Kalandars are a tribe known to have performed dancing bears since medieval times in India. They performed at the courts of Mughal emperors and on the streets. Over the years, this vocation gradually developed as their primary source of livelihood. Kalandars are also known as Darvesh.
The Kalandar community belongs to a poor socio-economic group. Literacy among this community is dismally poor. However, they tend to live in strong socially knit groups and almost all members of the community subscribe to a regional Panchayat. The elders in the Panchayat usually decide important matters related to the welfare of the community. Marriages and disputes are also settled by the Panchayat.
The Kalandars are usually semi-nomadic in nature and travel from place to place to perform bear dances and also to sell amulets made out of its hair, claws and teeth of the animal. Some people buy these amulets as good luck charms to drive away evil spirits or injuries.
Over the generations, the practice of dancing bears has been deeply entrenched in their community. Boys at a very tender age accompany their fathers during bear performances to learn about the tricks of the trade. Girls usually remain indoors to help their mothers in household chores. Today, Kalandars are mainly confined to the edge of forests, semi-urban settlements or on the periphery of villages, and are itinerant travellers for performances to large cities as well.
Kalandars claim themselves as descendents of royal entertainers. Possession of bears in the community is highly valued. A lack of suitable avenues for alternative livelihood coupled with illiteracy keeps them dependent on the dancing bear profession.
After the ban on the street performances of dancing bears in 1998, many Kalandar families had to abandon this profession and were forced into rag-picking, worked as labourers, part-time drivers, or entered into small roadside ventures. Therefore, for any meaningful rehabilitation of Kalandars, a holistic approach is important. |
