In 2000 a team of researchers
from Bangalore came to my village,
at a time when the road was 10 times worst than as it is now. They first came
on a pack of three elephants. The elephants could no longer go beyond half away
because the terrain was rugged and provisions were running out. They had to
turn around and go back to Miao, the nearest town.
After a few days, they got porters from Chakma and other
communities who do not know the geography. But they came handy so they were
employed. Their target was to reach Chaukan
Pass, a border point between India and Burma beyond my village.
These porters travelled just little beyond my village, but
they won’t go beyond. They had lots of fears like the place is covered with
snow, gods will get angry etc. Helpless, the researchers had to return.
13 years later another team of 4 trekked
the same route. I met one of the team members in Bangalore. Their aim was
trekking expedition to Chaukan Pass. Learning from experience of previous
researchers, they employed Lisu people as guides and porters, who knew A to Z
of the geography. Without any difficulty they reached the border point and
slept near that stone overnight!
I learned and reflect
a few lessons:
·
It’s amazing to experience
acceptance by local people when their people are with us. Not many questions of
suspicions are shot at us.
·
Our learning becomes more
reliable. You gain “insiders” knowledge.
·
Many more…
Right people… Right link… Good chance of success.
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