THE HAATI MOVEMENT

THE HAATI MOVEMENT is a peaceful movement  led by the Haatis of Girpar Sirmour in the state of Himachal Pradesh. In true spirit, this movement has been a socio-economic and cultural movement for conserving and preserving the Haatis’ Tribal Identity. Three lakhs Haatis of 133 village Panchayat spreading over four administrative blocks and four Tehsils have been struggling for their rights for the last five decades. Despite fulfilling all the perimeters set by the centre government for consideration of tribal status, the demand for declaring the Haatis as Scheduled Tribe and the Giripar Sirmour as the Scheduled area is still alive through peaceful agitation. The entire Giripar Sirmour has been a cradle of rich and distinct culture through the ages.  The most general topographical characteristic of the Giripar Sirmour is its isolation. The entire area, as a whole, is isolated from neighbouring areas by geographical and cultural-linguistic barriers greater than those which separate Paharis from one another. the entire area remains cut-off during the rainy and snowy season from the rest part of the country.  Evidence for this isolation is abundant from the local level that ninety percent of all marriages have been contracted within the four mile radius. The diviners and mediums consulted in times of trouble are all within this area. The  distinct culture, the Haattis possesse, constitutes all kinds of attractions which take people away from their homes, attendance at marriages and other ceremonies involving kin and friends, visits to kin including affinal relatives, trips to tend property, consultations with diviners and mediums, marketing expeditions, and attendance at the annual fair. The Haatis of Giripar Sirmour share the close relationships (Beti aur Roti) with the tribal people of adjoining Jaunsar-Bawar of Uttrakhand since the time memorable.

Both the areas share obvious features of common origin and socio-cultural traditions which are distinct from that of the other Pahari areas. Their common culture has been modified locally but not obliterated by the differential contacts and developments consequent upon their dispersion. Above all, the Pahari feels himself to be at a disadvantage in terms of knowledge, sophistication, and prestige in many situations. Truly, they are shy in nature and hesitate in establishing relations with the outsiders. The haatis of Giripar Sirmour have been fighting a movement through peaceful means since 1970 for their rights of declaring them scheduled tribe and the area as scheduled area. They have great expectations from their representatives and hope that this peaceful movement will be over with a logical conclusion.