‘Haats’, open-air markets that serve as trading venues for local people in rural areas and towns, have a magic associated with them – the magic that is known to induce the irresistible urge to own all the beautiful things that lie scattered around you. One of the most culturally and aesthetically diverse states in India, Orissa has its fair share of ‘haats’ tucked away in every corner that are a means of livelihood for many. Sunday Post takes a look around the most unique ‘haats’ in the state and recounts their history.
Today, the rural people have as much access to commodities as their urban counterparts. One of the reasons that this has been possible is ‘haats’. ‘Haats’ are a traditional form of the modern-day supermarket –only a bit less commercial. They have been a part of rural India since centuries and till date operate in a similar fashion: they are set up weekly and people from the nearby villages come to buy and sell goods.
Malls have put an end to that unexplained excitement of running through one of those scattered ‘haats’ and squeezing into its narrow lanes to buy one single item. There are believed to be around 47,000 permanent ‘haats’, mostly concentrated in Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. They are also known as ‘peta’, ‘angadi’, ‘hatwari’, ‘shandies’, ‘chindies’ or ‘painths’ in different parts of the country.
‘Haats’ are a boon to small-scale farmers in fulfilling their economic potential by allowing them to sell their products, while promoting the local food system. For people who are largely dependent on small-scale agriculture, this local market development has proved to be beneficial.
‘Haats’ are markets that cater to customers on a weekly or bi-weekly basis in an open field, which is accessible to most families. Difficulty or even inability to access the market because of lack of access to transportation is an obstacle for local farmers to earn a supplemental income by selling their products. With a majority of the rural population depending directly on small-scale agriculture, ‘haats’ offer a unique opportunity for producers to increase their profits.
According to data obtained from historical records, before the ‘haat’ came into being, the barter system was prevalent. The history of bartering dates all the way back to 6000 BC. Introduced by Mesopotamian tribes, bartering was later adopted by the Phoenicians. Phoenicians bartered goods to those located in various other cities across the oceans. The Babylonians developed an improved bartering system. Goods were exchanged for food, tea, weapons, and spices. At times, human skulls were used as well.
Salt was another popular item exchanged. Is was so valuable that Roman soldiers’ salaries were paid with it. In the Middle Ages, Europeans travelled around the globe to barter crafts and furs in exchange for silks and perfumes. Colonial Americans exchanged musket balls, deer skins, and wheat. When money was invented, bartering did not end, it become more organised.
Due to lack of money, bartering became popular in the 1930s during the Great Depression. It was used to obtain food and various other services. It was done through groups or between people who acted similar to banks. If any item was sold, the owner would receive credit and the buyer’s account would be debited.
According to superintending archaeologist Jeevan Patnaik *** “There is no evidence that can prove that the ‘haat’ as a system existed from a particular period. The barter system was an old method of exchange. It existed for centuries long before currency was invented. People exchanged services and goods for other services and goods.”
“Bartering doesn’t involve money, which is one of its great advantages. You can buy items by exchanging an item you have but no longer want or need. Bartering still exists among people in remote areas with no access to the cash economy. In these societies, bartering often is a necessary means of survival. During excavations, we have found many commercial sites on which the aborigines were dependant for a living. Thus, the ‘haat’ system was present since the earliest days of civilization,” he said.
Tapan Kumar Pati, lecturer in history at Kendrapara Autonomous College, said: “If we go back 100 years, the ‘mandi’ system was in place, which later took the form of ‘haat’. Before the ‘mandi’ system was introduced, the barter system was the sole means of trading. In colonial America, the colonists used bartering to procure the goods and services they needed. Even after the invention of money, people continued to barter. But there is no evidence as to when ‘haats’ began to develop. With the arrival of the Britishers, the number of towns multiplied which gave birth to new ‘haats’.”
Apart from vegetable and fish among other haats, there are some fascinating haats seen in present days.
‘Manisa Haat’ – Labour Market
Contractors, party workers and common people make a beeline to this market. Come morning and Manisha haat at Badheibanka bustles with activity till about 8 am where labourers offer their services for a price.
They stand in quiet queues by the side of a road at Badheibanka under Lingaraj police limits, offering themselves virtually for sale for a few hours. These men and women of different ages, most of them illiterate and poor, feel lucky if they are picked for eight-hour shifts of physical labour. They are the daily-wage labourers who form the bulk of the vast unorganised labour market in the Capital popularly known as the “labour haat”. Badheibanka is one of the biggest junctions for these daily workers. It witnesses congregation of 400-500 daily labourers every day.
Apart from Badheibanka, there are nearly 32 labour haats in Bhubaneswar where daily-wage labourers offer themselves like ordinary goods. The ongoing construction boom in the city often manages to find work for most of them who come to these haats from towns and villages around Bhubaneswar by trains and buses.
There are about 3.5 lakh daily-wage labourers in the unorganized sector in Bhubaneswar and its vicinity, nearly all without labour cards and benefits such as Provident Fund and ESI, say labour unions active in the city.
“We are the human machines that build this fast-growing city, its roads and buildings. Every day I come to the place to get hired by somebody. I have been running my family by doing so for last 12 years” says Ganesh, a mason who comes from Dhauli looking for work.
“’We are capable of undertaking road construction, building works and agricultural works in the town. We have been gathering here for a long time in this area expecting good returns,.
The labour haats, all of them unofficial sites for finding daily-wage labourers, have no roof to protect these men and women from rain or scorching summer heat.
Even the most crowded labour haats such as Nayapalli, Kalpana Square, Baramunda and Chandrasekharpur have no basic amenities for them.
The daily workers generally earn Rs 400 everyday.
Bijay Nayak, a worker from Nayagarh, says “He gets work of only about 20 work days at these haats. My day starts at 6 am at the labour stand at Badheibanka. Constant exposure to extreme weather conditions in the open space affects our health.
“I wait with lunch packed, in the haat from early in the morning for work. Anyone can avail of our services for eight hours a day by visiting this market,” he adds.
Apart from construction and agricultural works, labourers are booked in advance for marriage processions and dinner parties with the help of middlemen. Besides, people flock to Manisha haat during functions of political parties.
Coconut Market
Sakhigopal is famous for coconut cultivation. But many people must not aware of coconut haat which takes place twice a week at Sakhigopal. Apart from coconuts, fresh coconut water (paida pani) from the freshly plucked green-coconut trees, is a must if you are an avid nature lover. At the haat, one has to spend only Rs4-5 for a coconut.
“Orissa is one of the top three states in terms of coconut productivity thanks to Sakhigopal where coconut cultivation is a passion for every family. At coconut haat, around 80-100 coconut sellers gather. Coconut cultivation has seen a decline in last few years due to state government’s apathetic attitude. It has done little to boost the coconut cultivation. A coconut businessman earns Rs 10-12,000 from the haat weekly. It is a matter of shame that though 70 per cent coconut is produced from Sakhigopal, the government has done little for the development of coconut farmers. Middlemen usually buy coconut from us in cheaper rates and sell them in Rs 20 for each coconut. Despite being a coconut farmer, I paid Rs 45 for a paida (coconut water) when my father was admitted in a Bhubaneswar-based hospital”, says Somnath Biswal who chooses to do coconut farming despite having good academic degrees.
‘Handia Haat’
Almost every day, a group of tribal people gather at Gandhi market on National Highway 5 to sell Handia. It is noteworthy that the Handia haat is always held at a distance from the main haat.
“There is also the general haat to which people from nearby villages come to purchase vegetables, cereals, pulses and clothes. In this situation, the tribal women bring Handia for marketing purpose and sit separately from the main market. It is seen that the tribal women mostly dominate the Handia haat, while the general market is dominated by males. Some of the young women coming to the haat to sell Handia are dressed up in all their finery to attract customers. They earn Rs500-700 by selling a thousand liters of Handia per a day”, says a customer at Handia haat on condition of anonymity.
“Apart from selling at Indradhanu market, tribal women at Birakuti slum near Mancheswar railway station in Bhubaneswar eke out their livings by selling Handia at Handia haat. Nowadays, other caste people also consume Handia for intoxication. As a result, Handia has become commercialized gradually. But these consumers do not allow their children to consume Handia. Sometimes businessmen and cultivators order Handia from tribal women; so they can provide Handia for their labourers, and attract them to work for them. Also, during social functions, households sometimes order Handia from tribal women, to serve their guests and relatives”, he adds.
Handia is a country liquor made from fragmented rice with toxic herbs. Handia is regarded as a popular drink among the tribals. The tribal people take Handia as an important drink at breakfast, lunch and dinner. One can manage for 10 to 15 days without any other food. All women who come to sell handia at the haat, are able to earn enough to take care of their basic family needs.