Blessings

It was 29th June 1991, I joined a school in Niausa, Arunachal Pradesh. Work hard - It was the command of both mother and father. Work hard in different and difficult situations! Attending morning prayer at 4.00 was a must for all teachers. In fact, we were supposed to report little early to a hostel. Get up, arrange your bed, go for morning duty and cleaning of the hostel as well as toilets. Everything was done by the students themselves. I learned a few commands in English and in fact, I started communicating in English first time. It was a school for rural tribal children. They belonged to different villages of Tirap district, Nokte, and Wanchu tribes. They do not have a common language.

They use different dialects in different villages. I started working hard. I was allotted a shared accommodation with Ramkrishna Warrier. He was from Kerela. After lights out at 8.00 PM, I along with Ramakrishna and some other colleagues, discussed and debated Management, Principal and Organization. As a part of curiosity, I wanted to go to the interior village Jaggan & Khasa near Burma Border. I took a few senior students from the village and on Sunday, we started our journey from Niausa. First stop was Pongchau 18 km away from the school. I visited one of the parents at Pongchau and was offered Lav Pani (Rice beer). Frankly speaking, I don't like this but I have told local people dislike if you don't accept this hospitality. I had to eat Kacchu a local potato to eat as a vegetarian. Every house has a stock of nonveg near their fire kitchen in a bamboo house. After taking the rest of the few hours I started from Pongchau to Jaggan-khasa and returned Ponchau on Tuesday evening.

On return, I stayed with a friend of mine at Pongchau. That night, I slept immediately after food and slept for long hours. Now, I remember, one of the villagers asking me about the purpose of my visit to the village in a very harsh tone. You are a Teacher and you should teach. Why should you visit the villages? I told him these students (Thankai, Ganngan & Gangchal) wanted to meet their parents so I accompany them. He warned me not to visit again. My students later informed me he is from a local terrorist outfit. I told them he is a simple looking person. Gangchak told me, sir, everybody looks simple it is not written or printed on our clothes here. My students were very happy to meet their parents. They were offered special food. A Mithun was offered to them against accepting a new religion. After three months, I was on the hospital bed at Marwari Aryogya Bhavan, Dibrugarh. I was suffering from Jaundice, was not able to eat and digest food. I was shifted from Niausa to Dibrugarh. The food was arranged from our school office in Dibrugarh. I was getting bored seeing patients, doctors, and sisters all around. After a week, my sister called to her office and handed over the receiver, Bhanuji secretary from the office inquired about my well being and then he asked me to speak with someone else- My father was on the line. He received a postcard from the office and reached Dibrugarh without any reservation within 2-3 days. Unbelievable! It was difficult for me to believe. a serum bilirubin level was 9 % at that time.

I started feeling better. I wanted to get discharged immediately. Doctors released me after 3 days. I returned with my father to Bokaro Steel City. Collected my advance salary and thinking about my family members especially my mother who was really in pain after getting news of my hospitalization. I was thinking of my student's visit to Jagan and Khasa and my visit to Bokaro Steel city via Patna by Brahmputra mail. I am remembering, recollecting pure love and blessings of my parents which is more effective than the medicines.