SOHBAR (CHERRAPUNJEE) INDIA - The stray moments of history still romances with the folklore of the 'Drum,' whistling and chugging up, trying as hard as the tired clouds of these hills. This is the saga of a failed and forgotten project of a bygone era. Like the clouds, the 'Drum' too wanted to climb higher and higher up from the Bengal plains to Cherrapunjee. But, as with the tired clouds, it too broke down and fell.
The locals here fondly romanticize this story of 'Alan Sahep' and his dream to bring the 'Drum' to Cherrapunjee in the late 1800s, in an almost forgotten folklore.
"Alan Sahep committed suicide after his project failed," ninety-year-old Opren S Khongsit muttered recalling the legacy. "My grandfather told me the story of Alan Sahep's 'Drum' when I was a boy…," the veteran romanticized.
Historical background of this lore is almost gnawed by time. But, fortunately some record book give a brief account of this fascinating history.
In 1895-96, the British Provincial Government of Composite Assam constructed the Cherra or Theira Comanyganj railway line. The ‘Drum’ was in fact a Tramway, which was about 8 miles in length.
Meter gauge line was found too expensive. So Tramways, 2" – 6" gauge of varying length were devised in many parts of composite Assam. These Tramways were meant to be feeder lines to the main railway line in transporting passengers and goods.
The Cherra or Theira Comanyganj railway line was one such feeder line to the main line at Bengal’s Sylhet province (now in Bangladesh).
In this project, no private company was engaged by the provincial government, like in the case of similar projects during that time.
For 'Alan Sahep' and his men it was the biggest challenge to bring the Tramway atop Shillong plateau which juts vertically from the Bengal plain.
So steep are the inclines that even the clouds gets exhausted during this ascend and break down at Cherrapunjee causing the heaviest rainfall on earth.
Nonetheless, 'Alan Sahep' surveyed and managed to identify friendly inclines and lay down tracks and bridges for the project.
A trek through this forgotten legacy was a discovery of an isolated, but, amazing wonderland jungled only by neglect and probably over-sight.
The eventual climb was a stupendous maze of criss-crosses through dense forests and rushing cascades.
Remains of railway bridges over waterfalls hidden behind dense forest for now a century were found. Ancient stone ramps (now covered in thick foliage) ran up to these bridges. Moreover, scrapped bits of this history were discovered in nearby villages.
In Sohbar village for instance, scrapped rail tracks are now used as lamp post. Many of these tracks were also found in the village headmen's office.
“These were scrapped from the jungle nearby,” Steward Lyngskar, Saidar (headmen) of Sohbar village informed.
Record say, this Tramway carried passengers and also limestone in Sylhet province. Villagers here add that the Tramway came right up to Thangkrang near Cherrapunjee.
“Attempts were made to link the line up to Cherrapunjee”, the record book say adding, the project failed after the earthquake of 1897.
"At Tharia (near Sohbar village) the Engine of the 'Drum' derailed. It laid there for years. Eventually, villagers scrapped it," Opren narrated.
What is astonishing is that there are scant records about this amazing engineering feat. Very few, in fact, know about it in Meghalaya. The folklore has been kept alive only by persons like Opren.
There are many more pieces of the jigsaw that need to be put in place to get the complete picture. Many more questions relating to this amazing journey of 'Alan Sahep's Drum' yet to be answered...
