19th century, India .Our country was under the colonial rule of Britishers. Already, Industrial Revolution started in Britain and several industries were set up .A large part of the raw materials needed for the industries were supplied from India as it was naturally rich in resources .
Communication system of India at that time was very poor and as such, as a means of communication, animals such as elephants ,horses were used.Hence, the Britishers decided to set up railway tracks in some parts of the country so that it becomes easier for them to transport the raw materials to the ports so that it could be exported to Britain.
In Assam, a North Eastern state of India the construction of railway tracks was going on.The responsibility of this task was entrusted to a British company named - Assam Railway and Trading Company .
At that time, Elephants were used to carry the heavy machineries which were required for the construction work of Railway tracks. Similarly they were used to carry big logs from dense forests. For these activities elephants were brought and provided training .
One day when they were carrying logs the British Officer noticed some liquid substance in some of their feet with definite smell . After experimenting , they found that it was crude oil. Crude oil was not detected in India till then. Coal was the only fuel used in India .By that time crude oil became unique source of power in the foreign countries and there was competition among the developed countries like France ,Germany,England etc..The British Officers were familiar about it.
Thus they made a survey of the source of that crude oil. Finally, they spotted the area where oil was simmering from the ground.They thought that there was possibility of crude oil and so in March ,1888 the Chairman of Railway Trading company send a letter to the British Viceroy of India seeking permission for digging and production of oil at a place called BORBEEL.. and they agreed to abide by the laws and clauses of British Government . Thus without any hindrance they started the initial work .Mr.W L Lake was selected to carry the project as he was well experienced and a successful person . He worked as an officer of Assam Railway and Trading Company . He had the experience of digging mica,aesbestos and coal in various parts of India .Although digging of crude oil and coal was not similar yet Mr.Lake had interest in digging and so the company entrusted him the responsibility to carry the work .
The place where there was possibility of crude oil was located in densed forest ..At first ,he cleared the area by cutting the trees and then tried to detect the proper place where digging could be done . He noticed an area on the surface of the soil where paraffin layer was formed.The place where crude oil excreeds continously,a layer forms in that place .This black coloured substance which was highly inflammable was called paraffin. This is called paraffin layer.He guessed that the source of crude oil might be there .So he arranged all the necessary equipments needed including local labours.Machinery equipments were carried by elephants and labours were brought on horses back .
There was no technology,no imported machinery and no skilled labours. But Mr. Lake was very focussed and determined..
.In developed countries ,oil rigs were constructed with iron but it was not available in IndiaPreview and it was not possible to import from abroad ,so he decided to use wood instead of iron .
He constructed a drilling rig of 64 feet height with the help of local labourers .A steam engine operated by coal was used to move the travelling block up and down so that pipes could be inserted deeper .The travelling block was also made up of wood .
The local labourers were cultivators and they were least bothered about the wages given to them .They thought that working under someone would be a challenge to their self respect .Mr Lake had a tough time to engage them at work.
So he had to take a decision to bring labours from outside Assam and thus from the states of Bengal,Bihar,Orissa,Andhra Pradesh etc labours were brought . In this way , he continued his task with these unskilled labours.
In 1889,in the month of September ,he started his work and after one month ,he found some amount of oil at a depth of 178 feet. But after two days no more oil reserve was found at that depth .But Mr Lake was sure of oil availability at more depth of this well. Although the labours were demoralised,Mr Lake motivated them to continue with their work .But the climate was not in their favour ,so the work became slower . After continous work for several months ,when there was no positive outcome ,the labours broke down .
Observing the condition of the labours ,he tried to find a solution ,to boost their working spirit .As Mr Lake used to call them as"DIG BOY",he started to sing a song in a rhythm "DIG BOY DIG"," DIG BOY DIG"". He started clapping and singing while the labours were working. The labours were surprised at first but slowly they also started to sing "DIG BOY DIG"." DIG BOY DIG".
The labours were very much encouraged as their supreme authority was singing for them to do their work . Not only that ,the song became so popular that local people also started inspiring them by clapping and singing "DIG BOY DIG"". On 16th Nov,1890 approximately after one year they were successful in their task. Oil reserve was detected at a depth of 662 feet. Since then ,they extracted 750 litres of oil per day from that oil well .
The song "DIG BOY DIG" became so much popular among the people that they even used these words in order to indicate the digging place . In passage of time "DIG BOY DIG" became "DIGBOI".
Digboi Refinery is the first oil refinery of India and a beautiful township came up centering the refinery named -DIGBOI.
In this way, a new town has been created from the song of Mr Lake " DIG BOY DIG". The well that was digged by Mr Lake is now the famous well No- 1 in Digboi and it is preserved very nicely in memory of Mr Lake.
Friends ....I have written a brief history of India's first oil refinery and the sacrifices made by the British Officer Mr Lake..
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Reference - D M Barua,Public Relation Officer ,Oil India Limited ,Digboi , Assam.