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The retired staff members have many a tale to tell of the
bygone years. Sri Dulal Chandra Baruah, who worked in
the capacity of Head Tea House for forty years, recalls an
interesting incident concerning Mr T. N. Barooah, past
Manager of this property, whose booming voice would
intimidate many a worker and the Assistants under him.
One day, a factory worker got so scared because of this
factor, that he hid himself in a tea chest, only to be
discovered by Mr Barooah himself, who promptly
instructed the ‘mistri’ (carpenter) to seal the box. Hearing
this, the worker fled, not stopping till he was well past the
factory gates, and Mr Barooah had himself a hearty laugh!
Sri Bhodro Orang, the trolley engine driver; Sri Bimal
Ojha, the coal stove stoker; Sri Lothe Orang, truck driver;
and Sri Prem Orang, who are all in their eighties now,
remember the times when the green leaf would be
transported to the factory through small trolley trains. In
fact, in 1965, during Mr H.W. Scallon’s time, when there
was an outbreak of an unusual type of flu among the
workers, Sri Bhodro was instructed to carry patients in
the train trolleys to the factory, from where they were
taken to the hospital. “Those were really tough days,” he
expresses. Back then, elephants and bullock carts were part
of the transport fleet for the despatch of teas, to bring
medicines, fuel, rations, and even ferry the executives and
company visitors to safety during the floods, recounts
Sri Somnath Neog, who was deployed in the factory, of
the early days when teas were packed in wooden chests
and transported to Neamatighat by bullock carts for
onward shipment by steamers.This trip would invariably
take two to three days just to cover a distance of 30 km.
Special mention must be made of 85-year-old Sri S.
Doloi, retired clerk of Nagadhoolie Division and the
senior-most among the retired personnel. Apart from his
regular duties, here was a man who was multi-faceted. He
was an electrician, fitter, plumber, mason, all rolled into
one, as well as a talented singer, who performed at cultural
functions.There was even an occasion when he was called
on by Mr H.W. Scallon, the Manager then, to attend to
an electrical breakdown when the main electrician failed
to repair it. His dedication to the Company was greatly
appreciated.
The management also plays an important role in the
conservation of wildlife, especially since the Hollongpahar
Gibbon Sanctuary is located just 10 minutes away from
the estate and the inmates there do wander around the
vicinity. It is the only sanctuary in Assam where seven
species of primates are found, namely, the Hoolock
Gibbon, the pig-tailed Macaque, the Assamese Macaque,
the stump-tailed Macaque, the Rhesus Macaque, Capped
Langur and the Slow Loris. Sri Jadav Goswami, retired
JB of Hattijuri division, recollects how on a rainy day he
fled for his life when he mistook a raincoat clad
‘chowkidar’ for a wild buffalo! Signboards are prominently
displayed all over the garden prohibiting the killing of
animals and birds, and the felling of trees. To this effect,
awareness camps are held, highlighting the importance of
saving the local flora and fauna. Eye-catching illustrations
on conservation are painted on the walls of the crèches,
for the benefit of the children. Water conservation,
wildlife protection, conservation of the eco-system, have
all been prioritised by the estate.
The estate has three government-sponsored Anganvadi
schools and three other schools run by the government.
There are crèches in each Division along with a mobile
crèche, which assists the workers who bring their infants
along with them. All the crèches function under trained
attendants. Milk and a meal of wholesome, nutritious
food, is also provided daily to the children.There are nine
ASHA workers, three to a Division, helping in the
immunization programmes for children and taking care
of pregnant women till the birth of the child.
38 January 2016
January 2016 39
(L to R) - Sri Somnath Neog, Sri S. Doloi,
Sri Dulal Chandra Baruah & Sri Jadav Goswami
(L to R) - Sri Prem Orang, Sri Bhodro Orang,
Sri Bimal Ojha & Sri Lothe Orang
Langur
Gibbon (Female)
Gibbon (Male)
Imperial Green Pigeon
Moon Moth
Median Egret
Small Spider Hunter
Malayan Giant Squirrel
White Throated Kingfisher
Python
Mobile Crèche
Central Crèche