Army of construction

"Strike against all ordinances and laws and institutions that continue the slaughter of peace and the butcheries of war. Strike against war, for without you no battles can be fought. Strike against manufacturing shrapnel and gas bombs and all other tools of murder. Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human beings. Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction. Be heroes in an army of construction".

One of the many voices calling out against American involvement in WW I was that of Helen Keller. 100 years have passed by, the words still remain relevant. Hear hear, be heroes in an army of construction, she said.

And they listened

The temperature soared like never before. The sun dazzled like never before. The air went quite like never before. It was the final rehearsal for Independence day. An amazing display of talent and commitment by our kids in spite of nature playing the devil. Today morning when I woke up, I had only one prayer in mind.

May the Gods be kind to these little souls. May the wind take away their sweat. May the clouds embrace them all, like a shield from the crimson glare. And they listened, our beloved clouds. Happy Independence Day!

Potential footballers

Amidst the football game that morning, I spotted him sitting at a distance and watching keenly. Apparently he had been doing this for quite some time. He was walking up to the ground every morning, Cremuth, my driver. I drove to the ground myself thinking why to bother him this early every morning. Little did I know that he was a football mad, like myself.

That day, when I asked him why he was only watching and not joining all of us in the game, he told me it was because he had no proper football shoes. "I have always wanted to play, since childhood, never could, simply practiced alone barefoot at home", he added. I stood there in silence for a long time. How things as small as football shoes could become a lifelong regret. How many such people are out there who could have done wonders for Indian Football. How many such kids are still there, somewhere, sitting outside a football ground, and simply looking, for want of shoes. There are plenty in North East, I vouch for that.

Yesterday, I got him a pair of football boots. He played today. Way better control over the ball than mine. Sigh.

The joy of diversity

The venue was embraced by that divine fragrance of soil after a spell of synchronous rains. They say it is auspicious when it pours from the sky during your celebration. A new residential building for students was being inaugurated in the parish. A group of local young Garo girls were getting ready to perform in front of this large gathering. They wore these beautiful sarees which are rare to be seen in this region.

As they stood in formation and the background music ushered in, their teacher proudly announced that they were to perform Bharatanatyam. The girls throughout the performance were exuberant. The audience too, overwhelmed with joy. The joy of celebrating another culture. The joy of dancing to the beats of another language. The joy of diversity, the essence of the idea called, India!

What a kid

He had been standing near the cash counter for quite some time, perhaps waiting for his mother to finish her grocery shopping. He must have been around 10 years old, keenly observing the queue through his thick geeky glasses and making mind notes. Upon my turn, I kept all the stuff in my bag and made a move outwards.

"Here is a chocolate for you, Uncle", the little lad said, seemingly overwhelmed with joy. "Well, thank you, but that would be for what?", I asked. "For being the only one in the queue who brought a reusable bag and didn't take a poly bag", he almost shouted with exuberance. I asked him if he could convince others in the queue to bring a reusable bag next time to which he readily agreed. What a kid, I doubled him on that chocolate. It was his favorite.

It's the pursuit

I guess he was couple of yards ahead with a clear sight of the goal. The keeper wouldn't stand a chance. I galloped from behind believing that I could match his astounding pace. I couldn't though. The only slim chance was a clean tackle from behind. On a rough ground like that, it would surely mean scratching your knees all red. I did it anyway. He scored anyway.

But surprisingly the despair of conceding that goal was eclipsed by the joyful pursuit and the sedulous belief. The remnant scars signify the resolute ambition. It's never the destination. It's never the closure. It's always the pursuit that we relish. Football or life, all the same.

Unrully Hills

A blessing for those who want a well researched insight into the past of North East in general and Meghalaya in particular. Be it the distinctive political makeup of the local institutions or the traditional institutions in the form of Village Headmen, this books covers it all right from the inception. It also talks about various controversial issues pertaining to forests and mining rights in the region. It also presents a comprehensive overview of shifting cultivation over the decades and concisely portrays the ongoing debates in the region. Better understanding of the whole matrilineal societies of Meghalaya is another thing you gain out of it. A must read for public servants in the North Eastern states.