January 2017 Foundation. The main concerns six estates in the Udalguri area and her addressed and discussed at the Forum, organization awarded certificates to attended by world-renowned scientists Bhooteachang T.E. and Paneery T.E. for and conservationists, were the practices being elephant-friendly. required to combat the effects of climate Stilwell Road which is close to our change on agriculture and the tea estates; Margherita estates, was built during ways to arrest, control and reverse the WWII to facilitate the movement of depletion of our natural resources such Allied vehicles from Assam to China via as forests and water; and the importance Myanmar. One can drive right up to the of educating the community to deal Myanmar border through Arunachal with human-elephant conflict in order Pradesh, visiting the war cemetery at to help save the Asian Elephant which Jairampur en route. is, unfortunately, on the endangered list. We get you better acquainted with These issues are not only germane to our Bhatpara T.E. (Dooars) and Dufflaghur tea estates but are being addressed by T.E. (North Bank, Assam). We also them in a positive manner. In addition bring you tips on making a guest feel to preserving ancient trees, bamboo welcome and at home; interesting details groves and natural water bodies, about the first inter-garden 5-a-side Over a billion people around the world do afforestation is undertaken in all our football tournament held among our not have access to clean drinking water, estates, water bodies are formed where Ugandan estates; an account of a visit to resulting in thousands of deaths from possible and eco-friendly practices such Nyungwe forest, Rwanda; facts about water-borne diseases. In keeping with the as vermicomposting, scientific waste ferns; snippets about a pet porcupine; ethos of McLeod Russel, Gisovu T.E. in disposal (especially for medical waste), memories of a retired planter; the profile Rwanda has joined hands with Taylors of solar power generation and rainwater of a young planter who excels at baking; Harrogate to make clean water available harvesting are initiated. recipes of some staple dishes from to around 250 farmer families living in Lisa Mills, an elephant conservationist I Vietnam; and a few more tasty treats. two sectors of the estate. met at the Forum, is currently working So, read on with relish... The Eastern Himalayan NaturenomicsTM in the Udalguri Division of Assam. She Forum was held in Guwahati, Assam, on was happy to oblige us with some tips 8 & 9 November 2016 under the aegis on dealing with elephants straying into of the Assam-based NGO – Balipara human territory. Lisa has visited our 14 Telescope 42 Cameo Features Eastern Himalayan NaturenomicsTM Simon Philips Jyrwa – a profile Issue – 19 January 2017 Forum 2016 ~ Sarita Dasgupta ~ Elavarasan Gurunathan ~ Sarita Dasgupta 18 The Gem Collection 44 African Beat, Uganda The ‘Guti-Bari’ at Halem T.E. Executive Bonding, Uganda ‘No Hunting’ signs have been put up all over the ~ Jayanta Sarma ~ H.S. Grewal estate for the safety of these creatures. 20 It’s a Wild World 46 Gardening Khar Khar the Porcupine Ferns ~ Shaneel David ~ Anand Wats 48 Kamjari 22 Outlook The Greenhorn ~ Devraj Deb Vermiwash ~ Pravir K. Murari 50 planters@play January 2017 25 Phu Ben Communique Doom Dooma Planters’ Club 01 Cover: Here comes the Tandoori Chicken to Frog Tikka ~ Vapush Mann Singh Sun... at Dufflaghur T. E. ~ Sakina Hussain 52 Visitor’s Vignettes Photograph: Rupa Saikia 28 Beneficence Elephants are my Cup of Tea 02 Editorial / Features Community Water Project at ~ Lisa Mills Gisovu T.E. ~ Harjot Brar hatpara T.E., situated in the Dooars region 03 Treasury 54 Planter’s Punch Those Wonderful Years of North Bengal, shares its boundaries with Bhatpara T.E ~ Sarita Dasgupta 30 Melange ~ Satyakam Hazarika Buxa Tiger Reserve, Raimatang Forest 34 Off the Beaten Track 08 African Beat, Rwanda Range, Chuapara T.E. and Mechpara T.E., and Teatime in Tajikistan 56 The World Around Us B Nyungwe National Park The Stilwell Road ~ Arati Banerjee has a panoramic view of the Bhutan hills. Being so ~ Surender Jhijharia ~ Sarita Dasgupta 59 Postscript close to two forests, the estate is regularly visited 11 The Memsahab’s Guide to 35 Treasury Doctor at our Doorstep ~ Rupa Saikia by herds of elephants, leopards, deer and peacocks. Gracious Living Dufflaghur T.E. ~ Rupa Saikia Hospitality à la ‘Tea’ 40 Health Watch 60 Back Cover: Frogs on a Log ~ Pallavi Mehrotra Obesity ~ Dr (Mrs) Saraju H. Baishya Photograph: Vishal Mahindra JANUARY 2017 3 Old Stalwarts It is believed that in the early 19th century, when a at that time, the tea division of Eveready Industries war had broken out between the Kings of Bhutan India Ltd. and Cooch Behar, some Bhutanese people had come MRIL initiated improvements on the estate to live in this area. The place was thus referred immediately. The ‘B’ Division hospital was to as ‘Bhutia para’ which over the years became renovated as was the dispensary in ‘A’ Division. ‘Bhotepara’ and finally, ‘Bhatpara’. Mothers’ Clubs were formed in both Divisions and It was perhaps in 1893-94 that the British given the responsibility for various tasks such as established Bhatpara T.E. At that time, the Out motivating the workers to improve their hygiene Division (‘B’ Division) was called Mechpara and the and cleanliness standards, trying to reduce the main Division (‘A’ Division) was called Chuapara. consumption of alcohol among the workers, and The latter was later changed to ‘Achchapara’, The first Manager of Bhatpara was believed to have encouraging parents to send their children to the apparently in honour of the British executive in been Mr M.W. Loss, with Mr M.O. Stevenson as estate’s LP Schools. As recently as on 14 April 2016, a leopard cub was charge of the Division who was very fond of saying, his Assistant Manager and Mr Max H. Button as found in Section No 5/94 of Achhapara Division “Achcha Hai”. his Visiting Agent. The last British Manager was in the afternoon by one of the women pluckers, Mr D.C. Roberson. Smti Lachmi Kharia. Mangra Oraon and Manley Lama who both joined the estate in the late 1940s recall that in the early days, the Manager used to move around the estate on horseback, so the Manager’s Bungalow had stables attached. The horse was replaced by the sturdy Land Rover which could move easily over all kinds of terrain. Until 1971, thrice weekly flights operated by ‘Jamair’ to bring provisions from Kolkata and, sometimes, passengers too, used an airfield established in 1955. In 1948, under the Imperial Tea Company Ltd, The only bank operating in the vicinity of the estate Bhatpara became a separate unit with its own factory was the State Bank of India at Jalpaiguri, which With two Divisions – Bhatpara and Achchapara – the which used to produce Orthodox tea. The highest provided the remittances as directed by the Head total grant area of Bhatpara T.E. is 1251.44 Ha, of crop harvested was around 11.35 lakh kg in the Office of the Company, through their armed van. which 637.97 Ha is covered by tea. Trees are planted mid-1960s. A mini trolley line was used to transport where the soil is not conducive for tea cultivation, teas from the factory to Hamiltonganj for onward During this time, the ‘B’ Division hospital was the and the practice of vermiwash has been adopted for despatch to Kolkata. This trolley line was also used by Central Hospital for all the Imperial Tea Company Apart from these LP schools, Bhatpara also the health of the tea plants. other estates of the Imperial Tea Company. estates and their surrounding areas. This hospital has a Junior School in ‘B’ Division. The estate’s had the distinction of installing the first X-ray Management has provided a school bus to ferry machine in Jalpaiguri District in 1955. In the workers’ children to and from Kalchini/Latabari 1950s the CMO was Dr J. Arther followed by High School. Fortunately, most of the workers Dr Browmley. Dr N.C. Chatterjee, who took over nowadays are very aware of the advantages of from Dr Browmley, was the first Indian CMO. providing a good education for their children. A Imperial Tea Company Ltd sold this estate in 1971 Library in ‘B’ Division caters to the children who to Bihariji Fibre & Industry – a company which had are interested in reading. just ventured into Tea. Ten years later, Bhatpara was Sri Palden Lama, son of the present ‘Munshi’, sold to Longview Tea Company Limited who, in Sri Tika Lama, has become the Branch Manager of 1997, sold it to McLeod Russel India Ltd which was Central Bank of India. Vermiwash Unit 4 JANUARY 2017 JANUARY 2017 5 Old Firing Ground The son of daily rated worker various activities for them. In recognition of his Devotees from among the workers take part in Smti Kalpana Lama – Kalyan sterling services to the Scouts movement, he had regular rituals at the Shiva Temple constructed in – passed the West Bengal Civil received the Governor’s Award in 2005 from 2012, while groups of singers belonging to different Services (WBCS) examinations Sri Gopal Krishna Gandhi, who was then the Lines sing devotional ‘bhajans’ there twice a week. and has become a Revenue Governor of West Bengal. The Christians worship at the church while the Officer. Buddhist community celebrates Buddha Purnima at Saptaparna, daughter of the monastery in ‘B’ Division. There used to be a military firing ground past the the present Head Clerk, The estate’s workers also attend ‘Holi’ celebrations at old airfield near Raimatang Forest, between two hill Sri Sobhendra Nath Biswas, the Mahakal Dham near the Raimatang Hill Range, rivers, and until 1995, army vehicles would pass received the Nehru Award for and the river near Raimatang Forest Range Office is a through No 8 Line at Mechpara T.E.