To quench my thirst, he left a heavy sigh and uttered in regret, “Their fate is still unknown as they never returned home. People of Lalpahari expected their return after independence but in vain. Some people are very much worried about Netaji's missing. So many books have been written on that as if India has only yielded a Netaji and a Gandhiji.”

Taking a pause he resumed, “Contributions of thousands of selfless freedom fighters remained untold. Attempts were made to unearth the mystery behind their missing but no cooperation was received from our so-called independent administrators.”

I never found him so emotional. I used to think him very calm and contented with the happenings in life but his other self got exposed at the time of relating the hidden past of Lalpahari. In order to change his mood I wanted to know about his bygone days as he mentioned earlier.

He looked at me keenly and said, “It seems you are really a good listener. Yes I can share that too with you. Listen to me carefully.”

Taking a pause, he narrated the following:

I was born and brought up in Hooghly but for higher study I had to go to Calcutta. Completing my graduation I decided to go for a tour. In order to visit Deoghar I reached Rampurhat. Halting at the station, I caught a bus in the morning to reach Dumka. 

The bus was passing through Lalpahari. It gave a brief stop at forest Banglow, and then it started moving forward. From my bookish knowledge I came to know that I was moving across the Chota Nagpur plateau. Then the bus gave a long stoppage at Quit India Square. Though, I didn't know the name of the square till then. I didn't get down along with other passengers in order to have tea, that tea stall was still there.

I didn't know where I got lost but as the bus started moving, I got the full view of the square. I too felt like you and instantly decided to get down. The conductor warned me that for next four hours there were no buses either up or down; he meant to say that no bus service was available for next four hours, either towards Rampurhat or Dumka.

Thoroughly ignoring his warning I got down from the bus abruptly. The shop keeper got surprised. Most unwillingly he served me a cup of tea and biscuits. He took me as a vagabond and got scared of losing money against his service. Getting money from me he changed his attitude towards me instantly. He became the friendliest person on earth. From him I came to know about the history of the square. Following his direction I set out for a stroll to a nearby village. My main intention was to kill time as there were no buses in near future.

I discovered a tribal village at the lap of a hill and found that the village and the hill bore same name. Crossing a brook I took the mock test for rock climbing and standing at the top of the hill, I enjoyed the beauty of the entire zone. My mind filled with joy. 

Returning at the bus stop, I found the shop closed. Only one man was waiting at the square. Probably the man belonged to Lalpahari as his look and dress indicated that he was a Bengali gentleman. He didn't take much time to enter into a deep conversation with a stranger like me. When he came to know that I was a graduate then his excitement and interest became boundless. He forgot his purpose of waiting at the square; probably he was waiting for a bus either to Rampurhat or Dumka.

Knowing that I fell in love with Lalpahari at my first glance, he became so happy that he instantly decided to dedicate his life at my service. Looking at my dry face he understood that I didn't have lunch for that day. So without wasting time he pulled me to his home for lunch. It was not far away from the square but I got thoroughly embraced as I was not much used to in such guest friendly environment. On the way to his home he mentioned about a school which I must have noticed; he claimed. Unfortunately I missed the sight of his school from bus.

After lunch I had to go for compulsory rest; probably that was the rules for a guest at Mondal households. In the afternoon he took me to the headmaster of the school. He intended as if how he would leave his honourable guest without showing his school and its headmaster!

Since the headmaster of that school came from Midnapure, he was the miniature of Vidyasagar, according to the knowledge and belief of Mr Golok Mondal, the secretary of Lalpahari High School and my self appointed host. 

Mr Mondal was a real worshiper of education. He studied up to class four and then he didn't get much scope to pursue his study but his love for education remained active and alive.  He was ready to go any extent for the development of his village school. 

Then both of them started convincing me to join their school. Visiting such a beautiful place was one thing but staying there for whole life was another thing. Since I was taking some time to take decision, they started requesting me. It became very difficult for me to ignore their love and respect. I too became a part of their venture.