The traditional bamboo paddy granary, locally known as the Dol or Gola, is rapidly disappearing from the rural landscapes of Narail.
As the paddy harvesting season reaches its peak, farmers are occupied with the various stages of reaping, threshing, parboiling, drying, and cleaning their crops.
However, the once-essential bamboo Dol, traditionally used to store the entire year’s harvest, is now a rare sight.
In the past, these round-shaped granaries were meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans and placed upon elevated bamboo or wooden platforms known as Macha. For the elderly, these structures remain a vivid memory, but for the younger generation, they are fast becoming a part of history, bordering on folk tales.
The decline of this rural tradition is largely due to the emergence of modern alternatives. Jute sacks and drums made of tin or plastic have usurped the place of the traditional bamboo Dol. These modern options are favoured because they are readily available in markets and involve no construction hassle, leading to an increased reliance on plastic materials.
Additionally, a growing scarcity of bamboo groves in local neighbourhoods has contributed to the decline.
Ohab Kazi, a resident of Naldi Union aged over sixty, observed that paddy preservation methods have changed with the times. He noted that farmers are no longer able to stock paddy in the same quantities as before, making the once-indispensable Gola a rare sight.
Pakhi Sheikh, a farmer from the same locality, recalled the reliability of the traditional method. “Previously, the Dol was the safest and most durable option for storing paddy,” he said. “Now, because drums and sacks are easily found in the market, everyone is leaning towards them”.
The shift has also significantly impacted local bamboo artisans. Craftsmen reported that while there was once a high demand for their skills in constructing Dols, the lack of work has now forced the majority of them to abandon their ancestral trade for other professions.
Local conscious circles have expressed concern, noting that the bamboo Dol was not only a part of rural heritage but also an environmentally friendly and long-lasting storage solution. They have called for initiatives to educate the new generation about these traditions. To prevent this century-old tradition from vanishing entirely, they emphasised that it is vital to preserve such folk materials and rural cultural heritage.
