A forbidden land?

“When you are deprived of something, you tend to understand its value”. I had felt the same way, when I chose to study far away from my hometown. The constant alienation, when exposed to new faces, culture and places evokes this intense feeling of missing home. I was quite new to experience such a feeling which grew intense with time. The worth of parents, the culture of my state, its people and its richness could be understood by me when I went far away from it. Bangalore, where I study now drew me closer as it had abundance of things I always wanted to do and learn in life. Though I am being able to fulfil all my dreams on one side of my heart, the other side still longs for the comfort of my home, Assam.

Time is an aid to any wound but in my case it was an eye opener. I have grown up hearing stories about how Northeasterns are alienated from rest of India but I thought those were days gone by and now it is a new beginning. It is indeed sad that my notion was proved wrong when I myself had to undergo a lot. I had invited a friend from Iran to spend the vacation in my hometown Assam. I never knew this whole-hearted invitation would take me aback in a state of shock. To my surprise she refused to come because people were giving her negative hints that the growing terrorism in Assam might be a hindrance in her journey. They also said that it might be difficult to get out of our houses as militants throw bombs on pedestrians. Sigh! My effort to make them understand the reality went in vein when they gave me examples of how media portrayed North East most of the time. This incident took me to an unusual aspect of life where my vision towards the world had a different approach. I had undergone intense introspection before judging others because I feared to be wrong. It has been three years now but things are still the same here. To my utter surprise people fail to figure out where Assam is located in India. They do not know why this state is famous for, be it the Tea found here, the Muga silk, the Bihu dance . I was astounded by the fact that they did not know that Assam is the only place in the world where you find the One-horned Rhino. I mean, it is sad that people fail to answer basic general knowledge. This pride being the sole owner of the One-horned Rhino in the world is not only Assam’s pride but also a National pride. But why have people undermined such a fact?!

Education in North-East  I agree is limited which has compelled students like us to venture outside our own place but if one sees this matter in depth, I feel our education system is rich and unique in its own way. It does not provoke regionalism or hatred. We have grown up knowing the culture of other states, enjoying its richness but why has the rest of India not considered us? Keeping in mind that North-East has been under intense tensions of various terrorist groups but if we take a wider perspective about this matter, which state or country in today’s scenario does not face the fear of terrorism? Be it West Bengal or Sri Lanka both the places have a long history of such tensions. Are these places still the victims of stigma and prejudice? Even the recent hype about the ethnic clash at Kokrajhar(rural place in Assam) was portrayed as a communal riot in Media, which affected the whole of India for no reason. No one even tried to understand the true facts! When we were in school, while drawing the map of India, have we all not considered the north, south, east and west equally? I cannot digest the fact of how Regionalism can be so hard core in minds of people? Gone are the days when North-East was unknown to the world. Globalization and Media revolution has taken steps to promote this region of our nation in many ways but why has the so-called stigma still alive in the minds of people? Outsiders look down upon us as we are under developed and think that we are only surrounded by jungles and we live in tree houses (which is not the reality!) but they are forgetting that we are upcoming like any other developing place. They have forgotten that they also were underdeveloped at one point of time when their Metro cities were undergoing construction. I feel our voices are unheard because the negative notions terrorism, under-development has over powered any other positive statement about this region of India. Being a student of media I found refuge in taking small initiatives to erase the false image of North-East. Showcasing Assamese folktale “ Tejimola” in a National level Conference was a new experience altogether. Other projects like writing about “Majuli Island” in my blog or even making Dj-scripts on North-Eastern music and throwing light on Bhupendra Sangeet and Bihugeet gave me immense satisfaction. I believe such initiatives have at least made a small section of the people aware about my place. I have literally grown as a person to know my state and its richness in this course.

To conclude I truly believe that North-East needs to be known to the world. Media no doubt has most of the time only focused on the negative sides of North-east which has undermined the positive initiatives taken by projects like “Incredible India”. Altogether I feel the root of such regionalism lie in our minds. If outsiders have an open approach towards us, leaving behind the brutal prejudices and the so-called stigma subjected upon us, it will enable everyone to remain in brotherhood. Indirectly, it would help us to be complete and fulfil the dreams of our gone by heroes to be the Shining India.

Thought for the moment

We live in a country where we worship "Durga-Kali-Saraswati". They say Women are the "Lakshmi" of the family and Maa is the epitome of life. But don't you think, these are slow and sweet poison to the very fact of being a" Girl Child" in the society? Well, let me take you back to times when women had to go through atrocities, tests, torture in all aspects of life. Even "Sita" underwent purification to prove Lord Rama of her loyalty. Even Goddesses were not spared, so why should mortals be?  In society women are the Second class citizens, condensed to be mere objects undergoing Sati-pratha, deprived of education, subjected to domination.

In recent times we all keep beating drums on the fact of being a Democracy dealing with elements of equality and freedom. No doubt we encourage women in many aspects now, they voice out too, but don't you think we put them on pedestal and yet offer them pain in any form? It is like coating her with sugar on the top and inducing poison on a mildly daily basis.

Following up with the trend of mushrooming rape cases all over India, Delhi has topped the list. From 572 registered rape cases in the year 2011, it has moved to 635 rape cases in the year 2012! And the true bitter fact is that these are the cases which are registered officially. What about those who were silenced? Yes! It is indeed a serious matter. It is not about blaming the government and shouting slogans of "we want capital punishment". It is about you and me. It is about awareness and teachings at the grass root level. I say stop treating your girl child as princesses at home, on one hand and ask them to make small sacrifices for her male sibling on the other hand! Stop mentioning her that "you are a girl thereby it is your duty". Stop encouraging objectifying of women in any form, be it in ads or movie songs. Talk loud about SEX in a country like India, where Google statistics say it is the most commonly typed three letter word by people from India. Do not hesitate but encourage Sex education. End of the day it is you who suffers and complains, so pull up your socks and make a change right away, as it is never too late to realize!

Celebrating Barixaa (Rain in Assamese)

Tired from the scorching heat of the sun,

Returning home, with a hope ,for the rain to come.

I walk down the streets of the busy, fast moving city,

Weary and teary I drag myself home.

I could see my skin covered with droplets of fresh sweat,

My throat wanting to quench the thirst,

My palms wanting to feel the moist touch,

Oh how I wish it could rain!

Suddenly, I hear it call,

From behind the canopy of dark clouds.

My heart filled with joy,

Waiting for the first spell of rain ,to touch my senses.

The fresh wind blew,

Blew ,with a promise of refreshing surprises.

I waited,

It came ;

The first spell of rain.

It fell on the dusty busy road,

Spreading the aroma ,which refreshed my mind and soul.

Down the streets I see,

The gurgling water sweeping the dirt towards the gutter,

The kids aloof from the fact,

 Are seen jumping into the puddles with the sound of pitter and patter.

For a second or two,

I was taken back to my childhood days,

Where I would sail my paper boats and form a gaze.

Suddenly my flashbacks experienced a halt,

I reached home.

My garden called for me.

The lush green blades of grass,

Painted my tired feet.

My dry throat expressed its desire for thirst,

My tongue tasted the sweetness of the fresh rain water.

It led me to dance,

Dance, with the abundance and beauty of nature.

Deep within my soul, I accepted,

The divine feeling of contentment,

And the joy of celebrating Barixaa.

When

When a feeling of self-contentment seeps in,

You see a ray of hope,

Emerging out. of the unimaginable void created in your life.

When you gradually allow a feeling, to ooze to the surface of your heart,

You feel self-reliant, 

Finally marking your end to helplessness.

When you grow out of life's melancholy,

You do learn a lot from its tragic symphony.

When you decide to break free from your cocoon,
You always experience the joy of freedom.
When you long for a dream to come true,
You always wear the beauty of patience.

When you allow the wounds to heal,
When you offer that moment, with some time.
It erases every scar that you believed to be yours,
Paving through the most difficult offerings of life.

When you feel, the world sings with you.
When you see the happiness around you.
It is nothing,
But your will.
It is no one, but you in it.

When you suddenly, become aware,
Listening to the nature sing in glory.
Your senses decide to caress,
The warmth of mindful living.
When you realize you are stable,
You are grounded to your dreams.

This feeling of contentment, deep within,
Allows you to embrace love.
Love that was, and will be.
Spreading wings you decide to breathe,
Nurturing the essence it has to bestow.

Now, you are thinking,
Realizing the experiences of the past.
Past, that was meant to be,
To make you grow as a person,
Wearing the ornament of courage and fruitful learning.

Gradually, you decide,
To be yourself, to be that 'You'.
And you pave your way certainly through.
Suddenly, the time moves slow,
And the moment stands still.

It is then,
When you find your answers.
It is then,
When you need no reason to speak.
It is then,
When you find happiness.
It is then,
when you finally make through!

About you and me

In life, we are searching, seeking, pleading, and thriving for 'Happiness'.

Often unsure of what we want in real.

We get an inch of it, we open our hands for some more,

We get oodles of it, we still complain.

We engage ourselves in this journey,

Journey, that has no destination.

We cannot halt,

We cannot breathe.

This unknown desire to seek the unknown pleasure;

Never ends.

Yet, this heart within,

pounds for something real.

That reality is blinded by gratifying needs.

In this course,

We undermine so many shades of life,

 Which are in plentiful, for each one of us.

Life, the palate full of colourful offerings.

Yet we undermine!

It is right there,

That something, in 'Real'.

That ultimate, unknown happiness

Embracing you time to time.

In life's symphony it indulges us,

Yet we undermine,

we keep telling ourselves,

No! Not Yet!

Some More,

You deserve more!

And the journey continues,

Like the time and tide passing by,

Like the ocean, flowing endlessly.

And we remain in a state of discontentment.

From within

I find myself torn,

Something from within pulls me away.

I am distracted 

with life’s offerings.

I find myself sensitive,

breaking down now and then.

I know, I do not belong here.

They say I am anxious,

they say I am frowning,

Unhappy they see me all the time.

I feel the same,

I realize myself,

How things altered around me.

How I paved my way through it!

Now, here sitting in a room of fifty three,

I am feeling bizarre.

An urge from within

telling me to let go.

A voice from within

Asking me to catch hold of myself.

I want to be back,

I want myself back,

I want to become me once again.

Loving everyone around me, 

Celebrating the joy of life.

I want to dance,

Sing in glory to myself,

I want that moment to be back,

When I would see my reflection around me.

Walls smiling at me,

Encouraging me 

To move on.

I want to wear a genuine smile ,

Carrying it for a long time.

I want to reach heights

with no hesitation within.

I know I can,

I know I will.

Just seeking some time now.

Waiting for the chariot of time

to take pace in the whirlpool of life.

I am patient,

tolerant,

hopeful.

Here, I wait

with open arms.

To behold the beauty of being Alive.

Belonging …

Sitting in class, with a sore throat and a feverish body,

As I look past, I see people at work,

Pens racing on papers,

Fingers racing on the keyboards of laptops.

Piercing gazes, frowning temples,

Confident gestures, never- giving up the zeal,

A sense of survival in the rat race seeps in.

Not in me, I am numb!

As I stare at these faces,

It makes me wonder!

Am I lazy or ignorant?

Is this needed?

To me it seems no important,

A sudden feeling of over achieving in the warm air of the room

I feel nothing.

I realize it forms a smile on my face

As I look down

Down upon such souls indulging in the race

Almost killing each other with motives unhealthy

Discarding compassion,

a lack of concern and love.

They de-throne with words, battle with beliefs and doom you with gazes.

I feel I am contended,

With no urge to involve myself here.

I feel I belong somewhere calmer, more sensitive and humane,

Where people should belong

In supporting, comforting concerns for each other.

The reason for my actual being is being compassionate

I need not growl,

I need not be loud to put across my word.

Every soul, here and now

Has the liberty to express and bestow.

I feel we are given the time and opportunity

That we undermine.

Thereby, I say;

You need not hurry;

Need not cry

Need not feel helpless.

For your time shall come.

Where you shall pave your way

Through the path you engraved

With the seeds you have sown

Beautiful it would be

To belong in a world you have longed for,

Nurturing every dream that will be

For you and only you.

Without a grain of compulsion,

You soar like a magnificent bird

Cutting through the toughest of winds,

Emerging with glistening faith

In you and only you.

Fear not,

Bleed not,

As it is patience to seek.

As you will reign one day,

With no regrets but contentment deep within.

-Nikita Hazarika

7^th Feb 2015