A hero of the hills- Santosh Mani Rai

PK Chhetri, SNS, 26 February, 2016: You probably would never have heard of Santosh Mani Rai. Although he’s non-existent in the eyes of the government, in his small circle, Rai is a well-known social worker. An assistant sub-inspector in West Bengal Police, he is an unsung hero who has dedicated his life for the poor and needy in the hills.

His father, Dharam Singh Rai, had served as a rifleman in 10 Gorkha Rifles regiment, which fought against the Japanese during the Second World War in Burma. In those days, every Gorkha soldier had a soft spot for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s Azad Hind Fauj and Dharam Singh too had once contemplated escaping but strong vigilance by British officers prevented him from leaving his camp in Burma. He later settled down in Mul pala village after retirement and that’s where Rai was also born. As has been the wont of war veterans in this country, Rai’s father had to also lead a hand-to-mouth existence. A farmer in the hills usually lives a very difficult and tough life because water is not readily available for irrigation and has to be brought either by cutting a channel from a distant stream or carried for miles. Although he was a bright student, poverty compelled Rai to quit school after Class X and in order to support his family he agreed to join the police force as a constable.

At the age of 16, Rai presented the case of non-availability of a drinking water source in the village to the local block development officer. Until then, the villagers had to fetch drinking water on foot from a stream, which was about three kilometres away in heavy aluminium pitchers balanced on their heads. Though the local BDO did not give him any importance initially considering his tender years, he later relented because of his continued dedication and grit, and sanctioned a drinking water project. The villagers are still grateful to Rai for the same. 

Fighting almost single-handedly, he obtained a sanction for a sericulture scheme for the village from the BDO, and that is still a means of sustainability for many of the local population.  Rai also managed to receive an authorisation of a grant for the construction of 26 houses for shelter-less villagers from missionaries. Alongside others, he rendered free labour to build the concrete houses that stand to this day. 

Not being satisfied with that, Rai constructed a road from Mul pala Primary School to Ukali Bhanjyang, more than two kms away. Every year, he takes leave from active duty to repair the road and also inspires youngsters in the village to help him. The local administrative authorities have recently taken a decision to make it asphalted after observing his perseverance and dedication.   It opened an accessible route to the main stream of communication with hitherto remote Kalimpong, more than 10 kms away and helped better the economic condition of villagers as their produce could finally reach people in town.

Once when I was posted as additional district magistrate in Darjeeling, I visited that part of Kalimpong and was shocked by its utter remoteness. While constructing the road, on several occasions, Rai came face-to-face with leopards and venomous snakes. Though an effort has been made to convert the road into an all-weather one, it boggles the mind to think of the days when area was covered with jungles and one man cutting a lifeline for the sake of his fellow villagers. Even though Rai was bitten by blood-thirsty leeches, he remained undaunted and carried on with bloodied feet till he completed the task by working day in and day out. Rai paved the road with river-bed materials, which he carried in baskets from a nearby stream.

We cannot imagine, at this moment, how a boy of 17 could do all these things without anybody else’s help. His commitment and tenacity is exemplary as constructing a road on a hilly terrain is extremely difficult and is becomes nearly impossible when one attempts to do so single-handedly. The road testifies amply to the spirit and hard toil of that teenaged boy.

Rai’s story does not end there. In 1974, when he was still 19, he saved an old lady from a burning house without caring for his personal safety. Scars of the burn injuries he sustained can be still seen on the back of his neck and forehead .The incident went unreported in the press. Rai is a hero in the eyes of local villagers for his dedication in helping those in need of assistance. Even while in service, he was always ready to help his friends in distress from his meagre personal earnings though he never asked them to return the money. In fact, Rai said, he always forgets after doing charity.

In 1987 in Coochbehar, Rai had fought with a man-eating leopard to save local people. It had already mauled five people and though he sustained injuries in the process, he shot and killed it, and was paid a token twenty-five rupees as a reward.

Rai once rescued a drowning man. With his bicycle in tow, he jumped into a stream in June 1995 in Kurseong sub-division and in the process sustained serious injuries and was bed-ridden for several days. Again in May 1998, he saved the lives of two people from another hilly stream called Mahanada near Milan More when all of a sudden they were swept away by the quick onrush of water due to a heavy downpour. He jumped into the stream after those helpless people. Rai too was swept away with them for quite a distance but without caring for his own safety, he somehow managed to bring them to safety. Even that incident went unreported in the local press.

Similarly, Rai helped hundreds of people in his spare time such as old widows by arranging their pension from the government, giving a new lease of life to many drug addicts through counselling and admitting them to rehabilitation centres, enrolled hundreds of street children in schools. He admitted several people in hospitals, rescued girls from the hands of dubious characters and took them safely to their homes. There are many more stories associated with his benevolence and selfless service but unfortunately they are still far removed from the public glare.

Unfortunately, Rai has received no recognition so far from any corner leave alone the government because he is poor and has practically no support from any organisation. Had he been wealthy, occupied an important position or had some political backing, he would have definitely received recognition long back. I had myself recommended his name for the Padma awards this year but he was simply ignored by the powers that be. But that’s barely surprising given a man like Kailash Satyarthi, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year is yet to receive any recognition in his own country. Can anything be quite as lamentable?

This is India, a country where there is no respect for dedicated people who work selflessly, championing the cause of the poor and needy. The government must change its ways, when it comes to giving official recognition and it is also the duty of the media to bring into focus such real assets of society.

The writer is a former joint secretary, government of West Bengal