Uday Das at his tea stall
Photo: Ambalika Singh
My name is Uday Das. I am from a village in Bihar; I have been working here in McLeod Ganj for the past ten or twelve years. Before opening my tea stall I was working as a chef in a restaurant. There I had eight or nine people working under me but the owner was not good to work with. It took me a lot of time to decide what I want to do next. Being a chef and then opening a tea stall did not give me happiness from inside, but I decided to quit my job and start my own business.
I open my shop at 6 o’clock in the morning and work til 12 o’clock, then go for a lunch break. Then I come back around 2 or 3 o’clock and work til 7 in the evening. Now, I’m being offered a job at a restaurant, and the money is good but I will continue with my small business. No matter what kind of work you’re doing, having your own business is the best irrespective of the income. After all I am a free man to do what I want.
When I first came here I felt out of the place. Coming from a village to a hill station was a big difference for me. McLeod Ganj was not like this few years back. There were fewer people visiting here, so there were fewer shops and hotels.
Ever since the Dharamshala cricket ground was completed and Indian Premiere League cricket matches started being played here, this place has got famous. A lot of tourists come here from other parts of India as well as foreigners.
I have so many friends from Tibetan community. I know that they are fighting for their freedom. There are candle light marches in the market area, and prayers being held in the main temple to support their community.
People can work and do their respective business. Many of the Tibetans are not in town as they have gone to sell winter wear in different areas of India. At the time of New Year tourists come here for the celebration, but Tibetan people celebrate their New Year in February. The celebration goes on for 3-4 days and most of the shops are closed. They’ll have visitors at home; lunch and dinners at each others’ places and you can feel their celebration too.
It’s not their homeland but I think the Tibetan people feel free and live peacefully here. I do not think there is any discrimination between people. In the Tibetan community, like any other, some are rich and some are poor. There is less crime in this part as compared to other parts of India, I think.
We all know about the Tibetans fighting for freedom of their land. When you come and live within the Tibetan community, you get to know about the suffering of people and at the same time the art of living. The courage to move on and live, not just survive.
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