EVS Chapter 18: No Place for Us?

The Story of Jatrya: A Journey of Displacement

This chapter follows the life of Jatrya bhai, whose story helps us understand the pain of displacement.

Life in Khedi Village: Jatrya was born in Khedi, a beautiful village nestled in the middle of thick green jungles and a flowing river. Life was simple and connected to nature. People lived like one big family, sharing joys and sorrows. They got everything they needed from the forest and river—fruits, roots, medicines, and fish. There was peace and a strong sense of community.

The Big Dam: One day, officials came and announced that a big dam would be built on the river. This meant Khedi village would be submerged under water. They promised the villagers a new, better place to live—a 'dream village' with electricity, running water, and schools. Though sad to leave their ancestral land, the villagers hoped for a better future.

Life in Sinduri: The new village, Sinduri, was nothing like their dream. There were houses, but no sense of community. The land was not good for farming. There were no forests or rivers. Everything, from medicine to firewood, had to be bought with money, which was hard to earn. Jatrya felt like a stranger in his own 'new' home.

The Move to Mumbai: Unable to make a living in Sinduri, Jatrya sold everything and moved to Mumbai with his family, hoping to find work. But the big city brought bigger problems. They had to live in a single, cramped room in a slum. He only found small jobs like mending fishing nets, and his children couldn't go to school. Life became a daily struggle for basic needs like water and money, and he felt like an 'unwanted guest' everywhere.

Khedi Village vs. Mumbai City: A Tale of Two Worlds

Why Do People Have to Move? Understanding Displacement

• Displacement means being forced to leave your home, village, or country against your will.
• A major reason for displacement is the construction of large 'development projects' like dams, factories, highways, or mines.
• Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or droughts can also destroy homes and force people to move.
• Sometimes, conflicts or fights between groups of people can make a place unsafe, leading to displacement.
• Displaced people, like Jatrya's family, lose not just their homes, but also their jobs, friends, culture, and sense of belonging.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: Why did the people of Khedi village have to leave their homes?
  A: Step 1: The government had decided to build a large dam on the river near Khedi village.
  Step 2: The construction of the dam would cause the entire area, including the village and forests, to be submerged under water.
  Final answer: Therefore, the people of Khedi village had to leave their homes because their village was going to be flooded to build a big dam.

• Q: Was the new village, Sinduri, like the Khedi of Jatrya's dreams? Why or why not?
  A: Step 1: No, Sinduri was not like the Khedi of Jatrya's dreams.
  Step 2: The villagers were promised a better life with good facilities, but in Sinduri, the land was not fertile for farming, there was no forest, and they had to pay for everything like electricity and firewood.
  Step 3: Most importantly, the feeling of community and togetherness that they had in Khedi was missing in Sinduri.
  Final answer: Sinduri was a disappointment because it lacked the resources for their traditional livelihood and the strong community bond they cherished in Khedi.

• Q: Jatrya felt like an "unwanted guest" in the city. What does this mean?
  A: Step 1: An unwanted guest is someone who is not welcome or does not belong in a place.
  Step 2: In the city, Jatrya and his family faced many difficulties. They lived in a poor condition, struggled for money and water, and were often looked down upon.
  Step 3: Nobody seemed to care about them, and they felt lonely and out of place.
  Final answer: Feeling like an "unwanted guest" means Jatrya felt that he and his family did not belong in the city and were not welcomed by the people or the environment there.

• Q: List three major differences between life in Khedi village and life in Mumbai for Jatrya's family.
  A: Step 1: Identify the key areas of life mentioned in the story: housing, work, and cost of living.
  Step 2: Contrast each area for Khedi and Mumbai.

  • Housing: In Khedi, they had their own home with open space. In Mumbai, they lived in a single, cramped, rented room.
  • Work: In Khedi, Jatrya had his own work like farming and fishing. In Mumbai, he had to do small, odd jobs for others.
  • Cost of Living: In Khedi, they got many things like food and firewood from nature for free. In Mumbai, they had to buy everything, and life was very expensive.

  Final answer: Three major differences were in housing (own home vs. rented room), work (independent vs. odd jobs), and cost of living (free resources from nature vs. everything costing money).

Frequently Asked Questions