Two days in Paschimanchal
September 8, 2013
Day before yesterday I started
accompanied by Dipak towards Bankura. I was initially reluctant to move ..
however, I could not refuse Dipak this time.. Dipak already took
nod from the authority for my journey. Our visit to Bankura this
time had a link with the appraisal of Turmeric-mission in Paschimanchal,particularly in
Bankura. Bankura DM wanted to review all
the ongoing projects of PUP for official
business, Before journey I reviewed the
works of Turmeric project.. I asked Dipak
to prepare a status paper-presentation
and put some of the documentary proof
of our work.. He did all those overnight as all materials were lying
with him.. I know this time it was very difficult to move elsewhere for both family & other
reasons.. but I got inner call to attend Bankura and interact with the
officials to reveal turmeric prospects in Bankura district as well as
Paschimanchal. This meeting
was called on by the DM with a request from the Secretary
,Paschimanchal , However, our journey
started at the morning . There were jams at Panagarh. .After a long gap
I saw it. It was horrible to sit in the cab . gradually, slowly we overcame
the jam. Again, we faced trouble at Fulberiamore.. There was
blockage of roads by students. To by-pass, we turned to a different path and
reached Amarkanan . There we met
Swamiji. And accompanied him to the
field. Maharaji tried his level best to plant turmeric. Continuous rains did
not allow fullest growth of turmeric. Drainage
put a big problem. We advised him to do some minor
change for this situation. Maharaji
sowed turmeric in his compound, These are in well position. We were in hurry
and started immediate after visiting plots. Reached Bankura Circuit house just
at 2.00 p.m. All the officials of DM office were present. All the BDOs
were also there. Representatives from
PUP & others were also invitees there. NGOs, clubs and others
representing PUP activities assembled there. During meeting, all were representing their cases. In turn ,we
got the opportunity. BCKV turmeric-works were acclaimed. DM personally became
interested in turmeric. We showed the
house photographs . Our case studies were interacted. DM asked all the BDOs to
take turmeric as a special component. In the mean while I told the house on the
prospects of eco-tourism in Bankura referring to Barachaka & Bamandiha.
These points were also recorded. Hope,
my dream for those places will come in reality soon.
Dipak was happy as turmeric reached to the administrative-house.
I called him to observe turmeric-day.
In the evening we took rest at MBK,Belatore.
Next day,
early in the morning I told Dipak to visit Raipur cluster. Till now ,I did not visit it.
Accordingly, we moved towards Raipur.
From my childhood I recall memories of Raipur.
This was a backward area that time. My sister’s mother-in-law was the MLA of
Raipur. Bidhan Roy specially called on Sudharani to do good for the area.
I heard from her that Tarasankar Bandopadhay came to Raipur and campaigned for her there. However,
these are memories. Just flushed in my mind.
I relied on Gop for turmeric mission in Raipur, I sent Swaraj as our spokesman there. He organized camps and
motivated farmers’ club, villagers towards turmeric, Most of the stakeholders of
this cluster are tribals. They came at Chhatna to receive seed. There was due for
some money from our end. I wanted to pay it by hand..
On the way
,we halted at Ratanpur. We were
observing Pan-borojs. We found abundant high-lands remain fallow there. Some people
came and surrounded us. They urged for turmeric seed. They wanted it to grow, We assured them to extend our help
in future.
The jouney towars Raipur was pleasant. We crossed Taldandgra,
These are rain-fed areas. Pumkins are the main cash crop there. Sekhar
used to say while researching on marketing of vegetables. We , crossed Simlapal. I was really happy to see
tribal girls attending colleges, schools. I stopped a bit to take snaps of the
statue of Pandit Raghnath murmu. At the same time i visited three Jahirsthan- sacred
groves of those areas.
I asked
Dipak to change our module and move to Sarenga. This time we had a unique
stakeholders at Sarenga block. The farmer is cultivating ginger with our
advice, Moreover, I was getting emotional
to have information on Culshaw. Culshaw devoted his whole life on Tribals of
Sarenga. He is the credible- author on Santhal life. His books are not
available. I wanted to see some memories of the great man. The way to Sarenga
is excellent. I have visited some spots comparable to the Sarenga. There is
enough and enough scope to develop tourism here. Dipak captured many snaps. I
will post these later. Alas, we forgot our people. No body recapitulate Culshaw.
The hospital which was nurtured by Culshaw is there but nobody knows him .Today.
i met the hospital super, chuches, locala residents,..futile.. they are not
aware of him.. With broken heart we left Sarenga. Finally reached to Raipur cluster, Visited
the fields. W were satisfied by farmers’ performance. There is now strong demand for growing turmeric
in the coming season.
Thereafter, we turned to visit Kapgari cluster/.
we reached there around 2.00. Kapgari KVK made a unique plot of turmeric under
orchards. Obviously this will be role model for the area. We also visited
Khudiram’s plot. This is also good. But another plot of Jagadish suffered a bit from water congestion & weed
infection. We advised him for control.
We left from Kapgari at 3.00 p.m. and back to Kalyani
at 11.00 p.m.
.
