Hookah, a traditional smoking tool, used mostly in rural Bangladesh has been declining faster when the people are getting civilized. However, the hookah was playing a role to settle the village disputes in the locality for centuries together, said the elderly citizens in Jhenaidah.
Locals including some elderly citizens in Jhenaidah said it was golden time for the peace-loving rural people when the village leaders, better known as Matbars, had been conducting village arbitration following land dispute, dowry or divorce, conjugal dissatisfactions and some similar issues. The Matbars sat with their fellows and settled the dispute where both the petitioner and accused were benefited.
Usually the arbitrations were held on the courtyard of the Matbars where Hukka was a common entertainment for the rural men, while the Matbars availed Gargora. Hukka was made from the shell of the cocoanut where a wooden pipe was fixed. A fire pot namely Kolki was set atop the pipe. Gargora was made from costly metal brass and the user availed it with a long plastic pipe that originated the sound “korta, korat” as the Gargora was almost full of water.
Seraj Ali Sheikh, 83, of village Jhaudia in Shailkupa upazila of Jhenaidah when contacted said Gorgora was a traditional smoking method for the well to do Matbars in rural Bangladesh. It proved the dignity of the Marbars.
Regarding the arbitration system, Seraj Ali Sheikh said the Matbars who availed the Gorgora gave the verdict impartially that did not deprive the justice. But as the people were getting civilized day by day, fallen victim of injustice as the arbitration system was snatched by a section of politically influenced persons who mainly consider their ill-motive. He said the Kacharighar or Baithakkhana, a sitting room, was established at the corner of the house which was added with the outside courtyard where hundreds of people could be accommodated for gathering for arbitration, enjoy Lathikhela (stick play), Jatrapala (open drama), theatre and similar programmes round the year.
Mentioning names of two Matbars Khorshed Sheikh of Kabirpur and Jabed Ali of Shailkupa Bazerpara in Jhenaidah, the elderly man said these Matbars were the symbol of justice during their time which the people still recall it.
Renowned Freedom Fighter (FF) Rahmat Ali Mantu, ex thana unit commander of Bangladesh Muktijoddha sangshad in Shailkupa of Jhenaidah when contacted for his comments about the ethics and ideology about the then village Matbars, said the ordinary guests were entertained with the Hookah, while the important personalities availed the Gargora in their outside family guest house, better known as Kacharighar or Baithakkhana.
Religious identity or cast was not considered at the baitakkhana as huge Hindu and Muslim community people attended as medium and major leaders in the village.
It was the gathering centre for any marriage ceremony, Sunnote Khatna or similar programmes as there was no community centre in the rural village then.
Kasarighar or Baithakkhana is now days badly felt when the society was divided in to factions following village rivalry and family feud and social unrest situation has been prevailing at all spheres of life, Rahmat Ali Mantu said.