Malda Training Diary - Administrative Training Institute

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All the Collectorate offices have been taken up to check ballot papers. No other work is being
done. Orders have come to prosecute any BD refugees staying back after 7/3/72 under
Foreigner’s Act.
4.3.1972
Work done
Attended Treasury
Attended Election Office
Information
Met ADM in morning before leaving for my assignment to enquire into a complaint
regarding settlement of Ryotwari Rights in Milki, Atgama Mouza. He advised me to take the
JLRO along, as without him & the files on that case, I would be at a total loss. The JLRO
could not trace the file, his clerk being absent & as the BDO had, surprisingly enough, not
told him anything about the proposed enquiry. JLRO, Mr. Ghosh gave me the background to
the case: several peasants jointly cultivating land, claim rights now. The approved list, after
BDO’s enquiry, is Cong + CPI hence the CPM peasants lodged this protesting plaint. I went
there & told the Gram Sewak that nothing could be done till after elections, as the JLRO is
also a Presiding Officer.
After this I saw proposed counting arrangements at Zilla School & BT College in company of
DM & OC Election. Then sat in Treasury for an hour, and then checked packing of election
materials for each booth.
Had a long talk with DM in the afternoon. He repeatedly warned me never to go without food
for a long time as this had ruined his health through gastric ulcer [he had to have an operation
in 1952, which was not effective]. He was Dy. Mag. in charge of Relief in Malda; then posted
to Krishnanagar where he later became SDO; then Alipurduar (during the Shoulmari Sadhu
affair who was supposed to be Netaji) & Barrackpore SDO. Promoted to ADM in Bankura,
then ADC Jalpaiguri & then Jt. Director Industries. He reminisced about Prof. Benoy Sarkar
teaching every Arts subject in Cal. Univ., about the jam-packed classes he used to take, about
his own interview [he got highest mark in Const. Law & in Pol. Science] where Dr. P.N.
Banerjee only asked him science questions & after he prayed against this as unfair to the
Chairman, then Banerjee concentrated for 20 mins on Const. Law. He also told me:-
1. For writing on District Plan, to take up Agriculture, Irrigation, Industries, Roads.
2. For special aspect, take up rural electrification of N.Malda thro’ Barauni, to power
pumps. The S.E.B. will give me details. Also, see BDO Harischandrapur-I for this.
3. Evacuee Repatriation as special paper. He also assured me that the break caused in
my Treasury Training by the army duty at Chanchol would be condoned, and no
extension of training would be necessary.
I have been made Presiding Officer in the Town school, where a bomb burst in 1971
elections! Quite thrilling. My peon has made himself the 3 rd P.O.
Today received a letter from Home-GA about a meeting of our batch called by Mr. J.K. Kohli
on 3 rd . Though dated 23 rd . Feb., the letter was sent only on 1 st March & reached me today! I
wrote off a reply.
5.3.1972 (Sunday)
Cooked meat at SDO’s and learned a lot about his youth. He got 60% in his IAS interview
but because of his lower paper marks stood 111 th , while l10 were taken!
Helped in various work in election office all evening. I am now in Distribution on 10 th ,
presiding officer at female booth in Town School on 11 th , then in Reception immediately
followed by duty in the Strong Room till 13 th ! Received my appointment letter. I was assured
that my peon & 2 nd PO are so experienced that I’ll just have to sit back & not worry.
I leave at noon tomorrow with the army patrol to Chanchol.