Tangail Correspondent
The red soil of the Sal forests in the hilly Ghar region of Tangail was once home to a vast food storehouse for forest dwellers: various types of wild yams. This food was a primary source of sustenance for the Garo and Koch communities of this area, a unique element of their life and livelihood. Considered by the locals as part of their ancient culture and heritage, harvesting these tasty and nutritious yams was a joyous activity. However, these heritage-rich, quality yams are rarely seen anymore. Due to a lack of government patronage and the destruction of natural forests, this abundant food resource is disappearing. Even in the remaining surviving forests, the diverse varieties of wild yams are not found as before.
It is known that the historically famous Madhupur Sal forest was once covered in deep wilderness. The Garo and Koch indigenous communities lived around the forest. The Khamals (traditional healers) of the Garo community used various trees and plants from the forest for treatment. Local residents also received herbal treatments. The forest-dwelling indigenous people consumed various wild foods. The forest's vast food store provided for their additional nutritional needs. Various materials for baskets and other items were also collected from the forest. Wild yams, full of nutritional value, were a key part of their diet. The indigenous people call wild yams 'Thamandi' or 'Thajong' in their language. 'Thamandi' is an Achik word, meaning wild yam.
These yams were found in the natural Sal forests of Madhupur, Ghatail, Sakhipur, Mirzapur, and parts of Kalihati. They grew naturally in the red soil of the Sal forest. Besides these yams, various other known and unknown types of yams were found inside the forest. The forest-roaming Garo people, living around the forest, knew how to find them. It is believed that Jum cultivation made it easier to discover these yams. During that time, they built small thatched huts or platforms for living. They beautifully made houses using forest thatch (Chhon), and bamboo or small, slender trees from the forest for the structure. In the past, if there was a food shortage, they would rush to the forest. Indigenous people living in the forest areas said that harvesting yams for a short time would provide food for the family for several days.
Talking to locals in various Garo villages in Madhupur, such as Gayra, Pirgacha, Dharati, Mominpur, Jolashtra, Gachabari, Bhutia, and Chunia, it was learned that the Garos of these areas call wild yams 'Thamandi' or 'Thajong' in their Garo or Achik language. According to them, it is known that the Garo community were the first to discover wild yams in the Madhupur Sal forest.
Harvesting wild yams is part of the culture of the Garo and Koch communities living in the hilly areas. They used to collect these yams, their second most important wild food, with joy and ease. They would boil and eat these yams. They were tasty and full of nutrition. They offer wild yams to the Saljong deity (Crop deity) during their Wangala festival. Wild yam was a primary item for hosting guests or relatives. Even now, small quantities of various types of wild yams can be found in the forest.
Further discussions with indigenous Garo people in the forest area revealed that in the past, various types of wild yams like Gati Alu, Garo Alu, Pan Alu, Goiza Alu, Dudh Alu, Shimul Alu, Cassava, and Dhanmocha Alu were found in the Madhupur forest. These yams were among their traditional culture and list of favorite foods.
A Garo woman named Archana Nakrek (50) informed that in the past, many people collected these yams from the forest and sold them locally to earn money. Wild yams were also sent to the homes of distant relatives. To propagate the wild yams, the indigenous people would replant the yam vines in the soil after harvesting. The vines would grow again. They would climb like vines around Sal, Garjan, and other tree species. These yams were harvested most during the months of Falgun-Chaitra (February-April). They were dried in the sun and stored at home. As natural forests have decreased, yams are not found like before anymore.
Ajay A. Mree, President of the Greater Mymensingh Development Cultural Forum, said, "Natural forests have been cleared, resulting in a decrease in wild yams. Due to social forestry and other projects, forests and undergrowth are being cleared, leading to a decline in wild yams, biodiversity, and wildlife. Besides indigenous people, others who collect yams to sell do not replant the vines after harvesting. As a result, wild yams are decreasing." He said, "Social forestry should be stopped to increase natural forests. After harvesting yams, the vines must be replanted." He emphasized the need to raise public awareness.
