Tuesday, June 1, 2021

The Place Where Rivers Meet- Blend of Myth and Reality

The Place Where Rivers Meet is Yumlam Tana’s debut novel. Known for his captivating poetry, Yumlam Tana is one of the pioneers in English writing in Arunachal Pradesh. His earlier works include The Man and the Tiger (1999) and The Wind also Sings (2015).

Our ancestors went upto the starts and married their women. Our forefather Abutani married two of them. All of us, the Nyishis are born  from such celestial union.

Divided into three parts – the beginning of the end, a drop of blood on the parey sala and curse of the tutelary spirits, The Place Where Rivers Meet is a story about vengeance and revenge killing; about the curse of a female widowed hornbill for killing her mate and aftermath that follows; about an illicit but true love based on class barrier and about a man whose dream of becoming an officer is shattered.

The story keeps moving from past to present and vice-versa with an ordinary beginning. The readers are taken back to early 1850s telling about the Nyishis and Nyishi land; their relationship with nature; the tribal culture, customs, traditions and rituals including evil practices that were followed in the past by the Nyishis; their oral history that has been passed over to generations by their ancestors and the changes narrator’s ancestors have gone through.

But the crux of the novel starts unfolding as the chapter progresses. Readers’ curiosity is heightened, when they find that the protagonist has been murdered and the narrator’s ghost telling the story. This sudden surprise keeps the readers glued to the pages.
All the above events and incidents are inter-related to narrator’s life, that led to his murder, have been beautifully intertwined.

Coming of an alien faith in the pristine virgin land is depicted through a minor character Flaming Beard appears suddenly in a tribal village. He is welcome without any resistance. Gradually he starts converting people to new faith. But this new faith couldn’t survive for long in the village. Narrator says, “When the missionary left, everything reverted to normal. Flamming Beard never came back. The seeds planted by him didn’t grow because there was no one to water and look after it when he left.”
The narrator also mirrors about nationalism, education system, politics and changes that came along with time; influence of Assamese and Hindi languages; Bollywood songs and phony American culture and its effect on new generation. New generation doesn’t like anything that is indigenous. It’s aptly described when the narrator says, “They don’t take tassey anymore.”
Language is simple and lucid. Use of several Nyishi words with glossary at the end will help the readers to get their meanings easily. The readers may find few chapters dull. Nevertheless, there are chapters that are poetic. Sometimes, readers may feel as if they are reading short stories that are inter-connected.

Description is so vivid that the readers can visualize everything as if they are watching a film. The writer has succeeded brilliantly to evoke readers’ emotion. This blend of myth and reality makes The Place Where Rivers Meet an interesting read.

Published in 2020 by Leadstart INKSTATE it has 214 pages and costs only Rs 249/-


Saturday, July 25, 2020

DIL BECHARA: A TRIBUTE TO SUSHI !



First of all!  There are many movies that deserve better ranking than ‘Dil Bechara’. Rating for Dil Bechara is completely based on emotional connection. And there is nothing  wrong with that.

Dil Bechara’ is fully engaging film with good acting, amazing music and remarkable dialogues.


Story- There was no curiosity about the film's story; most of us already knew what film is all about. Most of us already knew it's beginning and the end because many of us had already watched its Hollywood version The Fault in Our Stars and few of us had already read the novel by John Green with same name.

The distraction- While watching the film - his death by suicide overtakes the audiences’ minds and issues of his suicide keeps coming to our minds while watching it. Many thoughts and questions keep coming to our mind like how come such a talented man died by suicide!  He was such a humane! His always smiling face come  to our minds!
Yet people watched (or watching) Dil Bechara and its rating is now  10/10 on IMBD which is an unprecedented. A record and a history that might take long time to break it.I doubt  if any  movie is going to get  such rating  in future.
What could be the best Tribute or Honour one can offer to a talented actor Sushant Singh Rajput(Manny) than this rating!  

Watch any interview, any video and any interaction; he was so lively. Always talking his heart but there is always something incomplete beneath his attractive and infectious smile. There was certain unfathomable incompleteness in his inspiring smile. There was some deep pain in his words in spite of being  full of life; in spite of being a dreamer!
Speculations are there yet t no one knows exactly how he died or why he died!

Dil Bechara  is entertaining yet a bit depressing  because the film seems to be an    amalgamation of his  reel and real  life. Many scenes seem to be coming, directly from his actual life. 

Music is great.  The leitmotif  Mein Tumhara Mein Tumahara will keep  coming to your mind.

Acting- Does anyone doubt on Sushant’s acting?  Yet  the scene where Manny calls Kizie for help from the theatre full of pain with mucus all around his nose is just perfect. Sanjana Sanghi(Kizie) acted well. Rest of the actors have done their job  well. 
Couples of scenes are very beautiful and chances are there many will weep while watching. Scene is where Manny shares his feelings with Kizie’s father is just relatable. 
Scene where Manny says, "I want to attend my won funeral," is moving !



He was, what really he was in the movie; affecting!  A beautiful film indeed!

I am still adhered to the point; there are many movies that deserve better ranking than ‘Dil Bechara’. This film’s ranking is completely based on emotional connection particularly when it says: "Janam Kab Lena Hai Aur Marna Kab Hai, Hum Decide Nahi Kar Sakte hain. Par Jeena Kaise Hai Woh Hum Decide Kar Sakte Hain."

 
Still Courtesy:Google













Friday, February 28, 2020

Monday, August 5, 2019

The Graves of Untold !!!


Unknown for many, the largest war cemetery in entire North East situated at Jairampur, Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh with more than 1000 graves is gradually drawing people’s attention.

 Journey to Jairampur
ENTRANCE !!!
One early morning, my senior and I set out for Jairampur World war II cemetery from Tezu via Mahadevpur en-route Kharsang. Driving along the smooth highway with soothing music inside the car and light drizzle outside kept us busy throughout the journey. Within an hour, we  reached small but impressive town Jairampur .

Place and Tribe
Popular for Namadapha National Park, Changlang is home to Tangsa, Tutsa,  Singpho and Yobin tribes with their unique and distinctive art,  culture, tradition and festivals. Jairampur, Miao, Manmao, Vijoynagar and Nampong are other important towns.

Along the Stillwell Road
The World War II Cemetery is around 7 kilometres from Jairampur. Once known as Ledo road, it was re-named as Stilwell Road in honour of General Joseph W Stilwell, an American who was behind road’s construction. I couldn't hide my excitement  of travelling along the erstwhile Stilwell Road..

Constructed during   the second  world  war by Allied Forces  for  easy transit from India to Kunming in China via Myanmar and to prevent the advancement of imperial  Japanese, the road  had  slowly  faded   away from people’s  memories with course of time.
ALONG THE  ERSTWHILE STILWELL ROAD
Presently, this road comes under Trans-Arunachal Highway as National Highway- 315 with two lane road till India’s last village.

Discovery
Mysteriously remaining unknown for years, Jairampur WW II Cemetery was discovered in 1997 by Assam Rifle Jawans during clearing the jungle. Many graves were already destroyed due to wild elephants trampling and natural calamities. Even the local people didn’t know about its presence. Though they had found many artifacts and items used during the WW II but ignorant of cemetery’s historical importance, they didn’t preserve any. 
Arranged in many lines and rows, there is a huge grave in the centre believed to be a mass burial.
GRAVES !!!!
Botanical Garden
Spreading over an area of 3 acres near Namchik River, the cemetery comes under Botanical garden but the state's forest department looks after it including a non-functional museum inside the premises.
With free entry, the number of visitors has increased after its renovation. Though no register is kept to record the exact number of visitors; winter season witnesses more visitors. Around four thousand tourists turn up annually.

 Foundation stone
State’s former Governor Retired General JJ Sigh had laid the foundation stone 2nd January 2009. Minister of Defence (MoS)  MM Pallam Raju opened it formally for public on 20th January 2010.

Memorial
Memorial erected in memory of those died during the construction of Stilwell Road reads:
MEMORIAL !!!
Graves and Graveyard
Just ahead of memorial, there are graves everywhere under the tree shades. More than 1000 graves including that of the Chinese, Kachins,  Indan, british and Americans soldiers exist.
Soldiers, workers and labourers during the Stilwell road construction died    due to diseases like malaria, dysentery, natural calamities and snake bite were buried here. Some Abor(Adi), Mishmi, Jaintia soldiers who fought for the  Allied Forces were also buried here but barely any  evidence is available supporting their background.

Cemetery of a Chinese and Epitaphs
Chinese soldier Hsiao Chu Ching’s burial is the largest and is only the cemetery in India where a Chinese army’s soldier is buried. Inscribed in Chinese with English translation, his tombstone reads:
Major Hsiao Chu Ching, Company Commander 2nd Company, 2nd Battalion of 10th Regiment, Independent Engineers of Chinese Army stationed in India. He was born in July 1913 at Wei Country of Hapeh province and died in December 1943.
HSIAO CHI CHUNG'S TOMBSTONE !!!   
 
An epitaph nearby Chu Ching’s burial  reads: These graves  bear the  silent  testimony to those soldiers, unlisted workers and labourers who ventured into   virgin jungle amid blistering heat and laid  their lives in the line of   duty during  second  world war whilst part of  the all forces against the imperial  Japanese Army. Their Names Liveth Forever More.
THEIR NAMES LIVETH FOREVER MORE  !!! 
However, it is very disappointing to witness many graves in dilapidated condition without maintenance. Epitaphs need an immediate re-writing as alphabets are almost illegible.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission
 In spite being the largest war cemetery in North East, it exists in obscurity. Unlike war cemeteries of Kohima in Nagaland and Imphal in Maniur, Jairampur World war II cemetery doesn’t come under Commonwealth War Graves Commission. So the Commission doesn’t provide any aid for maintenance.  


The last Indian village 
WAY FROM NAMPONG !!!
Visiting India’s last village-Nampong will be an icing on the cake which is only 20 Km away from Jairampur. The highway with pleasing terraced tea gardens and lush green hill on road’s both sides is breathtaking. Pangsau pass is just 11 km from Nampong but permission is required to move beyond Nampong due to security reason. 

How to reach?
Well connected from Assam, Jairampur is 136 kilometres from Mohanbari airport in Dibrugarh. From Tinsukia, it is only 96 kilometres.

Check Point and ILP
Entering Arunachal, all non-Arunachalees need Inner Line Permit (ILP) at Jairmapur check post. Tourists can procure an ILP at check post instantly. Tourists can stay at inspection bungalow and circuit house.

Back Home with Memory
Ideal for solitude lovers, here one listens nothing but nature’s silence; crickets’ sound and birds chirping. It was already evening now! We began our back journey. But my mind was engrossed thinking about those graves. Images of graves were recurring in my mind who sacrificed their lives accomplishing Stilwell Road.

Some graves in the world are known by names; some graves are known by numbers; there are graves that are known by alphabets. Unfortunately, these graves are sans any names; numbers or alphabets! These graves have existed unidentified for years. Don’t know for how long these graves will remain nameless, unidentified! As we were heading towards Tezu, few lines of a poem came to my mind: 
"Thus Let me live, Unseen, Unknown;
 Thus unlamented, let me die;
 Steal from the   world,  and not a stone
Tell where I lie.'"

Images: Few images are taken from Google.