Malana, a tiny village in Parvati
Valley of Kullu district, notorious for its best quality cannabis
and flourishing drug trade, now wants to be known for better
reasons.
Responding to the state government's proposal of rural tourism, the
village's 'parliament' and the local deity has allowed people to
throw open their houses to tourists for food and lodging.
Thrilled babus in the tourism development department term this as an
indication that the village is finally ready to come out of time
warp.
An alternate to drug peddling, tourism is being touted as the next
best lucrative option, especially for youngsters. The village is
located in one of the most picturesque valleys of Himachal.
Hostility shown by villagers in the past has earlier thwarted
attempts but babus, at the helm of affairs, are optimistic.
"The proposal has been accepted by both the lower and upper house of
village parliament," said Rakesh Kapoor, assistant commissioner,
Kullu. As per ancient tradition, all matters, including judicial,
are solved by the village's parliament, acknowledged to be the
oldest surviving democracy in the world.
A law unto itself, the matter once decided by the parliament, is
ratified by the 'divine power'.
Priest of the temple of Jamlu Devta acts as a mediator between man
and God and after communion pronounces the decision to the
villagers.
The rural tourism proposal was given a green signal by Jamlu Devta
recently.
Malana THE
OLDEST PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD |
