An Inside Watch - II

Those departed lovers would find their way of life through ups and downs, through different shades of greens, across the Hooghly and Howrah district to Kolkata. But my journey was not along their way. I just came to feel this place.

After that we decided to relive my memory at Barsul, a place near Shaktigarh. Barsul was famous for the Primary Teachers Training Institute situated there. In the year 2005-06 the last batch of students had their training here, and I, fortunate or unfortunate is a matter of debate, was one of them. Since then, a strange conflict between Central Govt and State Govt regarding training facilities took place and the training programme stopped. I being one of the last trainees had a live picture of how a training institute dies due to govt policies.

However, I show my wife our training institute and the surroundings, the places we used to play, chat and sometimes tease local girls. There was a institute for girls too and that was a major attraction of Barsul. A lot of us used to try their luck in persuading some of them in order to have a more secure future having dual income source. Sadly, I could not join them cause a sister of one of my friends was having her training there. There was a great chance that I may be caught and that could ruin my image.( I am extremely image conscious).

The institute and the hostels were full of entertainment thanks to different type of trainees of various age groups. There were some coming just after they reached the minimum age limit of 18, some like us who passed the graduation but was not finding any chance for masters, some teachers who had to complete this training in order to get their promotion. That unique mixture of students made this place an unlimited source of fun.

Barsul is a place with no shortage of entertainment. The Damodar river pass beside it, the DVC canal is also there for people like me who sometimes seeks solitude from crowd. There is a small park. 

But above all the hostel was the most entertaining. There were some who were expert in music, some in drawing and some in poetry too. In our own room, we were 6 boarder. One of us, Ranjit-da was known for his guitar skills, many came to our room to listen him playing his guitar. Malay, an another masterpiece of different kind was famous for his extraordinary beautiful hand writing and quick wittedness. Sudipta was considered as a leader for his deep voice and huge built. Though he was master of nothing but it was impossible to ignore him in anything. Amit-da and Rameswar-da were simple persons with their simple yet valuable opinions. I was kinda Chess Champion there. Boarders from different rooms used to come to check their abilities against me. Sometimes 2 or 3 of them played together against me, only to get confused for the inevitable result. It's not that I was invincible but they were just unable. Later I figured out that they were overly afraid of my next move and tried their best which took so much time that I thought out my next move by then. When they finally had taken any step I was ready for that and my move was extremely fast which confused them even more.
There were Rahul, Milan, Santu, Chandan, Barun, Subir, Bangshi-da, Nasir and so many who enriched my life. Life went on but their memories live.

Barsul was also known for its cultural programmes. Lot of cultural programmes were organised and we were always there not to miss any of the enjoyment.

Such a lively place to live.

But the scenario had changed dramatically. Now the institutes and the hostel buildings are left abandoned in absence of boarders. The place is deserted to become a haunted one. Buildings are being wasted and the place itself is dying. The drastic transformation of this place brought tears to my eyes. I saw a part of my life dying, dying because of some stupid Govt policy. And I am sure many of us would find their part of lives dying too. I went there to re-live my old days and found it lost.