Such deep philosophy- where did they get it from? Were they educated? Were they a Chandi Das or Khema Das or Pagla Khepa or Khepa Baul? They were uneducated and unlettered. Yet so extraordinarily creative! When the creative energy in nature is combined with the human mind, it brings the creative urge into the awareness and thought process of these people. But what was the process? Can this process be researched??
Now, who is Tushu, I ask you? Tushya –was the name of a Buddhist travelling mendicant who wandered in this area spreading the message of female freedom 2000 years ago. Just as there was the Buddhist mendicant Sujata - there was also a Buddhist mendicant Tushya. You cannot imagine the equality enjoyed by women in our area- the power of females being more than males. This extreme power of females is something you cannot realize anywhere other than in our region - the Tushu region. So this Tushya became Tushu. Buddhism was prevalent in this area. You have to go to Budhpur or Buddhapur by the Kansai River which has a brilliant Buddha statue. The temple is now a Shiva temple, but you must see the Buddha. The largest Tushu fair takes place there. There is also a big Tushu festival which takes place near my village.
These Tushu songs which few people know, were sung by my mother and my grandmother. That my daughters and my wife continue to sing these songs is indicative of the continuity of cultural excellence of the womenfolk of the area. While in the plains of West Bengal, women were constantly warned not to step out of the house and to stay within the four walls of the home, in the hills the women would be outdoors, cutting firewood and carrying it on their heads to sell, singing all the while. This freedom of enjoyment and the excellence of collectivity is something only the women of this region can exhibit. Tushu is representative of this.
Akin to Tushu is Sohrai – or Bandna Porob (festival). What is Sohrai ? It is a Santal festival which in our language, is known as Bandna - which means Bondona (Vandana) - a thanksgiving for the rich harvest - all due to the grace of the Lord. So on the night of Kali Puja, all the inhabitants of our village, (it is mandatory for every single person from our village to be present on the night of Kali Puja, wherever they may be) - go around the entire village singing Ohira songs. It is not Kali puja we celebrate on this amabasya (moonless night) - but we play the madol and sing :