play between the BJP and the BJD in Odisha appears to be an electoral gimmick. Post elections, they may have each other's back
Peak Season in the Pir Panjal
Politicians excel at stirring up emotions at election time, and Kashmiris are torn between responding with cries or slogans
Seeds of Betrayal
Forget about doubling their income, Haryana's farmers are living a life in penury
Capital Contest
Could an alliance of former foes prevent a hat-trick for the BJP in Delhi?