Rabindranath in Rural Reconstruction (contd-1)

Rabindranath started his rural reconstruction programme (sacrificial rite) from Selaidah. In place of the senior manager Bamacharan Basu he appointed Bipinbehari Basu, B.L., on Baishakh 1314 (April 1907). This energetic and efficient manager made simplified of Rabindranth's purpose. The estate of Berhampore Pargana was divided into four Mandali (departmental office) except Selaidah. 1. Janipur -Banagram, 2. Kumarkhali-Panthi, 3. Kaya-Kaloya, and 4. Sadirajpur-Radhakantapur. Four persons were given charges of those offices as Superindendants,  1. Nalini Chakraborty, 2.Bhupesh Chandra Roy,3. Ratikanta Das, and 4. Satish Chandra Ghosh. He charged welfare tax at the rate of 3 paise per rupee per tenant in his estate over the introduction of small donation (mustl bhiksha). Zamindar  paid  equal  or more the amount collected as welfare tax and small donations.
In each Mandali other than the Superintendent two Hindus and two Muslims were appointed as members. At the beginning twice in a week and later once in a week they met and look after the plan and programme. On 14th July, 1908 (30  Asharh , 1314) Rabindranath wrote Manoranjan Bandtopadhayay;
"I have established a work in our Zamindary estate. Dividing the Berhampore pargana into five Mandals, I have appointed five Superintendents These Superintendents are engaged in establishing Palli-Samaj (Rural reconstruction) so that the villagers took their own initiative for their welfare. They will do the following works,
1. Construct and maintain the roads of the village,
2. Remove the Darth of drinking water,
3. Settle down the litigation among the village people,
4. Establish and run the schools,
5. Cutting and clearing the woods,
6. Creation of Grain-Gola as a protection against famine etc
Moreover to develop initiatives and encouragements among the villagers to work hand in hand for the all round benefits of the village society.Work is progressing much among the tenants, those who are Muslims  - in the Hindu locality there are obstructions. Rabindranath could remember this difference between Hindu and Muslim locality through out his life. (vide Sriniketan-er Itihas o Adarsha, Palliprakriti 27/554). Probably for this reason, his plan of welfare work was successful more in the Muslim locality, Kaligram, than in  the Hindu locality, Berhampore.
Rabindranath transfered Subodh Chandra, working in Santiniketan to the job at Selaidah due to his high ambition. But it is only due to an accident he had to resign from his service. He wrote Bhupendranath,
"Bhupesh was always practicing heroism by loading a pistol and got pleasure by killing the pair of doves. One of the relatives of Subodh (Haridas) had taken away the loaded pistol from the hands of Bhupesh and was trying, as a play game, to frighten the children of Subodh who were sitting on the lap of Bhupesh. All on a sudden, a bullet came out of the pistol and hit Latu (Latika) on her forehead.Subodh was working with me on the boat. Latu died when we came  back from our work.  By nature Subodh was restless. He laid flat due to his bereavement. No one could give him solace so that he might resume his work. After all , he left Slaidah as soon as possible.