Change Through Education Among Endangered Toto Tribe

By Aishik Chanda

19 September, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Sanchita Toto

An interview by Aishik Chanda of Sanchita Toto, the third graduate from the endangered Toto tribe in the Indo-Bhutan border in Totopara, West Bengal. Totos number around 1,500 and blood cancer is prevalent in the tribe due to strict endogamy. Sanchita, who aims to be a civil servant, is working on ways to revive the almost lost script of Toto language that has speakers in only one village – Totopara. The Totos have linguistically and culturally no resemblance with the neighbouring peoples like Bengalis, Adivasis, Nepalis and Rajbongshis. They are a separate people altogether and reside only in Totopara.

Q. What were your father's contributions towards your education? How did he help and motivate you to complete graduation?

A. My father always motivated me for studies. He helped me till I was at my home. Then I went outside Totopara (to Madarihat) for studies.

Q. What is the history of education in your family? How did that help you?

A. My father is Madhyamik (Class X) pass. Mother is illiterate and my brothers and sister are studying in college. The fact that my father studied till Class X surely helped us. He knew the importance of education.

Q. What are the support you got from your teachers both at school and college level?

A. Both in school and college, teachers motivated and encourage me a lot for studies. They showed me the path to emancipation of our endangered tribe.

Q. What support did you get from the government of West Bengal?

A. Till now I have got no support from our government but hope that in future, they will help me.

Q. Did you face discrimination by Bengalis at school or college?

A. No. I have never faced any sort of discrimination by Bengalis at school, college or elsewhere. I have a lot of Bengali friends and they mean a lot to me.

Q. What are your plans after graduation?

A. I took coaching classes from RICE institute for a year and half. However, I left it and am now studying for from. I am actually preparing for West Bengal Civil Services (WBCS) examination. I have thought of doing Masters in Arts (M.A) from distance.

Q. How do you plan to motivate other Toto children in pursuing higher education?

A. It is very tough for me to make them realize the value of education. Their parents and teachers motivate them to study.

Q. What works are being done to revive Toto language and script?

A. We have revived our script and got the alphabets in place. I am learning the script by myself. But everyone is not appreciating and cooperating with our efforts.

Q. What is the solution to prevalence of blood cancer among Totos?

A. Toto population is in an endangered stage. I don't know what the solution is to this issue. I only know that if the prevalence of blood cancer persists, we all may perish. We need urgent and long-term help.

Q. Do you have any plans to educate Totos to marry outside community to reduce prevalence of blood cancer?

A. Actually I don’t want that myself so I never encourage it. By practicing exogamy, we will lose our identity, our culture and even if we live physically, Toto tribe will die.

Q. What helps did the Left Front government give to Totos to preserve them and what more has Trinamool Congress government done?

A. Both the governments have done many things for Totos like providing houses, toilets, electricity and much more. We are very thankful to the government for that.

Q. Tell me about the broad daily routine of ordinary Totos. Which sector are they mostly employed in and has the lifestyle of Totos changed over the years?

A. We live a simple life. We eat simple food. We love rice and meat. Totos work in their own fields. A few people go to Bhutan for labour. It has changed considerably over the years. Lot more has to be done.

Q. Has parent’s perception towards education changed in Totopara? If yes, how did it change and what changes do you see?

A. All the parents send their children in school. Earlier it was not so. People were not so much aware, which has increased manifolds thanks to many schemes and government works.

Q. What is your vision for spread of education in Totopara?

A. I always try to encourage students for studies. But I think they face problems to study in Bengali and English. May be there is a communication gap due to language. I think this gap can be bridged if Toto teachers are hired to impart education in the Chittaranjan Toto School in our village. Toto teachers who are familiar with Bengali and English can be a lot helpful.

Q. If you reach to a top position for welfare of Totos in the Government of West Bengal, what changes would you want to bring first?

A. I want to work for Totopara, for the Totos and more specifically, for their education.

Q. How do you think education can fuel women empowerment in Totopara? What is the general perception of parents towards girl child education?

A. My parents never said to me that as you are a girl, you don’t need to study. And I don’t think any Toto parents do anything like that. They can study according to their will. Also, they can help their mothers in the kitchen.

The writer is pursuing M.A. in Dalit and Tribal Studies and Action at Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. He was a working journalist at The New Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle in Hyderabad. He continues to write as an independent journalist.