Visiting a small village in West Bengal

I have travelled to many places all over India but had never been to a remote village until last winter, when I visited a small village called Dakshin Hatgachia at Nanda Kumar Block in East Midnapur. I don't get much time to travel these days as I have become very busy with my studies. However, I don't believe in wasting any opportunity that comes in my way. From childhood I have dreamt of travelling to remote villages in India but until last winter I never got any means to fulfil my dream as it becomes very difficult  to enjoy proper village life until and unless you have an acquaintance in a village. Last year on 29th December, 2017, I along with my younger brother went to one of our friends (Prasenjit Shasmal)'s house at a remote village of East Midnapur District.

Dakshin Hatgachia Village, Nanda Kumar Bolck

I told Prasenjit about my dream one day and at once he requested us to visit his village in order to enjoy the tranquillity of a village life and fulfil my dream. In the present scenario it is very difficult for us to plan any holiday beforehand because exams can be scheduled at any time throughout the year. So considering the dates of all the examinations we left for Dakshin Hatgachia on 29th December,2017. We reached Esplanade by metro and from there took a private bus to Satragachi Railway Station (Howrah). Finally we reached Mecheda at around 1.30 PM. Then finally we took a bus to reach Khonchi.

At Mecheda Railway station

 We reached Presenjit's house at around 2.30 PM and his family members gave us a warm welcome. Dakshin Hatgachia village is a little 3-4 kms away from the Khonchi Highway. We took a Toto to reach his home.

"Tribeni" Presenjit's house

We were given a room on the top floor. After taking a quick bath we came down for lunch. After having our lunch we retired to our room and felt asleep as we were very tired due to the day long journey. When I woke up it was around 5.30 PM, I went to the terrace and experienced the serenity of a proper village evening for the first time in my life. One thing I can say for sure is that evenings in villages are completely different from the ones people in cities experience.

“Nature doesn’t need knowledge, because nature is knowledge, knowledge manifest.”

In that very evening I realised the biggest truth, in modern lifestyle each and every one of us is chasing time but these village folks don't chase time, they are happy in their own way. Gossiping for hours, little children playing many unknown games, senior members of the families gather around a tree and chat for hours reflecting on their past life, women in the neighbourhood after finishing all the household work closely bond with each other, etc. Sitting quietly in a corner listening to their stories and enjoying thoroughly I realised that what we do is really fake. Holding on to our egos, believing in showoffs, going to bars to have a drink, having lunch or dinner at some expensive restaurants and finally posting all these on social media as status quos, showing the world how we are enjoying life, does not give real peace to our inner soul. Trust me life can be much more simpler and easier without these. In my perception life should not be restricted to social media and must be free from all technological boundaries that have been created by man these days. My sincere and honest request to all is that please don't restrict your life to cellular phones and cheap commercial serials wasting the precious time of life, instead socialise with friends, start playing some unknown outdoor games that will give you peace, reflect on your life what you have achieved so far and you will definitely realise that life is indeed thrilling journey. 

Walking through the village

I hardly care about taking photos, but my brother does....

Self realisation is the key to change of perceptions. Whatever I realised that day changed me as a person. That night I and my brother played badminton after almost 3.5 years. While returning home at night we heard foxes calling from the nearby jungles, Prasenjit told that it was common during that time of the year. We ate early that night and the dinner made by Prasenjit's sister was very delicious. Finally, we retired for the night.

Morning walk

Next day (30th Dec, 2017) Prasenjit took us to Haldia Town. I had heard about Haldia before from my parents but never visited it in self. Prasenjit took his car and we covered a long distance before reaching there. Haldia is an industrialised town which is home to majority of the petrochemical based industries of West Bengal. We also visited the meeting point of river Rupnarayan and Bay of Bengal and finally the Haldia port. Prasenjit introduced us to his friends circle, they were all very friendly and amazing bunch of lads to say the least. We even planned a get together that night. Finally we reached home at around 3.30 pm that afternoon.

Road leading to Khonchi...

That night we played cricket with the locals. It was an intense cricket match. Now a days I hardly get time to play and the intensity of the match along with the surrounding gave me immense pleasure. I wanted to play for a longer time but had to call it a day as we had to attend the get together. That night temperature was very cold and travelling in motorcycle was a pain. We chatted for long hours with Prasenjit's friends and finally dinner was served. In dinner we had Puffed Rice and local chicken curry (Desi Murgi). I can say one thing having dinner with a day old friends in some remote village is very exciting and fun indeed. That night we returned home very late when everyone in the village felt asleep. I will remember the motor cycle ride for rest of my life. It was a full moon night and the temperature was near freezing.

Next day i.e., on 31st December, 2017 we went to visit Tamluk town. It was a long drive from Khonchi. First we visited the famous Hamilton School. The school has immense historical importance and a legacy of producing freedom fighters at the time of independence.

Hamilton School

When we reached the place we found that the school was closed on that particular day. We were very upset to say the least. Fortunately, one school official was standing nearby and on hearing that we came from Kolkata to visit the school allowed us to get inside. We were really excited to enter the school premises and to see the school in its elements which stand as a historical legacy for more than a century.

Some renowned personalities of Hamilton School

We enjoyed the environment and went through all the message/information that the notice boards had to offer. Finally it was time to say goodbye. Our next destination was a  Kali Temple(Bargabhi Mata Temple as the local says). The temple has a high spiritual value among the locals and all the local people come here for blessing to the temple as a post marriage ceremony, an information provided to us by Prasenjit.

In front of the Kali Temple

We left from the Kali Temple early as our next destination was in a far flung location. Our next destination was Mahishadal Rajbari. We reached there at around 3.30 pm and quickly booked our entry pass. We first visited the old Rajbari.

Old Rajbari...

At the entrance of the old Rajbari...

The condition of the old Rajbari is not good, rather one can say it is not properly maintained. We went inside to visit the place where the prisoners were kept. It was an amazing feeling. Then we visited the new Rajbari where the successors of the ancient King resides.

Mohishasal Rajbari (New)

Inside the Rajbari there was a museum preserving different articles utilised by the then Rajas, their lifestyle was depicted in one of the room, trophy room consisting of the stuffed wild games that they had hunted during their time, a room was dedicated to the arms and ammunitions used during the wars, etc. We also got a chance to visit one of the descendants of the royal family. Finally our stay in the Rajbari came to an end and we left for Prasenjit's house. On the way back home we saw a Kali Pandal and paid a visit.

Kali Mata Pandal

It was the eve of the new year and while the city folks were preparing for a night long party in order to celebrate new year (2018), we went to sleep in one of the remote villages somewhere in East Midnapur tired with the day long activity. This is not a pain instead this is the way I love to welcome the new year far from the buzz of the city life reflecting on the year gone by and promises that the new year brings.
New Year, new promise, fresh sunlight woke me up and it took quite a long time for me to realise where I was. 2018 indeed. We were planning to return to Kolkata when suddenly Prasenjit came and told that he had already planned a picnic and under any circumstances would not allow us to return. I could not refuse his proposal as I was already obsessed with the village lifestyle and wanted to enjoy it as long as possible.

1st Jan, 2018......

We got ready and left for the picnic spot which was a meeting spot of three river Haldi, Subarnarekha and Rupnarayan. I and my brother were very much excited. We did the necessary arrangements and left for the place accompanied by Prasenjit's friends. We reached there at around 12.30 PM and quickly started preparing for our lunch as it was already very late. My brother went for a quick look around and to take few photos of the surrounding places.

Meeting point of three river

The menu for the lunch was Mutton curry and rice. We ate our fill. It was a congested place and many people from different parts of Midnapore districts came for picnic. It was a day full of fun. Finally it was time for us to leave the place. Prasenjit drove us back home. That night we were too tired to do any further activity and almost immediately felt asleep.

At the picnic spot with Prasenjit's friend

Finally on 2nd January, 2018 I and my brother finally left Khonchi, enriched and with a promise of returning their someday. I was really happy as my dream of visiting a remote village had finally come true! A special thanks to Prasenjit.

Until next time...

Picture Courtesy: Piangshuk Mukherjee