A kind of nomadic population of Bangladesh is known as 'Bede', 'Baidani' or 'Baidya'. Traditionally, they live and travel on rivers in boats and sampans. They are also known as 'water nomads' or 'river nomads'. They earn their living through various traditional occupations such as snake charmers, hammer medicine, fortune telling and jharfuk etc. They mainly follow the customs of the tribal society, where they live in groups. In most cases, the term Baidani is used to refer to women of the Bede community.
The number of Bede in Bangladesh varies according to different sources, but the number is around eight lakh. Wikipedia says that there are around 8 lakh Vedes in Bangladesh. However, a recent daily newspaper report says that the number of Vedas in Bangladesh is currently around 75 thousand, of which 95% of the children are away from school. According to statistics from 1991, the number of Vedas was around 40 thousand.
Some examples of the districts in Bangladesh where Baidani are commonly found are given below : Many Baidani families are found in the haor areas of Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts. This community lives mostly in the districts along the banks of the Padma, Meghna, Jamuna and other major rivers. Notable among these are Munshiganj, Chandpur, Barisal, Sirajganj, Kushtia, Faridpur and Rajbari. They are also found in coastal districts like Pirojpur, Barguna, Patuakhali and Khulna.
The reasons why the public enjoys the activities of the Baidanis are given below:
* The songs of the Bedes highlight their nomadic lifestyle, dependence on nature and their sorrows. Some popular songs of the Bede community in Bangladesh are given below: "Babu Selam Bare Bar, Amar Naam Gaya Baidya, Babu Bari Padma Par." This is written by the rural poet Jasimuddin, which depicts a familiar picture of the life of the Bedes. "We are the Bede nation brothers, we gather people on the ghats and play with snakes". This song is a reflection of their professional life. "Mora ek ghatete randi bari, Mora arek ghatete khai, moder sukher sima nai". This is also a wonderful description of the nomadic life of the Bedes on the banks of the river.
* Many of the Baidanis are known as snake charmers, who mesmerize people by showing them various snake games. The fear of snakes and the tricks of the snake combine to create a kind of thrilling atmosphere that attracts people. In addition, they claim to show various miraculous powers of the sorcerer, which is a source of curiosity and entertainment for many.
* Many of the Baidanis sell indigenous medicines and show various techniques of magic. They claim to give herbal medicines to cure various diseases, which many simple people of the village believe. Many people come to see these out of curiosity.
* The Baidanis tell various folk tales and stories, which are a great source of entertainment for adults and children. The style and content of their storytelling make people laugh, cry and fascinate.
* The Baidanis appear in various fairs and festivals of the village with various types of performances. These performances create additional attraction for the people who come to the fair and increase the joy of the fair many times.
Many writers and poets have portrayed the life struggle of the Vedas, their culture and tradition, love, nature and their love for people. For example, Rabindranath Tagore, in his poem "Vede", he portrays the freedom of life of the Vedes and their close relationship with nature. Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, in his novel 'Pather Panchali', has a character of the Vedas, which portrays a realistic picture of their life and mentality. Manik Bandyopadhyay, in his novel 'Atmakahini', has also portrayed various aspects of the life of the Vedes, where the picture of their reality is revealed.
The lives of the Baidani are largely characterized by misery, economic hardship, social deprivation, and deprivation of their health and education systems. Some aspects of their miserable lives are highlighted below:
The Baidani people usually live in boats or floating settlements, which do not allow them to build a permanent home. Their life depends on the flow of rivers and the changing seasons. 02. They have to move from one place to another in search of work. As a result, they are isolated from the mainstream life of society and cannot integrate into any specific society. 03. Their lives and livelihoods are severely affected by natural disasters such as floods, tidal waves or river erosion. 04. Their income has decreased due to the decline in demand for their profession in modern society. 05. They are victims of poverty due to the lack of alternative employment opportunities. 06. The market for their traditional products is small and limited, due to which they do not receive a fair price. 07. Being nomadic, Baidani children usually do not get the opportunity to go to school. As a result, the lack of education traps them in a vicious cycle of poverty. 08. They are deprived of healthcare due to their wandering in remote areas. In addition, their access to health facilities is often limited due to social discrimination. 09. Most people in society avoid them because of their different lifestyle. This neglect negatively affects their mental and social lives. 10. Due to their floating lifestyle and lack of a permanent address, many Baidani are deprived of government benefits as citizens. 11. Their nomadic lifestyle and traditional professions are on the verge of extinction in the modern social system. This change is affecting the way of life of their community.
All in all, the activities of the Baidani are not just entertainment for the people of rural Bengal, but an important part of folk culture. Like many traditional communities, this community may one day become extinct. Therefore, it is very important to respect and preserve their culture or heritage.
The writer is President of the International Anti-Drug Organization, Freedom International Anti-Alcohol
