April 13, 1997

The forgotten village
It was a stroke of the pen that completely altered the lives of people in a little known village on the India-Bangladesh border. Sir Cyril Radcliff, who redefined the border in 1947, gave Terogharia -a Hindu dominated village - to India.

The decision should have put a smile on the faces of the 100-odd families staying there. But 50 years down the line the number of families staying in this small village has dwindled to seven.

Surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides, a tricky crossing to the baor (a stagnant body of water) is their only link with India. Most villagers of Terogharia, then known as Malopara, left en masse for India soon after partition.

"Till recently there were 13 families her," said Gaur Chandra Haldar, at 60 the oldest villager. "But after the Babri Masjid demolition six families left, fearing reprisals from the Muslim-dominated villages of Gantipura to the north and east and Daulatpur in the south."

Although the nearest town, Bongaon, on the Indian side is only 8 kilometers away, and Calcutta itself just six to seven hours drive, Terogharia is a picture of desolation. The villagers, mostly Malos, fishermen, are totally dependent on fishing and are forced to rely on their needs. For their village, which has a permanent BSF border outpost, has no shops, school or even a post office. Devoid of electricity or a supple of potable water, the villagers have to settle for the services of local Muslim quacks if someone falls sick. To get help from an Indian doctor the villagers have to cross the baor and walk at least 2 kilometers. Not an easy proposition when the baor is in spate. During the monsoon-which starts around June and lasts till September - the 150 acre baor is flooded by the waters of the overflowing River Ichhamati a little distance away.

Crossing the baor is a daily struggle. Terogharia boasts of only four canoes and more often than not the boats are being used for fishing, leaving the people stranded till the boats return.

Even the three school-going children of the village who cross the baor to go to school in India, stop going school during the mosoon.

To venture out onto the baor one has to take permission from the BSF. Facing the BSF post is the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) post to the north of Terogharia. It is to them that the villagers turn in times of crisis. "For all practical purposes the residents of the village are dependent on us ," said Commandant Zakir of the Bangladesh Rifles. "We look after their needs."

Only three kilometers away there are signs of bustling activity. In Benapol, on the Bangladesh side of the border, hundreds of trucks rumble down the highway to Jessore, about 38 kilometers away.

"In the peak season, which is between October and February, this average rises to 300," said P.K. Katiyar, assistant commissioner of India customer at Petrapol, facing Benapol.

Out of the Rs 3,5000-crore Indo-Bangladesh trade the Petrapol Benapol land route accounts for about Rs 1,8000 crore.

Yet, this narrow but important road is crying out for attention, too. Traffic jams can lead to blockages that last as long as 10-24 hours.

"You have seen the condition of the Jessore road," said Gour Haldar. "If the state the Indian government remain so indifferent to such and important road, then who would think about our little village where only 50 people live?"

Come election, the village suddenly becomes a must visit spot for politicians. Like a ritual, the villagers reel off their list of problems - a grocery shop, a primary school and a health center, not to mention abridge connecting Terogharia with Pirojpur on the other side of the baor- to the visiting politicians. The politicians conveniently forget about it after being elected.

While the neighbouring villages across the baor enjoy the fruits of modernisation, the villagers of Terogharia are stuck in the 17th century, forgotten and relegated to the past.

TAPASH GANGULY

---

| Cover Story | World Report | Society | Diplomacy | Controversy | Success Story |
| Personality | Jammu & Kashmir | Delhiana | Mumbai Masala | Statescan | Scene | People |
| Tennis | Stockwatch | News You Can Use | Forecast | Book Review | Cinema | Send Mail |