Our First Visit to Hingalganj- A Brief Report

Our First Visit to Hingalganj- A Brief Report

( Please do read the whole report. Click on images to enlarge)

Day 1:

On 31st of May, 2020, as a team of seven volunteers, we left for Hingalganj. The volunteers in this group were Dr. Kallol Das, Sourav Biswas, Tapas Kangsabanik, Rivusoumya Das, Subrata Bhattacharya, Ananda Mukherjee and Anindya Mukherjee.

From Kolkata we drove via Champadali More Barasat, Basirhat, Taki, Hasnabad, crossed Banbibi Setu and continued till we reached Hingalganj Kalibari More. From there we followed the Lebukhali Road and took a turn at the gate with inscriptions of  'Kanaknagar Shrishtidhar Institution' and entered the village road of Sandeler Bil. It took us around 5 hours on the road from Kolkata to get there.

Paritosh Babu (Mandal), a very kind and efficient gentleman received and briefed us on the immediate plan of action. Our first job was to unload our truck and ferry all the boxes and packets to a nearby cyclone shelter. As this was a Sunday, there were a few more groups arriving with their relief material and for a moment it seemed that a bottle neck will be created. But the amazing team work of volunteers ( mainly comprising ex-students, teachers of Kanaknagar SD Institution and local villagers) smoothened the process and we were extremely happy to join forces with them.

A psychological and physical sense of community was palpable all around. In spite of all the hectic activites, Paritosh babu had the organisational acumen to run a community kitchen at the cyclone shelter and made sure that not a single soul was left unfed. One of the rooms of the cyclone shelter was also alloted to us as our sleeping quarters. We realized this cyclone shelter was currently acting as Sri Pulak Roychowdhury's basecamp.

In the evening Sri Pulak Roychowdhury, Headmaster of Kanaknagar SD Institution arrived at the cyclone shelter and finally we had the opportunity to meet the man in person who has been leading a series of systematic relief operations across the severely hit islands and villages of Hingalganj. Pulakbabu arrived with his team of volunteers after completing a very strenuous and all day long relief operation of reaching out to nearly 1800 people that day.

In our very first meeting, we realized that it was solely due to the vision, passion and leadership of Pulakbabu, that many of his ex-students, colleagues and villagers had come forward in a united mission to reach out to the cylone hit people of the region living in extreme despair. As envisioned already, we announced our allegiance and solidarity with Pulakbabu's efforts and felt privileged to be a part of his army. At the end of the meeting, Pulak babu drew our attention to the emerging medical problems in some of the cyclone hit villages. 

Day 2:

On 1st June, 2020, we spent the entire day in classifying, measuring and packing of different relief materials ( Rice, Dal, Gur, Murki, Tea, Sanitari Pad, Soap) that had accumulated at the basecamp in the last 2-3 days. Dr. Kallol Das (accompanied by Prabir Mandal) went for a reconnaissance of two island villages namely Satra (Choto Sahebkhali) and Bainara in order to evaluate practicalities and ground realities of conducting emergency medical camps there. It took him nearly the whole day ( and some adventure) to cover both the objectives and in the evening we learnt from him that it would be feasible to organize such medical camps in our targeted villages and that too within a very short notice of three days.  

Day 3:

On 2nd June, 2020, after a series of change of transports ( cycle van, matador, cycle van) and ferrying of loads, we reached the Amberia Nodi Ghat and hired a private boat to take us to the village of Satra (located in Choto Sahebkhali island). Boosting our morale, our team of volunteers were joined by Sri Pulak Roychowdhury and Prof. Meruna Murmu and the relief material distribution of the day began.

On this day we stopped at two loactions on the shores of river Kalindi in order to reach the villagers of Satra. The recipient families of the day were already identifed and were carrying tokens issued by Kanaknagar SD Institution. As a result, the distribution process was smooth and systematic. The volunteers who actually delivered the packets used mask and gloves and the rest of team made sure that the whole event should run flawlessly. On this day, each of our packets contained Chire, Gur, Chini, Salt, Biscuit, ORS, Pencil Torch, Mosquito net, Sanitary Pad and soap (the last 2 items were added from basecamp inventory).  

During the distribution process, many a times, Pulakbabu engaged in converstaions with the villagers, eager to learn more about their problems and discussed on how to minimise them as soon as possible. Clearly the purity of the motive and initiative taken by him were being heartily welcomed by all; and standing in reflected glory, the rest of us absorbed the inspiration readily. 

At the end of the distribution process, we came back to Sandeler Bil and after the mandatory ritual of washing and cleaning, we were treated with a hearty meal at the Kanaknagar SD Institution. After the meal, we sat down for another round of discussion and further planning. 

Dates and venue of the emergency medical camps were finalised after after a quick exchange of ideas and thoughts among the team members. By the time we bid farewell to Pulak Babu, Himangshu babu, Meruna di, Prabir, Paltan, Biplab, Aniruddha, Yasin, Revasda and the rest of the gang, we felt like comrades-in arms. It felt good. 

Without the help and contribution of many of our friends spread all over India and rest the world, this effort really would not have been realized. We need this support for some more time until this acute period of crisis is over. 

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Notice:

1-We are going back to Hingalganj next saturday the 6th of June for the Medical camps. 

2-The details of expenses of this first operation (31/5 to 3/6) will be posted tomorrow in this page. 

3- More people have donated in the last few days while we were away. An updated list of donors will be published here as well.