Jijli

Neelam and Mamta

Neelam accompanied Mamta and me to Jijli, she had to test iodine content in the salt that the villagers were consuming for a government survey.

…..turns out everyone was using Shakti Salt, that’s what the only local shop had in stock. … the survey was in-effect not applicable. the residents of Jijli don’t have a choice on the matter really. not like they chose from a row of various packaged salts off the neighborhood supermarket.

12 km by a bus, past Nagni on the NH94 and another 2 km on foot off the highway tucked at the edge of the forest is Jhijli village with 35 houses that are scattered in on the mountainside.

We missed the local correspondent Babita, as she was on her way to Chamba today.

The women were returning from the fields when we reached…

…..went to from house to house collecting salt and home remedies. The girls negotiated their way effortlessly in the village, mostly recognized by the residents at the girls from the radio station.

A number of people referred us to The retired bank officer who lives at the far end of the village….

And that is exactly where we found him, at the far end of the village…bent over his garden tending to his plants.

P D Dobhal

Neelam and Mamta were meeting P D Dhobal for the first time, he is a bit of s recluse he admits.

PD Dhobal served in the Army later took up a bank job but his real love was always trees he confessed. Eager to share his knowledge Dobhal make us tea with fresh lemon grass and served us papaya from his garden …… sat down to read one by one the medicinal qualities of local plants that he has researched and written in 3 fat diaries. He has cured many people in the village… sometime they pay me sometimes they don’t.

He looked content, the king of his green empire, Dhobal lives here alone.

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~ by radiokhirkee on 20/05/2010.