It is undulating country, largely forested, with numerous rivers flowing down from the outer ranges of the Himalayas in Bhutan.

The total number of literate people in Bandapani Tea Garden was 2,940 (63.24% of the population over 6 years).

Then it was taken over by Sarada Pleasure and Adventure Limited, a Siliguri-based hotel, who had no experience in running a tea garden.

Dumka, Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Chaibasa formed one of the biggest catchment areas for tea garden labour in the twilight years of the 19th century.

"The notorious coolie trade under colonial rule exploited the dispossession, indebtedness and despair of Adivasis to transport them, often by force or deception, as far as Assam or the Dooars – or even further afield to plantations in Trinidad, Guyana, South Africa and Malaya.