My experiences with traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Last week I got an inquiry from Africa by ethno botanist asking details of the Proforma we are using in our ethno botanical surveys. I replied to the ethno botanist that we are not using Proforma in most of the cases and in case of necessity, using the Proforma prepared in regional languages. When I started the ethno botanical surveys, I followed the standard method given in reference literatures. Name of respondent, father's name, occupation, land holding, total annual income etc., I have found that these details confuse the respondents. In Chhattisgarh, various government departments regularly conduct surveys in villages to gather different information. This is the reason most of the respondent hesitate to give replies and in majority of cases they provide wrong answers.

After becoming experienced in the field of ethno botany, I decided to put a side the standard method. Instead of taking interview, I prefer to stay with the traditional healers for a day or two. We interact round the clock and at night, I write all the information in my field diaries. In standard method, the sampling technique is adopted but I personally feel that it is very crude method to collect the valuable information through sampling. In many villages, I have found that every individual have different information regarding same herb. Initially when I adopted sample surveys in these villages, I got very little information. From the research publication point of view, it is OK but for real work these sample surveys are of no value, at least for me. I never prefer to visit forests or villages for specific purpose. I simply interact with the natives and healers and after getting information, categorized it into different topics. If you have ever conducted this type of survey, you know that how difficult is to gather the information on traditional uses of herbs from the healers. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are very conscious about the misuse of their valuable knowledge. If they feel that even their own children are not capable of protecting the traditional knowledge, they never transfer it to them and finally, the knowledge ends with their death. It is very hard to win their faith and confidence.

I have noted during surveys that in most of the cases, they simply refuse to talk on medicinal herbs. They are always ready to treat the patients. Although through my articles, it seems that the healers are well educated and will tell all the facts to the visitors but in reality it is not possible. After reading my articles, many foreign visitors visited Chhattisgarh to meet the traditional healers. In general, I avoid these meetings because I do not want to disturb these healers. In most of the cases the visitors after getting promising treatment, pressurize the healers to tell the secret. They offer valuable gifts or money to them. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are simple both in appearance and nature. As I have mentioned in my previous articles that the healers charge no fees for treatment. According to them, if they will charge the fees, their knowledge will be ended. The healers of farming area, earn by farming like other natives and the healers of forest areas, depend on minor forest produces for their livelihood. When the visitors offer money or gift to them, at first they see me angrily and in most of the cases, remain silent and refuse to talk further. Many of visitors say that the healers are proudy and even after getting free treatment they write badly about these healers. I never want to exploit these healers for commercial gains. I have seen many films at educational channels where the traditional healers welcome the tourist. I have refused the state authorities request to do the same in Chhattisgarh to promote the tourism and attract the foreign visitors. I would like to mention here that in many cases the foreign visitors coming Chhattisgarh after reading my articles, give full respect to the healers and in return, the healers give more to them more than they have expected. As enthusiastic researcher, initially I played the role of tourist guide but as the number of visitors increased, now I am avoiding this. Next month, the visitors from Australia are coming with great expectations. I have submitted a detailed plan to the state government to handle this situation with systematic plannings. As I always write, to know from someone it is very necessary to provide new information to them. I always interact with the healers and through long discussions, they discloses the secrets. You will be surprised to know that many healers take heavy work from the experts before making them the students.

The healer of Gunderdehi, ordered me to plough his agricultural fields with tractor before starting any discussion. When I said that give this work to any worker and I am ready to pay the expenses, he refused it blankly. Many healers want to see the demonstration of herbal uses what I have told to them during discussion. They also ask in many ways that what I will do with this information. Many healers of Bastar region, send their students at my home to check whether I am just documenting the knowledge or started the clinic to earn money from their valuable knowledge. From last ten years, they are observing my work and interest, now they are showing faith on me. I do not want to loose this faith by introducing the visitors having rude behaviour to them. In majority of the cases, the healers never tell the complete formula, but as I repeat this formula with other healers, I get complete formula for my documentation. Through my ethno botanical surveys I have found the traditional healers of Chhattisgarh very honest, genuine, hard working and dedicated to their work. Most of the healers never miss the chance to use new herbs and to improve the existing formulation through experimentation. The healers collect most of the herbs by themselves by visiting the nearly forests. Many times they visit to remote areas for the collection of herb. They also rely on old herb vendors for herbs. The healers have deep faith in prescribed collection method. They perform special worship ceremonies before collection of herbs. As they use the herbs in their own practice, the normal practice of adulteration is yet not reached to these healers.

Although our state is declared as Herbal State but it is bitter fact that the healers are not getting recognition and motivation. The healers of Chhattisgarh have no complaint about the government's attitude. Like us they are also worrying to conserve their traditional knowledge. They are worrying that their future generation is running towards big cities and modern culture. They have bitter experience with researchers because they believe that they exploit them and earn money from their traditional knowledge. They are convinced that documentation with clear mind is essential. In most of the areas in Chhattisgarh, there is no electricity. It is very difficult to explain these healers about internet, my articles and Botanical.com. But this is their faith and world community's interest in my articles, I am writing continuously. If you are planning to visit Chhattisgarh or any part of the world to meet with these traditional healers, come with great respect and honour towards these Mother Nature's representatives. These are the future doctors, having the miracle herbs and valuable traditional knowledge about the herbs, to protect the whole world from new diseases like AIDS, SARS, and Cancer etc.

Thank you very much for reading the article.