Dream-making farmer

“Dream-making farmer”

Evening has fallen in a small village in West Bengal—Sonarpur. A middle-aged man is walking along the rice fields, a look of deep thought on his face. His name is Raghunath Mandal. He is over fifty, his complexion is like ripe soil, and his eyes are filled with dreams.

Raghunath is a farmer by birth. His father and grandfather also worked in agriculture. But with the passage of time, farming has become a dirty job for many in the village. Young people have gone to the city in search of jobs. But Raghunath believed, “If farming is done with heart, it can earn more respect than in the city.”

The beginning of the struggle

However, Raghunath had to pay a high price for this belief. When he was young, their family was fairly prosperous. But about ten years ago, all the land was submerged in a terrible flood. The crops were damaged, and the debt burden increased. The family members also started saying, “Farming is useless, now sell the land.”

But Raghunath did not give up. He wanted to save his ancestral land with tears in his eyes. He said, “My father sweated on this land. If I can, I will start anew. If I can’t, I will end here.”

In search of a new path

Over the next few years, Raghunath started learning a lot. He would watch YouTube videos on his mobile phone—‘How to do organic farming’, ‘Benefits of diversified farming’, ‘Farming with compost’. He understood that cultivating rice alone would not work anymore. One type of crop means one type of income, one type of risk. So he focused on mixed farming.

In addition to rice, he started cultivating potatoes, mustard, lentils, and even chili. He also started drip irrigation by conserving rainwater. He reduced costs by making natural fertilizers.

Social barriers

Initially, the villagers laughed. Some would say, “These are all urban kids’ businesses. These things don’t work in our village.” Some would say, “I think he’s become a scientist now!” But Raghunath continued on his own path. He would say, “Today you are smiling, tomorrow you will come to my land to learn.”

His wife Malti Devi was his greatest strength. Every morning before going to the land, he would say, “The soil loves you Raghu, you too love the soil. The fruits will come.”

Fruits began to bear

The very next year, his land yielded exceptionally well. Paddy was also good, and he made a good profit from potato and pulse cultivation. He started making a profit from his losses. He took a loan from the bank to buy his own tractor and started large-scale farming.

At this time, he decided to make other farmers aware. He set up a “Farmer Support Center” in a small room next to his house, where discussions were held once a week—about soil testing, fertilizer management, and government agricultural subsidies.

Waves of change

Slowly, the face of Sonarpur village began to change. Farmers who had once given up returned to the pull of the soil. “Sabuj Saathi Krishak Sangh” was formed under the leadership of Raghunath. They now farm in groups, sell their crops in the wholesale market, and share the profits.

Raghunath sent his daughter to study at an agricultural college. He said, “My father gave me land, I give you knowledge, and my daughter will give you a future.”

Honors and Recognition

One day, Raghunath received a call from the District Agriculture Department—“You will be awarded the ‘Best Innovative Farmer’ award.” At first, he couldn’t believe it. When he got on stage and gave his speech, his voice was shaking. He said, “I am neither a scientist nor a big man. I am a farmer, and that is my pride.”

Conclusion: Inspiration from Raghunath

The life of Raghunath Mandal is not just that of a farmer, it is the story of a dreamy, determined, hardworking person, who believed in the power of his soil. He showed that education and technology can be used not only by city but also by rural farmers to change their lives.

Today, Raghunath’s story is an example not only in Sonarpur, but also in the surrounding districts and states. Because of people like him, the soil survives, agriculture survives, and the country survives.

When everyone says, “Nothing happens in farming,” the Raghunaths prove—“Everything happens in farming, if the farmer doesn’t give up.”

If you want, I can turn this story into a video script, play, or essay. If you want it to be in a specific regional folk style or change the characters, let me know.