Demonetisation-the Grinch that stole Christmas from Garo Hills

TURA: The famous 1957 children’s picture book by Dr Seuss about a Grinch who hatefully resented Christmas so much that he stole the presents of the children of Whoville was a fictional story only that it is now being enacted in real life thanks to the ‘Demonetisation’ announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While the story of Dr Seuss ends on a happy note with the green skin toned Grinch repenting for his deeds and returning the gifts in time for the best celebration of Christmas, the same is not going to be the case for the several lakh Christians of Garo Hills who are preparing to welcome the birth of Lord Jesus Christ on Christmas Day.
In the absence of sufficient money to buy clothes and shoes for their children, let alone surprise gifts to be placed under the Christmas tree for their loved ones, people are expecting this to be the most subdued celebration in recent times.
One only needs to pay a visit to the biggest shopping centre in Garo Hills- Tura Super Market, to gauge the seriousness of the situation. Shops and business houses are having the leanest period in trade at the peak of the selling season.
Take the case of one S Paul who runs Purnima Garments at the shopping complex. He hasn’t even had a dozen customers till past noon. There was a time when customers jostled for space to buy clothes at his shop. “I had ordered in bulk clothes from Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai and other cities for the Christmas sale. Now I don’t know how I am going to even break even,” lamented Paul whose biggest customers are the middle class families of Garo Hills.
“The sale I use to receive during Christmas helps me to tide over my expenses in running the shop for the next six months. Now I don’t think it will even suffice to one month,” added Paul even as he expressed serious concern about getting blacklisted by the wholesale traders if he is unable to pay for the supplies dispatched to him by the ‘mahajans’.
The biggest worry for traders has been the lack of change during sale of their items. “I had to return as many as five customers who came with Rs 2000 notes because I did not have change to give them,” said a trader selling jackets in the market.
Dilip who runs Om Shahi mobile store complains that he has not even seen 20 per cent in sale since the Christmas season began.
“Lack of purchasing power by customers is leading to a downslide of the market,” he rues while one of his neighboring stores has not even opened account till 1 pm.
Bimol, a tailor by profession, had 24 orders for Christmas suits last year. “So far I have made only one suit for a wedding, this time,” said Bimol.
The story is the same everywhere in the market region of Garo Hills.
The village markets are having a meager sale when it comes to bulk purchases.
The Rongram market where the best yam is brought from the East Garo Hills region for sale has seen a downslide in its price. An entire basket of the yam is going for only Rs 200-300 while the price was far higher in the previous years.
The only silver lining on the eve of Christmas is the spirit of the people who despite all odds have not let their spirit down. Colour decorations and lighting has sprung up in different parts of Tura to welcome the birth of Christ.
“We may not have money but we have joy in our hearts. As long as everyone has a good time we are happy,” said a young local decorator who along with a group of friends has been helping in the decoration of his locality. The only difference between the Grinch of Dr Seuss and today’s Christmas is that one returned the gifts while the other is going without any.
However, they both have a similar ending to the story- Happiness.