A Spiritual Encounter

by Aloke Mookerjee

Panda came to my life courtesy Mike Whitford, the manager of Nagrakata Tea Estate. When he decided to leave tea for good he left the naughty dog in my care. Of obscure Bhutia origin, Panda was quite a unique individual.  Small yet immensely tough and fearless, he was an adorable rogue and a wayward wanderer who often disappeared for days, weeks and even months – particularly when the 'line dogs' were in season. I realized soon enough that I would have to accept his wild and wicked ways or forever remain exasperated with his wanton way of life. Surprisingly, in my care, Panda seemed to settle down well in his new home. No more wandering, no vanishing acts.  Perhaps, I thought, he had finally sowed the last of his wild doggy oats!

Soon after, I was transferred to Ghatia Tea Estate, in the same district but right across the other side several miles away with other plantations and the untamed open Dooars terrain in between. Around this time, John Drake*, the factory engineer of a neighbouring estate suddenly passed on leaving us all shocked and saddened. Richard Smith*, a good friend of John’s, was particularly upset. He was then the factory assistant of Nagrakata Tea Estate, occupying the bungalow where I had earlier lived with Panda.

 

Jaldhaka River in Nagrakata district of the Dooars - pic by Gowri Mohanakrishnan

Richard was raised and schooled in Kalimpong and Shillong. He and his glamourous Anglo-Khasi wife Mary* believed most profoundly in the many quaint Khasi customs and superstitions that is so much an essential part of life to these good hill people. Richard and Mary remained deadly serious in their beliefs even while we brushed them off with some good natured humour.

Very soon after John’s death, Panda suddenly disappeared from us yet again!  It seemed I was mistaken to have believed he had changed! A thorough search around the estate revealed little sign of his presence. Gloomy thoughts of the little rogue falling prey to a prowling panther kept floating in my mind.

After work that evening, an urgent message from the Burra Bungalow instructed that I should immediately drive on to Nagrakata Tea Estate and check out on a strange dog that seemed to have made himself very comfortable with the Smiths. I drove fast to reach Richard's bungalow in quick time.  On reaching, I found Richard flushed with excitement and pacing the veranda.

He explained animatedly how John often wished to be born as a planter's dog in his next life, to enjoy the freedom of the wide open spaces and the love and care lavished upon them by the doting planter owners. Now, this strangely familiar little dog, suddenly appears out of the blue and so soon after John’s death? There was no doubt left in Richard's mind that this was the re-incarnated John paying them a visit – and perhaps wanting to live with them!

It was breakfast time and so, most lovingly, Richard offered the hairy four legged 'John', two fresh fried eggs with rashers of bacon and buttered toast on his best china plate!  Later in the day, a 'curry bhat' lunch followed.  'Hairy John' relished it all and gobbled up every morsel. 

In the evening, the Nagrakata Estate Manager dropped in to see what Richard had been blathering about the entire day. Dumfounded for a brief moment, he broke into uncontrollable laughter to see Panda sitting on the drawing room sofa, sweet contentment written all over.

"Oh hell man!", Richard muttered sheepishly, " I was so certain it was John paying us a visit. He did so want to be a planter's dog in his next life and he did look so very familiar, right Mary?"

We had a good laugh that evening with a drink or two from the hospitable Smiths. And then, at my stern command Panda jumped perkily back into my car, pleased as Punch at the happy end of a wonderful day.

Piecing together the events of the day, it seems that Panda had been, for some time, missing his erstwhile home. That day he decided the time had finally come to fulfil his longing for a re-visit by traversing the vast terrain between Ghatia and Nagrakata. The incredible journey from one plantation to the other took him right across the district along the main road and over rivers, ravines, forests and paddy fields rife with thundering trucks, preying animals and a hostile terrain. How the little rogue made this hazardous journey in one day, by braving the lurking dangers remains, to this day, a question unanswered.  

Panda remained happily with us for many more years and accompanied us to Assam on my transfer there. He now lies in peace in a corner of the Ghoirallie ‘chota bungalow’ compound.  

Editor's note : Please click on the picture if you wish to read the details on the map - and get an idea of how much country  Panda had to cover!                                                                                                                                                                        

  *All names except Mike Whitford’s have been changed to respect privacy - Author

 

Editor's Note: Aloke Mookerjee is the latest writer to join Indian Chai Stories. He started his career in  tea in the early 1960s with  Gillanders, Arbuthnot and Co. Watch this space to read more byAloke!       

                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Here's what Aloke has to say about himself : 'Long retired from tea, but still active in business. Even after all these years, tea remains to live strongly in my thoughts; they were the best years of my life. Other interests? Always loved Jazz music - still do and have written about this incredible genre. Love vintage airplanes (thus my love for Dakotas!) and cars, and intend to make this my next focus.'