The Untold Story of Modon: From Sweeper to Legacy

An Ordinary Man’s Struggle, Forgotten History, and a Fight for Dignity.

Hardinge Bridge is a steel railway truss bridge over the Padma River located at Ishwardi, Pabna and Bheramara : image captured by author

Introduction: In our life we meet so many people. Some are famous, some are not, but their stories still touch the heart. Today I am writing about Modon — our office sweeper, a man I knew from childhood. His story is not only about losing a job, but also about rivers, fishing, migration, and a heritage of labors who once worked in Hardinge Bridge.

Who is Modon? Full name Modon Sahani Rajbongshi. Lives in Pakshi’s, Pabna, Bangladesh at Guriapara. His work is very simple — cleaning office toilets, sweeping the compound. But my relation with him is different. I knew him long before joining Rooppur Nuclear project.

Sudden News: One day morning I heard the news — Modon has lost his job. An office boy smiled wide and told me with all his 32 teeth showing. I was shocked. Being a project manager, how come I don’t know this?

Admin (HR) said, “Sir, a sweeper lost job, does it really need to go up to project manager?” Safety officer said, Modon cried a lot while leaving. Funny enough, many in office were happy. I felt… something conspiracy.

What was his crime? He sometimes come late, goes early, and sometimes drinks alcohol. But a man who cleans other’s shit and urine everyday, if he drinks a little… is it really such big fault?

Stories of Modon: Whenever I had time, I used to talk with him. About Padma river, about fishes, about trees, about joys and sorrows. One day he told me proudly:

“Sir, we are not only sweeper. We are Rajbongshi fishermen. We mix red mud with human waste, make small balls, dry them under sun, then use as bait for big Pangas fish.”

His voice was full of pride, like carrying a history.

Journey from the past: Modon told, about 110 years ago his grandparents came by boat from Munger district in Bihar. That was the time Hardinge Bridge construction started. There was shortage of labours. So his ancestors got work — digging soil, unloading stones from train wagons.

After five years of hard work, around 24,000 labors finished the bridge in 1915. Since then Rajbongshi families stayed in Pakshi, today almost 200 families live in Guriapara.

A little laugh: One day Modon said with sadness,

“Guriapara will not remain. Where we will go?”

I joked, “Why not, go back to Munger district of Bihar.” And then we both laughed loud, like forgetting all worries.

Job Returned: I couldn’t stay silent. I went to Managing Director of company, told everything from beginning to end. He listened, and then with a smile said, “Okay, bring him back. Give Modon his job again.”

At that moment, I felt like light breaking the darkness. Modon returned, his tears stopped, and my heart became light also.

My Ending notes : Modon is not a famous man. But his story carries history, labor, and humanity. Returning a sweeper’s job may not change the whole world, but it changed the life of one man. And that is where humanity wins.