00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:09.200
In the region of Garhwal and Kumaon
there are 1053 empty villages.

00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:24.320
In my ancestral village, Semla,
only 7 people remain.

00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.600
Once 50 families used to live here.

00:01:35.600 --> 00:01:45.200
Semla was formed 800 years ago,
after a wave of migration to the region.

00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:50.400
It is believed that a war started that migration.

00:01:50.400 --> 00:01:56.440
Our story, however, is about a migration of a new era.

00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.840
There is no paper to burn.

00:03:34.360 --> 00:03:37.120
I will have to tear this Mahabharata!

00:03:37.120 --> 00:03:39.840
How else do I start the fire?

00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:43.760
Your uncle used to stock a lot of firewood there.

00:03:43.760 --> 00:03:46.960
And now...

00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:16.720
Earlier one couldn't tell the day
from the night in the farms.

00:04:16.720 --> 00:04:21.080
Everyone worked together on the farms.

00:04:21.080 --> 00:04:28.520
Asha Ram's mother used to come and de-husk rice.

00:04:28.520 --> 00:04:36.640
Other families would also be working.

00:04:36.640 --> 00:04:42.920
Their farms were also brimming with people.

00:04:42.920 --> 00:04:48.520
It seemed like night never descended on the farms.

00:04:48.520 --> 00:04:52.480
It used to be like a fair.

00:05:58.320 --> 00:06:00.800
This is strong.

00:06:10.200 --> 00:06:13.600
This tree is Gandela.

00:06:14.920 --> 00:06:16.320
Kadipatta...

00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:34.280
I have seen these fields flourish with grains.

00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:38.840
Can you imagine that this farm was once fertile?

00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:57.560
We used to play cricket here.

00:06:57.560 --> 00:07:04.640
Kids used to play here, and adults would play there.

00:07:04.640 --> 00:07:12.680
All of us...Satish, Anil, Mukesh, Manoj.
We all used to play here.

00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:14.320
Till when?

00:07:14.320 --> 00:07:17.640
Until 8-10 years ago.

00:07:17.640 --> 00:07:22.280
Ever since people migrated,
this place has become desolate.

00:07:22.280 --> 00:07:24.960
These were all farms.

00:07:24.960 --> 00:07:29.760
The old women, Annabhai's mother, would
abuse us for ruining their farms.

00:07:29.760 --> 00:07:35.240
So we would go and play there.

00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:44.000
Why do you think people are migrating from here?

00:07:46.720 --> 00:07:52.240
For one, people now have money.

00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:58.080
And they want facilities for their kids.

00:07:58.080 --> 00:08:04.520
Now facilities are here as well, but people
with money go to cities to make more money.

00:08:04.520 --> 00:08:08.440
This is what I think.

00:08:08.440 --> 00:08:13.320
If we had the money, we too would have migrated.

00:08:13.320 --> 00:08:20.400
But we have no such means so we have to live here.

00:08:20.400 --> 00:08:28.040
Other people migrate to cities
for their children's education.

00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:33.760
They have invested their money
in buying land there.

00:08:33.760 --> 00:08:37.800
So entire families have shifted.

00:08:37.800 --> 00:08:42.920
We don't have any such means.

00:08:42.920 --> 00:08:52.440
But it's ok, whatever is in our destiny...

00:09:57.040 --> 00:10:04.960
My mind is not at peace.
I am very restless here.

00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:20.920
When I meet my friends in the city,
they ask me what I am up to.

00:10:20.920 --> 00:10:23.480
I say, I am up to nothing!

00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:30.600
If I stay in this village, I can only
become a thief or dacoit.

00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:18.400
What did you eat? Dal?

00:11:18.400 --> 00:11:19.280
Kadi.

00:11:19.280 --> 00:11:21.200
You ate Kadi?
Hmm.

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:25.680
Where did you get the buttermilk from?
Must be from the other village.

00:11:42.760 --> 00:11:44.720
Look at this place.

00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:52.840
Earlier, Shakuni wouldn't even let people pass
through here and now it's completely barren.

00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:59.840
Who is here now?

00:12:07.280 --> 00:12:15.720
Congratulations! Your grandmother died.

00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:19.240
Can't you give a little more oil?

00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:23.960
You should eat less oil.

00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:27.240
Am I supposed to drink your parents' blood instead?

00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:31.040
Did your grandmother die?
Yes.

00:12:31.040 --> 00:12:38.040
How did she die? She was so nice.

00:12:38.040 --> 00:12:41.000
How old are you?

00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:43.160
I must be over 60...

00:12:43.160 --> 00:12:46.960
You are only 60?

00:12:46.960 --> 00:12:50.440
You must be 70-80 at least.

00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:55.360
My grandmother died in her 90's.

00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:57.240
She died at 90?

00:12:57.240 --> 00:13:00.960
Do you think I am older than her?

00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:02.880
Are you older than her?

00:13:02.880 --> 00:13:06.440
No, I am younger!

00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:08.960
She already had children when I was very young.

00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:13.480
Oh God! There used to be so much poverty!

00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:21.720
Once I saw your uncles making rope.

00:13:21.720 --> 00:13:28.800
So, I asked them if anyone had died...

00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:38.400
Look at these lumps in the dough!

00:14:51.400 --> 00:14:56.640
Someone came to scare me last night.

00:14:56.640 --> 00:14:59.400
Who?

00:14:59.400 --> 00:15:02.480
Was it a ghost?

00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:07.200
It was a human, I swear.

00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:13.600
He came and started banging on the broken drum.

00:15:13.600 --> 00:15:15.160
I remained silent.

00:15:15.160 --> 00:15:19.240
Then he kicked the door.

00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:31.000
As my doors are very strong,
I told him to break his head.

00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:37.520
They come to scare me because
they know I live alone...

00:15:37.520 --> 00:15:43.520
in the middle of empty houses and a hospital.

00:15:43.520 --> 00:15:47.880
The few who live in the village sleep early.

00:15:47.880 --> 00:15:50.200
Then, who else is here?

00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:10.080
They want to scare me.

00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:15.280
so I leave this house and move somewhere else.

00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:21.960
But I will not leave.

00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:27.160
Who has the guts to come inside?

00:16:27.160 --> 00:16:30.880
I will take the sickle and chop off their heads.

00:16:30.880 --> 00:16:34.800
Now take that!

00:16:41.120 --> 00:16:43.440
O mother!

00:16:46.120 --> 00:16:48.560
Now I will rub the ash on this kettle.

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:56.200
The fire will burn and then die.

00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:21.040
That didn't fall.

00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:58.720
This tree is very old.

00:19:03.080 --> 00:19:11.120
It must be 40-50 years old at the very least.

00:19:19.080 --> 00:19:26.720
Our old house must be more than 100 years old.

00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.280
Really?

00:19:28.280 --> 00:19:29.280
Really?
Yes

00:19:34.240 --> 00:19:35.720
Did your grandfather make it?

00:19:35.720 --> 00:19:40.000
My grandfather's grandfather did.

00:21:25.120 --> 00:21:28.160
When did you first visit the city?

00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:38.920
I visited Bpuram town when I was in 4th standard.

00:21:38.920 --> 00:21:47.200
That time the Tehri Dam was under construction
and the old town was getting submerged.

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:51.520
Could you see the old-town then?

00:21:52.040 --> 00:21:56.080
Yes, it was half-visible and half-submerged.

00:21:56.080 --> 00:22:02.240
The water was just below the market.

00:22:02.240 --> 00:22:07.120
One could touch the water from the road.

00:22:07.120 --> 00:22:09.040
Where is that town now?

00:22:09.040 --> 00:22:14.320
It's under water.

00:22:14.320 --> 00:22:20.600
A dam was built over it.

00:22:20.600 --> 00:22:27.320
Now it's become a Tourist Spot.

00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:43.440
Twice I have cleaned here, and thrice there.

00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:50.680
While people must be sowing grains,
I am uprooting weed.

00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:57.880
Last time you said you will grow grains for me.

00:23:57.880 --> 00:24:00.360
A lot of it.

00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:03.200
Let it be.

00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:07.440
It's not possible for me to farm any more.

00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:17.720
All my farms are barren.

00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:24.920
Last year, I attended to my farms for only 6 days.

00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:27.880
To hell with this!

00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:40.440
No, I don't farm anymore.

00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:45.440
I don't sow now.

00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:49.040
I have nothing now.

00:24:49.040 --> 00:24:53.840
Let me fetch a bucket of water.

00:25:03.120 --> 00:25:05.320
This is a difficult situation for me as well.

00:25:05.320 --> 00:25:11.080
I have children and family in the city...

00:25:11.080 --> 00:25:15.760
I struggle to divide my time here and there.

00:25:15.760 --> 00:25:20.360
I am always worried about her.

00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:25.120
That day she fell here and broke her leg.

00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:28.440
It's very stressful for me!

00:25:28.440 --> 00:25:33.280
People will only blame me for
not looking after my mother.

00:25:33.280 --> 00:25:37.720
But no one knows the reality.

00:25:37.720 --> 00:25:39.640
As they say,

00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:46.440
everyone watches when the cat dies
but no one notices the milk she spills.

00:25:56.680 --> 00:26:02.120
After the fire, this area got cleared up.

00:26:02.120 --> 00:26:06.600
Else the leopard used to sit here.

00:26:06.600 --> 00:26:13.080
One time, the leopard was looking at me
and I was looking at him.

00:26:13.080 --> 00:26:17.880
He was there and I was here.

00:26:21.800 --> 00:26:26.560
I have met leopards, I have met ghosts.

00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:30.040
Even humans who were no less than ghosts.

00:26:30.040 --> 00:26:32.480
Still, I did not die.

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:38.320
My legs shake now. I am unable to work.

00:26:38.320 --> 00:26:43.280
I don't even have a bucket of water.

00:27:06.320 --> 00:27:12.200
Can you ask her if she will come with me?

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:16.880
Aunty, will you go to the city?

00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:20.920
I am not going anywhere.

00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:52.040
Hey! Look across the hill.

00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:59.000
They must be people from the Kunda Village.

00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:03.200
Their bright clothes are visible even from far away.

00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:08.760
But my old clothes are not visible.

00:29:11.200 --> 00:29:17.600
They must have come to sow the farms.

00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:20.560
Or perhaps not.

00:29:20.560 --> 00:29:28.240
Someone can clearly be seen though.

00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:19.880
We have worked a lot on these farms.

00:31:19.880 --> 00:31:24.320
But life has become difficult since
the farms were shut down.

00:31:24.320 --> 00:31:31.880
The owners of these farms have migrated,
leaving the farms barren.

00:31:53.960 --> 00:31:59.240
We have sowed pulses and jhangora rice in this field...

00:31:59.240 --> 00:32:04.160
and the other one too.

00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:06.840
We have ploughed here.

00:32:06.840 --> 00:32:13.760
This one, that one, over there.

00:32:13.760 --> 00:32:18.000
The farms stretched from here till the very top.

00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:43.520
People from our caste are landless.

00:32:43.520 --> 00:32:46.920
There are no opportunities.

00:32:46.920 --> 00:32:53.960
No jobs, nor any lands.

00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:07.960
Do you think if you owned the farms,
life would have been different?

00:33:07.960 --> 00:33:14.680
Yes, of course! Even if I had 3-4 fields,
life would have been much easier.

00:33:14.680 --> 00:33:24.600
I would have grown vegetables,
potatoes, onions, garlic...

00:33:24.600 --> 00:33:29.600
But the owners would rather leave
the farms barren than give them to us.

00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:49.520
People from our caste were oppressed
during the rule of the King.

00:33:49.520 --> 00:33:53.560
Things haven't changed.

00:33:53.560 --> 00:33:58.880
Nobody cares!

00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:38.960
I want to get a job.

00:35:38.960 --> 00:35:41.800
What kind of job?
Have you thought about it?

00:35:41.800 --> 00:35:48.360
Any kind. In a company or
whatever comes my way.

00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:52.080
You don't think of studying?

00:35:52.080 --> 00:35:56.800
I don't see any use in studying.

00:35:56.800 --> 00:36:00.720
There is no guarantee of a
job after studying.

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:10.840
Because there are many who, despite
an education, haven't found a job.

00:36:13.320 --> 00:36:17.480
One has to leave the village for a job.

00:36:18.440 --> 00:36:26.880
What do you think is the future
of a village like Semla?

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:32.040
These villages will disappear.

00:36:32.560 --> 00:36:35.360
Why do you feel so?

00:36:35.360 --> 00:36:37.440
Because there is no one in the village.

00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:41.800
People are migrating to educate their children.

00:36:41.800 --> 00:36:46.080
The next generation won't return.

00:36:48.080 --> 00:36:53.680
This village has already disappeared.
There are only two families left.

00:37:02.680 --> 00:37:04.840
What do you think about farming?

00:37:04.840 --> 00:37:09.000
Farming will not happen,

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:12.120
because there are no rains.

00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:18.560
Even if you manage to get water somehow...

00:37:18.560 --> 00:37:23.640
Then the wild boars will destroy the farms.

00:37:23.640 --> 00:37:27.760
Wild boars, rabbit, peacock, deer...

00:37:27.760 --> 00:37:30.920
So, there is no way to farm.

00:37:30.920 --> 00:37:35.080
What will we eat in the future then?

00:37:41.720 --> 00:37:44.600
Chemicals!

00:37:56.640 --> 00:37:59.240
Why have you come here?

00:37:59.240 --> 00:38:01.600
Go that side.

00:38:01.600 --> 00:38:04.200
You move that side, the hole is here.

00:38:06.640 --> 00:38:09.320
Dynamite.

00:38:12.080 --> 00:38:14.440
Don't let any vehicle come this side.

00:39:54.600 --> 00:39:57.960
Here, take these Rs.100.

00:39:57.960 --> 00:40:01.920
This is only Rs. 30.

00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:05.800
So! Where am I supposed
to get more money from?

00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:08.680
What do I know? Open your saree's knot.

00:40:08.680 --> 00:40:13.960
There is no money in this knot, only keys.

00:40:15.240 --> 00:40:18.680
Look, these are just keys.

00:40:18.680 --> 00:40:20.520
Then, should I give for Rs.30?

00:40:20.520 --> 00:40:23.520
How much will you give for Rs.30?
300 grams.

00:40:23.520 --> 00:40:26.160
And on whose head should I apply this oil?

00:40:26.160 --> 00:40:27.960
Whomsoever you choose.

00:40:31.040 --> 00:40:39.200
I am sure I have lent you
money in my past life.

00:40:41.440 --> 00:40:45.200
I told my daughter in the city,

00:40:45.200 --> 00:40:49.400
'You don't have to go to an office.'

00:40:49.400 --> 00:40:52.040
People are very frivolous there.

00:40:52.040 --> 00:40:56.800
Arey, but more than half of the staff
in an office is women these days.

00:40:56.800 --> 00:41:01.840
That may be true, but I told her not to go.

00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:06.680
Look at her. She is also a girl.
She travels places.

00:41:06.680 --> 00:41:08.440
She is young.

00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:11.960
There is no fear now.

00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:15.640
If a person remains meek, they die.

00:41:15.640 --> 00:41:21.880
But, those who are feisty are not messed with.

00:42:52.400 --> 00:42:57.200
During such dark nights, how will I live alone?

00:42:57.200 --> 00:43:02.040
With only the sounds of these birds chirping.

00:43:16.240 --> 00:43:20.520
You girl, give me a tablet that will let me die.

00:43:20.520 --> 00:43:28.080
I can't live here.
All alone, this is too much.

00:43:28.080 --> 00:43:33.040
Birds keep making noise all night.

00:43:33.040 --> 00:43:37.920
There is no one at the hospital.
Neither uphill nor downhill.

00:43:37.920 --> 00:43:41.040
I sit in gloom.

00:43:41.040 --> 00:43:44.600
How am I to pass my days?

00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:50.120
I would rather die.

00:43:50.840 --> 00:43:57.240
If only someone will give me a medicine to die...

00:43:57.240 --> 00:44:00.840
I can't live like this anymore.

00:44:11.120 --> 00:44:16.000
There is only one family here.
Even they don't talk to me.

00:44:17.520 --> 00:44:20.600
I am all alone in the jungle.

00:44:20.600 --> 00:44:28.320
At least one can talk to passers-by
from other houses.

00:44:28.320 --> 00:44:31.720
But here, there is no one.

00:44:32.240 --> 00:44:33.640
Drink your tea.

00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:46.520
In times long before our own.

00:47:46.520 --> 00:47:51.040
A war broke in a land faraway.

00:47:55.080 --> 00:48:01.040
All the men in the village
had to leave.

00:48:03.560 --> 00:48:06.080
The women were left behind,

00:48:06.080 --> 00:48:14.840
who watched their beloved
disappear into pine forests.

00:48:17.480 --> 00:48:20.000
One such woman was Susutna

00:48:20.000 --> 00:48:23.920
who waited for her lover to return.

00:48:25.480 --> 00:48:28.920
As she waited, many moons and suns rose and set.

00:48:29.880 --> 00:48:32.960
Several epochs passed.

00:48:33.360 --> 00:48:38.440
Waiting, Susutna fell into a deep sleep,

00:48:38.440 --> 00:48:46.680
and her body changed shape to became a mountain.

00:50:21.280 --> 00:50:26.240
I should take this petticoat.
This is the only one I have.

00:50:28.760 --> 00:50:35.160
There must be a petticoat in their house...

00:50:37.320 --> 00:50:42.280
Their house must have old clothes...

00:50:44.080 --> 00:50:50.680
My daughter says, you will stay with me.

00:50:51.560 --> 00:50:54.240
I said I won't be a burden... don't worry.

00:52:10.280 --> 00:52:18.440
Praveen and family are going to Dehradun city.

00:52:36.960 --> 00:52:40.600
I don't know where the
keys are for this lock.

00:52:40.600 --> 00:52:42.960
We could have used this one, but...

00:52:51.120 --> 00:52:56.920
The birds are ready too.

00:53:01.960 --> 00:53:05.360
The flowers are blooming in the hills.

00:53:05.360 --> 00:53:09.560
Spring is coming, isn't it?

00:53:09.560 --> 00:53:15.600
My mother must be calling me home.

00:53:34.280 --> 00:53:42.560
Rampyari, Bindu, Kula's wife and I,
and a few more of us...

00:53:42.560 --> 00:53:49.600
We would all go uphill into the jungle.

00:53:49.600 --> 00:53:54.800
From there, we could see
Bindu's mother house across the hill.

00:53:54.800 --> 00:53:59.440
Then she would say: look sister, my mother
is going from one room to another.

00:53:59.440 --> 00:54:02.840
I would say: have you lost your mind?

00:54:02.840 --> 00:54:10.520
We would all cry a lot and wonder which
lucky one will go to our maiden village.

00:56:04.720 --> 00:56:07.360
Where are you going?

00:56:07.360 --> 00:56:09.160
Why don't you sit with me?

00:56:09.160 --> 00:56:11.760
Help me instead.

00:56:13.800 --> 00:56:18.800
You were with your daughter in the city?

00:56:18.800 --> 00:56:23.360
I now stay with my daughter.

00:56:23.360 --> 00:56:27.320
You like it there?

00:56:27.320 --> 00:56:31.920
Everyone likes their children.

00:56:31.920 --> 00:56:36.000
No, you must be spending time indoors?

00:56:36.000 --> 00:56:40.240
Even if I don't go anywhere,

00:56:40.240 --> 00:56:43.440
I sit outside.

00:56:43.440 --> 00:56:47.280
There are many people to watch.

00:56:47.280 --> 00:56:51.560
Everyone is going in a different direction.

00:56:51.560 --> 00:56:55.640
There are so many people there.

00:56:55.640 --> 00:56:58.880
What else...