If a student of Jatiya Vidyalaya had stomach pain, it would be Bandana Kalita who would be summoned to give some form of relief.
For those teachers who suffered from pregnancy cramps, Bandana, a helper in the school, would rustle up a herbal concoction to soothe the mother to be.
If a student wet his or her pant or fell and bruised himself or even had one of those peaky days during the menstrual cycle, it was Bandana who comes to the rescue.
Today the school faces the prospect of losing one of its most trusted, hardworking and loyal employees.
Bandana, who is suffering from cancer was today felicitated by the governing body of the Jorhat Jatiya Vidyalaya School along with another helper of another branch.
The principal of Jatiya Vidyalaya, Garmur branch said that she did not think that it was always right to pay tributes to someone after he or she had passed away.
“Both the employees are facing death and still have more than 15 years of service left. The least that the governing body could do was to show them our gratitude and love when they are alive, ” Sarma said.
Bandana was detected with cancer six years ago and had to have her uterus removed here. She was later referred to B Barooah Cancer Hospital in Guwahati where treatment has been continuing while the other had suffered a massive stroke.
“Recently it was seen that the cancer has spread to other parts and that she is in immense pain at times. In spite of this we have never seen her moaning. The Braveheart is serving us as usual and has refused to bow down and let the disease break her, ” she further said.
In her inspirational speech Bandana stoicly expresses that though she knew that she did not have long to live, the love shown to her by students, teachers and former students had made her stronger and she would continue working as best as she could.
Sarma said that both the helpers went beyond the call of duty while serving the school.
Citing an example she said that Bandana knew each goat and cow and their owners at Garmur.
If someone let loose an infected cattle inside the premises of the school so that the school would take the burden of having to dispose it after it died, Bandana would summon the owner and ask him to take it back.
The school also organised an exhibition of puppets made by the pupils and herbs and greens collected by the students on the occasion.
Bishal Sarma, Super Dancer of Sony TV’s season two also performed on the occasion.