Chief character of Makam bares her heart

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, May 19: The one of the chief characters of Rita Choudhury's novel, Makam, Lee Yong Lingjee aka Parmila Das, today bared her heart before the audience at the iuguration of the English version of the novel at Vivekanda Kendra, Guwahati.

Sharing her pathetic life story with the audience, Lee Yong said: "I was the middle child of Chinese Leong Kok Hoi and Lusai Sa Noo, and only six-year-old when I got separated from my parents in 1962. It was the black day in my life. I went to my grandmother's home in Borjan at Bahadur Chariali in Tinsukia, when my parents were taken away by the Indian army from their home in Makum to Deoli camp of Rajasthan. My grand mother took me to the family in Makum when we got the information, but already the train in which my parents were going left the station, and I was left behind. From that day, I have not seen my parents till now. Our house and property were also seized by the government as enemy property. So I had to live with my uncle and other relatives left here."

Lee Yong also said: "I tried to find my parents later and sent many letters to know whether they are alive or not. But unfortutely, I could not find them out. After about 30 years, I got a letter from my parents from Chi asking about my news. Already I got married with Simon Das of Keyhung Tea Estate of Tinsukia. Whenever I tried to reply the letters, it always came back or lost away due to some unknown reasons. Later, my parents and other siblings contacted me through telephone with the help of some other deportees from here, which is now going on. They said that they live in a small village in Chi and not rich enough to come here to see me, but they remind me everyday. The last time I talked to my parents was March 13, 2015."

Lee Yong also released the English version of the novel Makam published by Oxford University Pres, the Coffee Table Book, The Divided Soul and documentary film Wars and Tears today at the programme.

Choudhury told the audience: "Union Minister Rajth Singh promised us to do something for Pramila Das so that she can meet her parents. But I persolly requested all the members of our society to dote some amount of money and help her so that she can go to meet her parents once."

The other Chinese-origin Assamese people who live in various parts of the state like W H Tham, Tung Chin Tham, Ke Kok Khong, Chung Len Tham, Dr Meleng Tham and others were also present in the programme and shared their experiences.