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| Getting ready for drill |
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| View from NH 37 |
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| Babul and me with boys from our place |
Babul and I went to see our village
guys on the day of Holi festival to Agchia who were undergoing training program to
become security guards. Since it was a holiday in IIT, we caught a bus to the
place from Jalukbari at about 11 am. Reaching there, we were surprised to see
many guys speaking our tongue housed in bamboo made single-side tin roofed camps.
The camp where our guys were staying was bustling with oi nitoms on cell phones
and some chit-chatting in slang-mix serious talks.
We
were welcomed by our boys with non-veg lunch. One cousin of mine quipped,
" You guys are lucky that you come today, we have meat curry". We
quickly ate the food which was served with two chillies. " Brother, we
don't have enough water today", one of them rued complaining about the
inadequacies of water supply even to take bath after playing Holi, the
colour-soaking festival of India.
After lunch, we all sat down in the bamboo made large-rowed bed. They talked
about the rules and regulations during the training, of problems and prospects,
their aspirations and future in Indian cities. One of the guys older than me
from our village, an arts graduate replied me when I asked him why had he come
here, " No deal eh! I"ll go to Paresh Baruah (of Ulfa) after
completing my training here. We have learned everything now except firing
guns!". His nickname is Rabon.
During our childhood days, we used to sit in circle at a roadside village
ground in the evening and sung hit Adi and Galo songs( "Sai sai sina was
one!)clapping like an orchestra. Since our villages lies in the border of
Arunachal, we have had natural inclination to learn song and language of the
other side. There were many elders in our village who could speak impeccable
Galo tongue and used to kid us with new lingo. Rabon was one who once led us introduced to the world of neighbouring cultures.
I knew Rabon was kidding about Ulfa and he revealed us later that his elder
sister who was recently married off have sent him to attend the government
initiated free training program after selling a big swine. " You know my
old mom is alone at home now, they are concern about my future so I came here.
Otherwise, I would have gone fishing in the ponds today if I were in village".
The guys from our place told us that there are highest number of trainees from
Dhemaji district. " There is an Assamese guy, you know he is a head
master's son from Silapathar and he is a graduate too. His elder brother is also
a TET teacher. If a person from his background can come, why not guys
like us who have nothing at home". " This is the last ditch attempt
to build my life. If I can saved money for an auto-rickshaw after my employment
as security guard, I'll return home soon."
We discussed many things what others may just consider as crap. From the
talk of campus varsity at Jonai to politics: Sixth Schedule, MAC elections,
unemployment and nature of village youths. Some younger guys immediately
left our crap talks when it was alerted from the threshold that girls were
coming. A guy facing towards me said, " Arope biro, ko:neng
kangkikuma:nam bojeko idakbo, ngo ka:po:ye!" (Really brother, I have not
seen girls for days, I am going out to see!". " I don't know why they are
so crazy, can't they have patience for 35 days without seeing girl", one
of them mumbled. I know the boys were desperately missing their rural
environment here.
I asked one of my cousins, "What about your study? Did
you left?" " They will let me appear in class 12. My
parents have allowed me to come here", he replied. Rabon added that my
cousin was having his class 11 exams, he left it and come. Rabon said, "
It is good that he join us. Otherwise he have been taking dendrite and grass
there. He was narrowly restored from the drug gang. All sorts of
intoxicant stuffs have ruined our village boys these days. Those who have
stayed back are doing nothing except playing cards, drinking and bringing bride. At village,
you know you ate your food and wander without work whole day. Here at least, government is
providing everything from food to uniforms, we are learning something for our
lives too".
More than four hundred youths from various districts of rural Assam are
undergoing training program for private security guard under the aegis of
government of Assam's Employment Generation Mission at Agchia, about 35 kms
from Guwahati. The training program is provided free of cost for 35 days which
includes physical fitness, discipline and regulation, fire fighting techniques
etc.
They are being trained by ex-Indian army. The initiative is taken by government
of Assam in order to minimize burgeoning unemployment in the state. The minimum
education qualification to join this program is matriculation.
@
All photographs are courtesy of Babul Doley
