A visit to Tumariya Village

This is a story about my very spontaneous but enriching visit to Tumariya Village in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand.

This story is about somewhere where a tiny village of people (60-70 houses) are soon to get displaced from the forest fringe to the city. With them, we’d be a few handmade huts less, a self-sustaining village in the country less, but a big-name resort more.

 Talk about the people, they are looking forward to the change. After all, everyone and everything deserves a glam-up! They are happy city services would be easily accessible to them, and that they would be able to better pursue jobs that would fetch them better income.

Concrete and tarmac are universal and unite all. Right?

Tumariya Village is a sprawling village of self-sufficient people who live in huts made by themselves. People are involved in livestock activities (and dairy) and agricultural activities primarily.

People here are do-it-yourself in the truest sense. Appreciate the intricate details of the house – the straw roof work, the beautiful and functional interiors, and the hand-woven cot!! Their reliance on municipal electricity is also minimal since solar panels can be easily found in the village.  

Imperfection is beautiful. Human touch in anything makes it a little less perfect, but maybe that is how nature works. Things balance perfectly and this is a reminder to reconsider what perfect means to you.

Trees, mudhouses, greenlands, a recently constructed dam, domesticated and wild animals, and the forest!  

A heard of cows and buffalos after their afternoon meal. 

The artisanship the people know is unique and something they already commercially engage with. They are excited to be closer to the market.

People would evacuate the village soon, leaving behind the kutchha houses for puckka ones, a resort to replace what currently exists here. Would the wildlife accept the change as easily? Or would it not matter at all what/who comes next?