Mission Matusa

Mission Matusa
Joy Chakraborty, 1993 Electrical Engineering

Dateline Delhi
It’s an early morning Delhi to Shemruu flight of 1 hour 35 minutes. It’s a small aircraft with very few passengers. After a normal take-off, the passengers opened their seat belts. Then an announcement came from the cabin crew that passengers should close their windows, till further intimation. Hearing so, Riya asked her assignment guide Sabir Sir, ‘why they have asked to do so?’
Sabir Khan in his mid-fifties, a fair, medium height, tends to bulky shape, smiled, and said ‘there may be some technical issues.’ Riya in her mid-twenties was not satisfied with Sabir Sir’s reply. She has some hunch that Sabir Sir is hiding something!

Sabir was watching the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final highlights on the TV screen in front of his seat. Riya asked, ‘So, Sir, you like cricket?’
Sabir smiled, ‘yes. I guess, you too, mam?’
– ‘Yap. I have seen the match’
– ‘Then what is your learning from the high voltage match?’
– ‘Tactics, patience, courage, tenacity.’
– ‘Very correct. So, over the years, you have got more maturity, mam!’

After last year’s Bangalore conference, Sabir Khan and Riya are meeting for the 2nd time. They have been designated for a joint assignment. Riya is a little bit tense this time. Sabir told her that, there will be a three-day assignment traveling Kolkata-Delhi and back Delhi-Kolkata. In between is ‘unknown’.
After getting this proposition over the phone, Riya asked Sabir, ‘Sir, do you think, anybody will go without knowing any further details?’
He replied: ‘Agreed mam. Probably, nobody will but except you.’
– ‘Except me!? What do you think about me?’
– ‘Oh. Nothing that sort of. But I know you will definitely be agreed.’
– ‘Why, I will be agreed upon?’
– ‘Because I know you like an adventure. Reason two, it’s me, who is asking you to come with.’’
Sabir continued
– ‘If you don’t mind, I can have a nap for an hour. Windows are closed. You may have some good time with your paperback, mam.’
Riya unwillingly nodded her head in an agreed tone. She is surprised to see that avoiding his usual long chat, Sabir Sir has opted for the unusual behavior of sleeping without any worry. His body has folded a little, as such; it appears that a child is sleeping on his mother’s lap.

Dateline Shemruu
‘Welcome to Shemruu. You are at 16,000 ft altitude.’
‘Shemruu! Riya took a selfie with the board on her back: Sabir immediately asked Riya to delete ‘please immediately delete the photograph, mam.’
To her utter surprise, Riya: ‘will delete it?’
– ‘Yes. It’s a no-foot-print operation, from a security point of view. See, in the flight, they asked to shut the window, because an Indian Air Force plane guides the Delhi to Shemruu flight. It’s a highly sensitive flying zone, can any time be intercepted by Mapistun Air Force.’
Riya took a little while to understand. In the meantime, a team of three officials from the Indian Army arrived and asked them to hand over their phones, laptops, and watches.

Control Line.
Sabir had a thin smile at his nicotine black leaps. They are at present in an army helicopter, with their eyes guarded by black clothes. Then the helicopter takes off toward an unknown destination. After landing, black clothes are taken off. Riya found herself at the Matusa hilltop, one of the Indian Army’s base camps which is one of the highest altitude military camps in the world.

Sabir smiled, ‘I know, you are tensed. You may be angry with me. But I am sure you can understand the secrecy of the task.’
Riya interrupts, ‘That’s ok Sir. But can you not provide some hint on departing from Delhi?’
Sabir smiles. ‘I know that. But even a partial disclosure could attract your further questions. Anyway, come on now. Immediately we have to start the acclimatization session.’
– ‘Acclimatization? For what?
– ‘To acclimatize with this high-altitude weather where the atmosphere contains less oxygen.’
– ‘May be thrilling. But can we sustain?’
– ‘Why not? If I can’t, you will definitely. So, I am sure, you can complete the mission.’
Riya presumes why Sabir Sir was sleeping, probably to avoid her curiosity.

On that night, Riya was told that on the next day early morning, they have to walk till they reach the Control Line. They have to restore the full technical functionality of a hydropower station with assistance from local technicians.

Dateline Mapistun
– ‘Now we are leaving the Indian border and reaching Sherdil village in Mapistun. Let me remind you that; there must not be any footprint of this operation.’
– ‘Mapistun?’
– ‘Yes Mapistun. And nobody can even imagine!’
– ‘But why we people are going? Why did they select us?‘
– ‘Because, they think, we are the best.’

Sabir khan, a professor of Hydrology at Delhi University met Riya Das last year at a conference in Bangalore. Both have some common points of interest. Four months ago, they have done a similar exercise in Himachal Pradesh. There was a rural hospital having some surgical facilities including delivery. Electricity was supplied from the local small hydro project. On previous occasions, military engineers from Harinagar or Pamau, came and commissioned that. But, now for this occasion, their efforts could not yield results.
– But can we restore the plant to its full functionality within this short time?’
– ‘Yes, and actually, we have to. No tension. Definitely, we can’

In operation

It took three hours to travel from the top to the bottom of the Power Plant. Its Intake [where from the water is tapped and is diverted into the hydro project] Disilting arrangement [where silts of flowing water are subsided at the bottom layer of the tank, and it is flashed out in a regular interval. This exercise prevents silt to enter the turbine.] are functional. No leakage in penstock [it takes water from the storage tank to the turbine] pipes. The forbey [storage tank] has apparently no problem. Turbines are well maintained. Transformers are in operation. But, in spite of that, the storage gets empty within two hours whereas it should run turbines for at-least continuous six hours.
– ‘Mam, let’s move to the tent. We need to do some mathematical analysis.’

At 7 pm evening, the plant starts operation, and it runs only till 9.30 pm. While going through the datasheets and generation figures, it is found that the efficiency of the turbo generator decreases drastically at low load conditions. So, they have arranged a forced increase of load at the health center. It improves efficiency which corresponds to lower consumption of water. But whatever they have done cannot be continued as a daily practice.

Sabir found that there was a small hamlet of 8-10 households nearby. They might be using light, television, etc. in their households, which can enhance the load of the Power Plant. But even that is not sufficient.
In the meantime, Sabir got some breathing trouble. He retired into the sleeping bag. Riya however, went on with the exercise. Because there is no internet access, so a map, pen, calculator, and consulting with Mapistun Army people and technicians are now the only available options.

On the next day morning, Sabir is airlifted to Ladakh Army Command Hospital. Earlier, before his breathing problem starts, Sabir told her to revisit the surroundings and to find out further options, if any. Riya then found a one-liner handwritten chit: ‘Yes, you can.’

Riya started traveling the area along with a local technician, and army personnel. After two hours of ups and downs on the hills, they took a small break on a hilltop. They took water and tea with biscuits. From there she could see some plantations.
– ‘Hey. What are those plantations?’
– ‘Those are orchards, mem sab.’
– ‘Orchard? Oh, they would then definitely need irrigation. How do they avail water?’
– ‘Mainly they do it on head load, a very laborious and painful exercise, mem sab’.
– ‘Okay. Let’s visit those spots.’

They walked to the orchard and interacted with the people. She understands that irrigation facilities can be provided there. Pumps can be installed, and those pumps will be energised from the Hydro Power Station.
– ‘Oh God… finally we have done it.’
Riya seems thrilled. And the army personnel wonders what has happened.
– ‘What happens, mem sab?’
– ‘We have found the solution. Probably, your power plant will have no problem in the coming days. It would run for six hours daily in the evening.’
The people around her are a bit in doubts.
– ‘Insa allha. Have you got the solution?’
– ‘Yes, yes. Let’s move back to the camp. We should discuss it with the Commandant. His opinion is important.’

‘We r the largest democracy in the world, our culture has taught us the plurality’
They all returned to the camp. Listening to the entire proposition from Riya, the Commandant was happy. ‘So, Mem-sab, congratulations. You have made it. It is great that you Indians have done this.’
– ‘Sir, our Indian culture has taught us plurality; it is all about accommodating all.’
– ‘Is it? Then why do you allow students from all countries in the world, but not Mapistun in your Hydrology courses at Roorkee University? If you allow you need not come over here. Our own experts can solve this. You allow cricketers from all the countries in the world except Mapistun in your IPL. You claim you are the largest democracy in the world.

Suddenly, at that point of time, Riya remembers her Sabir Sir. How is he? Is he okay? She asked the Mapistun Commandant, ‘How is Sabir Sir, my assignment guide? I don’t have any updates.’
– Mr. Khan is stable. He is under good and proper care at the Ladakh Army Command Hospital.

The next morning while the darkness of night slowly disappears by the twilight of dawn. Riya noticed that the morning Sun in the ‘enemy land’ has no difference from that of Shimla or Darjeeling!

‘Mulk se age kuch bhi nehi’
Riya went to the army hospital and briefed Sabir Sir on the entire episode including her interaction with the Mapistun Commandant. Sabir replied, ‘it’s a lifetime experience Riya that you have interacted with the army people on both sides of the border. They all are human beings and responsible people. They all are working for their respective motherland.’

Riya could not console herself with Sabir’s deposition. She said: ‘But Sir, our India claims that we are the largest democracy. But elections are conducted, largely on caste and religion. They are saying the Indian Government has deployed military and paramilitary forces to many parts of our own country. And this results in mockery of democracy there…’
Sabir says, ‘Hold on Riya, you have to understand that historically, for many centuries, our country has been invaded by others, but we never did it. Think about our neighboring countries. They are all hostile to us. There are militant infiltrations. So, naturally we have to protect ourselves. Let us not go with the claim of other countries. Many countries do not have an election system. Some are purely religion-based countries.
– I agree Sir, but is it fair? Why can’t all the countries in the world have a true democratic system, without any bias for religion and caste?
– Listen my dear girl. What is India’s population and spread? We have 25 distinct regions based on language. We are not in France, Japan, or Germany where only one language that everyone speaks. Historically people of our Goa are mostly Christian, whereas those in Tibet believe in Buddhism. Muslims are the majority in many regions. So, Riya, it’s a very complex issue and will take a long time to discuss and might be endless. On both sides of our border, people are groomed in such fashions that they always highlight the negative sides of another side. Positive issues are grossly buried under the mud of hate politics.
– But Sir, why can’t we have a system of only one caste and one religion, that is humanity?
– I appreciate your sense Riya, but that’s theoretical. It’s not possible in today’s world. Think of Bengal where Netaji is their hero. In Maharashtra it is Shibaji, in Punjab it is Ranjit Singh, in Rajasthan, it is Rana Pratap Singh. And neither of them is wrong. They have their individual choices. So accept that India is a large country, not that easy to understand.

Riya listens to Sabir Sir and remains silent for a while. He then says “Khyar choro (things apart), Riya, I am really very much proud of you. You have accomplished the mission. This brings immense pleasure to me. I can’t explain it in any words. Allha tumko khair rakhye..(God bless you) aur age barneka takat de..(let you be blessed to advance further ). Actually, professionals like engineers, scientists, doctors, teachers, etc. should think and work beyond the concept of border, and you have already experienced it through your successful mission.’

Then, an army officer knocked on the door and entered the cabin. ‘Mam. We have to move now. We are close to the flight time.’
Riya is worried, and asks, “what will happen for Sabir Sir?”
Sabir immediately replies, “come on Riya. You are mature enough. Don’t be so worried. I have to stay here for the next 3 / 4 days for some more recovery. Then only I can shift to Delhi”.
– That’s true Sir. But how can I get your updates? There is no telecommunication available now in this region.
– Don’t worry Riya, In Delhi, communication will not be a problem. Till then please presume that everything is in the right direction on the northern front.
– Presume?
– Yes mam. There is no other alternative. And you have seen that here I am under appropriate care.
The Army official has insisted: Please mam. We have to go.

Even in the tensed situation
The Army officer accompanied Riya to the nearest airport. ‘Mam, please don’t be upset. As Sir has said, please keep positive signs in mind. Dirty politics can’t be permanently prevailing. It will end sooner or later. You have noticed that even in such a tense situation, you have gone there for the restoration of their power station. Actually, still, onion and sugar are supplied here from Mapistun and vegetables go there from us.’
– Really? I didn’t know.
– Yes mam. You might have heard that Mapistun has lifted the ban and has allowed limited pilgrimage for Sikhs at Kartarpur Sahib.
– So nice. I didn’t know these.
– Actually, very few people know this and fewer remember!

‘The other side of midnight’
At around 11.30 midnight, the Air India Flight from Delhi to Kolkata comes close to its destination.
Riya was remembering, Sabir Sir said earlier, “It will be a no footprint operation, so Mapistun won’t be mentioned. They would mention Himachal Pradesh.”

At 12.45 midnight, Riya could reach her PG accommodation safely in Kolkata. At the same time, an ambulance reached Army Command Hospital, Ladakh with a specialist doctor on an emergency call, as the condition of Sabir Sir has suddenly got deteriorated.