Life in Villages - Villagers in India

The Indian villagers lead a natural life. They do not know of any artificiality and outward show which characterize the town life. Cowper, in one of his poems has rightly said, "God made the country and man made the town."

The villagers in India live a simple and pure life. They start their work early in the morning, and remain in the fields till sunset. Everything is done leisurely. Life is lived at a slow pace; they do not seem to be in a hurry. They do not have any craze for material pursuits. There is no cutthroat competition and the degrading struggle for existence among them. They take every thing in an easy way.

Life in an Indian village is calm and peaceful. It is free from the noise and din, the hustle and bustle and the rush of traffic. The village has always been known to be a place of peace and quiet. The scattered houses among hundreds of plants and trees indicate the lack of activities in the village.

The workers in the village leave their homes early in the morning to work in the plantations or towns near by. Some have their own plantations, and some make certain articles in their homes to sell them in the towns. A few of the villagers, including women, go out to catch fish in the streams and rivers found in the village. Though the people of the village do not usually earn much, they seem to be contented.

In the afternoon, most of the villagers are at home. Some of them take a nap after lunch, do some work in their small gardens or pay some visit to the small shops in the various parts of the village. In the evening, the villagers meet one another. Some play cards and other types of games which are peculiar to the village. Some talk about the day's incidents in the village, and those whose minds go beyond the village discuss world events.

In almost every village there is a headman whose duty is to settle quarrels among the villagers and maintain peace in the village. Whenever there is a dispute, the villagers go to the headman who is held in such esteem that his words have the force of law. In this way the villagers have developed their own simple laws, and the crimes of cities are almost unknown to the people of the village.

During a festival, the whole village is alive with activities. Everyone is in a happy mood and plays his part to make the festival a success. This is the time for the men, women and children of the village to wear their best clothes and the village is full of color.

These simple ways of life in the village, however, must soon change. Progress in science and education has already begun to affect the outlook of the people in the village. Hundreds are leaving the village to seek their fortunes in the towns and cities.