Dumka: Lal Hembram, the first representative from Dumka who joined the first legislature of a free India, is a man lost in the pages of history. But he, even today, is present in the sufferings of the Santhal Pargana tribals. His outstanding contributions to the society give the current MPs a cold shoulder.
Hembram's five-year stint as a MP is still cherished. From building the Damodar Valley Corporation, Santhal Pargana University and Rajkiya Polytecnic, he is the man behind Mansajore Dam that was built in a record time. In his own village, he is commonly known Lal Baba.
But before we start, let's turn back a few chapters of history. During the non-cooperation movement dating back to 1942, Santha Pargana erupted in Gandhi's support. Witnessing a strong protest, Britishers attempted to arrest Lal Hembram, who went underground and was declared 'absconding'. Unfazed, he spearheaded a battle against the Britishers and constituted a Lal Sena. To this day, his unwavering courage and leadership that united adivasis of Santhal Pargana against the Britishers.
If you happen to be a neighbour of an MP, MLA or a corporator, backwardness in your area remains miles away from you. Your family will enjoy uninterrupted power and water supply, and will be used to travelling on smooth roads. But then, Dumka's first MP and a "karmayogi" is still just about hoping for the bare minimum; the rest for him are luxuries that come with a heavy price tag.
Hembram's s wife had to literally plead to Hemant Soren, after a host of meetings, for a road running from Kuspahadi More to Saraidaha village. Mongli Devi was hoping for a welcome gate at the entry of the village displaying Lal Baba's name, and a stadium near the school of his village. She realised words would speak louder, much louder than the actions. And she proved it right.
Our journey to the Saraidaha village began through the jungle of innocence. Faces never complaining, cool fresh air and a place laced with greenery makes you feel like a man in paradise. While travelling 17 kms straight on Dumka-Rampurhat Road, we reached Kuspahadi More and turned right. A comfortably fine road took us to Saraideha Village. Suddenly we spot a tall school building that Lal Baba had built 6 months before his death in 1967, and we jumped out of surprise as such a school was an unexpected sight in a village like this.
But this happy state was short-lived. We moved further and saw another school where we will take you later. Only a few steps further there's a grave-like platform where Shruti Hembram was buried. She was a 12-year-old girl who died of jaundice. Ironically, on our left was a health centre where there was an ad - 'Use condom, next child not before 3 years. Why doesn't the government put up ads on how to save children from dying?'
Finally the road came to an abrupt end, beginning the boundary of region's first MP. It was not easy to guess that it was the village of region's first parliamentarian. It was even more difficult to believe that the rickety house standing in front of us was of a former MP's. Yeah, the air, the earth, the water, all changed... as if that pocket of Dumka was expelled from the paradise.
Lal Baba's childhood friend Litai Hembram said, "The village road was metalled only 2 years ago, but don't know why Lal Baba's house was left."
A mud hut with a thatched roof that stood neglected beside a kaccha road was the house of Lal Baba. Just above the main entry door of the house you would find strips of saffron, white and green like the one you see on Sachin's helmet. But when we entered the house the only visible colour was the colour of apathy and grave neglect.
Chairs were hospitably drawn for us and Mongli Devi brought water for us in a brass vessel, greeting us.
Mongli Devi does not communicate in Hindi properly and her old years made conversation almost impossible. But without uttering a word she told the story of neglect of Gandhi's dreams. You can see here what is never read and watched by the India that is rising everyday. A health centre is being built.
Construction workers say the quality of bricks is so bad that only Rs 5 lakh could be spent out of Rs 10 lakh allocated. Such irregularities in rural Jharkhand is not unknown.
After meeting so many people we reached Lal Baba's Samadhi and the first thing that hit me was Mayawati's statues. How grand they are how bonsai this one is. Doesn't this selfless messiah of Dumka deserve a better treatment?
Lal Baba's family has donated land for the construction of a well under NREGS, but the work is halted midway and well lays open risking lives. This is the story of neglect of Mahatma Gandhi's Bharat and Lal Babu's village. Is not this village eligible to be adopted by the local MP with Modi Sarkar pushing for rural development?
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