The strange yet true village of bachelors in India! The name is strange, isn’t it? Man is a social animal as stated by the great philosopher Aristotle. Hence in order to form a proper society man has to acquire a partner.
Social norms have made this possible through marriage which legally creates a bond or partnership between a man and a woman. This system of marriage has come down to us since time immemorial giving rise to a well established social structure.
But here is a village known for ‘no marriages’. The institution of marriage is non existent here. It does not mean that men and women live together without going through the legal system of marriage. Strangely here men lead a life of celibacy. All men are bachelors. That is why this village is also popularly known as ‘a village of bachelors’.
The Strange Village of Bachelors in India
This is the village named Barwan Kala, located in Kaimur district some 300 kms from Patna. The village has a rich cultural past coming down from the Gupta dynasty. It is famous for it’s art and craft especially pottery. However the present is a sharp contrast to its glorious past.
The village during the present times is situated in a very inaccessible region, as if totally forgotten by the outside world. There are no roads, no access to clean drinking water, no electricity and nothing to connect them with the modern world.
These form too many negative attributes which has been a major reason behind the fact that no man is married. If wedding proposals come then the pitiable conditions of this village has a detrimental effect on the prospective brides and their parents who refuse to give their daughters in marriage to anyone from this village.
Reports say that no marriages have taken place since the last 50 years.
What Locals Say
However, a young man from the village refutes this theory and clarifies that this number is just an exaggeration of the truth. He agrees that there are many eligible young men in this village who have not got married and the reason is very obvious.
Lack of proper means of communication and the basic necessities of life like water and electricity is what is keeping families from making an alliance with the people of this village. Solar panels are not enough to provide light during the nights and mobile towers are as good as nonexistent.
Women especially face a lot of difficulty during child birth and have to be carried long distances with a risk to their lives. A basic health care centre is nearly 40 to 45 kms away. Despite all these hurdles, no effort is being taken by the Government to improve the condition of this village. Barwan Kalan seems to be the most neglected village of this district.
If ever a man wants to marry, he has to leave his ancestral home and settle elsewhere which many young men are reluctant to do so as they don’t want to give up their land and house which is their identity.
Ironically, just 10 kms away from this village there is a famous tourist spot which is the Telhur Kund waterfall and an eco retreat for visitors that has all facilities. Hearing about the ‘village of bachelors ‘ tourists wish to visit Barwan Kalan.
This is hurtful for the people of this village. They have become famous for a wrong reason, something which they had not chosen but something which had been thrust upon them. You may call it fate or destiny but there they were, born into this remote village wedded to loneliness bereft of the pleasure of having a family.
Yet as they say, hope rises eternal in the human heart. Thus in some corner of their hearts, they are hoping and waiting for life to take a turn for the better.
