Rajargaon Youth Forum

 It is all about Youth Power which is capable of changing the so called DOLADOLI scenario of most of our villages. The youth of the village Rajargaon (PO:Dudhpatil,Silchar) has set an example by curing the plague called ‘DOLADOLI’ infected on the Bujons of the village.

 Rajargaon is a Bishnupriya Manipuri village under Dudhpatil Post Office at Silchar. Though there are only 60 houses, but got divided into three groups and finally three Maaltheps. All kinds of cultural activities have been performed separately in three Maaltheps, making the youth more sufferers. The Bujons did not allow the youth of one group to attend the wedding event of a friend belonging to another group, such was the pathetic scenario in the village. They did not even manage to have a ‘Kaang/Rath’ for the last 60 years; it has been told that there was a ‘Kaang’ during 1950’s. Since then, on Rathyatra the Bujons, Beyapas, Kids and youth all go to the main road of the village and wait for the ‘Kaang’ parikrama of a nearby village called Machughat and get blessed.

It was the year of 2009, few educated youth activists of the village decided to take initiative and change the scenario of the village. They called all youth on a meeting and made a group called 'RAJARGAON YOUTH FORUM' and the forum thus decided to revolt against the ban of not attending other group’s programs. It was possible to lift the ban after rigorous meetings with the Bujons of three groups. Thereafter the forum activists realized the importance to have a ‘Kaang’ in the village. Initially they discussed about it with all the Bujons, but when they did not get any positive response from them, they decided to build the ‘Kaang’ on their own. Since most of the youth activists were students, undergoing higher education; they contributed from their pocket expenses and thus could able to collect only Rs.16000/-. It was near to impossible to build a Manipuri Kaang with such a small amount. But they were very positive with their approach, knowing that help would come from all around just after the start. They bought wooden materials and while carrying it down from the lorry on the village main road, news got spread to all villagers. They arranged a carpenter also to start the work; Bujons, kids started visiting the spot on every afternoon. Later on, there was no worry for the youth activists about money, they got contributions from all around. They opened a bank account in the name of ‘Rajargaon Youth Forum’. Salaried people residing in the village, towns, cities outside also made contributions by sending money in the bank account. Ema-Indols, Ningols also made contributions whatever they could and thus finally the accumulated amount went to Rs.80,000/- and it was good enough to build a big Manipuri ‘Kaang’ and conduct ‘Baandara/Khechuri Paali’ successfully. Finally, a big ‘Kaang’ was built and thus Rath Parikrama was organised for the first time in Rajargaon in the year of 2009 after decades.

 

On the first day of Kaang Paali, when the Eiga carried Lord Jagannath’s Idol on his back from the temple towards the Kaang, the Bujons & Beyapas present there suddenly got emotional and started weeping. It was a dream came true for them to see the Lord Jagannath Idol of their village to be on Kaang. Having seen all these, the eyes of the youth activists got wet too. Since then, Kaang Paali celebration continues in the village bringing unity, happiness and prosperity.