Publisher's Synopsis
Gotul is the ancient custom of the indigenous people of central India, whereby their educational institutions are called Gotul. This is a self-operated youth house. In this institution, the youths are taught their history, their culture and social system by high officials holding senior administrative posts. Gotul has been transferring its history, customs, and social systems to the next generation through the medium of its historical songs. Here, the youth is trained in warfare who then protect the tribes against innumerable attacks. The man who holds the highest office in Gotul is called Mukwan while his female counterpart is called Belosa. Every year, it is the Mukwan and the Belosa who provide the membership of the Gotul to the new youths. Gotul is a self-operated organisation, the entry into which is solely dependent on membership and once a member bids farewell to the Gotul, it becomes impossible for her or him to enter it again. Their undocumented but strict laws strictly prohibits the entrance of any foreign person inside its premises. In case of any emergency, this youth house stands in solidarity with the tribe and tries to help every possible tribe. Starting from birthdays to the funerals, any occasion of the tribe is impossible without the Gotul. From time to time, Gotul is invited by the head of the tribe and the village council to voice its stand on some particular decision. Gotul is the tribe's center of energy.Bastar is one of the districts of central India which is also called a tribal land and which is world famous for its tribal culture. Gotul is the historical witness of its cultural grandeur. Yermihtna is a lively and touching novel based on the background of Bastar. In this novel, the name of the Gotul is Yermihtna, and keeping it at the center, this novel tries to redefine Bastar, indigenous people and their life's philosophy. It not only represents the indigenous people of Bastar or India, but the entire world. This sheds light on how these indigenous people have been bravely fighting against religion, politics and business to protect their water, forest and nature-dependent life. These indigenous people are the ones who have been struggling amidst the directionless war between the government and the Naxalites in Bastar, especially. This is the immortal saga of these very strugglers who are living truth away from man-made artificialities. Their definition is: "Yermihtna". It has been awarded the status of being the greatest Gotul because of its liveliness, sacrifice, compassion, bravery, struggle, oblation, and dedication. This novel brings to life the relationship between the indigenous people and their Gotul. While reading, the reader starts believing themselves to be a part of this Gotul where one of its warriors and his companion have decided to bid farewell to this Gotul, of which they have been a part since the time they had gained consciousness, by declaring themselves as companions for life in front of the entire Gotul but then something happens, the untold tale of which is described by every corner of the Gotul, which has lived it too and also became a part of that love, sacrifice and oblation. This tale is undocumented yet alive and it became immortal through the means of the Gotul's songs. This tale not only touches every facet of human life and makes the readers realise it, but it also forces them to live this tale in their life every day, and destroys the innumerable hypocrisies laden in it. Such is the description of this Gotul and hence it is aptly called "Yermihtna" which means "first bath". The procedure of the first bath that a child is given by the mother after its birth is called Yermihtna. The indegenous people who live this Gotul believe that when the mother bathes her child for the first time, it fills the child with energy for a lifetime. This energy stays by the child in all situations. This is the reason why this saga is called "Yermihtna- A Great Gotul",
