Towards a Green and Sustainable Hingalganj

A Short Report on our activities of 27-29 June 2020

Note: All photos in this report are properties of volunteers of the Kanaknagar SD Institution. Kindly take permission before using or circulating any one of these images. Plagiarism is not a good practice. All the works that you see in this blog post are being done under the aegis of Kanaknagar SD Institution. 

1. Background- Shocked Out of Slumber

That the worst time becomes the best is interesting, but hardly ideal. 

On the night of 20th May, 2020, when the super cyclone 'Umpun' battered, ravaged and tattered the south of Bengal, not everyone was hiding for their lives in the tiny village of Sandelerbil. As soon as the storm ceased --and once they were sure that they and their's have survived-- Prabir, Paltan, Kunal, Aniruddha, Biplab and few other friends went out of their homes in order to assess the damage in their neighbourhood. What they saw did not quite flabbergast them, for all of them had memories of the scars left by Cyclones Aila (2009), Fani and Bulbul ( both in 2019). Perhaps the series of devastating storms (and that too within the span of a decade), had already seasoned them to atrocity; so that when they marched out with flaslights in their hands, they were a resilient band of brothers.

Paltan, Prabir and the rest of the gang's action reminded me of the above lines by Edmund Vance Cooke in his poem- 'How Did You Die?'

Growing up together has had its universal blessings for them. They had seen better days together. Friendship had made the simple joys of life manifold many a times in their lives before. That night while witnessing the devastation around, the universal magic potion of friendship was active once again, and their loss and grief was divided. Then, something extraordinary happened: instead of submitting to the ambient dismay and fatalism, they decided to rise to the occasion in unison. One of them, Paltan Mandal, still had some juice left in his phone. He took it upon himself to document every villagers plight and kept sending them to Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury, the Headmaster of his village school--Kanaknagar Shrishtidhar Institution. 

West Bengal, the epicenter of the cyclone's landfall, saw the most widespread damage from Umpun. The storm was considered the strongest to hit the region in over a decade. At least 86 people died in West Bengal; with most of the fatalities due to electrocution or the collapse of homes. The state government estimated that the storm had caused at least ₹1 trillion (US$13.2 billion) in damage and affected 70 percent of the state's population directly. Countless homes were damaged in the South 24 Parganas, and breached river embankments had led to the flooding of villages and swathes of cropland. Saltwater inundation had affected surrounding areas, following a stretch of damage to 19 kilometres of nearby embankments. Across West Bengal, 88,000 hectares (217,000 acres) of rice paddies and 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of vegetable and sesame crops were damaged.[ Source: Wikipedia]

From the very next day (21 May), they found a leader with a vision. With Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury at the helm, this team started doing systematic field surveys that identified immediate and long-term needs of the worst hit areas spread across Hingalganj. What started as a spontaneous response to a natural calamity, within a week took shape of a systematic relief and restoration work. Rebecca Solnit in her book 'A Paradise Built in Hell' said, "Disaster shocks us out of slumber, but only skillful effort keeps us awake." It is in this very context of 'skillful effort', Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury and his army of volunteers have been working relentlessly ever since. After working over a period of 7 weeks, his team has been able to reach out to 5300 families spread all over Hingalganj- not only with emergency food and basic means of sustainance, but also with doctors and medicines.

Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury in converstaion with a boatman on the river Goureshwar. His son Bishnu Sardar is a student of Class VIII in Kanaknagar SD Institution. 

2. Skillful Effort- It is how you fight and why

The human face of the Sundarban-Hingalganj epitomizes abject poverty, deprivation, and acute struggle against geographical challenges. Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury's army knows that only too well. They also know that the human nature readily rises to the occassion of a crisis and as readily slacks off when the living becomes easy. Therefore, to maintain a sense of purpose, commitment and solidarity in the absence of the acute emergency, Pulak Roy Chowdhury's army is currently in the process of developing a self-sustainable and green Hingalganj-- one village at a time. Obtaining the first hand knowledge that there was food in every household ( and almost everyone was provided with a shelter) across all the cyclone hit villages, have now given them the opportunity to focus on other serious issues like 'Pollution'.

They have a two pronged action plan--

1)-Cleaning and recycling of plastic waste ( which grew exponentially at the aftermath of Umpun as almost every relief material coming from the cities were wrapped in plastic).
2)- Plantation of saplings ( as an uncountable number trees have been uprooted during the storm).

Staying true to the philosphy of 'Skillful effort' in these times of apparent ease, the team of volunteers under the aegis of Kanaknagar SD Institution and Pulak Roy Chowdhury has inititiated the process by conducting a plastic cleaning drive on 14-15 June in Bankra and Rupamari villages ( Read the report here). In continuation of that effort, Pulak Babu's army conducted another drive over 27-28 June in Sandelerbil village. This time their goal was to achieve the following:

• Plantation of 215 saplings in Sandelerbil
• Placing of 50 plastic-only dustbins in different locations in the village
• Bring back the plastic waste to a recycling unit in Kolkata that was collected during 14-15 June
• Distribution of wellingtons/gum boots and rain-coats among the volunteers of Sandelerbil 

3. List of volunteers enegaged in 27-28 June programme

Paltan, Prabir, Biplab, Aniruddha, Safina, Mallika, Kunal, Suman, Bikash, Revas, Jyotirmoy, Manotosh, Ashoke, Yasin, Mahadeb, Dinesh, Mahitosh, Aniket, Pushpita, Subham, Sayan, Sudip, Ranadeep, Subrata, Anindya, Dipankar, Rivusoumya, Ribhu, Diptyesh, Avijit, Prasenjit, Bishnu, Maroona and Pulak. 

4. Daywise Description of Work (27-28-29 June) 

Day 1- 27 June

It was a cloudy morning and everyone knew it would rain. 13 volunteers, coming from different parts of the city maintained their rendezvous and reached Sandelerbil by noon. Upon reaching Kanaknagar Shristidhar Institution ( which was to become our relocated base camp), they were welcomed by their commander-in-chief Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury himself. Over lunch boys and girls of Hingalganj and Kolkata mingled and one could see the light of  pure joy surfacing, glistening on each face, like it did everytime they came together and worked hand in hand. It was a joy not of bravery, nor of strength, nor of a weekend gateaway, but of a new inclusiveness. After a brief post-lunch rest, the team gathered in the playground across the school and soon divided into small units. Their immediate task was to prepare ground where saplings would be planted the next morning and place 'sapling protector fencing net' accordingly.

The courtyard of Kanaknagar SD Institution (HS). Photo- Subham Paul

Team gathers and discuss strategy. Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury explaining the plan of action for the next two days. Photo- Bishnu Das

A section of the protected piece of land where saplings would be planted the next morning. Photo- Bishnu Das

In the evening, the team gathered once again in the common room of the school and had another strategy meeting ( while munching Muri) for the next day. This meeting was followed by a session of music and creativity. Each of the volunteers either sang a song, recited a poem, or played an instrument. Inside the room, the schisms of the society had no chance to surface as fellowship prevailed.

Team meeting over Muri. Photo-Anindya Mukherjee

Prabir Mandal reciting a poem. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Day 2- 28 June

The day started early and by 5.30 in the morning the team gathered in the school. The day began with a brief session of distribution of rain gear. 17 volunteers of Sandelerbil were equipped with rain coats and gum boots in the process. Protective ( disposable) mask and cap were also issued for each and everyone present.

Volunteer Safina Parveen receiving her rain gear pack. Photo- Bishnu Das

As soon as this session was over, the army of volunteers were seen active in the field. The team not only had a plan, but also fervently believed and vigorously acted on it. As a result, in spite of spells of torrential shower, the team managed to plant nearly 70 saplings within a few hours. The saplings planted were an assortment of Mango, Jamun ( Indian blackberry), Sapheda (Sapodilla), Bakul (Spanish cherry), Arjun, Krishnachura (delonix), and Eycalyptus.  Following are a few moments from those few hours. The images are self-explanatory and the energy is palpable.

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Dipankar Sengupta

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

Photo- Bishnu Das

As soon as the plantation work around the ground was over, the team moved along the hospital road of Sandelerbil. A team of volunteers had already interacted with the residents along this road and had prepared a list of families who were willing to adopt and take care of the saplings thereafter. Another 20 saplings were planted and protected in the process. While some volunteers were busy planting, some others were occupied in distribution and placement of dust bins. The keepers of these dust bins were instructed to collect 'plastic waste only' while the team develops a regularized system of taking this plastic waste to a recycling centre near Kolkata.

Photo- Dipankar Sengupta

Photo-Dipankar Sengupta

 As soon as the morning's work was over, the team got divided. While, some went out bird watching, some played football. The team united again for lunch at the school. After lunch some of the volunteers busied themselves in sorting and packaging of relief material, while the rest traveled to Nabinganj Junior High School where a session of distribution of story books ( in collaboration with another NGO, along with other essentials like dry food and mosquito nets) among the students took place. All in all, it was a highly fulfilling day.

Volunteers sorting and packing essential relief material. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury addresses the students of Nabinganj Junior High School. Photo- Anindya Mukherjee

Arrival of Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury, Prof Maroona Murmu along with other volunteers at the Nabinganj school. Video- Anindya Mukherjee

Day 3- 30 June

In the morning, one of the key volunteers of this movement, Prof. Maroona Murmu planted a sapling (wood apple) celebrating the resistance of Phulo Murmu and Jhano Murmu along with their brothers Sidho Murmu, Kanhu Murmu, Chand Murmu and Bhairo Murmu in the Santal Hul- the first national movement for independence in India.

Dr. Maroona Murmu planting sapling of an wood apple commemorating Santal Hul Photo- Bishnu Das

Anindya Mukherjee being helped by Sri Pulak Roy Chowdhury in planting a mango sapling within the school courtyard.  Three such saplings was planted in hope that perhaps one day they will  grow and bear fruit  to add to the Mid-Day meals of the students of Kanaknagar SD Institution.  Photo- Bishnu Das

Then it was time for loading and carrying the plastic waste collected during the cleaning drive of 14-15 June back to a recycling unit in Kolkata. There were 28 sacks full of plastic waste ( approximately 200+kilos) waiting at the basement of the cyclone shelter of Sandelerbil all these days and finally they were off to Kolkata for good.

One of the volunteers went in the truck and made sure that it was handed over to Subhankar Sardar, one of the students of Prof. Sipra Mukherjee. Subhankar has been active in protection and conservation  of the East Kolkata Wetlands. He along with his friends work in close contact with the families involved in plastic waste recycling and management. 18 out 28 of the sacks that we had previously collected were found to be suitable for immediate recycling. The rest of the 10 sacks were taken to nearby waste disposal ground of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Subhankar Sarkar

Thus our 3 days of team endeavour in HIngalganj was over. Something was attempted and something was achieved. We have learnt more in the process. And this of course is not an end. This is just the beginning of a long term pledge to build a plastic-free, green and sustainable Hingalganj.