Sundarban package trips

The story of Bonbibi Jatrapala comprises two inter-related episodes as depicted in the ‘Bonbibi Jahuranama’.

First Episode-

Long ago, Berham Fakir banished his pregnant wife, Gulal Bibi, to a forest. On the western bank of the Ganga (River Ganges), where she gave birth to twins- Bonbibi, the elder daughter, and Shah Jangali, a son. After a good many years, repentant Berham Fakir went to the forest to look for Gulalbibi. Gulalbibi agreed to return home with Shah Jangali, but at that time Bonbibi declared that, as ordained by Allah (the Islamic Almighty), she and her brother would go to the country of eighteen tides (Atharo Bhatir Desh), ie, the Sundarban Jungle, to be the Lord (Jaygirdar) of that area (Badaban or mangrove forest area). As per his sister’s advice, Shah Jangali followed her and headed towards Badaban (Mangrove forest of Sundarban).

On the way, they reached the worship site of Bhangar Shah, who cordially welcomed them and informed them that they had already reached the Badaban, which was full of wood, honey and wax, an enormous wealth of the Jungle. Bhangar Shah also advised them to make a pandemonium in the area.

Shah Jangali gave ‘Ajan’ ( loud call for joining prayer to Almighty Allah). Hearing the call, ‘Dakshin Roy’ (The Tiger and the owner/ lord of this area) was alerted as he realised it was not the Ajan of his friend Barkhan Gaji. Being informed, Dakshin Roy readied himself for a fight. The mother of Dakshin Roy, Narayani, also stepped into the spot. When she learnt that the opponent was a woman, she decided to face her.

Accordingly, the next morning, the fight began. Then Bonbibi remembered Allah, the Almighty. Re-invigorated Bonbibi defeated Narayani hands down. Narayani had no other option but to humbly pray for her life and acknowledged Bonbibi as the Supreme Owner of Badaban. Bonbibi viewed Narayani differently, but accepted Narayani as her friend and divided the whole area into a few parts. Keeping one for herself, she distributed all among the local headmen. Dakshin Roy got Kendokhali. As per her ‘forman’ (official declaration), none would be allowed to intrude into others’ territory and she herself would look into the matter.

Having a foothold in the Badaban area(Sundarban Mangrove forest area), Bonbibi appointed her brother Shah Jangali as the ‘moked’(supervisor), started reclaiming the forest, and preparing the area for cultivation. At last, she settled at Bhurkundo. Here ends the first episode of  Jatrapala of Bonbibi.

Explanatory Note:

1. The Bonbibi Jahuranama gives us a description of how a tribal or a semi-tribal community migrated to this Sundarban area and settled there(maybe they were converted into Muslims or not, or the Muslim story writers, who scripted Jahuranama in modern times, had made the tribal or a semi-tribal community into Islamic followers to accommodate them into their own traditional culture and added new features to the rituals connected with Bonbibi). The Jahuranama states that Bonbibi and her brother Shah Jangali were blessed by Allah. In this way, the institutional religions adopted and recognised a traditional tribal deity for their own existence and influence. The migrant community had to face opposition from the local people. The followers of Bonbibi and Shah Jangali were entangled in a battle with the local people. It was a question of life or death to the newcomers. They fought back from the brink of defeat and ultimately became victorious. They were awarded lordship over the land of ‘Atharo Bhati'(Mangrove forest area), which followers of Bonbibi declined. The community was eager to have its foothold in the area. The land was distributed among prominent chieftains and clan leaders of the region. Special mention was made about ‘Kendokhali’, which was allotted to Dakshin Rai, meaning Tiger; perhaps the Totem of a Clan.

2. What Bonbibi did was a reclamation work in a more or less large area. And that reclamation work by Bonbibi and Shah Jangali was without any help from outside. This reclamation work seemed to be miraculous to the indigenous people and increased their obedience.

Second Episode-

A long time had elapsed. In the meantime, the topography of Badabon as well as the socio-economic structure of the people living there had changed. Dhana, a well-to-do man of the society, had decided to go to the forest to collect honey from the jungle of ‘Atharo Bhanti’. Boats were readied. The team to accompany him was also ready. On the day of departure, it was found that he was in dire need of another person in the final team. None agreed. Dhana explored the poorest portion of the locality and picked up Dukhe, the poorest of the poorest, the only son of a widowed mother. Dhana assured the mother of her son’s safety. Dukhe’s mother told Dukhe ‘ my son, remember Bonbibi in danger, she will save you’.

The boats sailed off with Dukhe, Dhana, and others. They reached the dense forest of Kendokhali, where Dakshin Roy was the owner of all forest products by order of Bonbibi, anchored the boats and got down in search of honey. All day long, the people of Dhana ran helter-skelter to collect honey, but got nothing. When he dozed off, Dakshin Roy appeared and chastised Dhana for not worshipping him. When Dhana entreated humbly to condone him, Dakshin Roy said this was possible only if he sacrificed Dukhe for him. Dhana fumbled, but at last greedy Dhana agreed.

The next day, they got an unexpected amount of honey almost without any effort. The day of return came. One after another, boats sailed off. Dhana and Dukhe were in the last boat. Dhana asked the boatman ‘ why don’t you deanchor?’ The boatman answered ‘ how can I? there’s no stock of dry wood for cooking”. Dhana ordered Dukhe to get down and bring some dry wood from the jungle. With some dry wood, Dukhe came out and found the boat gone. Suddenly, he saw Dakshin Roy, a ferocious tiger, ready to pounce on him. He uttered aloud, “Mother Bonbibi save me,” and fainted.

Bonbibi and Shah Jangali rush to the spot instantly. She took Dukhe on her lap and at the hint of her Shah Jangali, pounced on Dakshin Roy. Dakshin Roy was badly hurt and sprinted off, followed by Shah Jangali. At last, he reached his old friend Barkhan Gaji’s den. Gaji said Bonbibi was empowered by Allah himself. So it was not wise to tease her.

So they came to Bonbibi and she forgave them. She asked which gift they would make to Dukhe. Instantly, Gaji replied, ‘ I have ancestral treasure hidden underground here and there, Dukhe will get it sitting in his own house whenever necessary’. Dakshin Roy added ‘ Mother, you know I am the owner of all the honey and wood in this forest. I’ll give Dukhe whatever he asks for’.Then Bonbibi went back to Bhurkunda with Shah Jangali and Dukhe. 

No sooner had Dukhey’s mother heard that Dukhey had been taken by the tiger than she rent the air with cries, and blamed Bonbibi for not protecting her son, even though she had kept him in the custody of Bonbibi. Constant weeping made her blind.

Bonbibi took notice of it and told Dukhe ‘ my son, now you better go back to your house’. First, he denied, but when Bonbibi mentioned the plight of his mother, Dukhe agreed. A big crocodile named ‘Seko’ took him home on its back.

Dukhe, with the help of Gaji’s wealth, became a respectable person in the society, a ‘choudhury’.

At night, Bonbibi appeared in Dhana’s dream and proposed that he should give away his daughter in marriage to Dukhe.  Bonbibi also appeared to Dukhe in a dream and told him to marry Dhana’s daughter and suggested to give Dhana due respect.

After a few days, Dukhe was married to Champa, Dhana’s daughter. Bonbibi came again as a white fly and blessed them. The couple lived happily thereafter, and here the Bonbibi Jahuranama, as well as Bonbibi Jatrapala(drama on Bonbibi), ends.

Explanatory Note:

1. A long time elapsed before the second part of the story began. Organised trade in the jungle products made its way into the jungle area. Teams were organised by moneyed men who contracted with the toilers and took them to the jungle for the collection of honey and wax (There must have been teams of wood-cutters too, but only such a team of honey-collectors has been mentioned in the Bonbibi Jahuranama). That moneyed man would enjoy all the profits from the project. The toilers would get only a fixed wage. Whenever those moneyed men had their chance, they would become heartless and would behave rudely with those have-nots. They would consciously leave behind a helpless lad like Dukhe in the jungle to be devoured by a tiger.

1. Even such a boy could have a rescue by the grace of Bonbibi, and so the story went from place to place glorifying the deity as the life saviour of Jungle goers and not as a forest deity, means who saves the forest. So she began to be worshipped outside her own followers, irrespective of religion or cast. So the twin deities, Bonbibi and Shah Jangali, could never be eliminated. When the jungle goers pray to Bonbibi, they used to beg for a safe journey and safe return. They know Bonbibi as life’s saviour. They never pray for honey or anything to Bonbibi, because they believe that the collection of jungle products depends on their own ability and capacity.