Some pages from the history* are written and then forgotten while they lie so close to us. Such is a page related to the village Pando Nagar, just 12 kilimeters from district headquarter Ambikapur. The most interesting thing is if you ask someone in Ambikapur that where is the Rastrapati Bhawan (Presidential Residence), they won't laugh at you as New Delhi (the national capital where Indian President's residence located) is 1022 kilometers away from here, instead they would guide you with immense pleasure to take the same road you are standing on for just 12 kilometers ride.
So move on 11 kilometers from Ambikapur on the northbound national highway number 78, a billboard proudly announcing a hearty welcome to then President Dr.Rajendra Prasad and thanking him for his visit (of 22nd November 1952). Take left turn from here on a dusty road of 1 kilometer more to reach Pando Nagar.
Dependent largely on forest based economy for their livelihood, traditionally Pando tribe lives in forested and hilly areas. This village is in the foot hills of' 'Pilkha' and it's forest surrounding.
In an initiative by the government of India to include them in to main stream of modern life, to rehabilitate Pando in the plain rehabilitated colonies, one of them is this Pando Nagar, for which then President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad came and stayed one night in this village. That was a fateful day of 22nd November 1952.
Office of the village level elected body to govern the need and demands of the Pando Nagar.
Rastrapati Bhawan (President's residence) of Pando Nagar and cottage therein where Mr. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad stayed for one night on 22nd November in 1952.
105 years old 'Gendi Bai', the one and only in Pando Nagar village, who is a living witness to the grace and dignity of that important visitor of 22nd November 1952.
Pando tribe claims to be the descendants of Pandavas of Mahabharata. They quote mythical story in their support of the claim (Aagar Sai, Raja Dashrath Pando and Basant Ram in following picture/2nd December 2014).
As villagers reminisces that Mr. President was planned to go Pahad Gaon to see an old temple on that day in 1952 and he could not make it because of an overflowing Nallah.
Again a dusty road of 1 kilometer stretch from Pando Nagar takes us to Pahad Gaon. A big pond with red lotus, a Krishna temple and no one knowing about it's antiquity in the village just adjacent to the Pilkha hill, that all together adds a picturesque scenery.
The Krishna temple of Pahad Gaon near the foothills of Pilkha mountain range.
The lady priestess Maheshwari Pandey, who is in this temple since her teens (11 year old she was since she took charge of ).
She was so keen to read the palm, announcing proudly that I have 'Trishul' (a trident spear which is the main emblem of the Hindu god Shiva.) in my right hand. I must do some offerings on some suitable auspicious day in time to come, or else..? She was silent on that query!!
*The primitive Pando tribe
Major population of Surguja (district headquarter Ambikapur) comprises tribal population. Among the primitive tribes are Pando and Korwa, who still live in forest. The Pando tribe believes themselves as the member of "Pandav" clan of epic Mahabharata. The Korwa tribe believes themselves to be member of "Kauravs" of Mahabharata. (credit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surguja_district)
Pando are primitive tribe who largely (95.5%) live in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. This tribe claims to be the descendants of Pandavas of Mahabharata. They quote mythical story in their support of the claim. Traditional Pando live in forested and hilly areas, largely dependent on forest economy for their livelihood.
After the ban on the shifting cultivation in 1952, some efforts were made by the government to rehabilitate Pando in the plain rehabilitated colonies. There are such two rehabilitated Pando colonies in the Surajpur Tehsil of Surguja district, viz Pando Nagar and Barni-Jharia. Here about 25 Pandofamilies in each colony were brought from neighbouring traditional Pando villages. At the time of their settlement each family was provided with some acres of cultivable lands, a pair of oxen, plough, seeds and the like. (credit:A case study of Pando tribe-R.K.Sinha)
Some more related links:
http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/4932848/
http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2014/12/rastrapati-bhawan-presidential.html
http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2014/12/people-of-chhattisgarh.html
So move on 11 kilometers from Ambikapur on the northbound national highway number 78, a billboard proudly announcing a hearty welcome to then President Dr.Rajendra Prasad and thanking him for his visit (of 22nd November 1952). Take left turn from here on a dusty road of 1 kilometer more to reach Pando Nagar.
Dependent largely on forest based economy for their livelihood, traditionally Pando tribe lives in forested and hilly areas. This village is in the foot hills of' 'Pilkha' and it's forest surrounding.
In an initiative by the government of India to include them in to main stream of modern life, to rehabilitate Pando in the plain rehabilitated colonies, one of them is this Pando Nagar, for which then President of India Dr. Rajendra Prasad came and stayed one night in this village. That was a fateful day of 22nd November 1952.
Office of the village level elected body to govern the need and demands of the Pando Nagar.
Rastrapati Bhawan (President's residence) of Pando Nagar and cottage therein where Mr. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad stayed for one night on 22nd November in 1952.
105 years old 'Gendi Bai', the one and only in Pando Nagar village, who is a living witness to the grace and dignity of that important visitor of 22nd November 1952.
Pando tribe claims to be the descendants of Pandavas of Mahabharata. They quote mythical story in their support of the claim (Aagar Sai, Raja Dashrath Pando and Basant Ram in following picture/2nd December 2014).
As villagers reminisces that Mr. President was planned to go Pahad Gaon to see an old temple on that day in 1952 and he could not make it because of an overflowing Nallah.
Again a dusty road of 1 kilometer stretch from Pando Nagar takes us to Pahad Gaon. A big pond with red lotus, a Krishna temple and no one knowing about it's antiquity in the village just adjacent to the Pilkha hill, that all together adds a picturesque scenery.
The Krishna temple of Pahad Gaon near the foothills of Pilkha mountain range.
The lady priestess Maheshwari Pandey, who is in this temple since her teens (11 year old she was since she took charge of ).
She was so keen to read the palm, announcing proudly that I have 'Trishul' (a trident spear which is the main emblem of the Hindu god Shiva.) in my right hand. I must do some offerings on some suitable auspicious day in time to come, or else..? She was silent on that query!!
*The primitive Pando tribe
Major population of Surguja (district headquarter Ambikapur) comprises tribal population. Among the primitive tribes are Pando and Korwa, who still live in forest. The Pando tribe believes themselves as the member of "Pandav" clan of epic Mahabharata. The Korwa tribe believes themselves to be member of "Kauravs" of Mahabharata. (credit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surguja_district)
Pando are primitive tribe who largely (95.5%) live in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh. This tribe claims to be the descendants of Pandavas of Mahabharata. They quote mythical story in their support of the claim. Traditional Pando live in forested and hilly areas, largely dependent on forest economy for their livelihood.
After the ban on the shifting cultivation in 1952, some efforts were made by the government to rehabilitate Pando in the plain rehabilitated colonies. There are such two rehabilitated Pando colonies in the Surajpur Tehsil of Surguja district, viz Pando Nagar and Barni-Jharia. Here about 25 Pandofamilies in each colony were brought from neighbouring traditional Pando villages. At the time of their settlement each family was provided with some acres of cultivable lands, a pair of oxen, plough, seeds and the like. (credit:A case study of Pando tribe-R.K.Sinha)
Some more related links:
http://yourshot.nationalgeographic.com/photos/4932848/
http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2014/12/rastrapati-bhawan-presidential.html
http://throughpicture.blogspot.in/2014/12/people-of-chhattisgarh.html
