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Letter from Bogra

A Fading Tradition

by Samudra Huq
Tam lam I Oh Tamtamwalla F Once upon a time this call could be heard all over the streets of Bogra. The sweet rhythm Tak tak taker tak" echoed tn the air lo let the people know — the tarn tarn or horse carriage was passing by. However, with the advent of technology this wonderful mode of transport has disappeared from the streets, along with the other aspects of our lives.
Once there were many horse drawn carriages otherwise known as tam tam' or tanga In Bogra district These tam tarns' were a popular mode of transport and ran between Bogra town and all the Ihanas (now called upazllas) and also around the village areas. Even during the late 60s these coaches could be seen Now they are a faded memory, like a fairy tale heard In one's childhood.
Raisuddin. 58. was a king coachman at that time Now the King has become a day labourer. He has two 'btghas' of land which he cultivates and is hts only source of income.
Raisuddin used to live in the village called Rameswarpur of Gabtali upazila. With as many as eight members In his family Raisuddin is being grinded tn the tolls of the octopus like poverty. Raisuddin recalls that he used lo have only one tam tam' which had been given by his grandfather. At a very young age, he would start tn the early hours of the day with his carriage, towards the railway station. His first customers would be the train commuters and later he would take others from one place to another. At the end of each day he would come home with Taka 40 to 50 which was not bad for a day.s
Within a few years Raisuddin made two more lam lams' which he rented out to other coach men. At that time, says Raisuddin life was very comfortable. Rickshaws, pushcarts or motor Lears could not enter the zig zag roads of Bogra.
Tam lam was the only speedy transport available and ran even on the pucca road.
At the fag end of the sixties, the fortune of the tamtamwallas' began to dwindle. By the mid seventies this popular coach service was replaced by auto-rickshaws, motor car*, buses and mfnlbuses. Soon even rickshaws and push carts entered the village roads. The sound of horse hooves on the streets stopped.
Other coachmen like Raisuddin who had entered the hereditary profession were at a loss and were forced to turn to other professions. Poverty struck them immediately. Some of them tried to sell their coaches. Bui where was the buyer ? Maintaining the horses to keep the carriages running proved lo be a very difficult Job if nol Impossible for people like Raisuddin.
Now after 30 years, the coachmen s smile appears when there Is ihc news of an impending hartal. Hartal' means to the tamtamwalla an increase in his meagre earning*. To youngsters of today, Ihe tam tam' is a novel thing and something that spells out fun. Al other times when their is a wedding, the tam tam' will carry the bridegroom to add lo the pomp and grandeur of the occasion. Wedding seasons, therefore are also a happy time for the ' tamtamwalla'.
In spite of everything, Raisuddtn is very attached to his tam tam'. Every day. he cleans II with loving care. "My sons are not interested in keeping It. The other day one of them suggested I break It up and use it as fuel — that was a great shock to me." says Raisuddin with a note of despondency.
For Raisuddin and others like him. the future is a bleak uncertainty. They do not know how long they will survive. Perhaps they too will be lost with the memory of the staccato beat of the tam tam'.