Author Description

The year 1917 stands as a sombre chapter in the annals of our history, etched deeply in the collective memory of those who lived through it. In the small, remote village of Limaliguda, where life usually moved at a steady, predictable pace, an unexpected and lethal wave of death arrived with the first light of February. What began on February 11th, 1917, in the neighbouring village of Jaltar, quickly spread like wildfire to Limaliguda, leaving a wake of devastation that was beyond comprehension. This epidemic, as simple and common as diarrhoea might seem in today's world, proved to be a fatal adversary. The disease, brought on by the lack of proper sanitation, the influx of migrant populations, and the general vulnerability of the community to such outbreaks, took root swiftly. In just a few days, from the morning of February 11th to the evening of February 14th, 1917, the entire region of Limaliguda and its surrounding areas found themselves under siege by a relentless and deadly disease. Dr. H S Swadhin Kumar Pal, my father, a dedicated Govt. Teacher Retiree, chronicled the tragedy in meticulous detail, drawing from his personal experiences and his firsthand observations. As a migrant from Jaltar himself, he witnessed the immense human suffering firsthand, struggling not only with medical complications but also with the deep emotional toll the epidemic exacted on the community. His journey to Limaliguda was not only a professional mission but a personal one-his desire to save those suffering and his determination to understand the disease that swept through the land with such force. In this account, Dr. Pal offers a detailed medical perspective on the disease, its symptoms, and the rapid devastation it caused. Yet, beyond the medical discourse, this book is also a narrative of compassion, of resilience, and of the deep ties that bind a community together in the face of catastrophe. His voice, both scientific and empathetic, captures the profound grief of families