I remember that very day. It was 3rd January 2005. I was working with Oxfam in Tsunami response project and was posted at Nagercoil in Tamilnadu, south India. That day I was in the field in a small village named Kolachal. I was busy in my work.. Suddenly one white car stopped at me. Two ladies, still I remember their names – Carol and Elena- wearing MSF T- shirt approached me and introduced themselves. We had a friendly discussion on various aspects of Tsunami response activities by different NGOs. I wanted to know about MSF. They briefed about MSF. I caught interest and asked for details. They advised me to visit their web site. That evening I looked up the MSF website and knew that MSF is a politically neutral, humanitarian organization and is well known for witness and advocacy. It doesn’t discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, sex or color and works in places of natural or man-made disasters. I found reasons to work with them. After completion of the assignment with Oxfam I applied to MSF for a volunteer post. After telephonic discussion they called me at Delhi for an interview. And I was selected.
I attended the PPD training at UK in November 2007. It was very exciting. 30 volunteers from different parts of the world attended the course. The training was of seven days duration. We are taught about different sides of MSF - its evolution, values, principles, charters, areas of expertise, mode of operation, operational areas, roles of a volunteer and experience of volunteers of return-projects. No doubt it was a wonderful experience for me. I retuned home from PPD with great hopes and expectation for my first mission. Next six months it was only “wait” , “wait” and ‘wait” …. for a call from Delhi – MSF office. As the days passed by the dream of working with MSF started becoming faint.
It was 14th of May. In the morning I got a call from one Delhi based INGO for the confirmation of my selection as a Sr. watsan specialist in their organization.. I requested them to give me two days time for the confirmation from my side. That time I was jobless and I did not have any choice and by this time I lost all hopes to work with MSF. Still I don’t know why I asked for two days time , may be the God had some other thought for me. That very evening I got a call from MSF, Delhi to know my availability for a mission in Uganda. I did not have any other thought and without any hesitation I told them “YES”
Since it was my first assignment overseas I was bit anxious and tensed, thinking if I would be able to meet the expectation of the organization especially in a circumstances where every thing is new to me – people. their culture, way of life, food habit ,language, weather , … every thing. But I accepted the challenge.
I arrived at Kampala on 26th May. After a short briefing at Kampala office by HoM, Logco and Finco I arrived Kitgum on 28thth May. The team consisted of 7 expatriate members: a Project Coordinator from Kenya, a logistician from the Zambia,, two medical doctors from Holland and Norway, a watsan specialist from UK and two nurses from Holland and Germany. Out of 7 expatriates two – one medical doctor and one watsan specialist were specially deputed for Hepatitis E intervention. Kitgum office was the base of the operation of two projects - Hepatitis E and MSF’s regular programme on HIV/AIDS and support of operation of health center at Mudi Opei.
On 29th May at Kitgum office I was briefed on project activities and security guidelines and proceeded to Mudi Opei. The MSF flag was flying high on the vehicle. I was bit inattentive and also anxiously thinking of my coming days in the project. Suddenly I heard the voice of the driver over radio phone .
“ base base at Hug 10”
“Hug 10 go ahead”
“We are departing from base to alpha . over”
“Affirmative”
“Kilometer 00 and 1 pax on board.. Next contact after 30 mikes. Over and out”
“Safe journey”
This was the beginning. Every time I traveled within the project area it was the common practice to keep in contact always with the base through radio. I was very thrilled and excited. Though the security staff appraised me earlier it was a wonderful experience and never faced before. It was a sunny day, the .The sky was very clean and greeneries all around. The road was muddy. Only some NGO cars and cycle were on the road. After one-hour drive I arrived at Mudi Opei. I was greeted by expatriate and other national staff including Guro - the expatriate doctor for Hepatitis E intervention, Regina- expatriate out reach team leader, Mariana – Nurse. Christine – the medical doctor and other national staff, Richards, Samuel, Peter, Charles, Catherine and many more. After a small introduction session I went to Patika IDP camp to meet Mat (Mathew Arnold), watsan expatriate. I was hired to replace him. That day soap and jerrycane distribution was going on in the camps. Thousands of people were in the queue to receive our assistance. As usual there was confusions, complaints and annoyance of some people but at the end of the all were happy. Mat received me well and introduced me with the camp commanders, village volunteers and with other MSF and non-MSF mates. I spent some time with Mat and moved around to see the MSF’s intervention in the area. In the evening I returned to Mudi Opei with Mat. That evening Mat appraised me every thing about the project – its Strength, weakness, opportunity, challenges, strategy, work progress and work ahead.
Except the PC and the logistician all other expatriate staff used to stay at Mudi Opei in week days . Mudi Opei compound was fairly big having 20 tukuls for accommodation of both expatriate and national staff. In the compound there was a kitchen, one drawing cum dining place and one storeroom. For water we used to depend on a adjacent village hand pump (Water carrier was there to fetch water for us). Though the type of latrine( pit latrine - no need to use water) was not my choice still I accepted it sportingly. There was no electricity in the compound. We used to use solar panels for limited time for computer work and mobile charging. In the evening we used to spend time in playing games and gossiping and also star grazing (thanks Aslak – the medical doctor for his powerful binocular). We used to eat variety of food – Posho (cooked maize flour), bean curry, marshed potatoto, ground nut paste, dried fish curry, boiled cabbages, noodles, low spicy meat/chicken, boiled green leafs and rice. No doubt here the eating food was a fun; different people.. different Food habit … different taste. Any way I managed to habituate myself with this .
Work was a bit hectic as there was spreading/increasing of Hepatitis E cases while I was there and as a result there was always pressure of govt administration .The work was challenging. Every thing was new to me. Since it was my first mission I hardly had any experience on MSF’s modus of operandi, strategy, principles and values; (yes, I got some idea/input during PPD and briefing) Also I was in doubt if I will be received well by people with different attitude and culture, by national staff, by govt department, by other NGOs. There was also security threat. As it was an emergency I could not expect leisure in getting time to cope with the situation. Any way I accepted the challenge. In first few days I kept myself occupied in making rapport with people by meeting people, attending meeting and visiting more camps. I spent four month in the project. MSF’s intervention in Hepatitis E intervention was mainly to contribute in promotion of public health condition in the camp areas by providing water and sanitation facilities and support health centers with essential drugs and human resources.
We used to spend the weekends( Saturday and Sunday) at Kitgum. We had a good accommodation facility at Kitgum compound having enough space for every one with individual rooms – both Tukul( round shaped room with thatched roofs) and concrete building. We used to cook on the weekends as per our likings. . I used to make “Chapati” and “Dum Aloo” – it was a common liking for every one. We used to enjoy the weekends by reading books, drinking beers, watching TV shows and DVDs, surfing nets and playing games – Vollyball at AVSI compound. Roaming and spend some time at Kitgum market was common to most of us. We used to arrange candle dinner often in the compound with or without any reason. we were able to manage three days off from the project and went to see Murchison falls and Safari.
MSF’s effort to combat Hepatitis E was well appreciated by locally and nationally by govt and non –govt organization.. It is satisfying for me that Hepatitis E cases have been reduced more than 50% over last 4 months. Local people seemed happy and friendly. I enjoyed a lot in working with all of them including expatriates, national staff , friends of others agencies and govt department.
Four months gone. It was the time to leave.. National staff arranged a farewell party for me. It was a perfect farewell. Staff of MoH, friends of other NGOs, my expatriate friends and all national staff was present at the party. They greeted me with honour.
It was 20th September, morning. All my expatriate friends bid a big goodbye to me . We hugged each other, tears in my eyes. I slowly moved to the car… there was “pin drop silence”
The car started “ base base hug 15 ….. we are departing from base to alpha . Kilomike 00 , 1 pax in board… next contact after 30 mites” . The car rolled on .I felt pain in my heart and a sense of emptiness. GOOD BYE
Gangoni is called Grand canyon of Bengal, a perfect place for visit at the weekend . It is located at a stone pelt distance from Kolkata. nearest Railway station is Garhbeta and well connected in SE railway .The distance from Howrah to Garhbeta rly station is 177km and from Bishnupu it is 25 km. Well known Rupasi Bangla and Aranayak express are connected to Garhbeta and takes 3 to 3.30hrs.It takes 15 minutes by toto to reach Gongoni. After spending 1 to 2 hours at Gangoni one can avail local/express/Emu at Garhbeta to reach Bisnupur. One can cover Gangoni, Bishnupur and Joyrambati and kamarrpukur in a weekend trip 
Avail Rupsi Bangla express at satra gachhi station at 6.25 am and get down at Garhbeta at 9.25 am, reserve a toto and reach Gangoni , we spent 2 hours at Gangoni and returned to Garhbeta station . Avail Midnapur Adra Emu at 12.20 pm and reached Bishnupur at 1 PM. Take a auto and reached laxmi park hotel. 
Reserve a car and visit Joyrambati and Kamarpukur at distance 45 km from Bishnupur and visited birth place of Sree sree ma sharda devi and Ramkrishna Paramhonsa Dev and temples. Note : Temples are closed at 11.30 am. BHOG is availble both at Joyrambati and kamarpukur at 11.30 am. collection of coupon before 11.30 am is mandatory to take BHOG. Return to Bishnupur and reached at 2 pm. 
