Jack Tayeng

ITANAGAR, Sep 19: Come September 30, Arunachal's senior most Traffic Police, Ghaneshyam Baruah will hang his boots after 41 years of service.
Every government employee will eventually retire on superannuation but  Boruah's  service has been an exciting story as he has seen first-hand the transformation of the capital—  from a city with few government cars and zero commercial vehicles to the present bumper to bumper traffic.
Native of Dhekhuakhana, Gogamukh in Assam, Boruah, first came to Arunachal’s Tezu in 1975 with his brother- in-law. He soon landed a job as Village Level Workers (VLW) with a monthly salary of Rs 180. 
“With passing of time, few of my friends suggested that I give an interview for police at PTC Banderdewa in 1980, and fortunately, I was selected and after 11 months of training, they posted me to  Bomdila, then Kameng District. Since then I have been part of the Arunachal Pradesh Police family and then came to Itanagar in 1985," said Boruah.
There were no commercial vehicles and traffic was zero, he said, recalling the time in 1986, when the then Chief Minister Gegong Apang advised him to take over traffic duty. 
“I was the only Traffic Police and my duty was to regulate traffic rules for government vehicles at Bank Tinali," Boruah said while speaking to Eastern Sentinel.
Today we have congested traffic on almost every road; various private and commercial vehicles are running every day but 35 years ago when I was assigned to look after the traffic of Itanagar it was a silent road with few government vehicles only. But, I must say that performing duty in this era is very exciting with my colleagues, Baruah says who is now at Major Rank in the Itanagar Traffic Police.
The journey of Traffic Police is long, started with a single police in 1986 and now we have a separate Deputy Superintendent for Traffic and even manpower has increased, he said while expressing his happiness over the development. Itanagar Traffic wardens and  IRBns are always there to support the Traffic Police, he stated.
 While narrating his personal experience in Arunachal, he said ‘I never felt like an outsider here; people here call me as their “Magbo”(son –in –law) though me and my wife are both from the neighbouring state of Assam. The love and affection for Arunachal will remain in my heart, said Boruah who will be settling at Lilabari, Assam post retirement.
“I have more affection with the people and places here as I have spent my life here,” said Boruah.  Roasted meat, smoked mithun skin, bamboo shoots are some of his favorite dishes. Everyone in my family follows the food habits of Arunachal, he said.
Boruah has seen the growth of the capital city— from a town with countable houses and roads and dense jungles with wild animals.
 The Boruah couple are parents to three daughters and a son. His eldest daughter Dr. Junti Boruah completed her schooling from Govt Higher Secondary School Itanagar and is now a Doctor and posted at Guwahati Medical College.
When asked about any suggestion for the young generation, Boruah said “I only want to see more development here; the young generation must concentrate on studies to achieve success in every field. Youths should refrain from drug abuse and the culture and tradition here is very rich and they should preserve it.”

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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