The human world has long lost its epithets that would define its humane traits. For, no longer is a man perturbed by the misery of his neighbours, nor is he in any way affected by the agony of his own fellows, if not the kith or kin! Never does he these days drop his eyes or droop his shoulders in shame for not having been of any use to society! Nor does he think even for once of the one suffering from malignity, be it physical or mental, acquired or imposed. That is why, time and again, we require to be reminded that we are humans as well besides being egotistic mercenaries engaged only in self-gratification, and that after all 'Sokoler tore sokole amra, Protyekei amra porer tore' (We all are for all's sake, each of us is for other's sake).
Perhaps this is the reason India saw the advent of Non-Governmental Organizations in the last century, especially in the post-Independence era when India had to experience a lot of zigzag jerkings along the newly paved path towards redemption after gaining freedom from the clutches of British Rule that had only plundered and pillaged our natural resources and turned us into a wretched race looking down an uncertain posterity right ahead.
Well, there prevails a general notion among the people of these unostentatious, if not uncharted, hedges and fringes mingling intricately with the hilly terrains of northern West Bengal, that since the very beginning this patch of the land has been marginalized with respect to the governmental funds and aids, whether allocated by the centre or the state. Even over the last seventy years things have not improved that much. Still education seems a far-fetched dream for the most densely-shaded of recesses of this northern forestry. Although, owing to the influx of technology in terms of mobile phones and satellite television since the initiation of the push for globalization in the first decade of this millennium, some shreds of progress have started showing of late, yet the children of the underprivileged sections of the society comprising mainly the tea-garden workers, the daily-wagers, the share-croppers, the land-losers, and the likes, especially the ones belonging to the far-located human settlements like Anandapur, Magurmari, and Sholo Gharia near Kranti, are left in dire need of support from the affluent sections of the society. Of course, the education policies of the government and the related food schemes have gone far in terms of eradicating the scares of malnutrition, miscarriages, still-birth, deformity, and mental retardation. But still there needs something beyond that is routinely projected or studiedly prescribed: something that is spontaneous, homely and playful.
Right there began the journey of Eso Haat Dhori, a home nearby with a huge lush-green playground circumscribed by the overlooking towering trees of the forest, safeguarding the local habitats since the eternity. It drew its inception on 15th August 2020 in the hands of some enthusiasts like Kaushik Das (who also happens to be journalist by profession), Mrs. Tapati Saha, Banti Burman and Rabi Oraon, all inspired by the unflagging humanistic zeal of Dr. Dharitri Goswami, a professional at IIT, Kharagpur. Later on, some other philanthropic souls of the locality teaming up with some educators and teachers, some ever-willing local youths, and some efficient retired hands, joined hands with them. Within a few months, as it might then have seemed to a keen observer, they were able to form a circle that was going to be the poultice of affection upon the egregious wounds of penury and illiteracy.
By the way, that's not what this write-up is all about. It's about the greenery this magnanimous shelter owns. To reach the location is in itself an eye-soothing hike. One can of course reduce exhaustion by means of a two-wheeler ride. The tarred road does not move beyond the Kailashpur bus stop on the route towards Oodlabari. It's a gravelled trip from there on. With stone chips strewn all along the way, the earthen path seems like a prehistoric track laid down along the full-grown thickets of grass on either side. After about two hundred metres of walking into the deep, one can rest one's eyes on the tea plantation of Kailashpur Tea Garden. Keeping the garden to the right, one can easily find in sight the stone chips taking the way straight northward. After about a hundred metres, the track turns right and suddenly becomes narrower than expected. It may feel like passing through the far-drawn canvas of green placed precisely on both sides of the way. At times the grass reaches the height of a mid-sized tree. A culvert about fifty metres away on the right takes one to none other than the place being discussed: a home, a school and a feeding centre and what not!
But the most striking feature of this small walk is the passage of silence that overcomes one's auditory organs about mid-way of the journey. It does not seem imposing or stifling; rather it lets one hear the sounds of untended forest and feel the ambience of wild northern Bengal. Herein lies the essence of beauty of this initiative: to make one feel at home in the midst of unadulterated nature.
Indeed, with a school, a kitchen, a playground, and other amenities it's almost everything when one reaches the adorable haunt of children. Yet, I believe, the thing that would catch one's sight is an almost dilapidated wooden house somehow still managing to stand on its feet with a support from the system of stout planking of well-seasoned slices of wood. With no so-called doors or windows whatsoever, the house is literally open to all. It's this very room that makes a school during the daytime, a dining hall at lunch, an immunization centre at the times of inoculation campaigns, a refuge at the moments of torrential rains and floods, but above all a home for the ones having nowhere to go!
Now, I am thinking how it may be like spending a night out there waiting for the first light of the morning sun. I am sure it will be a lifelong memory to savour. Just incredible!
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