“I’ve saved over 1,400 lives”

I was born in Mangchu Forest, a riverbank village in the Kalimpong district.

It was a thrill to wake up every morning hearing the raging noise of the river. At that time, to a child like me, the river sounded like a grumpy woman (chuckles).

I don’t remember when I learnt to swim in River Teesta. I guess I had a natural flair for swimming.

We were poor. So with my entire family working in the fields all day to earn, I could slip away easily for a swim.

As the youngest of eight siblings, I was pampered. But whenever my parents and brothers discovered my adventures, I got a good beating.

Later if my friends and I spotted a rafting boat while going by bus, we’d get down midway. We’d swim to the raft just to touch it.

I was just 16 when I crossed the river at night using an oar boat for the first time. My family was upset. But eventually they understood my passion.

In 1999 I took part in a swimming and rafting competition organised by the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (now Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, an autonomous district council).

I stood first in swimming and third in rafting. I was the only girl among the rafters.

And I must tell you that I’d learnt rafting only by observing others.

Impressed by my skills, the hill council officials started taking me for rescues in the Teesta and then recruited me as a river guide.

I’ve been taking tourists rafting and rescuing people during mishaps for years now.

Once while returning from my cousin’s funeral, we learnt that a car had fallen into the river. I grabbed a rope and jumped in. I saved five people, including a woman and a child.

I’ve saved over 1,400 lives – 1,200 were during the 2008 Bihar floods. 

I’m proud to have broken the glass ceiling as India’s first woman rafter and rescue expert in a profession where only men work.

Despite the risks, helping people fills me with joy. And I’m happy girls want to follow in my footsteps.

Working in the Teesta is dangerous. Often vehicles fall into the river and we rush even at night to save lives.

Despite a lack of sophisticated rescue equipment, we continue our work and save as many lives as possible.

I’m 41 and unmarried. I never thought of raising a family because it’s the river I love.

For me, the Teesta is like a mother.

I have no time for anything else.

I just want to ensure people return safely from their trips and with fond memories. So I’ll continue to work in the Teesta as long as I can.