Lepchakha : The Nature's Cradle (Part 1)

The colours of the tripping season had started; and it took our steps to the beautiful hues of un-explored Himalayas. Its a general belief that the mountains will always have a different picture, in every nook and turns you take and Lepchakha was not a mistaken choice by the team of 14 strong members. Difficult to forget but again difficult to remember all the spots; hence it's better to go there by yourself and experience the beauty of nature. The beauty of Lepchakha.

We contacted a domicile resident, Mr. Ram Kumar Lama (8016671734). The unknown alleys of Lepchakha, to be reached touching the heart of Jainti, a small village within the Buxa Reserve forest, seemed quite exciting. The majority of the members were first timers in trekking, but to stay on in the flattened jungle, beside the Jainti river was an experience without recall. It was second to nothing and with the full moon shining, the pebbles of the dried up river bed shone like calcite deposits, making a trail up into the mountains, that would lead to Lepchakha, a journey that would be par an ethereal experience!

Jainti River Bed, Jainti, Buxa Tiger Reserve. (c) Somnath Paul.

Day 1 was full of journey. We reached the base camp, at Jainti. Since, it was the season of colours, it was beyond doubt we would spare it from our lives! That lead us to be at the dried river bed, where we did have some bath in the staggering water, most of which drizzled through the crevices of the pebbles galore! Post lunch, we took a trek to Pokhri Mai, a sacred rain fed lake, about 800 meters high, 4 Kms from Jainti village. The first taste of trek was good and people managed to gather strength for the next day, which we had no idea as to what it would offer us!

Travel of 4Kms to Jor Pokhri (In Lepcha term, Pokhri means Lake). (c) Somnath Paul.

The journey ended on a blunt note, when we had to stop abruptly and walk our way up!

800m Climb to Jor Pokhri. (c) Somnath Paul.

The secluded lake at Jor Pokhri, the cat fish growing in isolation  was huge, feeding upon the puffed rice (muri) and two Ma Kali idols to worship. It was a virgin trod, within the remote place of the nation, where mobile towers failed to kiss. Technical reason: its a reserve forest!

The lake at Jor Pokhri. (c) Somnath Paul.

(to be continued....)

Project Travels: A Diary

Thanks to PhD at CSIR-IICB, I have cherished the opportunity to see Incredible India. A travel heart by birth, exhaustive field work in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal have yielded loads of tough memories with sweet tunes in between. I remember the humming tunes of "Country Roads" and its full of unparalleled experiences.
Starting from the dusty roads of Bihar and Assam plains to the lush green heritage of Bengal's Murshidabad, I have seen it all. Made friends for a day with several unknown passengers over discussions ranging from Politics to Cricket; even a few passing around the cards at 29. Project travel have shown me all. I would like to share some excerpts in this space, where I feel would be apt to exhibit that Epidemiological Survey work has its pros and cons, if considered that way.

(c) Somnath Paul. 2012. Borring in Bihar.

My travels started in 2011, November. Assam. The first going was exciting, as I had mentioned earlier. But the access through to Silchar from Guwahati was dusty like nothing before. An almost 14 hour ride through the bumpy road, after we crossed Shillong. Food was scarce and if any, were more dust than quality. But a Bengali can digest any thing, I was no exception! Drilling for soil samples at Silchar's outskirts is persuation and quarel. The quarel was not for why, but where! The places are so sparsely located that it took us to tribal areas where Bengali was not the dialect proper and we faced difficulty in communication. A house or two away, you will find a Naga or a Manipuri or a Mizo. The vibrance of the nation was pouring out but in the Sun, we too were draining without a cause but delay. 

(c) Somnath Paul. 2012. Sample Collection in Assam

Where tribe is a problem, caste system comes upfront in Bihar. Higher castes wouldn't allow any driller to drill for sample in his courtyard. He would check the caste criteria and truly speaking it burns your senses when you come across such divide, 60 years post independence and into a century where we, scientists are trying to prove a co evolution at the molecular level. Guess arsenic will not affect a Bihari differently than an Assamese! Will it?
But, the sweet tunes mostly lie enroute Guwahati to Silchar and back. The mountains; the Garo, Khasi n Jaintia ranges weaves a miracle of green and colours. After 3-4 days of hard work amidst dialect problem, it was always a welcome relief. A small note to add; it was blazing hot in Silchar, April 2012. But on our way back after work to catch train from Guwahati, passing through Shillong made us shiver. It was cloudy and mist set on, making our clothes wet. I realized the success of the name Meghalaya and thanks to Rabindranath Tagore, it was really cold at 'Chill-on', Shillong.

(c) Somnath Paul. Mr. Jayanta Das, Assam, 2011.

The name Murshidabad infuses history of Bengal in the chain of thoughts of any person concerned. But, thats for those who make leisure trips to the place. Ours was always scientific business, but to go in an arsenic infested area and if people know we are in for the work, they will treat you lord almighty. They are so simple. Starting from countryside fruits to tea and what not, they would offer anything, but with a request in local dialect: "When will we curb their arsenic problem?" It feels very bad see their conditions, affected with arsenicosis symptoms; old & young. And we offer the only answer to their dismay; we only analyze and are not implementers of policy or remediation! Still they offer a smile and replies, "abar asben". (Come Again) It touches the core of your heart.
Epidemiological work creates a good interactive spectrum within you. If you are clever, you will know how to enjoy it. This excerpt I am writting from my present travel to Assam again. I hope to gain some more into it.

Life for Others, Smile for Us.

Many movements have been organized all over the word, to bring and shape (also reshape) the human society, culture and civilization. I am happy, that I am part of one such movement, myself. Something that I loved doing and will keep on supporting till I am able to.

Rakshabandhan For Education (RFE), is an non-government organization, gathering funds to enlighten the the poor backward areas, with the light of knowledge, making them enlightened and getting a smile in  return; just to smile back. I, Somnath Paul, am a scholar from Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata and am loving my activity as a member of RFE-IICB Chapter and our tryst to bring forth knowledge.

What is RFE?

An NGO that solely believes in making good talent shine through proper channels and for that the paper support (be it monetary or books) is provided by the organization.

What is RFE-IICB Chapter?

We, the people from IICB, believe in donating some of our allowances for the noble cause. We basically target in creating book-bank for the West Bengal Board syllabus in Class IX and X, in some of the needy schools in remote areas.

In the last few years from 2008; we have covered a school in Kultali, (interior of Sunderbans, Medinipur) and presently we are doing our work in two schools in Bagmundi (Purulia). Both places in West Bengal.

Since I went in the latter project, I hereby post some of the snapshots from Bagmundi.

All from Dhunuri High School, Bagmundi, Purulia.

The main purpose of this article is not to boast around the good work, but a request to all my scholar friends round the state, country and the globe. If you believe that the education that we received, ought to be shared, then  you contact RFE (click here). Any sort of help or participation is welcomed.

After all, Education is the Life for Others (under privileged), but Smile for us. 

So lets spread the Smile. 

Lets walk the mile; together!

Never seen Before...

... in my life.

Born in mid eighties, I have always seen the Writer's building painted Red. I had always knew a few terms associated with the phenomenon of democracy called election, and in West Bengal, it always brought in some words and colloquials, every time, every way!

1) Sattor-er Juug (The Times of '70s ~ 1970-80): Under Siddhartah Shankar Ray, Bengal faced a turmoil, which was capitalized by the faces from the mass, leaders of different idealogies who believed in "wealth for the common"; believed in Communism. (Late) Shri Jyoti Basu, led the mast aloof and supported by the mass, led with the band of brothers that included names like, Manohar Thirkey, Manindra Nath Bhattacharya, Dinesh Chandra Dakua, Chobban Ghazi, etc...stormed into the West bengal Legislature. They were here to stay...for the next 34 years!

2) Gum Khun (Mystery Murder).

3) Lal Durgo (Red Bastion) ~ The Purulia, Medinipur, Bankura, Birbhum and Bardhaman Districts. Famous for electing Communist leaders over the years...some from independence.

4) Poribartan (Change). Reality bites, that came into effect post 2008 Panchayat Elections.

Today, holding the leading guidelines of Mamata Banerjee, the Green army shall be entering the administrative dias of the Writer's Building, comprising of Congress and Trinamul Congress. She had lead on a lone fight, the one person whom I had seen constant for the past 20 years, since 1990s. She started as a normal member, a grass-root worker and now sits on the helm of the state, which had been red for the past 34 years. In 2006, the election result read: Left Front (CPIM, CPI, RSP, FB, RJD) had a count of 226, TMC+INC were mere 50. Today the result reads, INC+TMC: 226 LF: 63. There are 294 seats in 2011, Bengal assembly.

I am not here to find reasons; had enough talk on that in this blog as well on face book the whole day today!

I just want to thank Trinamool & INC for their victory. a change was needed, that is done. Now lets see, how it affects us. Let the changes brought about as per promised, place Bengal to the place of think tank yet again and let us be proud to feel again: WHAT BENGAL THINKS TODAY, INDIA THINKS TOMMORROW! (Gopalkrishna Gokhale, famous notion pre-independence, 1947)

Bengal....

..its never before seen green, in my life time!

Mangalkot: A place in Mangal...Mars!!!

Before anything can pass into your head, have a look in here to marinate yourself for the reality to come through my keyboard, very very soon! Have a look int this picture and tell me what is it?


The above two are simple pictures, snapped from Wikipaedia account for Democracy, and mind it, India is well placed in the safe zone for Democracy.

Now come to West Bengal.

All the pictures change in the micro-environment of a state, tainted Red in the regime of a party that supposedly has become an instituition in almost every right. After all, over 35 years of sitting at the helm of the State Machinery, that's over 50% time of a nation's independence is nothing but credit, something that they will try to bite into and cling forever!

But as mentioned always, the air is changing..and so is the picture of a "peaceful, no terrorism state" turning violent each and every day. The reason is simple, weakening roots always pay the price of the tree, making sounds of breakage or wreckage!

I have been mentioning a number of times over the net, in my blog, about the suppressive politics that Bengal foresees, but today everything is reaching to an over saturated status. Recently concluded march to Mangalkot, Burdwan, West Bengal, India. A good lineage eh?! People from the opposition party voiced their protest over the whimses of the state government, declaring CURFEW and 144 in the region. The region has become un-accessible to the world, even the media. Some people who wants to enter the zone are being beaten up by the state machinery, who keeps mumb over the situation! The recent being the beating up of the Trinamool Congress meeting towards the outskirts of Mangalkot, which was outside the the Curfew territory. The authority beat up, but in the following media presentation, thanks to Star Ananda, you will find two people...one in black T-Shirt amongst the police cordon beating up the opposition as if they were dogs! Who are these "Colour Dressed Police?" CPM Goons? Cadres? They are CPM Hooligans! See the video for yourself!





Want to place any comments? Please do... As it is West Bengal is in Crisis for the past 15 years!

Twenty 20.

The last post kissed the gallows here at my blog was some 20 days ago. It was about a second, now I will be talking of 20 x 24 x 60 x 60 seconds to be approximate, 1728000 seconds to be more precise!

Recently I have been harvesting an idea which have been successfully post in Orkut: If pressure seems more than U can handle... U should understand, it's time to sharpen ur nails!!! The things are too alike to be false!

In these few days, my Boss had made his sucessful business trip to Europe. At office certain tensions crept in which coincided with my health matters! The air was too foul with the political hakuna matatas... The opposition being beaten up in Mangalkot, West Bengal. That followed by a very common picture, a Bandh, called by the Indian National Congress, West Bengal Chapter. This was supported by TMC, the major political wing and I slept at home, trying to come to terms with my ailing body!

[Pic: At Park Street Metro Station, Somnath Paul]

A transport strike followed, overseeing the non-co-opertaion by the transport unions in Kolkata, over the Government policies to turn Kolkata into an eco-friendly Metro! All other metroes in India are so, Kolkata still waits!

To top up with some cherry in the cream, the record breaking 6.78 lakh strong TMC rally into the heart of Kolkata, made all the sensation with Miss Banerjee pledging this congregation to be the "last nail in the Red Coffin!"

The TMC Meeting sketched by Somnath Paul (c) somnath.paul@hotmail.com

A lot of things happened in the society, but I stood where I started from. New policies, new ideas have fed my mind time and again, but something in life was missing. A happening in life goes blank! All the way! I guess coming August and September brings in some good news, for my mom and myself to enjoy, not mention some very close friend's name and all the more my closest pal's name!! [Top Secret!!!] Ha Ha Ha....


And a part of that Rally:


Download the Euphoria Part 1







Download the Euphoria Part 2

The Bengal Conspiracy.

West Bengal, India. Once designated as the most hassle-less state of the country, having the greatest intellects in the nation, is now facing one of the largest conspiracy of recent world affairs.

Lalgar in West Bengal stands a testimony to the troubled state under the regime of long established government and the protest of the in-flexible opposition. The inflexibility has gained in momentum, after a sumptuous win in the recently concluded Union Election, where for the first time had the state run power, the CPM faced such a down fall in the past 32 years. Those are common stories, that can be met on within my blog in the March-May editions.

This time the situation is grim. With Mr. Chatradhar Mahato leading the Anti-police/ authority regime in Lalgarh and parts of Jhargram in Medinipur, the Naxalites, declared banned organisation in various states (except West Bengal) have gained in momemtum in a fight against the state run government. With the Naxalites or Maoists as called commonly, Bengal witnesses a big conspiracy in her heartland!

There are numberof thoughts on this, and the ones that I have heard is what I would like to say.

Thought School #1:
A few days was talking with one of my friend over the matter. She was narrating incidents and thought that she had developed after gaining some momentous ideas from her relatives, mainly uncle, her dad!
In 1970s, it was this CPM (the present rulers of WB), used certain policies:
-> Making Bengal's Industries limp by infusing Trade Union amongst workers to safe guard their security of work. In 32 years, the industries have shut down, having an account of more than 40,000 industries shut down. [Even more than the number of Human Genes till date]
-> Used the Maoists or Naxalites to up throw the then Congress Regime under Siddhartha Shankar Ray. Those horrendous days of late 70's are now reflected in Lalgarh!

Today TMC is said to uptake a similar policy to be beside the general farmers and this resulted historic Singur and Nandigram episodes. Now, its Lalgarh! Beliefs are that, they might be supporting the maoists for the anarchism!

Thought School #2:

Mr. Kishan Gajhi, the Maoist leader has told that they have been associated with the TMC in Nadigram! He expected support from Mamata Banerjee's TMC. Listening to the telephonic conversation picked up in one of the Bengali Private News Channel, it seems that this might be a ploy by the CPM itself, to puncture the sails of the yatch of the TMC alliance that had been gaining momentum for the past three years!

This gains evidence because in their presence in the Mao Territory of Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Bengal and Chattisgarh, except West Bengal, all other states have declared that Maoists are a banned organisation! The West Bengal governemnt say, in their 32 years of regime, i(n which they did a number of people and police officials being dead in Mao Territory) are thinking of banning them! They are still THINKING!!!

The conspiracy runs deep. If taken my personal view, the faith in INA is always there, as they will do their job perfectly. The problem is, the conspiracy is tarnishing the Bengal Brigade infront of the World. In my office, last day, I had to answer my US client and explain the situation in Bengal, at the moment. They are interested to know about a "civil war"! Feels bad! Really Bad!!!

The Bengal Masala

UPA (Congress +)	14 (50%)
NDA (BJP+)	8 (28%)
Third Front (CPI-M +)	2 (7%)
No Opinion, Will not vote!	4 (14%)

Votes so far: 28
Poll conducted for 40 days and concluded on 14th May, 2009 (IST)

16th May, 2009:
After a near tiring day the office, writing some article on Petroleum Coke, I would naturally feel reluctant to write another one. But is important. This is Big!

The above statistics was conducted as a general poll, in my blog where the readers paid some attention about how the picture would be regarding the election fiasco of the Parliament 2009. It might not reflect the opinion of the whole nation, but is close as to what the mandate stands for Parliament 2009.

UPA having 256 seats. The UPA alliance has the Major as in Indian National Congress, along with the Samajvadi Party, All India Trinamool Congress and others.
NDA have 151 seats. The NDA alliance has the Major as in Bharatiya Janata Party, Janata Dal (United) and others.
The third front posses the Left Front and the Bju Janata Dal and some more. The Leftists as of now has 79 seats.
The rest well, are the Rest.

That is the national scenario and with an un-imaginable victory by the congress and their alliance, West Bengal comes upfront on the national dias with something that can only be imagined, but true. But it is True.

It is always said that an immense power, if gets rotten, declines slowly and steadily. The Left Front namely, the CPI(M), CPI, FB, RSP have been in WB for over 32 years (now). Their atrocities came forward with the idea of dictatorship over the poor farmers in Singur and the malice mass killing in Nandigram. Their tryst of Industrialization met the dead end, falling face first, infront of the already existing 50, 743+ factories (large and small) shut down for the past 30 years!
They faced their phantom ghost, from the oppositions, namely Trinamool Congress and the Congress. Never ever in their 32 years of history, except in 1984 had the state experienced LF having just 15 seats (a loss of 20 seats) and the TMC (19)+ Congress (6)+ SUCI (1) have gained upon 20 seats from the last election! NEVER!!!

The reasons:

1) After the State Legislature election where LF had wiped over 80% of the seat, their idea of being the lone master in the WB-State Politics came up-front! They called upon TATA for their Nano Car Manufacturing plant and without asking the TMC/Congress i.e the Opposition and the local residents, decided upon Singur to be the site for the plant. Came in Mamata Banerjee and the struggle for survival started. This was in Dec 2006- Jan 2007.
[Why should a farmer leave the land that yielded him good crop would sell the land, and hope for work which seemed vague. Even trying out something else, thanks to the CPM, West Bengal lacked the Industrial ambience since late 70's]

2) Nandigram massacre. Quite comparable to the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, pressed the nail hard the CPM-Coffin! The revolt by the TMC and helped in by INC fueled the fact that dictatorship by CPM goons was not tolerated!

3) An isolated, yet very prominent case of Rizwanur Rehman shook the civilzed society where riuch hoodlums in association with huge officials of the police, murdered a young man who supposedly was poor and married a girl of a rich, well to do family! The government did nothing but transfer the officials. Grave!

The Results:

* Huge losses incurred in the Panchyat and Zilla Parishad Elections by the Left Front with TMC gaining on the whole. An increase in seat share by 40%, in the year 2008.
* Un-imaginable loss in the Parliament Election, 2009. Last time Congress had 5 seats, TMC 1 and rest was under Left Front. This time round, after 5 years, with Nandigram and Singur, TMC snatched 19 seats, INC 6 seats and associate SUCI 1 seat!

Congrats to UPA for getting a chance to set fort newer changes, and complete certain jobs left incomplete. But request Sir/ Madam, please curb this SC/ST discrimination!

Third Time.

Sounds have been in the air. The Indian Parliamentary Demography would be in shatters after the May 16th polling results come out, with no party attaining the sole majority. To form a government, any party or ally would have to attain the 272 candidate mark! With too many parties at bay and few nationalized party at work, the picture is getting tougher day by day. With Congress and the UPA, BJP and the NDA, Left Front creating a new Third Front and some nucleated Fourth Front candidate, the area of Indian Union seems too small to get segregated! With so many fronts around, I proudly disclose that I have voted for the Third Time, since I received my the Right to Elect!

With the largest democracy in the World, drawing curtains for the public polling on May 13th, 2009, with my city and constituency being part of the fifth and the final phase electoral region, the water was never murky than ever. From a common man's perspective, a number of thoughts work:
1) Why would "I" vote? What can one vote make or break? An argument that I have already discussed two post back!
2) There are so many political parties and their representatives? Who would mean for the nation? For the past 60 years, things have never brightened on the catalog of promises. Very few have ever registered a promised in the catalog of "fulfilled". Now it seems that they keep certain local problems at bay, just to contest the next election!
3) The politicians are best fighting a verbal war with the most noxious weapons possible. Leaders, who are supposedly trend setters can use verbals which even we feel better is being left alone! What for? They don't have anything else to say!
4) "A Change, that We all Believe in". Not too old a phrase. The portfolio campaign organized by Mr. Barrack Obama, The President of United States of America.

The youths, like us should now put the figures ahead than the party. For that they need to vote. If you feel that all politicians are same, then vote an Independent candiadte. But please Vote! May the political party will win, whom you haven't vote, but the first year they would get an idea, that their winning margin have decreased and the independent's margin have increased! If they feel energetic, they will work. You will be benifited by voting, so what if it's an Independent. Everything has it's brighter side. Cash on them!

I Voted! Not for me, but for You. I know there are over a million votes which have been for me, if "I voted for You!" I dont need any more! Keep Smiling, and hope to be a part of a system that creates a stable governement for the coming 5 years! (See you nationally in 2014, with the same topic).

Winds of Change.

May be it's too early to comment. But looking at certain trends, it can well be put in that compared to last time, this time Trinamool Congress would be harvesting a much better yield. In 2004 election, after the communal tainted BJP (thanks to Ram Mandir, Ayodhya in 1993 and the Godhra Massacre in 2002, TMC could yield only 1 seat out of the 42 contested. With an alliance with BJP and a rift with Congress, the votes got distributed, making CPI-M victorious in various strongholds of TMC and Congress!
The breaking news at the moment is, Forward Bloc candidate for the election has taken one hand in revealing that it was CPI-M and more so, Chief Minister, Mr. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya had ordered the police firing in 2007 over the protesting public mob at Nandigram. The massacre witnessed a massive uprising against the government with the public unrest against the state leadership and executive machinery. Forward Bloc is an associate of the Left Front, that had been ruling the state for past 32 years, a history in it's own accord, have revolted in the past regarding the Nandigram Issue. Click here for Report. The wounds and the blisters are fresh, and it was well utilized in the Panchyat elections of West bengal in 2008 by TMC and Congress that did show the rift in CPI-M votes, letting CPI-M lost 45% ground comapred to the 2003 Panchyat Election. TMC gained a whoping 57% in case of votes casted and the rest was gained by Congress!
The propositions:
1) On behalf of TMC and Congress : The 32 years of ruling by the Leftists had rendered them the feeling of being invincible. A complacency crept in their approach. Their "good" deeds has taken their shape from their hedonism. The Singur Car Factory of the Tatas, found it's ground upon the tears of many unwilling farmers. The government implemented laws to take the land for the factory. An attempt to improve industrial Bengal, which they had once strangulated by their regular strikes and worker Unions! Today, Bengal has 37, 219 factories (large and small scale) being closed. Darjeeling has hundreds of tea gardens where the spiders work day and night! A factory in Singur justifies those that are already dead! If you want to justify, please justify with justice behind your proposal and not the marinated and influenced amendments to do the needful for you! The Laxman Seth's (CPI-M) ultimatum regarding aquisition of land, without taking the consent of those whose land would be taken! The uprising of the poor villagers was supressed by firing on them and not in air! Nandigram came into the news, as another Jalianwala Bagh!
2) CPI-M demands TMC to be Naxalites and they want to stall the WB-bandwagon for progress! Mamata is depicted as a "bad girl" in the block, who is acts like a demon, eating up Bengal's development!

Enough! Its Enough!! Lets see what 16th May unfolds!