SCENE 1: Man fought for their existence…it was an age of heroes, not of historians.
ECONOMIC PLOT:
1) Assam, an eastern state of India is known for its rich Economic, social as well as cultural heritage. The yellow paddies, hills and natural resources, deep green forest surrounded by are striking. Travelling to bottom of the upper Assam, there is small historical town since British colonization which is commonly known as the ‘the First Oil City’ of the state. This is Digboi. The first oil refinery of India was established in this town, in the year 1901. Maximum ratios of dwellers of Digboi depend on oil industry. This is the wall,… a boundary beyond which the world of oil industry prevails and binds a treasure of its history. It is said that once a British Engineer named William Lake was with his men in the forest, who were chopping off the trees only when he saw elephants emerging from the dense woods with stains of oil on its feet. Getting the smell of the oil, he shouts at his men- ‘Dig Boy, Dig’, finally giving birth to the name and the shape of the town and refinery. The evidence is possibly distilled- though fanciful- version of the legend explaining the siting and naming of Digboi.
2) The history of the town began in 1867 with a small group of men from Assam Railway and Trading Co. seeing the oil stain in the feet of the elephant and thereby, the English started a small oil installation. India and Asia obtained its first refinery in Digboi in the year 1901, built by Assam Oil Company Limited. The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. took over the refinery and marketing management of Assam Oil Company Ltd. with effect from 1981 and created a separate division. This division has both refinery and marketing operations.
3) The Digboi oil field produced close to 7,000 barrels/day of crude oil at its peak, which was during World War II. Over 1,000 wells have been drilled at Digboi – the first well in 1889 had stuck oil at 178 feet (54 m). The current production from the Digboi fields is about 240 barrels/day. In 1989, the Department of Posts, India came out with a stamp commemorating 100 years of the Digboi fields. The Earliest recorded to the existence of oil in India is found in the memories and dispatches of the Army Officers who penetrated the jungles of Upper Assam since 1825. Lt. R. Wilcox, Major A. White, Capt. Francis Jenkins, Capt. P.S. Hanney—they all saw at different times petroleum exuding from banks of the Dihing River.
4) In 1939, there was a major labour union strike in the Refinery. The Gandhi Movement of Congress for Indian Independence struggle; backed by labour rights and equality status was headed by Sardar Amar Singh Marwah.
5) Digboi refinery has been awarded the ISO-14001 and OHSMC certificate.
6) British were expert engineer and sculptor by mind. They sculpted the thing which reflects the life of a society.
(a) A British lady and a Gentleman.
(b) A model of fiat being fuelled.
(c) A model of train.
(d) A boat.
(e) Coal slipper.
(f) Turbine.
7) Other than these, some of these are relics of daily use during British period. They also had scientists experimenting with various chemical in crude forms.
8) After all, Digboi Oil refinery is “the Oldest Refinery in Asia.”
9) Digboi is also a great place to indulge in shopping as traditional textiles and handicrafts, unique only to this area, can be purchased from the local shops and cottage industries, that too at reasonable prices. Digboi has a huge stock of market. All sort of materials and daily needs are found in the market. People having rich appetite can easily satisfy their tongue by the available fresh fishes being imported from middle-east India. (View) The people from villages come to the market to sell their grocery products. The green vegetables are fresh plucked from the rustic soil and are brought before public to add an extra fabric, and a hope for a profitable market.
10) A number of guest houses and tourist residential places were also constructed by the Britisher in the area laid on the Italian architectural plan, so as to promote tourism in the upper zone of Assam.
SOCIAL PLOT:
1) Digboi is located in the north-eastern corner of Assam, at 27.38° North and 95.63° East. The climate of this place is similar to the rest of the state. Digboi experiences a sub-tropical monsoon type of climate, with the year being divided into 3 basic seasons namely - summer, monsoon and winter. Digboi is engulfed by surpass scenic beauty. The pristine lush greenery creates harmony of nature in Digboi.
2) This is a way to Shillong Road, a place of constant peace and aesthetic beauty. The natural serenity of the spot is heart-throbbing. The bunglows are of high ranking officers from Oil industry. These bunglows are the designs from British minds which still catches the sight of the tourists from various parts of the globe.
3) Within the area of Digboi, comes one of the famous reserve, Lakhipathar Reserve Forest. Most of the forest is still untouched by humans and remains as beautiful as before. Lakhipathar Reserve Forest is the sweet home for varieties of floras and faunas. It is known for the various type of orchids found there, which is also a source of economy for the people. Concerning animals, Lakhipathar Reserve Forest is mostly the reservoir of elephants. They hide among the dense forest, and sometimes, come out of the road in search of food. Beside elephant, the other animals like Golden Langur, Royal Bengal Tiger and some rare species of bird are found here.
4) A home of varieties of plant preservation is a rising effort in Digboi. Digboi Arboretum is a place for growing of all the plant species available in Assam and also those rare species which have become endangered .The arboretum is a kind of botanical garden for research and study purposes of academic circles and forest enthusiastic and the general public as well. The arboretum is a 50-hectare project carried out in three phases. In the first phase an area of 20 hectares is sought to be covered, in the second phase 20 hectares and in the third phase the remaining 10 hectares is used up. The whole area is broken up into small segments of 400 square metres and each segment are having one particular species of plant;
5) A Organic plant site.
6) Digboi is a town within a town. Digboi is divided into two parts: Digboi town and Digboi Oil Town. Digboi Oil Town was considered as a separate census town in 2001. As of 2001 India census, Digboi had a population of 20,405. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46% and according to same 2001 India census, Digboi Oil Town had a population of 16,584. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. In both parts, 10 percent of the total population is under six years of age. Digboi has always retained a British-influenced culture years into independence. Club parties, swimming, tennis and golf were lifestyles of most Digboites since a long time back. Every year, tournaments, at both national and international level, are played here and people come from all over the country to enjoy or take part in the events. Back to the golf, the world famous golf course in the town, with 18 holes, is a major attraction. It is also considered as the best golf course in the whole upper Assam.
7) Digboi is a town having both European as well as Indian fabric since past. All sorts of economic groups prevail here. The struggle for life exists in dense. Here, common people as well as oil based workers equally work hard for the daily bread and butter. The non- govt. organisation like Lion’s Club of Digboi tries their best to offer helping hand to the poor with clothes and other facilities. (Views of poor about their life-style and social fabric)
8) Digboi has well developed time pass spots and resorts for the town dwellers. Among them, one is the major public spot, Cenetary park. Cenetary park is a splendid natural public resort modified both for children as well as gentle folks. Under the British hand, the park was beautifully crafted and well-formulated. The lush green and ‘open’ around creates the park more eye-catching. Children come here during evening hours on off days to have some retreat from twenty four hours daily routine. The scenic beauty of the park has a soothing effect upon dweller’s heart. Entertainment makes life easy-going. A public cinema hall named Janata hall is a centre of entertainment. Janata hall is placed second just after Apsara cinema hall, in the entire Upper Assam. People from different strata after days toil enjoys films in 70 mm curtain and in advanced sound system, in Assamese, Hindi as well as English.
9) Digboi is covered by maximum part of village, paddies and a large part of tea estate. Rice is the chief source of economy and also the primary food of daily belly. Farmers here toil much hard in the field. Modern agricultural inventions are also at work in the fields in order to minimize hand work. (Views of farmers and village people about the condition, outcome of paddies; the impact of weather upon the paddies)
10) Education makes child a man. Digboi has an average literacy rate of 81%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 85% and, female literacy is 77%. Digboi Oil Town has an average literacy rate of 82%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84% and, female literacy is 79%. In academic level, Digboi is booming up. Many students from around Digboi and outside, comes here to study. Co-curicular activities are included within the framework of curriculum, so that students from poor background, who cannot afford club programme and other games within the four walls of club, can get the scope to be physically sound. Digboi has a number of schools and colleges where pupils are given best education.
Digboi College a premier institution of higher education under the University of Dibrugarh, was established in 1965, in the historic oil town of Digboi. The college has a vision of imparting quality education to the learners. Digboi College is situated far away from the hustle and bustle of the township and endowed with exotic beauty of hillocks and lush green forest. It has a well-structured plot and includes maximum facilities from all corners for students. The college library is well-equipped with a present stock of approximately 30000 volumes including text books, reference books, journals, research thesis etc.
(11) Just 1.5 km from the Indian Oil Centre, on the road to the Pengaree Tea Estate, lays the remnants of the most dramatic event that took place in the history of Digboi, during the Second World War. This is War Cemetery, martyr’s land of memories. Looking at the thousands of burials over this vast expanse of land, one can imagine the horror of the war that took place about 70 years ago. A sense of worship and respect automatically comes to the heart of the people when they come to pay obeisance to the war heroes at the cemetery. The cemetery now has around 200 burials of the Second World War. During the war, the state of Assam, situated in the north-eastern zone of India, served as an operational area of the Burmese campaign. The town of Digboi, situated near the Burmese border, was on the lines of communication and a military hospital was established in the area, for the purpose of treating the war casualties. Digboi War Cemetery was initially started for the burials from the hospital.
On the 14 kms east of Digboi, is located Margherita, the centre of plywood, tea garden and coal mines.
CULTURAL PLOT:
(1) Culture is a pair of eyes in Digboi. Entertainment, amusement and various colours of traditional ceremonies are still kept alive and performed in Digboi amidst the influence of English. Jyoti Prasad Agarwala is one among the personalities behind this, who is respect for upbringing of rich cultural principles. The maker of first Assamese film, ‘Joymoti’ bore a record for many works in the field of arts, music and literature. Joymoti was terribly a brave woman who fought for the cause of Indian freedom and peace against British. She fought till her end, when she was brutally punished tying her against the thorn plant. She is still remembered and worshiped today, for her patriotic zeal. Nonthless, Lakhinath Bez Baruah also contributed to high sky for the cultural development in the field of literature.
Every religion has an equal importance and equal hues in their own. The combinations and respect for every religious facets and dogmas creates Digboi. There are religious altars for every religion followers established in various A.O.D areas of Digboi. The Indian Oil Corporation plays a vital role in maintaining the culture at strength. The Indian Oil Corporation should have reserve credits for their efforts on religious unity and satisfaction.
(a) Gurudwara - Procession
(b) Mosque – Procession: Moharam
(c) Church: Baptist.
(d) Buddha bihar
(e) Aurobindo Matri mandir: Golai.
(f) Hindus celebrate and offer obeisance to God with pomp and pompous. Hindus, specially Bengali community follows Durga and Kali. Durga is worshiped in the month between September to October and she is considered to be the Goddess of Strength. Today it is a global devotion around the world observed by Bengali community present in every corner of the world. The rich decorated idols of Maa Durga followed by other idols are the centre of attraction, and the special attraction to drum beating dance is eye-feeding. The festival runs for four days. On the last eve of the festival, Goddess Durga is being offered farewell with the custom of letting the idols from around to water bodies.
(g) Following twenty days since Durga festival, comes Kali festival. On Hindu context, Kali is another incarnation of Goddess Durga who represent strength and courage.On the same day, falls Diwali, the festive of light and joy. In Hindu mythology, Lord Rama returned home with his wife Sita and brother Laxmana after fourteen years of exile on this same day. So, the festive is an occasion of joy when children love the rain of crackers and toys. People also decorate their houses with candles, ‘pradip’, colouring lights and banana tree which followed as tradition since past.
(2) Other than these festive of god and goddess, people also follow variety of cultural traits. Bihu dance, rabindra dance, singing competition, indoor games, art competition etc. are carried out. The upcoming citizens are admitted to the classes of extra- curricular activities in their free hours which are given equal importance along with studies. The Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. hold a festive of its Anniversary running for couples of days, which is followed by observation of annual games and sports at well-formed Jubilee ground like Cricket, football. Just few steps ahead from Jubilee ground, there is a public library. Thousands of books from arts, commerce and science are found here. The members as well as non-members can peep through the books and can borrow them at ease of their tastes. Indian Oil Corporation also invites renowned singers to perform live and thwart the heart of civilians. The performers are brought from various parts of India. People from various corners: poor and rich, unite to enjoy the occasion. The night passes in dance and wine, and days follows by sweat and work.
(3) Assamese community celebrate their custom and rituals their own way. Srimanta Sankardeva had played a great role in the development of Assamese community and culture. He wrote many Bhawanas and Satras which reflect the colour of Assamese. On the occasion of his birthday, a long procession is held moving around the town with drums and other instrument. Both men and women participate in the procession in their traditional attires, singing holy names. Various dramas called ‘Satya Nitya’ are also performed. The vicar of their sacred altar called ‘Namghar’ and in their sacred attire performs melodious holy names called Bhawanas. The night is filled with calm and peace by such divine songs.
Towards the end of the year according to Assamese calendar when crops ripe in yellow, people enjoys ‘eat and drink.’ In the day, farmers mows down the crops and brings them home on their head while women folks prepare rice cake and other delicious items inside the house; and in night, folks dance, feasts and drink full belly. The woman lit a ‘Pradip’ outside in the dark for the prosperity and happiness and in dawn, a new year is welcomed by burning ‘mejhi.’ (VISUAL EFFECT)
Digboi shines in Liquid Gold and will continue to shine in bright and warm. Digboi is a heart…filled with unity, happiness and a better hope…! Digboi is after all, a world in itself.
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