Gaurab Biswas
On an autumn afternoon, the rhythmic beat of the dhaak echoed softly by the riverside. People around were surprised. The Jagaddhatri Puja was being held some distance away. Then why was the rhythm of dhaak sounding by the banks of the Jalangi river? A crowd gradually began to gather at Krishnanagar Bisarjan Ghat in Nadia. They saw a 42-year-old youth take a dip in the river, came ashore and began to perform dandi kata- (lying flat and stretching full-length, marking the ground with his body as a form of devotion.).
As soon as one dandi was completed, the youth said with folded hands, "My vow is to save the dying Jalangi by any means. You too come forward." To spread the message of saving the river, Mithun Bhaumik performed dandi along a rough path of a full one and a half kilometres (from Bisarjan Ghat to Chasapara Buri Ma Baroari). Last Wednesday, on Saptami afternoon, the city of Raja Krishnachandra witnessed an unusual scene courtesy of this youth from Tantipara in Krishnanagar.
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About two years ago, Tarak Ghosh, a resident of Mayakol in Nadia, stood as an independent candidate for the district panchayat in the panchayat elections to save rivers. 'Jalangi Nadi Samaj' also supported him. Tarak's slogan was— "Seeking votes for the river." Despite creating a stir in campaigning, Tarak received only 58 votes in total. Needless to say, he did not taste victory! However, the determined Tarak had said, "These 58 people are at least on the river's side. You'll see, as votes increase, one day the river itself will win!"
Mithun, an electronics mechanic by profession, had chosen the time of Jagaddhatri Puja for his campaign. He says that Krishnanagar becomes crowded with people during this time. That's why he used this crowd as his platform. While some onlookers watched in astonishment, others scoffed, saying, “What’s the point of this?” Yet many joined and walked along with him in silent support.
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Mithun had also informed an organisation called 'Save Jalangi' in Krishnanagar about his intention. The head of that organisation, Dr Jatan Raychaudhuri, says, "Hearing about it, we were in a dilemma. We said there might be other kinds of reactions. Hearing that, Mithun's firm reply was, 'Jalangi is flowing for nearly 250 kilometres while dying. Just think, my prostrating along this difficult one-and-a-half-kilometre path is a protest against that!' After that, we didn't stop him."
As they say, 'sarsey’r modhye bhoot' (there's a ghost in the mustard seed). Mithun, who couldn't cross the higher secondary threshold, has mustard seeds under his feet. And in his head, the ghost of saving the environment has been roaming since school days. In 2002, he cycled across all of India. The campaign theme was blood donation. Recently, he set out on a motorbike to Kedarnath in protest against mountain destruction.
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The condition of Ichamati, another river in Nadia, is similar. A movement has been going on for a long time to save this river, too. Swapan Bhaumik, a resident of Majdia and former president of the Ichamati River Reform Committee, says, "Except during monsoons, different areas of the river are occupied for farming throughout the year. In some parts of North 24 Parganas, Ichamati has been reformed through administrative initiative. That's all. Unless the government takes comprehensive steps, Ichamati cannot be saved either."
In the movie 'Jai Ho', Jai Agnihotri's (Salman Khan) famous dialogue was— "Aap thank you mat kahiye... badle mein teen logon ki madad kijiye... duniya badal jayegi." Mithun also says in almost the same manner, "If even five people are influenced by my message and convince others, then you'll see, one day the river will regain its flow."
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According to Supratim Karmakar, a Krishnanagar resident and river expert, "Jalangi's total course is 248.5 kilometres, but around 46.5 kilometres of it has completely vanished. The condition of what remains is also not good. The Irrigation and Waterways Department and Namami Gange are trying to save Jalangi. But people need to become more aware."
Overcoming thousands of obstacles and ignoring people's comments, it is people like Mithun - determined and unyielding - who continue to keep the message of awareness alive.
