M Muslim Chowdhury, Srimangal (Moulvibazar) Representative //

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s oldest man is 111 years old. And Ram Singh Gor of Mekanichhara village of Srimangal, Bangladesh is 135 years old.

Age above 119 as per his voter ID card. As such, Ram Singh Gor is now the oldest person in the world. All his records are now required to be sent to Guinness Book of Records registrants.

About 40 km from Srimangal town, Mekani village is an isolated village on the Tripura border on a hilly ridge. The village is evergreen, cool and peaceful. Whose lively moments of the day are like the silence of the night. People are also simple like nature. However, even in modern times, the people of this Sarla village drink tap water. In this village, in the middle of the night, light is inserted in the cup lamp. There is no primary school within 5/7 km. No mobile network. The residents of this village are very primitive people. Go there to gather information about such a news. In this regard, while meeting the elder of this village, I found out about this Ram Singh Ghore. The time was a winter afternoon on November 28, 2023 AD. Tajul Islam Javed, the coordinator of Srimangal Upazila, was also present. Ram Singh was very ill at that time. After we left, Ram Singh’s grandson took out the chair from inside the room. I sit in one and he in the other. And Tajul Islam Javed took some pictures and videos with my mobile phone.

Ram Singh came out walking. After exchanging pleasantries, when asked his age, he said that he was 135 years old. After hearing this I became very curious. The interest to know him increased. Questions started one after another. I kept noting down the answers. I want to know if there is a voter ID card. said yes Wanting to see, he got up from the chair and slowly went inside the room. I also followed behind him. Taking out an old-fashioned tangank (tin box), he unlocked it and took out the voter ID card from a dhoti pan. His date of birth is 6 August 1905 English on the voter ID card. His father’s name is Buguram Gond. And mother’s name is Kunti Gord. Voter ID No- 1024913384.

In Alap Charita, Ram Singh Gond says that his father’s original land was in India. His father and grandfather first came to the area to grow tea. His grandfather and father started the first Putiachara tea plantation. Deer pattern tea garden was created in his hands. When the First World War broke out in 1914/15, he was a garden watchman. Heard of this battle from English gentlemen. When the 2nd World War broke out in 1939/40, the people of Bagan were frightened and panicked after hearing the news from the British. He also said that he was scared then. The movement that took place in 1952 over Bengali and Urdu. He also said that students died in police firing in Dhaka. 1965 AD India Pakistan Riot in Srimangal Vidyabil Tea Garden. Gula are. At that time he was in Vidyabil tea garden. From there he moved towards Putia. When the War of Independence broke out in 1971, all the managerial staff of the Harinchhara tea garden fled. But he didn’t run away. He and Niren Hadima collected workers and picked the leaves of the garden and sent the dates to the tea garden. Harinchara protected the tea garden from the garden for 9 months.

In the interview, he said that Beatrice was the manager of the Khejuri tea plantation, Hall Saheb was one of them. Mr. Hall married Bagan’s daughter Mangali. Mangali was very young for her age. But Sahib got married so he had to be called Manglimem.

It should be noted that this British citizen, Mr. Srimangal, built a Bengali house next to the present Padri Bangla in the suburbs. This bungalow house is also said to have been done in his time. He said that there is also a road in Srimangal named after Mr. Hall’s son Robert Hall.

Ram Singh Gor also said that he studied up to 3rd standard in the primary wing of Victoria High School, old Vidyapith, Srimangal. At that time, Victoria High School had brick houses with iron pillars on one side and thatched houses on the other side. He used to take classes in this room. At that time he used to study from an Acharya house on Moulvibazar road. At that time there was no paved road in Srimangal. According to his commentary, Paka Ghar was a Tripura Rajya Bank in Srimangal Old Bazar, Ramratan Bania’s residence and the Tripura Raja’s bungalow (Raj Kachari) west of Jagannath Jiur Akhara. It is said that sometimes the king of Tripura used to come to this bungalow on elephant back and collect rent from here. He said that leaves were brought to the tea garden with their own carts. He also saw the installation of the tolly line and sent leaves by pushing the tolly on that line.
There was a delay in preparing the report of Ram Singh Gond due to various engagements including verification of information. Again to verify some more information last September 20, 2024 AD. On Friday morning, I again went to his house with Tajul Islam Javed, the coordinator of the small group, and a tribal man named Sabuj Tju, amid heavy rain. As the front side of the house is closed, I went to the back and saw Ram Singh sitting on a branch on the back porch of their house repairing an old pavement. Once again, I exchanged kisses and sat next to him. I checked the physical condition. He is much healthier this time than before. A lot of things happened with old and new. Ram Singh said that after the death of his first wife, he married 2nd at the age of about 65/66. 5 sons and 3 daughters were born in this family. There was only one girl in the previous family. The daughter of the previous family and the elder son of the next family are already dead. More than one granddaughter of the boy and girl house got married and their children are also 15/16 years old. His sons and daughters, grandsons daughter-in-law, grandsons-in-law, sons-in-law and the number of surviving members are over 70, said his fourth son Jagadish Gor. Now everyone lives separately. He lives with his 4th son. His granddaughter Mamni Gord says that her grandfather can still make things out of cane. He also does some housework. At that time, he brought a new fan made of bamboo cane and said, it is very hot, they do not have electricity. So Dada made this paka a few days ago. At this time, Ram Singh was sawing with a sharp knife a piece of bamboo for an old fan. Then he threaded himself into a large needle and sewed the fan with it. At the age of 135, he is still working. Ram Singh Ethan can also read and write.
At that time, son Jagdish said, due to lack of money, father cannot eat fruits and Horlicks. The doctor said that taking Horlix will give strength to the body.
In this regard, Dipendra Bhattacharya, the respected senior teacher of Srimangal, told The Daily Morning Sun, Ram Singh’s description of Srimangal undoubtedly suggests that he is a very old man. He said, I am 80 years old. As a child I saw the fraction of Tripura State Bank in Puranbazar. And Srimangal Victoria High School 1924 AD. Although established, the primary branch was established long before that. Since his birth is written in 1905 on the voter ID card, he is also 119 years old. He said that the government should provide various services and facilities including medical treatment to people who will cross the age of 100 years. His name should also be sent to the Guinness Book, so the government as well as tea plantation authorities can come forward.

In this regard, 80-year-old Niren Hadima of Harinchhara tea garden said that he joined the staff of Harinchhara tea garden in 1961. That’s when he saw Ram Singh Gore, an old man. In 1971, the role of Ram Singh Gor was strong in the protection of Harinchara tea plantation. He said, I am the only one who says staff and he is the only one who says worker. Ananya requested Ram Singh to bring workers from the garden to pick leaves and save the garden. So that other goods including trees are not stolen. Ram Singh guarded it at the risk of his life.
Ram Singh Gore needs proper treatment and good food to maintain a healthy long life. But Ram Singh wants to see that the village gets electricity before his death. A dipstick from an NGO will also work if electricity is connected.