Oriyapara

Anindita Mazumder

Oriyas were perhaps the earliest example of migrant labourers in Calcutta. Initially, they had come to Calcutta as palanquin bearers – the only means of communication in the city for a long time. They also worked as water-carriers who carried drinking water from Lal Dighi and the holy Ganges and supplied them to various households.

Maharaja Nabakrishna Deb had taken initiative to settle natives of various castes in Calcutta. Often, he would gift plots and construct houses for Brahmins. He was the one who was successful in appointing Oriya Brahmins as cooks in Bengali households – a custom that had continued till recently. In fact his patron, Warren Hastings had a head bearer who was an Oriya – described to be quite superstitious, refusing to pull even punkah ropes or remove a wash basin full of dirty water.

Mahendralal Dutta, younger brother of Swami Vivekananda reminisced that all middleclass families had palanquins in those days since horse carriages were quite rare. The four Oriya bearers not only carried the palanquins but also drew water from the wells, prepared hookahs, splintered firewood and guarded the house.

The Calcutta Gazette provides interesting glimpses of how the society was dependent on the Oriya bearers in early 19th Century. An entry on May 12, 1803 deals with the inconvenience faced by general public on “want of bearers”. The magistrate was induced to make an inquiry and it was found that many of the bearers had been hired by opulent Bengalis for a pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Jagannath and they had availed the opportunity to visit home. The Paramaniks who were the heads of each band of Oriyas were summoned to the police station.

In another entry the Governor General issued a directive on August 5, 1790 stopping all payments made by the Oriyas to their respective Paramaniks.  The Paramaniks made collections when any Oriya came to the city to find work (four annas) or got married (Re 1); and even claimed the property of any Oriya who died in the city without an heir.

The Oriya palanquin bearers had also declared a strike in 1827and assembled, some near Fort William and others at Chandpal Ghat, against the new rates alleging that the bhadraloks would cheat them and pay less if they went by the watch. They had no way of knowing the time and would have to accept whatever was offered to them.

The Oriyas usually sent their earnings back at home and hence they did not leave any mark on their adopted city. Areas they resided in were actually bustees or paras with largely poor people. Oriyabagan is a meandering lane close to Sarkarbazar and opens into the Beliaghata Main Road. Ramanath Kaviraj Lane in Ward number 51 near Bowbazar was earlier known as Oriyapara Lane. Similarly, Oriyapara in Bhawanipore is located between Jadubabur Bazar and Northern Park. Just behind Jadubabu Bazar, the area is still inhabited by Oriyas, mostly cooks and plumbers.

Interestingly, the area which once was home to palanquin bearers is now a place for repairing motor cars. The trend had started during Second World War when army trucks were brought there for maintenance work. There are a number of establishments selling spare parts for all kinds of vehicles. Apart from its name it has retained almost nothing of its old character and is just another slum meant for economically weaker section of the society, generally migrants to the city.

According to renowned historian PT Nair the main concentration of the Oriyas was once in Bhawanipore area. Almost all the bustees in Bhawanipore are owned by the Pandas, a widely prevalent surname. Presently, the Oriyas are also running several schools in the city.