Saved by Friendship: How Jyotiranjan Gudia’s Life Was Rescued in the Village Pond

 Saved by Friendship: How Jyotiranjan Gudia’s Life Was Rescued in the Village Pond

Childhood friends from Ghisingbeda village, left from- Damadar, Lacha, Jyotiranjan and Dulaba. 

Childhood is a time etched with innocence, mischief, and unforgettable bonds and for Jyotiranjan Gudia and his friends from Puspalli village school, it was a chapter filled with shared laughter, tribal solidarity, and the sweet echo of their mother tongue, Gahtasa. From 1998 to 2004, nestled under the serene Khairaput block of Malkangiri district, these Didayi boys Jyotiranjan, Dulaba Palasi, Lacha Palasi, and Damadar Palasi shared not just school benches but also a way of life rooted in tradition and simplicity. They roamed barefoot across the red-earth paths, played in the forest, and bathed together in the village pond, unburdened by modern distractions. Their days were filled with freedom and brotherhood, and their language was not just a means of communication but a bond of identity.

Among the many stories that stitched them together, one remains deeply imprinted in Jyotiranjan's heart. One afternoon, while bathing in the village pond, he accidentally slipped into the deeper part of the water. Struggling and beginning to drown, his childhood friends noticed his distress. Without hesitation, they rushed into the pond, pulled him to the banks, and saved his life. That day, they didn't just rescue a friend they renewed a lifelong bond. Jyotiranjan always recalls that incident as the turning point that cemented his connection to them beyond mere companionship. It was a raw, pure moment of courage, loyalty, and love one that he has carried ever since. No matter how far he travelled in life, that memory remained like a compass pointing back to his roots.

After the year 2004, they each followed different paths, and time and distance gradually separated them. Yet, fate brought them together once again in 2025, when Jyotiranjan, now a scholar and researcher of tribal heritage, returned to the hills and met his childhood brothers again in Ghisingbeda, the hilltop village they once called home. The reunion was deeply emotional, a full-circle moment after decades. The photo they took that day standing with arms around each other, smiling against the backdrop of their homeland symbolizes more than just a reunion. It stands as a testament to enduring friendship, shared heritage, and the spirit of the Didayi community. For Jyotiranjan Gudia, this was not just a photograph; it was a living memory, a rekindled connection to the past, and an inspiration for his mission to document and preserve the traditional life of his people.