Feature

Tamara Zafar

On the morning of Thursday, the 13th of March, we set out on a 9-hour journey to the northern most region in Bangladesh to visit a tea estate and organic farm in Tetulia, Panchagarh. We were excited out of our shoes. At the Architecture department in BRAC University, our study trips aren't your ordinary information tours; rather we go on trips to sink into the deep sea of knowledge that surrounds us. We have different ways of grasping concepts and exploring nature at its best.

We looked at and documented a few highway restaurants on the way and back for our on-going project, which was one of our purposes for this study trip. After taking endless photographs and measurements, we set off again. When we reached the place, our reaction was nothing less than absolute awe! It was like being in one of those Chinese imperial palaces that had brilliant gardens and bridges connecting the place. The cottages were made of wood and concrete. Everything else was made out of either wood, steel or ceramic. There was no plastic! The reason for that being, plastic has properties that are not environment friendly and even harmful to human beings. This was one of the many strong principles of this organic farm. Everyone worked here as a team and believed in the principle of organic farming and healthy living. Everything grown in their farm is organic in its truest sense. No chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides or even irrigation methods are used. All the vegetables are grown in the most natural way and the cows are fed grass and hay without any kind of extra supplements. You would think that the vegetables and milk from these cows would have a lesser taste than what we consider 'fruits of modern farming'! Instead, we discovered the taste of organic foods to be far better than the freshest of vegetables we've tasted from the so-called hybrid ones we get in the markets! The cows seemed healthier and happier than other cows that go through numerous tests and experiments and fed fattening supplements. They're allowed to eat naturally whenever they want, roam about freely and are also considered as teammates. There is an old-home for the cattle where they are kept until they die naturally and buried afterwards. None of them are sold or slaughtered when they become too old to work.

Being on an organic vegetarian diet for the two days that we spent there, was not bad at all! You could really taste the difference. I believe it's an open secret now, that whatever we get from the markets in Dhaka and all around in Bangladesh has some kind of chemical in it that is literally poisoning our system.

The chemicals or poison we are indirectly fed through our foods are carcinogenic. 'We are what we eat'. This is what Dr. Iqbal Aminul Kabir said, and he is the 'brains' behind this organic farm and herbal medicine research center. He saw the bigger picture and realized what we are doing to ourselves. Hence, he moved to Panchagarh and brought his concept to life with the help of the owner of the estate. Today, this organic farm covers an area of about 650 acres, has the largest single estate organic tea garden, and also researches on herbal medicine. One of the most posh departmental stores in the world, Harrods in London, is a client of theirs for the organic tea produced at the tea estate. We were courteously taken to the tea factory and explained how everything is done.

Apart from all the healthy food and picturesque scenery, the architecture was magnificent. Arched bridges, water running underneath, Chinese styled cottages against the fog, we couldn't ask for more. Walking through this place had a spiritual effect.

The whole setting and architecture around made you unwind and feel right at home. As architecture students, we endlessly try to bring out the creativity from within us, and this place was just right to get our stresses out of the way to let our creative mind breathe. Sadly enough, we could only experience this feeling for one day and two nights.

We left Panchagarh on the following Saturday with fresh ideas, a better heart, and an ounce or two more knowledge that Dr. Kabir was generous enough to share with us. If only we had more people like him, who are willing to light the candle rather than curse the darkness, we could be half way into a better future where life had more value. A true genius, Dr. Kabir inspired all of us to see light at the end of the tunnel, once again.

(Writer is a Sophomore at the Department of Architecture BRAC University)