Siliguri resident writes book on tea...BOOK SHEDS LIGHT ON LIFE IN TEA INDUSTRY One bud between two covers

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, 29 July 2019,Siliguri: Tales of tea workers and the industry have found place in a book penned by a Siliguri resident who is associated with tea industry for over 20 years now.

Rajarshi Dutta, who is a liaison officer in a tea estate based in the Dooars, has come up with a compilation of stories which narrate the lives of tea workers and other associated with the sector.

Named Leaf Two and Bud One ­ derived from "two leaves and a bud", a common term that defines tea leaves Rajarshi Dutta. the book has been published earlier this year and has earned appreciation from stakeholders of the industry as well as from people residing in the brew belts of north Bengal.

"I am working in the industry for several years now and felt the need to narrate the daily lives of tea workers and their families, their aspirations, the problems they face and how they strive to get out of critical situations. Most of the incidents which I have mentioned are real-life incidents which I have experienced in different locations during my career," said Dutta.

The book has five short stories, and the 45-year-old author has also tried to highlight certain pertinent issues of the industry.

"A number of books, mostly research works, have been published on the industry. Even some novels have been written. But I took a different approach and planned to come up with stories which can make any reader know about the issues which have been affecting the industry and its stakeholders. 

Even today, people hardly get a change to mingle with the tea population to know about them," he said.

During his stay in tea estates, Dutta 's regular contacts with both the management representatives and the workers helped him to understand the people and life in tea gardens.In the book, Dutta has tried to showcase the problems of environmental degradation,alcoholism and absenteeism, the crisis of people in close tea gardens and migration.He has started with Latent Desire, the first story that speaks of the changes in landscape because of the lack of environmental conservation, followed by Tactics & Practice, An Alcoholic, Behind the Screen and Off to Survive -Migration.

“Migration is a major problem that has been plaguing the industry. In many tea gardens, getting skilled workers is tough in these days as people are shifting to other sectors and places for more money. I have also seen how families of tea workers got ruined due to alcoholism and feel people should know what is happening in the industry, ” said Dutta. Along with the stories,which illustrate the lives of people living in tea gardens, Dutta has come up with a compilation of common terms used in the sector.

“Many people are curious to know how tea is produced and processed. I believe the list of terminology in the book will help them understand it, ” Dutta added..