No man8217;s land caught in a tug-of-war

Interestingly, this fair is a major reason why both governments are reluctant to give up claim to the hill: both want to develop it into an annual tourist attraction. As of today, tribals of the three neighbouring villages shoulder the responsibility of organising the mela, while the Rajasthan and Gujarat police jointly take care of the security.

8220;Since people from both Rajasthan and Gujarat attend the mela, it becomes a joint responsibility8221;, says Dahod Collector E I Kalashva.

While the tribals themselves are oblivious about who owns the land, officials of either State seem to trying to checkmate the other. Some years ago, the Rajasthan government constructed a Gram Panchayat building on the hill, and followed it up in 1998 by putting up a board of its literacy campaign.

The Gujarat government, loath to be left behind, inaugurated a dharamshala right next to the Gram Panchayat building in March this year. According to Kalashva, the dharamshala was meant expressly for tribals coming to the mela.

If these buildings are mere symbols, development is a victim of unclear jurisdiction. Significantly enough, it is the Rajasthan government that laid the first road to Mangarh. But Kalashva says a road to make Mangarh accessible from Gujarat was being built. 8220;Almost four kms have been laid; the road will be complete by the end of the year8221;, he adds.

Interestingly enough, both States base their claims to the Mangarh hill on history8217;. 8220;Government gazettes clearly state that Mangarh belongs to Gujarat8221;, says Kalashva. 8220;We have sent them the Rajasthan government scores of communiques, along with copies of the gazettes, stating that Mangarh belongs to Gujarat.8221; Retorts Banswada Rajasthan Collector Suraj Mal Meena, 8220;The historical gazettes in our possession clearly state that it is our land.8221;

About the only encouraging sign in this impasse is the two collectors8217; admission that the conflict needs to be resolved. 8220;Both governments are seized of the matter. Forest, collectorate and police officials of both States will meet soon to discuss the matter8221;, say Kalashva and Meena.

So where does it leave the local people? In much the same place they have occupied all these years. 8220;It doesn8217;t matter who the land belongs to. It8217;s significant to us because our guru fought a war here8221;, says Gorji Pargi of Bhanvar village. Agrees Dhansukhbhai of Anandipuri, 8220;To us, borders are unimportant. We revere this place and will continue to visit it even if the record books say it belongs to Gujarat.8221;

That, in fact, is the way it has been all these years. According to locals, it is 8220;outsiders8221; who are blowing the issue out of proportion. Among the guilty they name a former Rajasthan MLA, who has put up a statue of himself in Mangarh, and frequently voices his State8217;s claim to the land. This has triggered off a demand for similar activism across the border. In Santrampur, the town closest to Mangarh, some quarters feel local politicians aren8217;t doing enough to claim the land. 8220;Our local MLA has done precious little towards this end. See what their politicians are doing8221;, says a Santrampur-based businessman.

With officials and outsiders8217; determined to see the issue to its logical end, the locals8217; pacifism may find it up against a tough fight.