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An Evening on MG Road

Nirmali C

Nirmali’s adventurous beginning to life in Bangalore!

“Pyar karne wale kabhi darte nehi... jo darte hai wo pyar karte nehi,” – a popular

Hindi movie song meaning, one who is in love is never scared. I, on the contrary, don’t
feel this sentiment quite applies to me. My
persona is of one who is madly in love, but is
scared of the judgement and expectations of
others. I feared that my love would fall flat with
a small puff from ‘them’.

My vision for life had been to do some significant
work in agricultural research but my immediate
mission had been to come to Bangalore from
Assam to be with my beloved. This was creating
a tsunami in my heart and mind. Then my
adrenaline hormones helped me take up the
strong and firm decision to come to Bangalore.

Packing my dreams and my family’s confidence, I
boarded the Bangalore Express with my beloved,
leaving behind a job offer as Research Assistant
after being recognised as the best post graduate
at Assam Agricultural University (AAU).

Day one, 3nd Nov 2005 – We reached Bangalore
and were welcomed by the warm smile of a
person resembling Vin Diesel. He was waiting for
us with his black Alto ready to take me to my
temporary stay. I was mesmerized by the beautiful
lights and high rises of the city. A plethora of
emotions popped inside me.

Day two, 4th Nov – Next came another new
character in my life. You can visualize her as
Anushka Sharma, the Bollywood star. Energetic,
ready to do everything for me like finding a safe

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place for me to stay, setting my clothes etc. It was almost like looking at my mom in
action but in a modern avatar. My supersonic Vin Diesel, Anushka and my beloved
managed to find me PG accommodation on my second day in Bangalore.

In the evening, a party was hosted to celebrate my arrival in Bangalore at a restaurant
in Richmond Road. It was a beautiful place, lovely ambiance, awesome food. All the
guests had a wonderful time. And then came another character in my life. He had the
persona of Aamir Khan from the movie Three Idiots.

After dinner, as we walked down MG road, Mr. Khan asked me, “What are your plans?”
I seriously had no answer and I replied, “I don’t know. Can you guide and help me?” He
spontaneously replied, “Tomorrow let’s go and meet these three people who are planning
a startup. They need an HR recruiter.” I said, “That’s great,” but in my mind I was
wondering what the job would be like.

Day three, 5th Nov – we all drove down for the interview. I reached the venue nervous,
pretending to be confident and smart.

Did I crack it or did I get turned down? Can you guess?

I made it! I got the offer and was asked to join on Monday. I was on cloud nine. Since
then, there has been no looking back. I moved my career track to Human Resources.
Bangalore has bestowed me with lovely friends and beautiful bonds. My bond with AAB
is one such lovely bond. I am really thankful to God for everything.

“If you believe in yourself, everything is possible.”

**********

Nirmali lives in Bangalore and can be reached at [email protected]

Drawn by Mubin Rabha

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OPINION

Searching for My Roots in Silicon City

2008 was a landmark year in my life; I got and I was sharing my thoughts with her. To
married and moved to Bangalore. It was a my surprise I came to know from her that we
new life for me in every aspect. I instantly have societies/organisations like AAB (Assam
developed a strong dislike for Bangalore since Association Bangalore) and ASOB (Assam
I’d lived in Delhi before that. Delhi was the Society of Bangalore), both of which organises
city where I began my professional life with puja and other Assamese traditional events. I
a job in a reputed IT company. Life in the was very happy to hear this and started
capital had been very different from life in looking forward to being a part of all these
Silicon City. It took me some time to start events in a land far away from home. I visited
enjoying the city and gradually I began to the AAB Durga Puja that year and met many
recognise my growing fondness for Bangalore. people from my homeland. However, my
With no job in hand and lots of time, I intention of meeting and introducing myself
started socializing and began meeting my to the core committee members didn’t
college friends one after another. I happily happen and for me, this shadowed my days
enjoyed the cultural diversities of South India, almost the whole of the following year too. I
including festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi was disheartened as I was really keen to get
and Dusshera. A few years passed by with no involved in the society.
change in my routine and all of a sudden, I
felt like life had come to a standstill. The last few months of 2016 showed me
hope. Mukut Sharma, a dear friend of my
Now I am very good at introspecting and husband, moved into our neighbourhood.
soon started digging deep into my thoughts - That day was Janmashtami, Lord Krishna’s
something I had stopped doing, knowingly or birthday. Around 7.30 pm, Mukut and his
unknowingly. I missed that. My upbringing family came to our house, all dressed up. I
had been one with deep attachment to my asked them if they were going somewhere
culture. Now I asked myself, have I forgotten else too. They replied that they had just come
everything here in Silicon City? Daughter of from DRDO hall where SSCSB (Sreemanta
an Ekasarana (new-Vaishnavite religion Sankardeva Cultural Society, Bangalore) had
propagated by Sreemanta Sankar Dev) family, organised Janmashtami celebrations and naam
I had grown up frequently visiting Satras and proxongo. I had never heard of SSCSB so far.
Naamghars, attending naam proxonga and My curiosity and excitement knew no limits.
kirtan path. With these memories refreshed, With Mukut’s help, I finally joined the
I once again found a goal in my life. Yet I was association’s WhatsApp group.
completely lost, I didn’t know where to begin.
I began to hop here and there asking friends It was like my waiting period was finally over
if there were any societies or organisations and one day I was asked to attend a meeting
representing Axom here in Bangalore. with the members of the SSCSB association at
Coxtown on 1st Nov 2016. At the meeting I
In 2015, just before Durga Puja, I met a friend was introduced to Mr. Dilip Bharatee and Mr.

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Rajeeb Barman. Dilip da believed that I too when people from Assam offer xorai in their
could be part of their journey, and for that I respective Namghars. Similarly, in Bangalore,
am thankful. Rajeeb Barman, my college SSCSB celebrates the entire month organizing
senior, is a pragmatic leader who taught me naam and Bhagwat recitation during
the essence of social work in this journey. weekends.
There was no looking back for me and
eventually I became an active member of the Everything was going well until the pandemic
group and gradually met all the other hit us all. It became very difficult for the
executive members. Col. Chidananda Medhi, committee to organize the usual programs.
Munin Bharatee and Suresh Baruah – all of Because of the Covid protocols, we closed our
whom helped me at each and every step of Namghar for several months too. However,
my work. I was the only lady in the executive the pandemic did not curb our enthusiasm,
committee (EC) group and the others never and we quickly shifted towards the digital
let me down. They supported me in all my platform. We began organising our events
decisions, corrected me whenever I went online. As we were new to the online
wrong, and guided me with all their medium, it was not easy for us. Eventually
experiences. from 2020, we began celebrating Akhan
Pratistha Divas online too. People appreciated
On July 15th 2018, the SSCSB established our the effort and now, we celebrate all our
Namghar at Chinnapannahalli. It was the functions online.
culmination of a lot of effort and struggle.
This day is celebrated each year as Akhan The Bhadra Mah functions were also
Pratistha Divas with naam proxonga, Bhagwat organized online. We had participants from
path and a cultural program. Assam, Bangalore and even from Kuwait. We
didn’t skip a single day.
Apart from being an EC member, I am also a
member of the Naam Proxonga committee. I am lucky to be hosting most of the online
At the Namghar, we organize naam proxonga, events and I must say, my Assamese
kirtan path, Bhagwat path, and diha naam on vocabulary has improved tremendously. I am
all special tithis or occasions of Mahapurush very grateful to Anamika Bordoloi who helped
Sreemanta Sankar Dev and Mahapurush me work on my presentation skills.
Madhab Dev (disciple of Sreemanta Sankar
Dev). Almost every Sunday, people from all And this is how the Assamese people in
corners of Bangalore offer xorai to mark Bangalore are engaged culturally and
birthdays, marriage anniversaries, death traditionally. SSCSB has built a platform for
anniversaries, annaprasan functions etc. Along generations to come. Through this committee
with xorai, bhog (khichri/rice, vegetables etc.) I also got an opportunity to meet and talk with
is also offered to devotees. The committee many of you. I feel truly blessed to be a part
also organises cultural programs during Bihu of this committee and am thankful to everyone
and Janmashtami. Various cultural training who has supported me through this journey.
programs are also conducted here.
Pranjoli Baishya
Bhadra Mah, which is from mid-August to
mid-September, is a very auspicious month for Pranjoli lives in Bangalore and can be reached at
the people of Ekasarana. This is the month [email protected]

**********

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A Look at India’s Silicon City learning the local language Kannada. I slowly
from my Vantage Point ! started conversing in Kannada with the local
people, be it officials, house helps, or anybody
Namma Bengaluru! When this name rings out, else for that matter. Today, whenever I visit
the very first thing that comes to mind is IT. any government department for my work – and
Thanks to the brilliant minds that made I work pretty closely with the officers on various
Bengaluru attain this position and become the issues, and discuss and negotiate matters with
Silicon Valley of India. And home to people of them – I feel proud to be an ‘Axomiya.’ The
multilingual cultures and feelings. I feel proud local people appreciate my way of working and
to be a part of this city! the ease with which I mingle with them.

Being almost a novice in the field of writing, Now, let me enlighten you with a few more
the only thought that came to me when I was facts about the real estate sector. Bengaluru’s
asked to write for Uruli, was to pen down real estate sector is at par with that of metros
something about what I do. My work, I believe, like Mumbai and Delhi, but at the same time is
is different from the trend of working in IT or more affordable for people who plan to settle
its related industries in Bengaluru. in the city for work and their children’s
education. Real estate is not just about the
I remember my first visit to this city in 1999 residential sector, but also about commercial
when my brother was studying here like many areas like office space, retail like malls, and
other students who came from across the hospitality like the hotels, clubs, and
country and especially, from our northeastern restaurants. The liaison process is a bit complex
states. That was the first time I fell in love with and seems never ending. It needs a continuous
the city, its air-conditioned weather, and the contribution to keep the industry running.
happening life of students and young
professionals. Though my dreams and goals first I can never forget how tirelessly I had to move
took me to study and work in Thailand, followed around for approvals even during the lockdown
by a stint in Kolkata, it was perhaps my affinity months and peak Covid times. People from
for Bangalore that finally brought me back to other industries had the opportunity to work
this lovely city in 2009. This time, it introduced from home while our company had taken
me to the world of real estate.

I was hired by a Thailand-based real estate
company. I was tasked with looking after
government relations, meaning get all required
permissions/approvals for projects. For a non-
Kannadiga, working with local government
officials was quite challenging. But I accepted it
with a ‘will see’ attitude. Today I am settled
here with my family and still contributing to
this industry in the field of managing
government relations, although with a different
company.

The best part of this city is its welcoming nature.
Every individual is made to feel comfortable and
loved. To reciprocate the same, I started

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permission for people like me to move around representing his/her country or state and
as per the need of the company. Let me cite a specifically focusing on promoting culture is a
simple example. People may order food at cultural brand ambassador.
home during the lockdown, but for a hotel to
keep running smoothly, it must have the Okay! Now can you and I be ambassadors? Do
necessary permissions from the police, local we have the requisite qualification of being a
corporation etc. Maybe I was not a Covid celebrity to play this role? My answer would
warrior for the public but for my company and be a ‘no.’ However, each one of us in our own
industry, I was one. This experience was initially way can be a cultural brand ambassador of our
a little fearful for myself and my family, but own state/country. And there are a few ways I
later it became easier and rewarding too. believe we can do it.

Bengaluru has given me a lot and I have a I have been away from my dear state Assam for
special corner in my heart for this city. I sincerely the last 20 years; the first few years were spent
hope Bengaluru never loses its charm and keeps in Kolkata and then in Bangalore. I am a proud
mesmerizing everyone who comes here from Assamese and I never lose an opportunity to
all corners of the world. showcase our rich cultural heritage and
progressive social practices. And it has manifested
Saptarshi Pathak in two ways - extrinsically and intrinsically.

Saptarshi lives in Bangalore and can be reached at Costume: This is the most obvious way of
[email protected] displaying the rich, colourful and beautiful
weaves of my state. Be it a wedding, or an office
********** function that calls for ethnic attire, I would
drape myself in my favourite Mekhela Sador.
Be Your Own Cultural Brand This has never failed to draw attention and has
Ambassador always been a great conversation starter with
acquaintances and strangers alike. And I have
We often hear about xyz celebrity being lost count of the innumerable Mekhela Sador
announced as the Cultural Brand Ambassador sets I have carried for my friends and colleagues
of abc state or of India. In fact, India for the very from my trips home. In fact one of my close
first time three years ago, appointed 162 teachers friend’s mother, who is a Bengali, prefers to
well versed in Vedic texts at the Indian Council wear the Mekhela Sador at all her social
for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and sent them on gatherings, rather than the saree, for its ease
various diplomatic missions across the world to of carrying and its uniqueness of course!
create awareness about traditional Indian
culture. They are called cultural ambassadors. Food: This is another great way to promote our
culinary uniqueness. For me, an office/
So what exactly is a cultural brand ambassador? community potluck or a family/friend get
Now a brand ambassador is someone who together has always been a place for a couple
promotes a brand and its products to his/her of our regional delicacies. A black rice payox
network with the objective of increasing (rice pudding) or a khorisa diya chicken/pork,
awareness of the brand, and to help drive sales. or pithas and larus post my trips from back
Typically these are celebrities or someone with home have always raised the curiosity quotient.
a good amount of name recognition. They have
a high degree of influencing power and are Festivals: What better way than our own AAB
alternately called influencers. An individual Bihu/Durga Puja celebrations! My colleagues
and ona Axomiya friends have always been in

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my invitee list to our celebrations and the Hidden Treasures around
feedback has never fell short of astounding. Bangalore

Music: This is another powerful way to get I moved to Bangalore in 2011. The city
people hooked. They say music has no language, endeared itself to me with its sheer greenery,
and true to the saying I have been successful in its measured weather and the frequent bouts
creating a number of Zubeen Garg fans amidst of unannounced drizzles. Wandering through
my ona Axomiya friends. the city in those early days, I was struck by the
number of lakes the city had; like oases in a
Gifts: I believe gifting is an art and for me it is concrete chaos. Hikes and photo walks beside
a thought, a concept. An opportunity to gift a those lakes helped me absorb their splendour.
traditional bamboo/cane/bell metal item or a
traditional shawl barely falls short of any As my horizon expanded, and when time
commercial ad. permitted, I started exploring other lakes and
water bodies around Bangalore along offbeat
Tourism/hospitality: Conversations about the trails. I’ve compiled a few of my experiences
scenic hills and valleys of my home and the here.
fresh green tea gardens have always had the
enthusiastic response of Assam being in Chota Ladakh/ Quarry Lake / Dodda Iddyur
everybody’s bucket list of travel destinations.
And being in the virtual work mode now, using Situated in Kolar, this is a lake that has formed
a picture or two of my beautiful state as my within a rock quarry. It is surrounded by mighty
Zoom meeting background has definitely helped walls of rock that present an ethereal yet
to increase this enthusiasm. An invitation to imposing scene. The lake when reflecting the
taste a slice of its beauty and hospitality would blue sky is often compared to Lake Pangong
definitely be an add-on to their experiences and Tso at Ladakh, and hence the name. The rocky
a contribution towards Assam’s economy. terrain surrounding the lake adds to its
splendour. You can walk around the lake or just
Behaviour: This falls in the intrinsic list. The laze around on a flattened bed of rock and
way we conduct ourselves not only reflects our enjoy the soft breeze.
upbringing and education, it also brings out the
social fabric of the environment we grew up in. This is a favourite destination amongst bikers.
And people do experience this directly while Vehicles can easily reach up to the lake. But in
connecting with the ever simple/gentle, all- my opinion, the best way to truly absorb the
smiles Assamese community. beauty of the place is to park your vehicle in
the village nearby and then trek up the hillock
“Every interaction in any form, is branding.” Seth to reach the lake. A Google map does not show
Godin the exact location of the lake but shows the
nearest village. The friendly locals will direct
“If you don’t give the market the story to talk you to the lake. Even otherwise, there is a sign
about, they’ll define your brand’s story for you.” drawn on one of the walls of a hut. It’s a fairly
David Brier. easy trek of around 1 km uphill.

So let each one of us get into the art of story- Farmlands bursting with vegetable laden plants,
telling and be the designer of the brand ‘Assam’. grazing fields, and small hillocks and ponds dot
both sides of the trek. Small hamlets with lovely
Mridusmita Saikia Venkat flowers, fountain grass with its purple flowers
swaying in the lovely breeze, and shepherds
Mridusmita lives in Bangalore and can be reached at
[email protected]

**********

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with their flocks add to the overall beauty and the still waters. Numerous birds frequent this
tranquillity. place making it a favoured destination amongst
bird watchers. Kayaking in this reservoir nestled
There are no eateries around the place. So you amidst green hills is an experience to remember.
need to carry food and water. Of course there
are numerous resorts and restaurants on the Following the pandemic, entry to the dam has
highway some 20 to 30 minutes from the been restricted but some camping activities are
location. still on. We drove up to it recently and I must
admit it still remains magnificent.
One downside is that it can be a little risky for
small kids. Kids cannot run around unattended, On the way to Manchanabele lies another iconic
especially near the edge. But they do enjoy the place of Bangalore – the Big Banyan Tree or
place. Dodda Alada Mara, a 400-year-old Banyan tree
that covers an area of 3 acres. It is situated in
Distance from Bangalore: 63 km the village of Kothehalli. Kids are always awed
Location: On the Kolar Highway by its sheer size, and so are adults.

Manchanabele Dam and Big Banyan Tree/ Distance from Bangalore: Manchanabele Dam:
Dodda Alada Mara 51-52 km; Big Banyan Tree: 42 km

Manchanabele is a village that lies off Mysore Food – There are many restaurants along the
Road. It has a small reservoir formed by the road near the Big Banyan Tree. But there are
Manchanabele dam. This picturesque reservoir no eateries near Manchanabele Dam.
lies amidst lush forested hills just 51 km from
Bangalore. Way back in 2012, I had my first FYI : Those who love gardening can indulge
camping and kayaking experience here. We themselves in the rows and rows of nurseries
trekked from a nearby village to the banks of located along the road near the Big Banyan Tree.
the reservoir where we set up tents for the The plants are sold at a steal.
night. A bonfire and a barbecue were thrown
in too. The plan was to catch the sunrise at the Chunchi Falls
lake. And sure enough, it was a breathtaking
sight. Truthfully, even the sunset left us I was surprised to hear that Bangalore has a
spellbound and so did the moon glistening on waterfall just two and a half hours away near
Kanakapura. Now Kanakpura for me has always

meant a friend’s
farmhouse which we
visit quite frequently.
So, during the
pandemic when day
trips became the
norm, we decided to
visit the waterfalls.

Chunchi Falls lies on
the road to Sangam/
Medekatu from
Kanakapura. You can
drive up to the parking
place. A short trek of
around 500 metres

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through rocky terrain will take you to the falls. many birds, largely storks and egrets. The river
The last 10 km or so of the road were not very is full of marsh crocodiles along with otters and
good and rather bumpy. But then you cannot mongoose. The best part of the visit is the boat
expect comfort while travelling to offbeat ride that takes people around these islets to
places. It’s a small waterfall or rather a few have a closer look at the birds in their natural
small streams cascading down the side of a hill habitat. If you’re lucky, you may see egrets
but beautiful nonetheless. It’s a good place to feeding their young in their nests. Crocodiles
relax by the river. Of course – I must add – kids resting on the boulders or the islets is another
cannot be left unattended as the rocks can be sight worth seeing. After the boat ride you can
slippery at places. Food is not very readily explore the park that has a machan-like
available nearby. But there are numerous observation platform and trivia about the
restaurants on the highway to Kanakapura. residing birds.
Carrying water and light snacks is advisable.
The best time to spot different species of bird
Distance from Bangalore: Around 82 km on the is the morning when the sanctuary opens at
road to Sangam from Kanakpura 8.30 am, although storks and egrets, and even
pelicans, abound throughout the day. A visit in
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary December is best to spot migratory birds.

True, this sanctuary is far from being an offbeat Food is something this route is famous for,
destination but I have included it because it’s a boasting of excellent eateries along the way.
place you can never tire of. It can be exciting
yet serene and peaceful. A great place for Distance from Bangalore: 145 km
children to connect with nature and wildlife. Location: 2 km off Mysore road

Ranganathittu boasts of almost 170 species of Besides these water bodies, there are various
birds being recorded in its premises. The serene lakes off the Kolar highway that are perfect for
sanctuary comprises numerous islets on the hikes. One lake that a friend took me to had
river Kauvery. These islets house the nests of enormous trees growing out of the lake like

mangrove forests. Then there is a lake
in front of Kolar Cafe Coffee Day that
is surrounded by rocky mounds and
hills creating scenic vistas that you
can stroll along.

Wonders seem to be hiding in every
nook and corner around Bangalore,
just waiting to be explored. The
pandemic gave us the impetus to
discover treasures hidden closer
home. These strides will continue to
cover more such trails and bag more
such stories. Au revoir.

Dr. Farmida Aman

Dr Farmida lives in Bangalore and can be
reached at [email protected]

**********

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Death in the Time of Corona

Stories in the time of a pandemic

Lovely Dutta Prusty

It was his 22nd birthday and Veer planned to spend it with Raashi, his girlfriend of three

months, at her grandmother’s house in Mussoorie. They planned to cut the cake, to be
baked by her grandma, at midnight and spend the night talking and doing whatever else
might follow. Nothing was certain but Veer wanted to take a chance. He was thrilled.
Although they had met recently, he realised Raashi was different from all his high school
girlfriends. Even Eleena, the college beauty, paled in comparison to Raashi.

Now, let me tell you that Raashi was no great beauty, she was just a little more than a
plain Jane. She was not pretty in a conventional way, but she was different. She was
funny and exceptionally smart. She could make people laugh even if they were in the
worst of moods. Perhaps that’s why Veer couldn’t resist her charm.

Meanwhile Veer’s parents were planning a surprise party for him. Mrs. and Mr. Rai lived
in Delhi and they expected their son to come home for his birthday. He had been doing
that ever since he had gone to college in Dehradun. Little did they know that they were
in for a surprise.

Now back to Mussoorie

Raashi and Veer arrived at her grandma’s home around 5 pm on 14th March, 2020. Mrs.
Uppal, a 72-year-old lady, was glad to entertain her granddaughter and her friend. The
huge bungalow atop a hill had been empty for decades. Mrs. Uppal had been living alone
in that huge house ever since she lost her husband to cancer. Her only companions were
a maid who lived in the village below and came in twice a day, and her Man Friday who
doubled as a cook and watchman. She did not
require a driver, as she didn’t go anywhere. Her
two vintage cars lay forlorn in the garage, their
tyres flat.

The view from the bungalow was spectacular.
Everything looked magical at dusk. Hills
sprawled all around, faraway houses reflected
the rays of the setting sun, and the pinkish hue
of the sky….it was sheer magic. For Veer,
standing there with Raashi beside him was
enough to create magic.

Although it was March, it was quite chilly. Veer
realised that in his hurry, he had forgotten to

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pack his jacket and cap. Now he longed to get back inside the warm house. Mrs. Uppal was sitting
cosily in a huge chair, wrapped in a soft woollen shawl. The table in front of her had a tray with
a cake, some candles and a knife, ready for their midnight celebration.

After a quiet dinner, Raashi and Veer thanked their kind host and headed towards their rooms on
the first floor. Mrs. Uppal had obviously expected Veer to stay in the guest room while Raashi was
to stay in Mrs. Uppal’s old bedroom at the end of the corridor. The old lady could not climb the
stairs anymore and had shifted to the guest room on the ground floor.

Of course, we already knew it was going to be a special night and not surprisingly, the lovebirds
quietly moved into the guestroom together.

It was almost midnight when they were ready to stop their long ‘meaningful’ conversation. When
Veer went into the washroom, Raashi changed into the little black dress she had borrowed from
a friend. She turned out the lights and lit the candles…one for Veer’s birthday and the other for
good luck. She looked ethereal in the dark, her face glowing in the candlelight. Veer stepped out
of the washroom and just at that moment, there was a knock on the door. The special moment
was lost. They were not expecting anyone so late in the night. Veer turned on the lights and
opened the door. To his surprise, there was a young man standing there. To be more specific, a
young white man!

A little note on the background

Mrs. Uppal’s Man Friday Madan was a frail man who could be anywhere between 50 and 60 years
of age. He looked frail but was surprisingly energetic. He easily did all the work in the house that
the maid didn’t. Madan also looked after Mrs. Uppal’s finances and it was he who had suggested
that she let out a few rooms to tourists to add to her income. The upkeep of such a large house
was getting difficult in these expensive times. Besides, Madan needed more money to buy his
favourite liquor – of course he didn’t mention this to his mistress. The location of the house on
top of the highest hill in Mussoorie posed a problem. Not many people liked to stay so far away
from the centre of the town or climb that steep hill. Besides, taxi drivers charged an exorbitant
amount to ferry people up and down. Thus, for months there was no prospective tenant or
traveller. About a week before Veer and Raashi arrived, a young British tourist came in after seeing
a handwritten pamphlet at the tourist centre. The pamphlet described a homestay atop a hill,
overlooking Mussoorie, the ‘Queen of the Hills’. Oliver was a writer and was writing a book on
Indian hill stations. The location of the Uppal mansion was perfect.

That evening, Oliver had skipped dinner as he was working on his book in a quiet corner of the
house, a corner that our young couple missed during their tour of the house. Even Grandma had
not mentioned his presence so it was very natural for Veer and Raashi to be startled when they
found Oliver standing at their door.

By now they had lost interest in the cake. Their midnight visitor was far more intriguing. He explained
that he was hungry, having skipped dinner, and there was no one in the kitchen. Madan was
nowhere to be seen and Grandma was fast asleep. He’d seen a light in their room and knocked. Veer
and Raashi invited him in. They sat on the bed and Veer did the ceremonies. The cake was sliced
and quickly devoured by the young writer with a few slices given to our young lovers.

Oliver then talked about his book and many experiences. He was on leave from work as he
wanted to travel and write about his experiences. In fact, he had been travelling for over two

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months in different Asian countries. He told them how fascinated he was with the exquisite
temples of Cambodia, the silk embroidery of China, the cleanliness of Singapore, the floating
market of Thailand and now the beautiful hill stations of India. His writing was eclectic. He wrote
about whatever caught his interest in a new country. Before reaching Mussoorie he had also been
to Rishikesh and Haridwar. Oliver’s narrative kept Veer and Raashi completely engrossed. The
night flew by on swift wings and in the wee hours of the morning Oliver went back to his room
and Raashi headed to hers.

15th March, 2020. It was Veer’s birthday!

Veer called his parents to tell them that he was not coming home this birthday because of work.
Mrs. Rai was very upset but she told him to stay put in his PG accommodation as things were not
too good because of the coronavirus. “Thank god she didn’t scold me!” thought Veer. He went
down to meet everyone at the breakfast table. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out, the sky
was clear, and a gentle breeze was blowing. Veer was happy. But Raashi was not at the table, only
Oliver sat there, reading a book. Madan was setting the table for breakfast. “Raashi baby is with
Madamji”, he said when he saw Veer looking around for her.

Raashi came in holding her grandma’s hand. The old lady looked rather unwell but she was
cheerful enough to greet them. She said she had a sore throat and a slight fever and asked them
not to fret about it. It was the changing weather. They had their breakfast and moved to the
living room.

After breakfast, Raashi and Veer went for a walk on mall road. Oliver went back to his writing.

Grandma was unable to join them for dinner. She had a high fever now and complained of severe
throat pain. The family doctor had come to see her and had prescribed medicines saying she must
have stood in her balcony for too long and caught a cold. This was not quite true. Mrs. Uppal had
almost stopped going outdoors, even to the balcony. The sight of the undulating hills all around
reminded her of Mr. Uppal and she missed him terribly. Mr. Uppal had been an officer of the
Merchant Navy and long before his retirement, had bought this property from a former British
army officer who had settled in Mussoorie. When the officer had fallen ill, his family sold off a
large part of the estate to the Uppals, keeping only the beautiful outhouse for themselves.

Grandma’s condition only worsened the next day and Veer and Raashi were in a fix. They had
planned to return the day after the birthday. “I can’t leave her alone in this condition Veer. You
go back to Doon and I will come after a few days,” said Raashi.

Veer couldn’t find any cabs to take him back. Though it was just a few hours of travel, there was
no public transport available. He came back from the city centre, walking all the way up to the
bungalow as he couldn’t think of anything else. He couldn’t possibly walk back to Dehradun.
Besides, the town was looking desolate with very people out.

Veer called his parents. They were fine and advised him to stay indoors wherever he was. All of
a sudden Veer was not too excited to be back at the bungalow. He felt a compelling urge to rush
back to his parents in Delhi.

They had not seen Oliver since breakfast the previous day. That night, while serving dinner, Madan
informed them that Oliver was sick too. He had fever and was blabbering in his feverish state.
Madan had tried to help by placing cold wraps on his forehead but the fever had not subsided.

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Veer was alarmed to hear this. It couldn’t be a coincidence that both Grandma and Oliver were
unwell at the same time.

After they checked in on Grandma and Oliver, Raashi and Veer cuddled up on the sofa in front of
the television, watching an old movie. Being so close to her, Veer could feel his heart warm up
and he felt ashamed that he was going to leave her to handle this unexpected situation on her
own. He felt so in love with her and felt that he ought to protect and support her in these difficult
times. Anyway, they would be able to travel back together after Grandma recovered. The two fell
asleep on the sofa.

Madan did not turn up the next day. Nor did the maid. Madan was probably drunk and asleep in
the outhouse where he lived or he was asleep at his post near the gate. He was a watchman only
at night and would sometimes be sloshed and sleeping at his job. Anyway, no one ventured near
the Uppal mansion so Grandma was never too worried about security.

But he was neither at his post near the gate nor in the outhouse. Veer and Raashi were confused.
Grandma’s condition had worsened. They called the family doctor who refused to come as his driver
was on leave and the doctor found driving tedious. He asked them to bring her to the local hospital.
Without any transport, they were helpless. Madan’s absence was annoying. The man might be drunk
and lying in a ditch for all they knew. Raashi was furious at his irresponsible behaviour. Now they
had two sick people on their hands and no one to help them. This was certainly not what they had
in mind when they had decided to celebrate Veer’s birthday in Mussoorie.

17th March, 2020

The Uppal mansion was as silent as a grave. Both Veer and Raashi were asleep in their rooms.
They were exhausted after staying awake and tending to both Grandma and Oliver, and cooking
for four people. The day went by and they woke up late in the afternoon. Sitting in the courtyard
they tried to talk of mundane matters but there was nothing to cheer them up. The hills of
Mussoorie, which had seemed so romantic and magical a few days ago, now looked like a trap,
engulfing them with a sadness that seemed to emanate from their very depths.

Three more days went by. On the morning of the 20th, Raashi found Grandma lying on the floor
by the bed. Mrs. Uppal had probably tried to walk to the bathroom on her own and fell down
unconscious. Hearing Raashi scream, Veer rushed to the room. He checked Grandma’s pulse and
felt nothing. He lifted her onto the bed and splashed some water on her face. There was no
response. Grandma was gone. Raashi ran out of the room sobbing. Veer followed her and held
her in his arms until her sobbing subsided. Now they were all alone in that huge mansion with
a sick guest and a dead woman.

They went to see Oliver. They had to ensure he was on the path to recovery and besides, they had
to inform him that his hostess was dead. He was not in his room and the room looked different. In
fact, the room looked spic and span, as if it had been swept and mopped recently. The bed was
made perfectly with the sheets tucked into the corners with precision. It was impossible to tell that
a sick person had been sleeping on that bed for so many days. His room now had a musty smell as
though it had not been used for a long time…a smell that reminded them of rainy days.

Oliver was not to be seen anywhere in the house or outside. Raashi and Veer checked every part
of the house. But there was no trace of the writer. Left to deal with dead Grandma on their own,

¬Û‘ᬱ 163

they called the local police. Within an hour an ambulance arrived followed by a police jeep. A
policeman walked up to Raashi and asked her questions about Grandma. They had a long list of
queries that Raashi and Veer answered as best they could. They were asked to come to the station
with the inspector for some formalities. Their parents were also informed about these unfortunate
turn of events.

Raashi handed over Grandma’s favourite saree to the nurse who accompanied the ward boys
carrying the stretcher. She requested the nurse to drape Grandma in that lovely chiffon saree –
of a summery pink hue and dotted with white and blue flowers. As Grandma was carried in the
stretcher and into the ambulance, the edge of her saree fluttered in the breeze, as if bidding
adieu.

The doctor who came in with the ambulance certified that Grandma had died of fever, but it could
have been due to coronavirus. As such, they would have to conduct some tests to ascertain the
cause of death. Raashi and Veer would have to undergo the tests too. They agreed to whatever
the authorities directed them to do.

Grandma’s death had changed a lot of things for our young couple. They were too overwhelmed
to even talk to each other as they awaited their test results. In that state of mind, they had
completely forgotten about the mysterious disappearance of both Madan and Oliver. They had
even forgotten to mention them to the police. Veer called up the inspector and informed him
about the missing persons. The inspector assured him they would send out a search team
immediately, because they could not risk a sick man running loose.

Let us go back to the Uppal Mansion for a final glimpse

Oliver, wearing British army fatigues, is seated at the living room table, furiously punching the keys
of a Remington typewriter. Madan is standing behind him peering over his shoulders, trying to
read what is being typed. In his hand there is a hangman’s rope.

“Captan Saab, have you typed my letter of pardon? I do not want to be hanged!”

“Yes Madan, I had requested the Governor to grant you pardon for killing your fellow worker in
self-defence. But it has been turned down. Now you better get ready for the gallows.”

Madan began to weep and climbed onto a chair. He tied one end of the rope to the wooden beam
of the living room ceiling and placed the noose around his neck. He wobbled on the chair as he
stood on it, trying to keep his balance and weeping profusely. Capt. Oliver of the Gurkha Brigade
gave the chair a strong kick. Madan began to struggle, his legs desperately searching for the chair
until his body hung limp in the air.

At that moment, the inspector who had returned to search the house once more, opened the
front door of the Uppal mansion and stepped into the living room. A strong gust of wind rushed
against his face, chilling him to his bones and all he could hear in the grim darkness was the
clattering of a typewriter and the eerie sobbing of a man.

End note : Not every death during the pandemic is due to Covid-19!

**********

Luvley lives in Bangalore and can be reached at [email protected]

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AGE OF
INNOCENCE

Sunday

Anayah Choudhury Saleh

Today is a good day,
I went downstairs,
To call my friends to play.

We played tennis for half an hour,
I went back home with my friend,
And had a juice that was sour.

I don’t have classes today,
So I can play in the morning and in the evening,
Sunday, Sunday, today is Sunday.

It’s the last day of the week
But it’s the best day,
I climbed a tree called teak,
It felt like I was sitting on a mountain peak.

Sunday, Sunday, it’s a good day!

**********

Anayah is a student of Class 4, DPS Bangalore East

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AGE OF
INNOCENCE

I Find Bliss

Mahashree Gautom

What exactly is the meaning of bliss?
Is it the splashing sound of the ever rambunctious and jovial fish?
Or the summer sun’s first kiss?

Is it the ever intoxicating fragrance of new books?
Well now that I think of it, it might also be how perfect on me the colour red looks!
Can it be the warmth I feel after reading the page?
That I made, when I couldn’t even know how to pronounce my own age?

Perhaps it is the ethereal flavour of the curry my mom made the other day
And it was simply marvellous, that I must say
Or was it the simple, innocent laughs I shared with my family?
It could even be the way they wiped my wet cheeks and pulled into their arms cosily.

I know, that I will never know the exact meaning of bliss
So I must confess that for me it is all of this.

However, I must ask again
If you don’t mind
After all
Curiosity is common in my kind

What exactly is the meaning of bliss?
Is it the splashing sound of the rambunctious and jovial fish?
Or the summer sun’s first kiss?

**********

Mahashree is a student of grade 9, Ekya School, BTM Layout, Bangalore.

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A Visit to Maralwadi Dam in Karnataka

Aditya Singh Raja

Saturday, 11th September 2021, I woke up at 6:00 am to go for a picnic to Maralwadi
Dam. I was very excited as I was going out for the first time in 2021. Due to the Covid-
19 pandemic, we had not ventured out at all.

I could see the hustle and bustle
at home. My mom and dad were
busy cooking and packing food.

I made the bed and went to
freshen up and get ready. I wore
the bright yellow T-shirt gifted by
my uncle. I also took my
binoculars.

By 7.15 am we were all ready and
went down to get into the car.
My mom’s friend was waiting for
us in the parking area. They had
suggested the picnic location and
would be our guide today.

We set off excitedly. As per the
car GPS, we would need one and
a half hours to reach the
destination. At first, I found the
drive kind of boring, but after 30
minutes or so of seeing the
beautiful hills, I was very happy.

We stopped at a spot on a road with beautiful hills on both sides. We just had to take
pictures of the wonderful scenery. We passed by a few beautiful villages and got a
glimpse of fields and rural life. We reached the dam around 9:27 am.

We parked the car on the side of the main road. There was a jungle on the right side
and the river with the dam on the left.

A small sleek road ran down from the main road towards the dam. This dam is located
near Kanakapura Town, in Ramanagara district of Karnataka. It is built across river
Arkavathi, a tributary of the Kaveri River.

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At the mid-point of the small road, there was a mini bridge that extended towards the
river. It was a metallic bridge.
The view was awesome and we were really happy to be there. Then as we went further
down the road to the dam, we saw the water and the sound of the flowing water was
very relaxing.
After 40 minutes of walking around and taking photos, we walked back to our car for
breakfast. We had brought boiled eggs, Paneer Butter Masala, Kerala paratha, and ghugni
(white pea curry). My mom’s friend brought some salad and sandwiches too. We had
brought steel plates with us as we did not want to litter the place with disposable plates,
When we started eating, a few monkeys surrounded us hoping we would share something.
We did not give them our food as it was oily and not good for them.
After breakfast we decided to drive back.
It was a very pleasant drive to a beautiful place in the midst of nature. The monkeys
were sometimes kind of annoying but it was fine, monkeys are part of nature and we
need to respect them as we have visited their abode.

**********

Aditya is a student of Class 6, Harvest International School, Bangalore.

Drawn by Mubin Rabha

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Friends, Hobbies and Restrictions AGE OF
INNOCENCE

Vikrant Saikia

I love to draw cartoons, robots, cars and many other things. I dream of becoming an artist,
so I keep drawing whatever I imagine. I love to sing too. Inspired by Laxmi ma’am, I represented
my school at an online inter-school singing competition. I sing at home, in the bathroom, at
public places, and almost everywhere when I am very happy. Once I sang Hotel California by
the Eagles on Church Street, Bangalore in front of the public with a band. They were performing
on the street and I wanted to sing with them. The band welcomed me. I enjoyed singing that
day and there was a huge round of applause from the audience! I felt very happy!

In my school online class, I learn art. Bharghavi ma’am loves
me and my friends a lot. I love my teacher, school and my
classmates. I also joined dance classes and just love it, although
it is very exhausting! Shraboni ma’am taught me many
interesting dance forms. I enjoy dancing with my friends! And
I like to dance to Michael Jackson songs.

Let’s go on a tiny journey through my creative, thinking and
art skills. I like to draw Pikachu of Pokemon, scenes from Rongali
Bihu and Krishna Janmashtami. I also designed a robot called
Buddhi, who is very intelligent! Buddhi has super legs and
hands, and has a super brain. So, he can fly at will. He can also
move like a car. He can change the volume of his own voice,
the radio and he can talk to others through his walkie-talkie!
But when the mysterious object from China locked the whole
world, and I started hearing about pandemics and protests all
over the world, my life changed!

Art, dance and music school classes all went online! And I have good news and bad news!

The good news is that instead of being hungry, I get my tummy half-filled! Half-filled because
of online classes. I took a decision to eat my breakfast during classes! This was funny, but the
bad news is I am missing my school. And my friends too! This disgusting online class mode
started in class 2 and will continue till the end of class 3. And I am already nearing class 4!
I couldn’t see my class 2 teachers’ real faces, and don’t think I will be able to see my class
3 teachers’ real faces either!

And again I have good news and bad news! The good news is that positive cases are coming
down! But the bad news is if the 3rd wave of the mysterious coronavirus becomes big! Then
I don’t know if I would be able to see my class 4 teachers’ real faces or not! Hope Covid-
19 goes away and never comes calling again! Hope you all enjoyed my creative journey!

**********

Vikrant is a student of Class 3, Whitefield Global School, Bangalore.

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Travel During the Pandemic AGE OF
Mysore Sights INNOCENCE

Abhijay Sarmah

One fine morning, I woke up a little earlier than usual and was roaming around my
house. I looked at our front door. It was covered with cobwebs and looked as though no
one had gone through it for a long time, which was true. The lockdown rules were
relaxing but small measures were still there, and the coronavirus was still out there. Covid-
19 has really created havoc in our society, and to such a degree that we hadn’t even
opened our front door in fear of this pesky virus. I decided that we should go somewhere
as it had truly been a long time. I presented my plan to my parents and we finally decided
that we would, on 6 February, go to Mysore. It was only a three-day trip. It was right
before the second wave of Covid-19 and the situation was a bit under control.

On Saturday morning, we left for Mysore with great enthusiasm. It was not supposed to
be a very long car ride, but it ended up being one. After reaching the area near the city
of Mandya, the highway was blocked, and we couldn’t go through. Why? Because of
farmers protesting and demonstrating. All the cars were stopped a kilometre away from
where they were protesting. As a result, we lost a lot of time. We just sat there in the
immense heat, the AC on high to manage the heat. We were finally allowed to move.
However, we had to make a diversion. To get to our destination, we had to use a
different route but even the GPS wasn’t changing the route saying it didn’t know any
other. We wandered around on village roads followed by our relatives in their car.

It felt like the villages were in Assam as they looked very
similar. It was green all around, and the villagers were busy
with their work. The roads were mostly muddy roads and
there were farms everywhere. There was a river nearby and
a lake, both of which were adding to the feeling of similarity
between villages of Assam and Karnataka. The tranquil
atmosphere helped soothe our nerves. We stopped being
irritated by the fact that we might have gotten lost.

Soon we found a bus that guided us across the river to the
main city. We stopped to eat because we were very hungry,
and Mysore was still far away. We finally reached Mysore and
drove to our hotel, the Raddison Blu Plaza. It was truly a
spectacular hotel, and it looked like a palace. The décor was
beautiful and the hotel faced the nearby hills. It was filled
with mats, chandeliers, and beautiful paintings. We got to our
room which thankfully didn’t reek of smoke as some of our
rooms in other hotels did. Our room faced the hills too and

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that was nice. To add to the spectacular view of the hills, the food was also amazing.
There was a swimming pool but due to fear of the virus, we didn’t go swimming. To our
surprise, many families were swimming in the pool as if there was no highly contagious
virus going around. We spent the rest of our first day exploring the hotel.

The next day’s schedule however, was packed. After breakfast, we went to the famed
Mysore Palace. On arrival, it was scorching hot. However, the palace was a breathtaking
sight. There were gardens all around with three beautifully made entrances and two
temples at the ends of the palace. The palace was big and fabulous. We got ourselves
photographed by the professionals who walk around such places. The scorching heat did
however make our stay a bit unbearable.

We soon headed out and went to the Namdroling monastery. This was so far that it was
closer to Coorg. It took us two hours to get there but upon arrival, we found out that

the monastery was closed. This was really
annoying since we had driven for so long
just to see the monastery. The gates were
the only thing we could now see. We
parked at a nearby shop and ate the
prepacked lunches we had brought from
the hotel. We also bought some
chocolates and soaps from the store. By
the time we were back in Mysore, the
sun was going down.

We drove straight to the St. Philomena’s
Cathedral. The cathedral looked like
something out of a movie. It was of a
splendid French Gothic architecture. We didn’t go inside but the outside itself was
impressive. We took some photos here too and then left. We went back to the Mysore
Palace, which surprisingly, was more alluring at night. Lights lit up the palace and the
streets, and horses took tourists up and down the streets to experience this mesmerising
sight. At last, we went back to the hotel, exhausted.

The next we had to sadly return to Bangalore but before that, we went to the Mysore
Palace a third time. This time not to see it, but to buy some souvenirs. My mother
bought some iron ornaments, quite strange yet interesting ornaments, while I bought
some coins. They were coins of Akbar and Tipu Sultan’s time and though they cost a lot,
they were amazing to have.

Our drive back to Bangalore was smooth this time. After reaching home, I made sure
that the cobwebs were cleared away as this was a trip I’ll remember forever. Not only
because of the entire journey but also because of the fact that we had travelled during
the pandemic and at the right time too, just before the second wave spread across India.

**********

Abhijay is a student of Class 8, National Public School, Indira Nagar

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AGE OF
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A String of Thoughts

Parthiv Goswami

Yes, I got to spend a lot of time with myself during the pandemic. I grew out of the
boredom of not being able to meet many of my friends or relatives, and learnt to spend
time improving myself intrapersonally. I’d like to share some thoughts here.

Social Media
Social media is an important way for people to get updated about current affairs, be it
about people or their surroundings. And social media is playing a huge role in keeping
people connected across the world during the pandemic. However, excessive use of
social media can be harmful for our health, triggering headaches and eye pain. Also,
some social media sites can be harmful for children in terms of mental health and
anxiety, among other risks. So, minimizing screen time is necessary and should be followed
by everyone during these times.

Friends
We make friends almost everywhere we go. Friendship is needed by every person and
it develops as we grow. Friends provide a feeling of companionship, boost your confidence,
make you happy, and relieve your anxiety and stress. A good friend will support you in
times of need and will always be there for you. My friends have always supported me
and helped me improve as a person.

Life in Bangalore vs Assam
Bangalore is among the many well-developed cities in India. Although Guwahati is also
a large city, the lifestyle in Bangalore compared to that in Guwahati is somewhat different.

z In Bangalore, we have a bigger number of amenities such as upscale hotels and
restaurants, malls, cinema halls, airports, train stations etc. Assam has a smaller
number of all of these.

z Many of such facilities, although necessary, have disadvantages as well. Pollution is
a primary bad effect. More large buildings and more vehicles means mass
deforestation and harmful gas emission. Assam, though not completely pollution
free, has lush greenery, clean air and diverse wildlife.

z Culture in Assam is also distinctly different from Bangalore. For example, traditional
crafts like pottery and terracotta work, bell metal craft, jewellery making, musical
instruments making, cane and bamboo craft, silk and cotton weaving, and woodcraft
are common arts seen in Assam. Bangalore, or rather Karnataka, is well-known for
its performing folk arts such as Yakshagana, Bayalaata, Dollu Kunitha, and Kamsale,
among others.

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My interests and skills
I have been an admirer of sports since I was a child, especially football. I also have an
interest in chess, writing stories and poems, and coding. Maths and Physics are among
my favourite subjects. But among all of my interests, my main interest and skill would
be in football.
Travel
My family and I recently visited the coastal district of Udupi. When we think of beaches
or coastal regions, Goa usually comes to mind more often than other place. But, Udupi
with its stunning beaches and beachside highways will give you the full experience of
being on a beach holiday. It was a six-hour journey from Bangalore, and we stayed at
Shivamogga for a day. We reached Udupi on the second day. We enjoyed the beach,
although we couldn’t go too close to the water because of the high tide and Covid-19
restrictions. After a night at Udupi, we went north to Gokarna and had fun on the
beaches there too.
Everything said and done, I miss school the most because it’s where I used to meet
my friends. I miss the school playground, and I also miss going to Assam and meeting
my relatives.

**********

Parthiv is a student of Class 9, Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir, Bangalore East.

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AGE OF
INNOCENCE

A Visit to Chikmagalur
The Birthplace of Indian Coffee

Shreyosi Roy

Last month my family and I visited the land of coffee, Chikmagalur, one of the most
unique and beautiful places I have ever visited. We usually visit places near the sea,
or historical places, so Chickmagalur stood apart from all the others. We went there
over a weekend to get a break from our classes and work. We needed a break from
the monotony.
My father drove us there. We left in the morning and reached Chikmagalur in the
afternoon with a few tea and coffee breaks in roadside dhabas. It took us almost four
and a half hours from Bangalore to reach our resort there. The resort followed all the
Covid-19 protocols as specified by the government, for example, all the rooms were
sanitised and the staff members were all vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine.
They were always masked too.
On our first day there, we visited the Mullayanagiri hills, which has the highest peak
in Chikmagalur. It is at the height of 1930 meters above sea level. There is a temple
on the summit of the hill. We next visited the Chikmagalur Mahatma Gandhi Park,
which is a lovely park with sculptures, fountains, waterfalls, walking paths, a train ride,
and a playground. There’s a most beautiful sculpture of a woman made of grass. We
next visited the Baba Budangiri Hills, which has breathtaking views from its peak.
Lastly, we visited the Coffee Yatra Museum where one can learn a lot about the
discovery of coffee, different types of coffee, recent advances in coffee research and
development, coffee tasting, and many other interesting details. There was a video
shown to us about coffee too. It is an institute managed by the Coffee Board of India
under the Ministry of Commerce.
All in all, my experience during my short weekend getaway was incredible. There are
many more places to visit in Chikmagalur, I have named the places we visited. Stay
safe and alert.

**********

Shreyosi is a student of Class 9, DPS Bangalore South.

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AGE OF
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Oh Corona
When Can I Go Back to School?

Amrita Das

The pandemic has affected my life a lot. My lifestyle before and now - during the
pandemic- has been very different. A year and a half ago, we used to wake up in the
morning, go to school and do many other things. Whereas now, from the time we wake
up until we go back to sleep, our movement is limited to a few rooms.
School is definitely the thing I miss the most in this pandemic. Roaming around our
school campus, talking with friends, teachers teaching us in the classroom, riding the
school bus and many more things that used to be a daily habit is something I long to do
again. Comparatively, online classes are very boring. There isn’t any physical interaction
with my teachers or classmates and that takes away the actual vibe of a classroom. I
miss going to school a lot.
Earlier, during weekends, my family and I used to go out for mini trips but nowadays we
rarely go out of our front door! Going to malls, cinemas, restaurants, visiting family and
friends all have come to a halt. Even when we do go outside, we always have to wear
masks and we can’t breathe freely.
Because of staying indoors so much, my physical activities have taken a back seat. It’s
been many months since I last played a sport properly.
During festivals, we can’t meet people and celebrations are no longer grand. We have
not been able to celebrate Bihu and Durga Puja since last year. Earlier we used to go to
the large Puja mandapam with family and friends, but now it’s just a small Puja at our
apartment where we still need to wear a mask.
I hope the pandemic will be over soon and we will lead normal lives again.

**********

Amrita is a student of class 8, DPS Bangalore East.

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A Star in the Making SPORTS
CORNER
Rasna Baruah with inputs from Papori Goswami

Young Parikram Borah is a gifted football player whose skills have been impressing coaches in both
India and Spain. He is a left-footed player, and can play as a fullback, midfielder, as well as a winger.
We spoke with him to get to know him a little better.

Parikram’s football journey began on the football grounds of his apartment

complex. About 8 years ago, a little boy of 8 discovered his love for the
game and a desire to know it better. His parents got him started with the
football coaching classes run by a local club on the same apartment grounds.
And that’s how it all began.

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club
Parikram’s passion and potential made his dad realize the need for more
focused training. Consequently, Parikram’s next stop was with a French coach
at the Paris Saint-Germain F.C (PSG), Bangalore. Here he got the opportunity
to play and train alongside skilled footballers. Parikram’s game improved
tremendously and the lessons learnt during those early years helped build
a strong foundation. While at PSG, he even led the club’s U11 team at the prestigious Gothia Cup
Tournament (2016) in Sweden. It was a good tour and Parikram’s team defeated several teams from

Sweden and France. The European experience gave a big boost to his confidence,
skills, and interest.

Bangalore Football Club
It was a lucky year for Parikram. Soon after the European tour, he was scouted by
the prestigious Bangalore Football Club (BFC) after clearing three rounds of trials.
It was no easy feat. He signed his first professional contract and became a valuable
member of BFC’s U11 team. Parikram is a learner and each experience has made
him a better and stronger player, both on and off the field. During his three and
a half years with BFC, he trained in a professional setup and played for the club
at tournaments all over the country in the U11, U13, and U15 categories. And how
can we forget? He started earning his own pocket money!

Karnataka Sub-Junior Team
During the same period, Parikram was selected to represent Karnataka state in
the Sub- Junior National Tournaments, in 2017-18, and 2018-19.

Spain
Parikram’s football dreams next took him to Spain. He joined a third division club for football and a British
school near Valencia for his academics. Those were exciting days. Learning to live, study, and play in a
new country, speaking a new language, meeting new people, and playing and competing with Spanish
players was naturally quite a challenge. But Parikram didn’t disappoint.

Unfortunately his Spanish dreams were cut short by the global pandemic. However, even his short stay
was very fulfilling in terms of improving his football skills.

Indian U16 Team
Parikram’s return to India opened new doors. He was selected to be part of India’s U16 team in 2021.
For now, he will continue to represent India and return to Spain when the circumstances change. We
wish him luck.

**********

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SPORTS India’s Hockey Glory
CORNER Past and Present

Dr. Mriganka Shekhar Chaliha

India’s glorious heights in hockey inspired a lot of Indians for decades. After a rather long
lull in the middle, the dreams are being polished again. Here’s a look at Indian hockey
over close to a century and a hope that sports will become a habit for the young
generation. We harbour special hopes for North East India.

When I was a child, hockey and cricket were equally followed by most sports loving

Indians. The 1970s were the days of getting introduced to different sports. The Mexico
Olympics of 1968 were held in the year I was born. So during the Munich Olympics of
1972, I was 4 years old. So, I hardly have any real memories of those Olympics. The only
thing I vaguely remember about Munich was the violence inside the Olympics village, an
incident that rocked the world. That was not a happy memory. Now how did I know
about that? A 4-year-old is not supposed to remember something like that!

During our childhood, we did not have many avenues to visualise happenings of the
world except the 30 minutes of visuals shown before the start of a movie in movie halls.
Sometimes clips of a sports event, or other newsworthy events, from across the world,
were shown just before the main movie started. Television sets were still an unreal
dream. We relied more on newspapers, radio news and radio commentaries to follow
sports. And that’s how I saw those disturbing visuals. I was very upset. Back then, sports
was considered noble and the Olympics were the holiest of sporting shrines.

One of my earliest memories is from 1973 when India played Holland for the gold medal
in the Hockey World Cup held at Amsterdam. Naturally, my only source of news was my
father, who would translate the news to me while holding the transistor set close to his
ears. I remember how sad I was when he broke the news, “We lost in the penalties!”
I kept thinking why our hockey players could not score goals from penalties when the
Dutch could. My father consoled me saying that as the match was being held in Holland,
the crowd naturally encouraged their own players. So, I thought perhaps with crowd
support we could have done better. It was a sad night for us.

India’s gold streak from 1928-1956
When I was older, I read about the golden days of Indian hockey. I was thrilled to read
about the glorious story of Indian hockey at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam. India won
the first of six consecutive Olympic gold medals in 1928. Though India was still not an
independent nation, we participated in the Olympics as India. That was the year when
the magician of hockey, Dhyan Chand, first acquired international fame by scoring 14 of
India’s 29 goals, including a hat trick in the final against Holland. While reading that

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story, I questioned the answer given to me by my father a few years earlier during the
Hockey World Cup of 1973. If Dhyan Chand and team could defeat Holland, in Holland,
to win gold in 1928 amidst the roars of a home crowd, why couldn’t we do that in 1973?
I kept wondering.

1928 was just the beginning. We won it again in the next Olympics held in Los Angeles
defeating USA 24-1 in one of the matches in 1932; that margin of victory has not been
surpassed so far by any other team in any Olympic Games. The next Olympics were in
Berlin in 1936. When India defeated the host nation Germany in the final match,
Chancellor Hitler was watching. The German Chancellor was so impressed by the hockey
skills of Dhyan Chand that he wanted to honour him with German citizenship, a proposal

Dhyan Chand politely
declined. Some
people were curious
to know whether
there was something
fitted inside Dhyan
Chand’s magical
hockey stick, as the
hockey ball appeared
almost glued to his
stick when he was
running across the
field!

The many stars of the
game
The Olympic Games
were cancelled
between 1936 and
1948 because of the
Second World War. In1948, independent India reclaimed the gold medal. Major Dhyan
Chand had retired by then. But we had players like Digvijay Singh, Balbir Singh and Leslie
Claudius in our team. India defeated Great Britain 4-0 in the final match. It was a historic
moment for India. We retained our gold medal at the Helsinki Olympics of 1952 by
beating Holland 6-1 in the finals. Balbir Singh scored 9 of India’s 13 goals in that match.
In 1956, when the Olympics were held at Melbourne, India had to encounter a stiff
challenge from Pakistan. We defeated them by a solitary goal in the final match, a very
narrow margin indeed. The Melbourne finals will always be remembered for the brilliant
saves by our goalkeeper Sankar Laxman. At Rome in 1960, we unfortunately lost the
final match to Pakistan. However, we regained our gold medal at Tokyo in 1964. Prithpal
Singh was the Indian hero during those Olympics. Our struggle in Olympic hockey began
in 1964. We had to be content with bronze medals in 1968 and 1972. We were still one
of the top teams in world hockey and everyone was wary of India.

When I finished reading about Indian hockey, my heart swelled with pride. The next
world cup hockey was knocking at the door. It was to be held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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I was 7 years old and could understand the radio commentary a little better. India
reached the finals and the match was against our arch rivals – Pakistan. I was in front
of the radio at home. Ajit Pal Singh, BP Govinda, Aslam Sher Khan, Surjit Singh Randhawa,
and Ashok Kumar were our stars. Balbir Singh – star of three Olympic gold medals – was
the team manager. We defeated Pakistan 2-1 to become world champions. It was our
biggest triumph after Tokyo 1964. I switched off the radio and jumped to share my joy
with all my neighbourhood friends. A hockey gold medal or a hockey world championship
was our most coveted sporting award in those days. Whenever we participated in the
Olympics, we were always sure that we would win a hockey medal at least.

Deep dip in India’s hockey fortunes
The 70s saw a lot of change in hockey. The artificial AstroTurf was introduced; and rules
were changed to suit the fast, bodily game of the Europeans. It was tragic for 8-year-old
me to listen to the radio commentary of the hockey matches played in the Astro turf of
Montreal, 1976. The teams from Europe and Australia defeated us with ease. In spite of
the Olympic gold in the NATO-boycotted Moscow Olympics of 1980, we were completely
derailed in international hockey from the 1970s. Our team failed to even qualify for
Beijing in 2008. That was indeed the nadir of Indian hockey.

Slow rise again
However, the last 12 years has been a renaissance of sorts for Indian hockey. We’ve
slowly climbed up the performance ladder to position ourselves among the top three
again. At the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, 2016, we qualified for the knock out stage in
men’s hockey after 36 years. And this year in Tokyo, we moved a step higher to win the
bronze medal. Meanwhile our women’s hockey team also did remarkably well in Tokyo
to reach the semi-finals. Since 1980, hockey slumped as a popular sport in India as
cricket started to get all the attention. But now, after the bronze in Tokyo, Indian hockey
has risen again. We hockey fans hope to reclaim the coveted gold medal in the next
Olympics at Paris in 2024.

Sports in North East India
North East India has had a rich tradition of excelling in European sports like hockey and
football. The second decade of the 20th century was a very important decade in Indian
history. It was a time when the Indian freedom struggle bloomed and also a time when
Indians flourished in sports, literature and culture. It was the time when 11 bare-footed
players of Mohan Bagan Athletic Club created history by becoming the first Indian club
to win the IFA Shield after defeating East Yorkshire Regiment 2-1. During the same time
a new beginning was ushered in the sporting arena of North East India. Dibrugarh Sports
Association, the first sports association in this part of the country, was established in
1918. In the same year, a future Indian soccer captain Talimeren Ao was born in the
Naga Hills of erstwhile Assam.

Indian football gains a foothold
While nationalistic people fighting against British tried to give up everything British
including British garments, the same nationalistic Indians nurtured a subconscious desire
to excel in European sports such as football and cricket. The Indian football team was
one of the top teams of the world then. Talimeren Ao, who studied medicine in Kolkata,

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was the captain of the Indian football team during the London Olympics, 1948. The bare-
footed Indian team narrowly lost to mighty France in those Olympics. Isn’t it amazing
that India, now ranked somewhere in the 90s in the FIFA world rankings, played almost
on equal terms with teams like France, which is the reigning world champion?
In keeping with the tradition since the days of football players like Dr. Talimeren Ao,
many international hockey players have emerged from NE India over the years. Nilkamal
Singh, Thoiba Singh, Kothajit Singh, Chinglensana Singh and Nilakanta Sarmah - all from
Manipur, have donned the national jersey in the Olympics and other men’s hockey
events worldwide. Similarly, Anuradha Devi and Sushila Chanu have overcome obstacles
and disadvantages to emerge from Manipur to play for the women’s hockey team.
Lalremsiami is another Indian hockey player from Mizoram who demonstrated her
superlative skills at Tokyo.
Football stars from the North East
Besides hockey, the new millennium has seen many talented football players from Assam,
Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya in the national team. Three Mizo footballers – who
represented India at various events – are Shylo Malsawmtluanga, Jerry Zirsanga and Jeje
Lalpekhlua. Similarly, Eugeneson Lyngdoh from Meghalaya has played for the Indian
national team too. Apart from T Ao, a dozen other players from Assam have been part
of the Indian senior national football team in the last 75 years. Sarat Das was in the
probable’s list for the 1948 Olympics, while Swadhin Dekaraja represented India for
three consecutive years between 1975 and 1978. Toshen Bora, Gilbertson Sangma,
Debashish Roy, Babul Phukan, Jewel Bey, Subir Choudhury, Arup Das, and Syed Abid
Imam have all played for India. Very recently, Holicharan Narzary and Vinit Rai donned
the Indian national jersey for the Indian senior team.
We know North East India has a lot to offer to the country in terms of sports. All we
need is a change in our mental make-up so that we give adequate importance to sports.
The younger generation must be inspired and encouraged to develop a love for sports.
We hope many players from the North East will be part of the Indian hockey team when
the team tries to win back India’s former glory in the next Olympics. Then and only then
will we have paid tribute to our past greats.

**********

Dr. Chaliha lives in Dibrugarh and can be reached at [email protected].

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Our Food Choices and FOOD FOR
its Impact on the Environment THOUGHT

Debanjan Borthakur

It’s time to think about the sources of our food, both for our better health and the
health of the planet.

We often hear the adage, ‘you are what you eat.’ Is it true? A debatable topic indeed,

but research has unequivocally established that our food habits are adversely impacting
our planet.

Animal agriculture is unsustainable. There is even a causal link between our food choices
and global poverty. I quote, “Agricultural production uses 38 percent of the earth’s land;
nearly 80 percent of this is used for animal agriculture. This land can produce enough
food for 10 billion vegetarians, but it is used for only 2.5 billion Americans who eat meat.
More than half of the world’s harvest is used to feed animals instead of people.” This
is worrisome because the food and land that should be used to feed the people are used
to feed livestock and this makes animal agriculture an unsustainable business.

Water wastage is another major
concern. It’s documented that
6,000 litres of water are required
to produce 1 kilogram of chicken.
For beef and other meats, the
amount multiplies. Another
significant concern with animal
farming is the emerging zoonotic
diseases. These farms are
considered as ticking time bombs
for another pandemic as they are
perfect breeding grounds for
viruses. Taking into account the
unsustainability and unpropitious
repercussions of animal agriculture, it’s time to think of the future of our foods.

I will start with a personal anecdote. I have been a vegetarian since 10th grade for
ethical and moral reasons. I was not aware of the adverse effects of animal agriculture
on the climate and nature as a whole. I was unaware of zoonosis and its close links to
animals. I was not even aware of the fact that our food habits are causing global warming.
What I knew was that the animals feel pain so it’s morally inappropriate to consume
animal flesh. When I was in India, I did enjoy milk products. I moved to the USA in 2016.
It was then that I was introduced to the horror animals endure in animal farms and I had

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to rethink my dietary preferences. At a Walmart, I noticed that there were plenty of
alternatives to milk. There was soy, rice, almond, oats and even coconut milk. It struck
a chord with me. I switched from dairy to non-dairy. I have been using soy milk and
occasionally almond milk since then.
Soy milk industry
If we look at the prospects of the soymilk industry in Assam, it’s not at all gloomy. In
India, Sofit Soya Milk product is growing in popularity. In a state like Assam where
unemployment is high, the youth could turn entrepreneurial and consider setting up
non-dairy milk production units.
Plant-based meat substitutes
Beyond Meat is a Los Angeles-based producer of plant-based meat substitutes founded
in 2009. And they have grown to approximately 118,000 retail and foodservice outlets
in over 80 countries worldwide. The company secured venture funding from Bill Gates
too. Incidentally, vegan options are becoming so popular because of their health benefits
that McDonald’s is now serving Beyond Meat burgers in select markets. Undeniably, the
demands for plant-based meat and non-dairy alternatives are rising day by day.
Vegan coffee
We all know about the growth of Cafe Coffee Day (CCD), the coffee chain with
headquarters in Bangalore. A new concept of a vegan coffee chain similar to CCD may
be feasible both in Assam and all over India. Black coffee is a vegan drink anyway but
for those who don’t find it palatable, plant-based milk products are a viable addition. It
is an idea worth exploring.
We’ve already discussed how unsustainable animal agriculture is, so replacing animal
products with equally tasty and healthier choices is the need of the hour. These alternative
industries are already initiating employment and business opportunities for many. It’s
the right time to make an informed decision about choosing the right food as well as
seizing the opportunity to invest or enter into this new business of endless possibility.

**********

Debanjan lives in Ontario, Canada, and can be reached at [email protected]

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Haanduk CINEMA
A Haunting Glimpse of REVIEW
Quiet Lives Amidst Violence

Ankan Rajkumar

Haanduk is making a mark as one among Assam’s new age films. Here’s an insight into
a story that’s deceivingly quiet on the surface, yet churns with emotions underneath. The
author has delved deep into the film’s technical aspects too.

This piece is edited from the original version that was published in E-CineIndia, the
official publication of FIPRESCI, India Chapter (April-June, 2021).

In the last five to six years, new film directors in Assam have tried to speak of stories,
issues and developments rooted in their own local and immediate surroundings. For
instance, amongst the emerging directors from the state, Rima Das’s oeuvre so far has
dabbled with plots and characters
firmly rooted in her own rural
birthplace while relaying and
celebrating the everyday lives of
adolescents in rustic settings.
Somewhat similarly, Jaicheng Jai
Dohutia’s Haanduk (2016) looks
at the fissures triggered by
insurgency in a remote upper
Assam village, and this is done
through the recording of the
lonesome sufferings of an aged
woman.

The standout dimension of these
young filmmakers is that they
seem determined and passionate about the art of cinema as a vehicle for reflection on
life and society. If Rima Das’ filmography and vision is largely in the vein of bildungsroman,
someone like Bhaskar Hazarika (Aamis) is reveling in the creation of unique cinematic
narratives of psychological horror. Part of this fresh energy in the cinema of Assam can
be attributed to the fact that their makers are well exposed to the craft of filmmaking
either through film school or stints in Bombay cinema.

Haanduk is produced and directed by the promising new young filmmaker, Jaicheng Jai
Dohutia. Educated at Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television
Institute (formerly Jyoti Chitraban Film and Television Institute), Dohutia has taken

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inspiration from the recent turbulent political history of Assam to graft a distinct narrative
focusing on the lives of ordinary people in an upper Assam village. Although most
conspicuously, the film deals with the relationship between a woman called Heramoni
and her son Mukti in the backdrop of the ULFA (United Liberation Front of Assam)
insurgency, there are multiple narrative strands threaded into the text. Made largely in
the Moran dialect and set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the film evokes a very
specific sense of time and place. It tells the stories of a set of characters affected by a
larger political reality and how they negotiate with its effects.

The film is not judgmental, it’s observational
Haanduk doesn’t take a judgmental stance when it comes to the means adopted by
either the insurgent group or the state to achieve their respective objectives but rather
adopts an observational style both in its cinematic means and moral lens. The film starts
off with a series of striking images of the life-world of Heramoni as she goes about
performing her morning chores and activities in her village. Almost immediately the
serene silence of that sylvan surrounding is followed by the eerie silence of a country
road where we see a group of young men being inspected by security forces. Meanwhile
the discovery of a dead body of a young man in a rivulet creates panic amongst the
villagers. The quiet after sundown too is fraught with stress as army personnel visit
Heramoni’s dwelling to inquire after her missing insurgent son while another young man
nearby decides to sleep in the village woods with his friend, fearing possible questioning
and detention by the army.

This pattern of meaningful arrangement of content side by side continues throughout
the 80-minute film and this gives it a very succinct sense of realism and mood. By the
middle of the narrative, as anticipation and restlessness of Heramoni for her son Mukti’s
whereabouts begins to weigh her down, another young man named Biplob returns to
the village. Biplob’s entry marks a temporal shift in the film: he is a surrendered ultra
unlike Mukti and is cognizant of the new political arrangements between surrendered
insurgents and the government. As he scuttles between the demands of the dispensation
and the insurgent group to which he is affiliated, Biplob’s personal quandary reflects the
collective inertia of a society at the end of an armed rebellion going nowhere. Biplob’s
name suggests revolution and his story symbolizes the moral degradation of an entire
generation as it chose violence over deliberation and later compromise over character
in matters of personal and political integrity.

Haanduk brings to light the experiences of a set of characters in a hidden social space
as they are caught in the process of ‘insurgent crossfire.’ Far away from the centres of
policy-making or mainstream political discourse, Heramoni’s story brings one face to
face with the realities in a peripheral space. The film uses the characters of Mukti and
Biplob to play and comment through the notion of absence and presence. Mukti is
clearly absent on two levels in the narrative. At the pure plot aspect, Mukti as a political
insurgent is outside the everyday socio-political life and at most has a furtive presence
in it. He never makes an appearance in the entire film and we only see other people
talking about him. In fact, his only visible presence is marked by the image of the
cigarette butts in a neighbour’s backyard. At another level, Mukti’s character functions
as a conduit for the basic thematic issue of insurgency raised in the film. As the conflict

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between the state and the rebel outfit intensifies, the security forces and the insurgent
group go on a small-scale but insidious war affecting the lives of the ordinary people in
unforeseen ways.

Liberty and revolution, can they co-exist?
The name Mukti suggests liberty or independence and stands for the insurgent
organization’s demand for a sovereign independent Assam. More importantly, his
prolonged absence and the wait for him by his well-wishers probably signal the political
impasse in the state of the period represented in the film. With time the situation only
worsens as both insurgents and the common folk suffer at the hands of the state to
neither liberation nor revolution. Biplop or revolution returns but only in its jaded or
worn-out form signifying collective fatigue of a society. Mukti or liberation is a farfetched
dream in the circumstances and virtually absent in the process. Thus the film, through
its narratives, encapsulates a phase of the political history of Assam and comments
obliquely on that time.

The moral centre of the narrative of Haanduk lies in the tale of the solitary Heramoni
as she remains a mute witness to the cycle of violence and counter-violence between
insurgents and the state security machinery. Here, the film makes its strongest statement
by entirely devoting its creative and aesthetic arithmetic in bringing out the inner suffering
of an individual. As Heramoni goes about her daily routine of cleaning, cooking and
working in the field, the entire background landscape speaks through the very naturalistic
soundscape and deep-focus photographical design. In fact, the landscapes along with
the perceptive close-ups provide the film with a vital realism culled entirely from the
sights and sounds of the locations.

Hernamoni’s inner turmoil is real and raw
In Haanduk, the formal design of the narrative emanates fundamentally from its
commitment to a faithful representation of reality. The world of Heramoni is laid bare
before the viewer in all its textured private and social dimensions as the camera doesn’t
once make a forced entry or exit. The viewer gets a glimpse of the depth of her inner
turmoil in its raw state when she considers taking her own life in one sequence. Clouds
gather and thunder for an imminent shower as we see Heramani anxiously moving about
from one water body to the other before she makes an attempt at taking her own life by
jumping into a pond.
But nowhere before
the jump, does one
sense that she is
going to make a
suicide attempt. The
real and the surreal
almost meet in this
sequence as the
mental visions of
Heramoni and the
elements merge
here.

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This is the result of depth-of-field composition which allows Dohutia to build suspense
over an action for a period of time and to deliver a layered sense of space and depth
of the action covered. The narrative unfolds through the action, and yet there is a
deeper narrative hidden right in the middle of the visuals

Haanduk quietly celebrates human ties that exist in spite of violent politics
The filmmaker is more invested in turning a critical eye to an apparently not very
interesting woman existing in a secluded rural space and yet there is no trace of
theatricality or gimmicks to establish a sincere tone. The film pays the highest tribute to
an ordinary isolated woman and her suffering because it does so without an iota of
piety. Rather, the dignity inherent in a group of ordinary persons who experience firsthand
the effects of insurgency and counter-insurgency operations is brought out in a fresh
cinematic language rarely seen in Assam’s cinema. In scenes such as when Sewali, the
love interest of Mukti, tries to make Heramoni see through the offer of surrender for
Mukti by an army officer, or when a group of villagers rush to the site of a mutilated
body of a fellow young person killed purportedly in suspect of being an insurgent, one
begins to see the ties binding a community even when it’s communal life is put asunder
by a cynical and violent form of politics.

Dohutia draws stellar performances from a cast of largely non-professional actors
In unearthing the tribulations of Heramoni, Biplob and Mukti, director Jaicheng Jai Dohutia
has displayed a rare dexterity and sensitivity of craft and sensibility. In the way it is shot
and the manner in which it is put together, the film reeks of solid independent filmmaking
in. Mostly performed by an assortment of non-professional actors, the film is an
achievement in the department of casting too. Heramoni’s role was played by Bandoi
Chetia who even in real life lives on the margins of society. At the end of the narrative,
when a religious ritual for the safety and well being of her missing son Mukti is organised,
the gravity of such a communal prayer is brought out in a prolonged final sequence. In
faithfully recording the ritual, the director brings out the kind of spiritual energy released
by such a ritual where women like Heramoni participate with all their faith. It is as if the
film too here finally puts its message across that faith has true power when it comes to
healing personal and social suffering.

Along with Rima Das, Jaicheng Jai Dohutia has introduced a new idiom and style in the
cinema of Assam which is marked by restraint, balance and perspective. Departing entirely
from the mores of conventional cinema of the region, their films are telling local stories
with cinematic finesse. Haanduk, particularly, stands out as it tells a very rooted and
buried story which was screaming for sensible cinematic articulation. The film is also
significant, amongst a selection of fine films made recently in North-east India, because
it is marked by a very earnest and firm conviction in its material and method.

Haanduk won the prestigious Grand Jury Prize (India Gold) at the Mumbai Film Festival
in 2016, among other subsequent awards. The film can now be watched on several
online platforms.

**********

Ankan lives in Jorhat and can be reached at [email protected]

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