Ferry Ride.

 

If to be honest this is my first time writing anything. And I mean it LITERALLY, I have never even written an essay of 300 500 words in any examination till date. So, it becomes hard for me to even grasp the words at first, but as we proceed in the future of this blog. I am hoping that my writing also improves, and I will be to express my views and feelings through my words more clearly.

Let’s get on with it now...

The date is 3^rd august 2025, today I went today to a place where I had never been till 23 years of my existence. The place I visited was the world’s smallest inhabited  river island known as the UMANANDA Island.

To start with some lesson about the island... As a I said it is the smallest inhabited river island in the world. It is also as PEACOCK ISLAND. (I think because of the shape of the island). The island is mainly famous for the presence of the temple of Great Hindu God, SHIIVA. Legends say that the island was created by shiva for his wife Parvati for her happiness and pleasure.  In ancient mythological book the Kalki purana, it is said that while shiva was performing deep meditation in the Island, A Hindu god known as KAMADAEVA disturbed his meditation and as result he was burnt or as we call it he was BHASAMED, therefore another name of the island was also given i.e bhasmachal.

Enough about the histological and mythological features of the island. The main aim of writing this blog is to bring in light about the various behaviour that I observed in the publics and the lack of discipline that they have.

Starting at the beginning of my journey. as I said earlier, I never visited the island so I didn’t know how much would be the price of the ferry tickets would be, and as result I was scammed to overpay more the normal government price of the tickets. Enough about my pathetic condition. So, as I boarded my ferry or ship whatever they call it... I observed that the ferry service was late. I know it’s not a new issue to be discussed but still there is a level of professionalism that you expect from private companies operating in these sectors. Nevertheless, the ferry started moving about 20 mins late and we started moving. I enjoyed the views and reached the island, during our de boarding process I noticed that people were as if the world was ending and they need to reach ashore or else they will die! I mean why this hurry in our people? They can easily wait till the ferry is safely attached with the docking station and then they can easily deboard, but No , everyone one was in a hurry as if GOD was getting away from them and they won’tbe able to reach him in time.

I deboarded the ferry and went onto the island. Reached the temple, lit my diyas and incense sticks and wished my wishes then got in line to offer my oil and milk to the Shivalinga. As I was going. I observed that there were two lines. I didn’t  knew where the second line came from, because when I entered there was only one line.  Since there were two lines obviously some argument was going to be there when we reach the entrance. And yes there was, two women were arguing as to which was the original, even one women said “ You have came to worship god.. why so much arguing and bad mouthing??” I laughed silently and somehow the lines united as one and was approaching to the main mandir. As I went one, I noticed about the  architecture of the temple and noticed how clean well maintained the interior was. When I was inside the administration came and united both the lines. But even in that time a person really shouted and started arguing with administration,  that the line he was stating was the main line, why was not the other line asked to move…etc. I really thought. Is the society we live in, where on a Sunday people were arguing about standing on line and were becoming restless to reach their destination??

I reached the premises of the main Shivalinga and the family in front of me was worshipping. As they finished. The two pandits sitting their asked for some donation. But the family had already given donation the main donation box, but the still the family gave some to one pandit and I thought that was it. But no, the other pandit was requested some cash. I was like, seriously why? They had already given donation to the main donation box and also, they paid it one pandit, they can easily share it but still they requested more.

You may think what I am talking about, why I am so cheap minded? Or what a non-sense thing to observe. But think of it like this, in today’s age where maximum number of payments is made through UPI, how much cash will one carry? Okay no doubt majority of people will carry cash when they visit a temple, but do you think that the cash they carry will been change of mere 10s and 20s. Cash that is available to people is from ATMs and the ATMs never give change, they only give notes of 500 or 2000. So think even if the family had change, they had to break that 500 to get change and after that they will only get 100s notes only. So, if a family gives a note of Rs 100 as donation it becomes difficult for them to digest. But yes, for some it is easy to give the 100s as donation, but the family in context here was not that type of family, they were clearly from outside the city and obviously from the rural areas too. For them it becomes difficult to give out 100s as donation.

When they were leaving the man said. “ Probhu tummar leela bujilu diya” , it means God I understand your play or divinity.

I did my rituals and went out to the boarding area to get on to the ferry and reach mainland. I was waiting and I observed that he people present their were getting restless and they cannot wait to get to the mainland. The ferry didn’t even reach the dock yet and people started to watch by getting near to the railings and leaning outward. I was thinking the weather was already rainy if the persons foot slipped he will immediately fell into the river and will be taken by the strong currents of the mighty Brahmaputra. However I liked one thing about the administration present there. They were very vigilant and did their duties well. They also started scolding the people that were leaning, they made us stand in uniform lines and toward the side. The ferry reached, the people coming from the city deboarded and we were asked to board the ferry. As soon as the command came, people started to push one another and were behaving like animals to get on the ferry. i was literally thinking that a stampede like situation may happen their. But nevertheless we got on board and reached the mainland safely. During deboarding also, people were restless and even one man fought with the staff because he had to come arounf another way to deboard the ferry. with all these experiences my first visit to the island where happiness was to be found came to an end.

Now, lets get on to main points of this blog.

The above situation that happened with me is sure happened to everyone one of you. One small step or one small miscalculation may have led to really devastating situations. No matter how much we try to mitigate these accidents they will happen. But the question is to ask will be whose fault will it be? The government or the public?

The famous Accident of Kolohi river in 2015, which happened due to overloading of passengers wont be a fault of administration or the government. As the boats were operated by private organizations and basic sense of the public should also be held accountable. As reports say the casualty was of 50 persons during this accident.

The 2021 boat collison accident of the nimati ghat area was also a very devasting accident that happened on the Brahmaputra River. Tow vessels, one coming from majuli and other from nimati ghat of Jorhat collided one another.  the vessel that sank was privately operated and as they do not issue any tickets and they didn’t kept a check on the number of passengers. As result the 92 persons were boarded along with vehicles making it a very dangerous mode of transport. As per official report three people died.

From the above two cases one might think is the government really at fault here our are we responsible for our own safety and regulations. Sure at first glance it looks like the publics thinking is at fault here but when we analyse these situations up to some extent the government can also do something to prevent these accidents. Strict laws and regulations should be placed on the ferry services operated privately. Also ticketing systems should be mandatory for every private organization.

But its does not mean that we as a public should behave like animals and let the government be our caretakers. We as a public should also behave rationally and also with utmost care and respect toward others. So, what if we reach 10 mins or 20 mins late. We can definitely enjoy the views and also talk with one another. We should also have the basic courtesy to know the rules and regulations of a place that hey are visiting, for example there was no need to form 2 lines in the temple, it was merely formed so as to satisfy one’s personal gains.? Surely later on the administration came and also made only one line. How much do you want expect from the administration

A mere 10 minutes or waiting to take another ride cannot be put in place of life. We as a society should be able to live up to the expectation that we were created for. No doubt that in one’s emergency he/she has the right to hurry up. But during the normal hours or during vacations can’t we just enjoy the sights, can’t we just relax and think like the primates on top of the food chain? This a question that I leave this blog with to ask yourselves.

Stay happy..Stay Healty!!!