Slums have a thing about them. They look the same in every country. This one at Sayedabad locality in Dhaka was no different— palm-thatched mud huts and shanties covered with colourful designs. As we moved from the main road to the dark alleys, nothing much changed. However, there was one difference. The deeper we went, the graffiti in linier eastern-Nagri script of Bangla gave way to the cursive and round Telugu script. Also, there was a visible change in the dresses and appearances of the people who lived in these houses. White coarse saris gave way to colourful and patterned ones; and lungis were replaced by Angavastrams. Welcome to Dhaka’s Telugu colony!

The Telugu people were first introduced here by the British after the Sepoy Mutiny. Although many of them were soldiers in the Imperial Army, the majority worked as janitors. The then Gazetteer of Dhaka puts their population to around 20,000. Today, their population has swelled to around 3,50,000, and their profession remains unchanged. “Of the 12 sects of Telugus, members of only three sects—Kapolo, Malolo and Shaklolo – migrated to Bangladesh,” quips Alluvari Demudu, a community elder. “Kapolo, who were from royal blood of Kapu were brought as mercenaries. The rest work as sweepers.”

The community has remarkably preserved their unique culture and cuisine in this foreign clime. Women still wear nose-pins on the both sides of their noses – something that is not very common among Bangalis; so also are silver anklets and toe-rings. Shankar Pollati Apparo, head of Telugu Development Society says, “We struggle hard to preserve our culture. But it is difficult. Youngsters prefer Bangla over Telugu. There are no jobs apart from a janitor’s if you speak only Telugu. Also, we are constantly uprooted and cannot have any permanent home.” When you are poor the only thing you own is your identity. That is the last thing you loose before sinking into oblivion. ....Continue