A Green Legacy

Assam, situated in the easternmost sentinel of India is endowed with exquisite fauna and flora. The lush green forest, blue mountains, rippling water bodies, and wild animals and birds are the highlight features of this region. Adding to the green serenity, are the age-old tea plantations. The British, they came, conquered and left, leaving behind in this region, a green legacy, i.e., the tea estates. These tea gardens are the integral part of the most flourishing industry of Assam providing sustenance to a huge population in the state.

A tour to this part of the country would be incomplete if one does not pay a visit to these estates. As one travels towards upper Assam one can experience the thrill of travelling through long patches of greenery extending beyond the horizon. The topography of the land provides an undulating picture of the bushes, as if a green carpet has been laid down. Here and there are well-laid labour lines and factories. You can arrange your lodging in the manager’s bungalows or guesthouses. Toward the evening one might hear the drumbeats rolling out from the lines to brush of the days toil by merry making.

Tea-plantations are small islands of tranquillity. You look around and find yourself engulfed in the sea of green of varying shades and depth, The picturesque landscape is dotted with tall shade trees which are planted to protect the delicate tea leaves from harsh sunlight. Watching the tea-leaf pluckers at work is another delight. Their deftness and accuracy in locating the tender most and perfect ‘two leaves and a bud’ is awe-inspiring. Most of them are ladies and quite often you will find they are carrying one or two babies in their homemade slings.

Just as the tea cup brings in a cheer to millions of people around the world, here’s only hoping that this age old industry flourishes, overcoming all difficulties for a long, long time to come.