One of the most isolated places in the country is the Assamese village of Bardhanara. Life is difficult due to a lack of roads and electricity, even if there is a medical college nearby.
Bardhanara, also known as No. 2 Bardhanara, is a remarkably isolated village in Assam's Nalbari district, just a kilometer from Nalbari Medical College. What makes it unique is not just its lack of road connectivity, but the fact that it's home to only one family: that of Bimal Deka.
For 45 years, Bimal Deka, his wife Anima, and their three children—Naren, Dipali, and Seuti—have resided in a makeshift home in this secluded settlement. While the village once thrived, the 2011 census reported only 16 inhabitants, and now just the Deka family remains. The children, including Seuti who is still in school, face significant challenges; they study by kerosene lamps due to the absence of electricity, and during heavy rains, a boat becomes their sole mode of transport as all paths become flooded.
Bimal Deka reveals that many residents relocated decades ago once they acquired the means to do so. Despite the village spanning 162 hectares, engineers have surveyed the area multiple times for road construction, yet no tangible progress has been made. The Deka family continues to struggle for basic necessities. Local organizations, like the NGO Gramya Vikash Mancha, have acknowledged their resilience and established an agricultural farm in the village, providing much-needed external support and interaction.
