Farewell Assam

Three days before my departure from Assam, at the termination of my two-year tour of duty, an official from the United States Information Service sent Mr. Choudry for a personal interview with me, and to report the results of my accomplishments. These three days were taken up by interviews with Assam state officials and farewell parties at Assam Veterinary College.

Dr. Mehra, director of Veterinary Medicine Department, eagerly welcomed Mr. Choudry, the U.S.I.S. official. He was happy to report my accomplishments in detail. Dr. Mehra began his report on the reclamation of the water supply.

"We occupied all the new buildings. We were elated with their beauty and the luxuriant landscaping! The stream flowing through our campus was peaceful. Then came the sad news that the shallow wells had all dried up! The dormitories were evacuated of students had moved back to town to the old dorms. The clinic said laboratories were closed. We had heavy hearts! Sadness was there!"

"How did you carry on?" Mr. Choudry asked Dr. Mehra.

"Dr. Wood, our American technician, came to our aid. He had been recruited by T.C.M. as an animal clinician, but he is an expert in many fields. Through his assistance, an earthen dam was constructed to hold the stream water, forming the lake you now see before us. The underground water levee was raised by seepage, then a deep tube well drilled. We had ample water supply to reopen our new animal hospital facilities."

"Ingenious, I'd say." Dr. Mehra commented. Then he went on to say, "We are proud to be the first veterinary college in all India to establish a teaching department of poultry and diseases and poultry production. This was accomplished through the cooperative efforts of the University of Missouri, who sent us Dr. Wood. Under his direction and teaching, a thriving poultry industry exists in a state so needful of protein food!"

"Our technician started an immunization program for privately owned water buffaloes and cattle around the perimeters of Munas and Kazringa wild life sanctuaries! The vaccination teams, made up of college students, vaccinated over 12,000 animals this spring! That will protect the wild animals as well as the privately owned herds, especially from the dreaded disease Rinderpest!"

Mr. Choudry smiled pleasantly then commented, "We certainly need to cooperate with our American friends and their T.C.M. technicians." Mr. Choudry requested, "Please explain, Dr. Mehra. This mother rhino has a baby at her side."

"Yes a problem is there! Her pregnancy had not been diagnosed at the hill trapping station. When she arrived here en route to Calcutta, she was held over until she gave birth to her baby."

"She looks dangerous," Mr. Choudry commented.

"That's true in more ways than one," Dr. Mehra stated. "Calcutta Zoo paid in advance for a female rhino from Assam. Now Assam wants pay for two rhinos after the baby rhino's birth. Calcutta refuses to pay extra. A problem is there, perhaps a peaceful compromise can be negotiated. Until then we have a problem." "Dr. Quinton Kinder, Poultry specialist, was assigned to Assam Agricultural College. Through the cooperation of Dr. Wood and Dr. Kinder, an exchange of poultry equipment between our two colleges was made. Then the two extension projects were placed in operation. A supply of hatching eggs were shipped in and poultry housing constructions was implemented. Assam Government operated farms cooperated in the effort. A hatchery and poultry food manufacturing were established. Poultry CERN fish, and swine CERN fish, farms were implemented. The village farmers throughout Assam cooperated in these new poultry industry interests. Now we are hatching chicks in the thousands of numbers. It is believed that the change in the poultry industry in Assam will be an important change of history throughout India."

This page is maintained by Dr. Wood's son, Harold W. Wood, Jr., of Visalia, California.
My E-mail address is: harold@planetaryexploration.net

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