Page 111 - Sonbeel Utsab 2024

SON BEEL : A TREASURE ON EARTH
Col. Gour Krishna Goswami

It is a very proud moment for me to pen down about the great water body,
SON BEEL.

We are very happy that the younger generation came forward and took it
upon themselves to acknowledge and rightfully respect this feat of nature in our
mother land. Son Beel is surrounded by the migrated population from Purba Banga-
East Pakisthan and now Bangladesh. It is a misconception amongst people that since
fishing is the main livelihood in the area surrounding Son Beel, it is people
belonging to the Kaibortho caste reside in the area. But the reality is that a diverse
population live in the Son Beel area to make it a lively and thriving place. The
mesmerizing seasonal wet land is the house of Hijol Plants (Baringtonia
Acutangula). Moreover, the Pride of India, JARUL TREE (BANABA), offers an
amazing view around the Beel.

The most amazing thing about Beel is that it has become a farm land for rice
cultivation, especially for the species known as Buro Dhan.

The Beloved Beel, nature's best gift to earth, gives a picturesque landscape
with hills on both East and West sides and offers a view that becomes paradise on
earth.

Children who have grown up at the bank of Son Beel like me enjoyed
throughout the year. I can't forget mesmerising sound made by the assembly of many
species of birds. A gentle breeze was enough to disturb the surface of the water to
make it seem like it was dancing under the sun rays with the wind as its partner.

Our childhood was less privileged than others, and for us the summer
brought materials that would be converted to Dung Guti or Latim, and brought us
great joy. I still remember competing against my friends and siblings in the Beel to
see who could swim the fastest and reach the JARUL trees, which were in full
bloom.

We used to wait almost every day for various feriwala with sweets made
from Lotus seeds, water Singara etc. Fish wala Bhaiya with bhujia fish, Chandu
mach, hooga (chapila) mach, and many more delicacies that can be found in the
Beel. Dry fishes are even exported out of our city.

I would like to share a bit about the family I came from. I was born in Sri
Nagar in between Deb Dwar Bazar and Anandapur. My father, Dr Kanai Lal
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