The famous professions Vistiwala.

 

One of the famous professions lost is Vistiwala.

The Vistivalas are well known in history for saving the life of the Mughal emperor from that time. The emperor Humayun, who was drowning in Sher Shah's attack in the battle of Chausa, was saved by a Vistiwala named Nazim, but he did not recognize the emperor. Emperor Humayun thanked Vistiwal and promised to return and make him one day emperor. Later, the emperor returned and really called Vistiwala Nazim and made him the emperor of India for one day as promised. Until the middle of the twentieth century, Vistiwala was on the streets of Dhaka. In the nineteenth century, Dhaka city was in dire need of potable water. Like other parts of India, Dhaka had to depend on canals, rivers, or wells for drinking water. Then there was the era of mineral water. The skin of the animal was the only means of water supply. That leather bag was called "mosquito." It is known from Mizanur Rahman's Dhaka Purana, "In the olden days, tap water did not reach all the houses. Where there is no tap water, there is Vistiwala Sahay.

In Dhaka, the Vistiwalas were called "Sakkas." It is also known from Dhaka Purana that there was an organization of Vistivalas at that time. The head of the organization was called Nawab Visti. The Sikkatuli that can be seen in old Dhaka today was the area of ​​Vistis. In 1830, Henry Walters, the Magistrate of Dhaka, mentioned 10 Vistipalli in a census.

These followers of Islam were Sunni Muslims. During the Muharram procession, they could be seen in charge of keeping the streets clean by sprinkling water. Among the professional classes known as The Last Waterman, their own panchayat system was prevalent. In Lalbagh fort, the Vistis used to come in big leather bags filled with water.

Shamsur Rahman writes, "And Bulini is the Visti who used to go to our house twice a day with a bag full of water."

He added:

"Visti used to carry a swollen mosquito on his back like a black buffalo's belly. Then he would open the mouth of the mosquito and pour water into an earthen or brass pitcher. I remember his snub nose, a hat on his head, a black beard, and a wet towel wrapped around his waist."

Rabindranath wrote,

"Then the swift swarms swarmed,

Twenty-one lakh Visti on the shoulder of the mosquito.

Only mud remained in the pond,

Nahiko goes to Visti in the river water. "

Sukumar Roy's "How many times does he go to the bald belt?" He has brought up the topic of Vistis in Chhara.

"If he goes a million times, what's stopping him from going?"

Isn't there some way for him to think so? ”

"As the saying goes, it is a slender vestiola

He raised his head and bowed at noon. "

No permanent safe water system was established in Dhaka till the 18th century. In 184, the collector of Dhaka received 150 rupees for the cost of drinking water. Where two rupees of rice could be found. The reason for allocating so much money for drinking water was that Dhaka's water was not healthy. The cholera epidemic was going on all year round. The aristocracy used to send water from distant Meghna. With the joint efforts of Nawab Abdul Gani and Nawab Ahsanullah, a 'Water-Works' water treatment plant was established at Chandnighat in 184. However, in the beginning, the supply of potable water for Dhaka's people was very inadequate. At first, the water supply pipes were wide over an area of ​​four miles. The daily water supply was 35,000 gallons. In 189, Nawab Abdul Gani of Dhaka received the title of "KCSI." He then donated lakhs of rupees to the Dhaka Water Resources Project.

Amateur Khaleq Begum, the daughter of Zindabahar Chowdhury Bari's zamindar, while reminiscing about the Vistiwalas, wrote, " That huge throat of Visti ... ‘Visti Abe Visti.’ He would open the mouth of the mosquito and hold it, and pour water into the jug. Water was also kept in those big jugs and earthen pots. I think these memories are from 1941-42. ”

The Vistiwalas maintained their strong position in the city of Dhaka for a long time. Dhaka was the last city in India where the Vistiwalas continued their work till the sixties. They became extinct in Dhaka city in 1986. At present, Sikkatuli in old Dhaka stands as a witness to the profession of a former employee named Vistiwala.