Eclectic- March 2011- The best of Northeast India by Eclectic Publications

CONTENTS March 2011

Volume - I • Issue - 6

UP CLOSE Meet a bevy of beautiful and spirited women who are making the Northeast proud with their achievements!

22 HUMAN CONNECT ET explores the pros and cons of the joint versus nuclear family set up, with bytes from celebrities!

BRIEFCASE 24 HAMARA BAJAJ ET speaks to the man behind lighting up the Northeast, the Bajaj way

44 BEETLE-MANIA With Volkswagen passenger cars making an entry into the Northeast with its first dealership in Assam, we get chatting behind the wheel

17 VIEWPOINT Ashutosh Agnihotri contemplates on the ceaseless question of whether India can ever rid herself of corruption

18 SPORTS WORLD Ace archer Jayanta Talukdar is right on target with his dreams and aspirations in this tete a tete

NE TRAIL Traverse the infamous Old Silk Route on the way to Sikkim’s snow-clad Nathula Pass with Pallav Tamuli

PALATE Golden Reejsinghani presents an array of tangy chutneys and relishes

Trade Enquries: Damro International Tel +91 11 2208 3971 Fax: +91 11 2207 1810 Email: damro.int@gmail.com

CONTENTS March 2011

Volume - I • Issue - 6

52 NE PRIDE

New York-based author Siddhartha Deb on why he has a soft spot for the Northeast from the Big Apple

56 SOCIAL SENSE Fearful or Fearless? ET delves into the psyche of women who are the victims of abuse

58 LIVE IN STYLE Get high on this house on the hill, wallowing in the lap of nature

REGULARS 10 21 55 48 70 74 76 79 80 82

EVENT DIARY THE ECLECTIC MAN THE ECLECTIC LADY SHRINK YOUR HEAD BOOK MARK TAROT SCOPE THE REEL DINE OUT MODEL OF THE MONTH UNTIL APRIL

40 62. GLOBETROTTING Don your khakis and get set for a once-in-a-lifetime safari to the Serengeti National Park with Sumitra Senapaty

66 HOLI SPECIAL Dharmaraj Joshi throws some colour on the Lathmar Holi – where women beat the men… for fun!

68 CULTURE Step back into history with the barter system of the vibrant Joonbeel Mela

PICTURE PERFECT Glimpses of women through the lens of Kausiki Sarma

 THE VOICE…

haven’t been able to decipher India’s relationship with women. There is a huge disparity that is surfacing amongst women across the various social segments. Like all other inequalities, the extremity is building up fast due to the upsurge of women’s liberation. In the current scenario, we have two distinct types of women: on one end of the spectrum is the woman with the voice, the confident urban lady who doesn’t need to struggle for her worth anymore and, on the other end, is the woman without a voice, the doormat who constantly needs to prove her existence; empowerment is not even remotely close to her imagination. In most western countries, women’s liberty is no longer an issue, as that era of striving for gender rights is long gone. They have been successful in achieving a balanced form of liberty across all strata. There is no striking difference amongst the urban or rural, rich or poor. However, the discrepancy in India is far and wide. On one hand we have women on the top rung of the ladder – in organisations, corporates, government, etc. - while, on the other, we still have derogatory age-old social practices like female foeticide, girl child-killing and bride-burning. What I find ironic here is the fact that we come from a rich heritage where women are idolised religiously, often in the form of shakti. Surprisingly, this reverence seems to be restricted only to deities. Most often, the common woman doesn’t receive any form of respect or recognition at all from her family or society. Gender inequality becomes apparent in issues of education, household work, personal desires - right from the time a girl is born and throughout her journey as a daughter, sister, wife and mother, where her preferences are always given a back seat. There is no denying that there is considerable outcry for women’s liberation by our feminists. The main issue that needs to be tackled is to shorten the “gap” in our society, which will ultimately necessitate refinement in our cultural, societal and psychological ways. To bring this idea to the forefront, we have highlighted five Northeastern women as our cover story, women who have reached the epitome of success in their respective fields. But, we have also touched on the other end of the spectrum, on issues regarding those women who are either unaware or apprehensive of voicing their rights. Plus, on a lighter note, we round off the issue with a man’s candid perspective of living with a feminist. Dedicated to every woman, with or without a voice, this Women’s Special issue is our tribute to all women!

Tanushree

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CHAIRMAN

Parama Hazarika

EDITORIAL managing editor Tanushree Hazarika tanu@eclectic.co.in

associate editor Loya Agarwala business editor Rajat Agarwal contributing editor Nazneen Hussain content supervisor Himakshi Goswami

CREATIVES senior layout artist Madhusmita Das art supervisor Dipankar Saikia

ADMINISTRATION director Bibha Hazarika administrative officer Prasanta Talukdar deputy admin officer Monjari Mahanta

AD SALES & MARKETING manager marketing Koushik Hazarika +91 99575-62510 ● ads@eclectic.co.in manager communications Pooja Barkataky bangalore +91 88925-05002 ● ads.bangalore@eclectic.co.in delhi – ads.delhi@eclectic.co.in kolkata – Abhijit Sahu +91 98310-61511 ● ads.kolkata@eclectic.co.in mumbai – Mousumi Moitra +91 98195-79758 ● mousumi.m@eclectic.co.in CONTACT US

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website www.eclecticmag.com Besides the Northeast, we are now available in Bangalore too. Distributed By: IBH Books & Magazines Distributors Pvt.Ltd 5th Main Road, Gandhinagar, Bangalore-560009 Edited, printed and published by Tanushree Hazarika on behalf of Eclectic Media Enterprises Pvt. Ltd, Eclectic House; 34, PB Road, Rehabari, Guwahati - 781008. Printed at Swapna Printing Works Private Limited Doltala, Doharia, P.O.- Ganga Nagar, Dist- North 24 Paraganas, Kolkata- 700 132 Design © Tattva Creations Pvt. Ltd Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is strictly prohibited. Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders. The publishers apologise for any omissions, which they will be pleased to rectify at the earliest opportunity. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor.

 B

ecause of examples like Dr. Mamoni Raisom Goswami, today, the Indian woman is not afraid to speak her mind against prejudice. Hope ET will remain an ally for long to illuminate and keep alive the flame amongst us.

February 2011

search for ET in the stalls at the beginning of every month! The topics are not only very refreshing but also informative. Even after finishing all the pages, I wish to read some more.

Dr. Rousy K. Baruah, Borjhar

a magazine which touches every aspect of life and is genuine. ET is one of them. Mahesh Chetri, Diphu, Karbi Anglong Glad to hear that, Mahesh! And, anyway, ‘eclectic’ is our name! – ET Team

She is a charismatic human being and her presence will always make a huge impact on the people of Assam. - ET Team

Preety Piki, via email That’s pretty inspiring Preety! I hope we can always live up to your hopes. – ET Team

LETTER OF THE MONTH

am an avid reader of Eclectic Times and have been following it for quite some time. One thing which always gives an edge to this magazine from the others is its content and presentation. It covers all the topics right from recent happenings in town to entertainment news. I was delighted to read the story of Somdev Devvarman. The writer has portrayed the character of Somnath so well that people, after reading it, will feel proud to be from NE. Very few magazines do that. I wish ET great success. Keep up the good work. Jaysankar Das Talukdar Pune, Maharashtra Good to hear from you Jay! It’s a constant effort on our part to make NE a name to reckon with. - ET Team The Letter of the Month receives a Free 1-year subscription of eclectic times

he photo feature on the Hornbill Festival was awesome. Besides, one rarely comes across

T is getting very visually impressive with every single issue. To complement that is its superb paper quality which is already at par with international standards. No wonder everything about the magazine rocks! MGou Singson, North Cachar Hills Thanks for the compliment Singson. Keep in touch! – ET Team

he Valentine issue of ET was so full of ‘love’liness and variety! From the sculptures of Madan Kamdev, the Confessions of a Drag Queen to the touching love story of the English gentleman and Khasi lady – it was all there, love in all its hues!! Munmi Bordoloi, via email That was the idea, Munmi. We’re glad you found the mix to be truly eclectic!ET Team

WRITE TO US AT: ET MAILBOX, ECLECTIC TIMES, SARASWATI MARKET, 2ND FLOOR, ABOVE SBI, SIX MILE BRANCH, G.S. ROAD, GUWAHATI – 781 022 OR MAIL US AT: editorial@eclectic.co.in, OR SMS US AT: +91 96780-85012 ERRATA: One of the photographers for Model of the Month, ET February 2011 was Bosco and not Dev Purbiya, as mentioned. The error is regretted.

event diary

Photo: UB Photos

Discovery Channel’s hit show Man Vs Wild’s new season, aired from February 7 2011, premieres in Guwahati.

Tata Motors launches Tata Aria, the first Indian four-wheel drive Crossover, in Guwahati.

HCL Infosystems announces a multi-crore rupee deal from Assam Electronics Development Corporation Limited (AMTRON) to provide 7200 units of HCL ME laptops. Photo: UB Photos

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited launches its next-gen commercial vehicle, Mahindra Genio, in Guwahati.

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Photo: UB Photos

event diary

Rang channelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production Ramdhenu releases.

LIC India launches Bima Account-I and Bima Account II in Guwahati. Photo: UB Photos

The 3rd Cine ASA Guwahati International Film Festival, held in Guwahati.

Photo: UB Photos

The 1st Assam Vintage Car Rally held in Guwahati.

Photos: Sadiq Hussain

Visitors at the group photo exhibition organised by Assam Photojournalist Association at State Art Gallery, Guwahati.

Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

event diary

Photo: Abdul Halim

Assam Society of Bangalore celebrates Magh Bihu with Eclectic Times as the magazine partner of the event.

The 71st Asom Xahitya Xabha, hosted at Vasaroza Hemchandra Boruah Kshetra at Dergaon in Golaghat district. Photo: UB Photos

The Ayursundra One-Stop Medical Centre, a part of healthcare initiatives conceptualised by Mr. Simanta Das, was launched in Guwahati. Photo: UB Photos

‘NE’WS SNIPPETS Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who started his career in law practising at the Gauhati High Court, becomes the new Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The 13th edition of Luit to Thames, a bilingual annual literary magazine, released by Tezpur University’s Vice-Chancellor, Dr Mihir Kanti Chaudhuri, in presence of its Chief Editor Dr Karuna Sagar Das.

Photo: UB Photos

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 13

the NE trail

NATHULA  By Pallav Tamuli If you love snow, head for Nathula, Sikkim’s snowy destination! Sitting pretty at a height of 14,200ft, you’ll be charmed by her scenic beauty too!

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he Old Silk Route to Nathula happens to be one stretch of the IndoChina border where you will not find anything but tranquility: here Chinese army personnel are huddled together with their Indian counterparts sharing cups of tea. Yes, Nathula’s significance is underlined by the fact that the much-hyped war practices by the Chinese army or Chinese administration are totally

absent here; rather you get to view peaceful and serene hillocks and memoirs depicting Indian and Chinese heroics. In order to reach Nathula, one needs to traverse the historic Old Silk Route which connects Lhasa in Tibet, via the Jelep La Pass, to India and onwards to the rest of the world. In the travel circuit, this territory is marked as East Sikkim and has been opened to tourists relatively recently in July, 2006. Most

             The Cafe at Nathu La at 14 200 ft. Photo: Pallav Tamuli

part of the route is forbidden area due to its international boundary with China and is under watchful vigil of the Indian Army. The salient part of going to the Nathula Pass is the travel itself. Once you start your journey from Gangtok, it is virtually a journey through heaven. On the way, you can also see Tsongo or Changu Lake; a picturesque place, sitting in solitude on the banks of which, it is enough to uplift and rejuvenate your mood. The mist and snow-cloaked peaks, the zigzag roads, boisterous waterfalls – yes, everything will accompany you on the way! As you get closer to Nathula Pass, the area becomes dotted with Army settlements and you have to leave your vehicle a few hundred meters away from the exact border post. From there you have to climb several steps to reach Nathula Pass. The notice at the entrance warns people to not rush up these steps as, at 14,200 ft, there is less oxygen to breathe; heart patients and people with high blood pressure should think twice before making a trip to Nathula. You will be surprised to see that both Indian and Chinese soldiers greet you, so don’t forget to get a photo clicked with them. If you fancy conversing with the Chinese soldiers, there is a board on which common Chinese phrases and their translations in English are printed. Don’t forget to keep a memoir of your visit to Nathula by purchasing a certificate of your visit by paying a mere 50 bucks, an initiative by the Army Wives’ Association. Another reason awaiting you to visit Nathula is the Baba Mandir. Built in the memory of Late Harbhajan Singh, a sepoy in the 23rd Punjab Regiment, this temple lies between the Nathula and the Jelep La Pass. According to the legend, Baba Harbhajan Singhji, March 2011 │eclectic times │ 15

        

Bunker at Chinese territory. Photo: Pallav Tamuli

as he is known, appeared in a dream of one of his colleagues a few days after he went missing after slipping into the waters while patrolling the border. In the dream, he expressed a desire that a samadhi be built in his memory. So, all the ranks of 23 Punjab decided to build a monument that has, over the years, acquired the status of a pilgrimage centre. Believers leave a bottle to be collected a week later and then consume it for 21 days, without taking non-veg food; this is used for its healing powers. The belief in Babaji is so real that the food served to him at 5 pm is supposed to be consumed by him wholeheartedly. Another astounding belief is that Babaji is said to go for a vacation during heavy snowfall days, so seats get booked for him in AC 2 tier in Railways and what’s more, a pickup car moves to New Jalpaiguri Railway Station to drop and bring him back. Even the Chinese keep a chair for him during their timely meetings with their Indian counterparts. In hindsight, Nathula is a wonderful place to behold nature’s splendour and an opportunity to admire the armed forces who stoically stand without the fear of sun or rain or snow to safeguard their country. The author is Nodal & Regulatory Head of Idea Cellular Ltd for Assam & NE circles.

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view point

 Though the effects of corruption are widespread, transparency and accountability – with effective complaint redressal and punishment mechanisms – are essential to check, curb and overcome it, believes Ashutosh Agnihotri

n Feb 1997, I remember that I eventually boils down to intentions. had won the first prize in the disclosure of information on schemes In our modest efforts to fight , essay contest, organised by the proc esses and laws are the best corr upti on, ther e is support from Competition Success Review, for my ways of ensuring transparency. The all corners – civil society, media and entr y to the question: ‘Can India Get grea ter the transparency, the lesser even politicians. It is fashionable Rid of Corruption?’ I still vaguely corrupt would a system be. But it to decr y the political class, but remember the optimism with alone cannot uproot corruption. corruption by officials is not always which I had concluded the essay. I Acco untability with a prompt and patronised and supported by was then an outsider, still to enter eff ecti ve complaint redressal and politicians. In fact, the harassment the system, and the perspective pun ishm ent mechanism are essential and inconvenience that the reflected in the essay was that of for chec king and curbing corruption. common man is subjected to in a conscious citizen, who found Pub lic apa thy leads to moral the government, is invariably the corruption affecting him and others decay. Our scriptures enjoin upon outc ome of the desire to monetise in the struggle for daily existence. the intellectuals and conscientious discretion, which rules and laws and From getting a driving licence to a peo ple of the country to remain guidelines entail. It is this element job, from a pension to admission and caut ious and vigilant – vayam of avarice which complicates simple from medical certificates to birth raas htre jaagryam purohitah – where things and gives rules and statutes and death certificates, it was almost a people are exhorted to be aler t mystic, other-worldly form. And the ever ywhere. Then I entered the IAS and conscious because the modern mys tique thus created necessitates in 1999 and became a part of the concept of social audit flows from people with special access and system. Since then, I have seen the soci al responsibility. So, people abilities to demystif y the miasma. common man still moving helplessly, have the right and responsibility to It is very difficult, unreasonable most of the times, from desks to know about public funds. The Rig and impractical to expect others offices to officers for getting his wor Veda says that only ethically pure k to ‘lead by example’; it cannot be done; the question still haunts me: and inte llectually capable persons a management jargon alone, it “Can India get rid of corruption?” should be allowed to administer – a mus t translate into visible action This question cannot be answered in devaanaam bhavah keturagre – whic and tangible followers. Hence, if h the same simplistic emotional way exp ects public servants to be of we desi re imp rovements, then in which I had written in my essay 14 unimpeachable integrity, as their we must initiate them. Once the years ago. Does that then mean that beh aviour and decisions have a major intentions and credibility get the optimism and hope would be imp act on society. established, it becomes much clouded by abstruse arguments in the The question which confronted easier to effect changes. The name of reason and pragmatism? No. me 14 years ago still remains and dire ct unambiguous dialogue The last 12 years in the service have perhaps may remain for many more with people and the proactive convinced me that corruption can years. Though the desire to find an definitely be reduced and mitigated answer remains as burning as ever, and methodical efforts for systemic the silver lining is that hope endures The . harassment and improvements can pave way for a The long answer needs to be scripted incon venie nce that clean, fair, just and transparent system. in parts, with each one of us expecte the common man d If I were to single out the most to add words and syllables, phrases is subjected to in important factor which precipitates the government, is and sentences. One day, the answer invariably the outcome corruption, I would say that it is gree shal l be complete. d of the desire to monetise followed by opaqueness, procedural (The views expressed in this article are discretion, which rules personal) delays, lack of responsiveness and and laws The writer is the Deputy Commissioner and accountability. But ever ything and guidelines

entail.

District Magistrate, Kamrup Metro, Guwahati. March 2011 │eclectic times │ 17

sports world

 Jayanta Talukdar   

EYES ON TARGET

WG 2010 bronze winner. Aspiring businessman. Tendulkar fan. And there’s still more to Jayanta Talukdar, a young achiever from the town of Nalbari, Assam who has his eyes set on the upcoming Olympics this year. Presently working in the sports department of Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, Jayanta candidly confesses his strengths and weaknesses and wins our hearts.

How did you get into archery? My elder brother used to be in archery; that is how I came to know about the game. I got my training under Tata Archery Academy. Coaches go to different places and hunt for interested students through a trial or talent hunt. Ideally, the student should be 18

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around 13–15 years of age (I started at 14). I got selected for the talent hunt trial which was organised in Guwahati. After that, I was selected for the Junior National Archery Tournament in 2002 and, soon after, got a chance to go to France. Gradually, I started to get the feeling that this is a game that holds a future for me. What physical attributes are important for a potential archer? The body structure is the most important, because if the structure is proper, then it is easier to score better and learn the techniques. Otherwise, it usually takes more time to change the techniques according to the individual structure and then to learn the game. Archery has evolved enormously since the Ram, Ravan and Eklavya

days. What are the technical aspects today? There are two different bows in archery — recurve and compound — which differ in their bow sizes. Recurve is the longer, old-style bow, like in the Ramayana and Mahabharata, which is included in the Olympics and the Asian Games; I play in recurve. The compound bow, which is included in the World and Asian Championships, has a trigger and almost resembles a gun. Recurve is a technical game, where we don’t use any trigger or lens, whereas compound is a more mechanical game. How do you keep yourself fit? Because the bow is around four kilos in weight and pretty hard and heavy to work at, you need to be fit enough and have leg and shoulder strength to endure the eight to nine

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 19

hour practice sessions, where we need to stand the whole day. During the off-season (from November-March, when the international games are not around), we work out at the gym, do yoga and other fitness exercises. Otherwise, it’s the daily dose of fitness sessions we have every day. Is there some area in your training that you think needs improvement? I think I need to improve my physical fitness. When I was 18 or 20, I used to practice for more than four-five hours nonstop, but now, even after two-three hours, I get tired. I’m still working on it. I expect to be perfectly fit in the next three months. And what about the mind? Yeah, there’s a lot of mind training too. Archery is in fact a kind of meditation in itself, because you keep training your mind for almost eight hours a day. But apart from that, we also practice ‘imagine-shooting’ where we try our techniques with an imaginary bow at an imaginary target. We also do pranayam (breathing exercises) and have sessions with our psychologist. How was the CWG 2010 experience? It was good because this time we were hosting the games. We had played many tournaments outside India and this was the first time that we were going to play on home ground. In fact, we had started to prepare ourselves from 2008. It was tough too, not only because there were a whole lot of good archers, but also because there was a lot of pressure on us to win. There was immense local support which gave us a lot of confidence. Was there any interesting incident that happened to you during that time? I remember this player from Canada, who came over and shouted at me complaining about the accommodation and food, since we were home players. But a month later we went to Guangzhou for the Asian tournament, and realised that the facilities in Delhi were actually much better! Who was your personal CWG 2010 star and why? I think Gagan Narang was good. But there was another player called Deepika Kumari from Archery, who was probably the youngest player in the Games. She won 2 gold medals! How, according to you, is the archery scene in Assam or NE? It has much improved and, after the National Games, a lot of good equipment has been provided. But, even though many new stars had won in the National Games, I feel it’s not yet good enough. Archery is a difficult game. Good diet, appropriate training and adequate equipment are a must to make junior players reach senior level tournaments. The Assam government or some private companies need to think about making the scene much better. What is your goal for 2011? In July, there’s the World Championship in Italy, which will also have the qualifying round for the London Olympics this year. (As told to Agamonee Barbaruah) 20

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CK I QU

TS O O SH

If you were not an archer, what would you have become? Actually, my family is into business, and from childhood, I always wanted to become a businessman. Even now, though I am in archery, I plan to do business some day. What other sports do you like? Table tennis and badminton. I also love playing games on the computer and PlayStation. Which celebrity – films or sports – would you like to change places with? Sachin Tendulkar! He is my idol. He is a very gentle and humble person. What’s your usual day like? 6-6.30 – jogging 6.30-7.30 – short distance shooting practice (to check out our techniques) 8.30-11.30 – long distance shooting and scoring 2.30-5.30 – physical fitness and gym What comes to your mind when you aim at the shoot? I think about my techniques because that will decide my shot. Then I try to tame my mind and say to myself that I am confident.

the eclectic man

If you are a smart and socially savvy young professional with a zest for life, then send your photo and details to: editorial@eclectic. co.in to be the eclectic man of the month.

The world knows you as: Manabendra Nath You dropped on earth on: February 26, 1983 You earn your bread as: Lecturer City you live in: Guwahati 3 words that reflect your outlook towards life: Honest, Simple and Quiet Guilty life indulgences: Gambling You idolise: My father Mantra that keeps you rolling in life: Life is beautiful, accept it as it comes March 2011 │eclectic times │ 21

human connect



 Are joint families happier than nuclear family set-ups? ET talks to a cross-section of people to find out the truth behind the family doors

ill a decade or so ago, the age-old joint family system was rather the rule than the exception. However, with the passage of time, joint families have started breaking up into smaller units. What are the implications of this? Has the joint family system taken a swirl down the plug hole?

Going Nuclear Take Danisha’s story. After her marriage to Chiranjib Chakraborty three years ago, she had to leave her job when her daughter was born. She explains, “My inlaws had passed away much before our marriage and, since my husband is the only son, I have to stay in a nuclear family.” Another factor which may predispose smaller family units is industrialisation, which forces burgeoning middle-class families to make the shift to single-family homes. Then again, not all live in nuclear families by choice. Arju Sarma, a homemaker of Hatigaon, points out, “With the present generation being more comfortable with jobs in the corporate sector, they have to leave their extended families and move to metro cities.” Veena and Nitai Malhotra, a selfemployed business couple, feel that today’s generation is fiercely independent and is less tolerant towards each other. As a result, as Veena says, “The young lot is well aware of the fact that living in a joint family will not allow them much freedom.” Sweta Dhanuka, a media house professional, agrees. “I live in an extended joint family and I feel that the Generation Danisha and Chiranjib Chakraborty X is more ‘the nowith baby Angel 22

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Arunima Sharma, Television Actor “Though there is more growth in a nuclear family, there is more wholesome protection for the children in a joint family. I have always been staying in a single family. Nuclear families are best for newly married couples as they get a lot of private moments together.” strings-attached’ kind, as they believe that consistent elderly guidance could interfere with and stifle their personal desires.”

All in one Family For those people whose workplaces and ancestral homes are in the same place, have an advantage. Dipak Keot, a Sales Tax official posted in Guwahati, is quick to observe this fact. “The Marwari community is still keeping the joint family system alive as they are primarily into business and can afford to stay put in one place. The Assamese people are more into the service sector and have to move to the cities. This is

Dipankar Kashyap, Fashion Designer “Joint families are always better than a nuclear family because they help in the growth of the children. You simply cannot leave your children in the hands of servants. A joint family gives a kind of bonding and sharing.”

Moloya Goswami, Actor “There are advantages and disadvantages both in a joint family as well as in a nuclear set-up. I personally feel that in a joint family, children learn to respect each other and it is our job to show Generation X the right path.”

why joint families are disintegrating into nuclear families.” But everyone doesn’t choose to live separately due to reasons of location. What we cannot deny is that living in an extended family helps immensely, for those women who have to juggle the 24-hour responsibility of motherhood along with the job pressures. After all, most women do pursue a career even after marriage, and, in such a situation, grandparents can be the best guiding force for children. According to Arju Sarma, “The presence of the elderly people brings positive energy into the house and children love interacting with their grandparents.” Even KK Sharma and his wife, an elderly couple, look after their grandchild Naman, since both their son and daughter-in-law work in private companies and have to spend long hours in the office. Dipak

Keot agrees. “I feel that my parents are the best people to teach my children the ethics of life, which they would not have learnt, if left in the care of domestic help.” His wife Priti reinforces this: “Even if I go out for the day, I do not have to worry, as I know my children are safe in the hands of their grandparents.”

Nuclear Vs Joint Family As it appears, nuclear families have more disadvantages. However, one of the biggest advantages would be that it enables the couple to make independent decisions. Other advantages include strengthening of relationships. According to Chiranjib Chakraborty, who believes that relationships between the family members remain friendly in nuclear family set-ups, “There is more bonhomie among the relatives if you are living in a nuclear family, as distance makes the heart grow fonder.” His wife Danisha quips, “If festivals are real fun in a joint family, then eating out is the fun affair in a nuclear

Bitopan and Arju Sarma with 3-yr-old Dhriti

Patricia Mukhim, Journalist and Activist “Though there are many compulsions in a joint family, it has a very supportive side too, especially during times of distress. However, I myself prefer a nuclear family as you get a lot of independence and can cope better with things at the individual level.”

KK Sharma (sitting extreme left) with his family members

family!” But it is perhaps the freedom of a nuclear family that gives it the biggest thumbs-up. Arju Sarma says, “The nuclear set-up is good for people working in the corporate sector, as they have irregular working hours and a lot of partying during the weekends. This may not always go down well in a joint family.” Lily Das of Bharalumukh sums up: “In a nuclear family, you do not feel the need to have to keep everybody in good humour.” Then again, Veena Malhotra observes, “When it comes to sorting out differences, a lot depends on the head of the family and how he or she manages the whole affair. If the head of the family is wise, strong and impartial, he or she can help in burying differences within the family.” So, the debate goes on… While it is true that a family is the macrocosmic representation of the whole society, it must be strong enough to support and nourish its members so that they are guided by flexibility and communication in a cohesive unit. It doesn’t matter whether that unit consists of four or 14 members, it’s the underlying support system and positive ambience that is most important. After all, that is what family is all about. Words: Parinita Datta

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 23

briefcase

BAJAJ

Spreading light far and wide ET chronicles the growth and various endeavours of Bajaj Electricals Limited in the Northeast

Shekhar Bajaj Chairman & Managing Director Bajaj Electricals

ometimes I wonder how certain ad jingles are so deep-rooted in our minds! Take for example the unforgettable ads which came on national television — Buland Bharat Ki buland tasveer, Hamara Bajaj or Jab main chota bacha tha, badi shararat karta tha — which had universal appeal! Hamara Bajaj did indeed reflect the pride that Indians took in the Bajaj name and, with time, this pride has grown bigger and bigger... With a group turnover of Rs. 35,000 crore and market capitalisation of Rs. 68,000 crores, today there are 27 companies under the Bajaj umbrella! Interesting enough, there is a remarkable brand equity and loyalty for its electrical sector in the Northeast. With a whopping turnover of Rs. 2,252 crores (2009–2010), Bajaj Electricals has six strategic business units: Engineering and Projects, Appliances, Fans, Lighting, Luminaries and Morphy Richards. Well established in a wide range of products including 24

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lamps, tube lights and (Compact Fluorescent Lamps) CFLs, luminaries, small household appliances like mixers, microwaves, OTGs, water heaters, inverters, pressure cookers, irons, ceiling and table fans as well as turnkey engineering services, the company is also into transmission line towers manufacturing and rural Electrification. The Guwahati branch of Bajaj Electricals has achieved a turnover of Rs. 62.49 crore during 2009–2010, which is 30 per cent higher than that of the previous year. Being the market leaders in all their products — be it water heater, iron, room heater and mixer in appliances, lighting or fans — the Northeast is indeed the strongest market for this segment of the Bajaj Group. Anant Bajaj, Executive Director, Bajaj Electricals Limited says, “For us, Guwahati is a very important market and it is a pleasure to see how our dealers have constantly striven to strengthen our footprint here. With

their commitment, we hope to bring in the best of our products and projects to the state.” The leading light to steer this company from strength to strength is Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman & Managing Director, who joined Bajaj Electricals in 1980. In 1987, he became the Managing Director and took over as CMD in 1994. During his recent visit to Guwahati, ET caught up with the gentleman for a short Q&A.

Excerpts: What changes have you seen in Guwahati after 10 years? The progress that is taking place here is tremendous. We’re growing by about 28 per cent in the last 10 years i.e., per year the average growth has been 27–28 per cent, which is very satisfying. In spite of the slowdown and other political problems, the market continues to grow. People want good products and they have been very positive and supportive of Bajaj.

Do you have any specific plans for the Northeast? We want to offer the best of our products to the Northeastern market and one of the reasons why we have been successful here is that other companies find this market relatively small and therefore, don’t put much of an effort here, compared to markets in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other metros. But we thought that the Northeast had a good opportunity and scope, maybe that’s why we’re the market leaders here. Our sale here is more than Mumbai which is a much bigger market in terms of size! This year, if we’re able to do Rs. 80 crore of business in the Northeast, next year we’ll be looking at Rs. 100 crore.

Guwahati city. Though we’ve already taken up a few projects, we’re still looking for places where we can plant trees and clean up dirty areas. The anti-tobacco initiative called “Kick-off the Tobacco Dragon” is also active in the Northeast. It was initiated on May 31, 2010, in the ‘non-factory’ areas first, that is, in the marketing and sales teams along with head office managers, where there were 150 tobacco users. As of today, 50 users have given up tobacco. We want to first reduce the use of tobacco internally, before extending it to the dealers and suppliers. All those who have

What has been your most successful moment in the Northeast? We have bagged an order for two million pieces of CFL from Assam State Electricity Board (ASEB) through our joint venture partner under the Bajaj brand. And what has been the toughest step to overcome, if any? Travelling in the interior markets of the Northeast is very difficult in terms of infrastructure of the roads and long distances. But by taking this tougher route, which most competitors have avoided, we hope to cross the turnover of Rs. 80 crores. What are your strengths, unique to north-east India? Our strength lies in our consistent work, effort and support to dealers to drive our products in the interiors of north-east India. Any CSR plans for the Northeast? Amongst several initiatives in this direction, promoting the sale of CFLs and other energy-efficient fans and appliances and supporting green building technology are the major ones. In 2009 and 2010, through the NGO Paryavaran Mitra, the company had taken up plantation of saplings in some schools and colleges in

Anant Bajaj, Executive Director

succeeded in quitting tobacco will be recognised in our in-house magazine, HILITES and will be awarded a special appreciation letter and gift from me. What’s your vision for the Northeast market in the next five years? With better education and support being made available by the Central Government, many industries are coming up and customers are aspiring for a good life in the Northeast. Therefore, the Northeast market will become one of the fastest growing markets in the country. Who are your prime competitors when you talk pan-India? The interesting thing is, being a brand leader is not across board.

When we talk about appliances in general, we are market leaders and Philips is number two. However, in lighting, Philips is number one and we are number two. When we come to fans, Crompton is number one whilst we are number three. So, it’s not that Bajaj always means number one. It is about how you nurture and develop a product. The brand equity of every product has its own positioning. In lighting, we’re number two all-India after Philips, but in the Northeast, we’re number one. Does Bajaj have a presence in the world market? Not much. Our total export through our group company, Bajaj International, should cross about 50 crores of all products together and because the world market is so huge, 50 crore is not really significant. Is the tie-up with Morphy Richards in any way helping Bajaj? From Morphy Richards, we’re learning what world class products are because they sell huge quantities worldwide. So, in terms of R&D and product quality, we are making world class products available to the Indian customers. After all, why do we have to source it from outside when we can make them in India? Therefore, we decided to manufacture 50 per cent of the total production of Morphy Richards products in India itself. Today, with over 40,000 employees, Bajaj is certainly one of the oldest business conglomerates in India. But all through its rise, there’s one consistent factor about the Bajaj Group, i.e., they have always striven for the ‘common good’. CSR activities across the country attest the group’s social intentions very well. From promoting CFLs and other energyefficient products to planting saplings in schools and colleges to its latest anti-tobacco drive, Bajaj Electricals Limited has spread the word of its mission through the many facets of society. Words: Himakshi Goswami March 2011 │eclectic times │ 25

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           

hey are as diverse as women come. They are from different cultural and economic backgrounds but, in varying degrees, they have struggled to prove their mettle before reaching a recognisable status onto a mainstream platform. And, what’s more, they are all bound by one single thread in that they are all northeast Indian women who have made their dreams come true. We delved into the spirit of these five amazing women to discover what it is that that drives them into their respective glories.

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 27

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Photo: Ghani Zaman

“I started getting threatening calls in 2008, when we were tracking down recruiting agencies, taking young girls from the Northeast.”

Socially networking Hasina Kharbhih, social activist A social worker with a difference, who dares to war the world to rescue the wronged and spread her word around, is a woman from Shillong (Meghalaya) who has turned her childhood dream into reality. Hasina Kharbhih has come a long way from being an enthusiastic youngster to a social activist, who has made substantial contribution in preventing human trafficking and in empowering the rural nooks of Meghalaya economically. What got you here? Like any young person, I had a lot of enthusiasm about doing new things, and about doing them differently. At that time, I had joined the LTS (Leadership Training Services), which was a very active social service unit, especially for convent schools. There was a huge awareness among us around this time that social work was not just government’s responsibility. So when I passed high school, I got together with a few of the past LTS pupils to form an alumni association. Eventually, my friend Cynthia Chu and I stuck with it and decided to form an organisation, and finally with the help of friends, Impulse came together in 1999 as a formalised organisation. Ten years of combatting child trafficking and the development of the Meghalaya Model brought Impulse on the map of social change. What do you believe in? I grew up thinking that nothing is impossible and that’s a belief which motivates me. I believe strongly in the vision that I have. For a social entrepreneur like me, you’re married to that vision and you rest only when you have achieved that. When you see things changing and taking shape, it inspires you. Ten

years ago, nobody wanted to talk about trafficking in the Northeast. Now, people are addressing the issue rapidly. At the end of the day, the results that I see, is what leads me. What kind of challenges did you have to face so far? I knew that working with crime will put me in a situation where I will face threats. Whether it is drug trafficking or child trafficking, it’s an issue of destroying businesses. We faced threats from the very first cases of 1999. Our office was ransacked, our team was threatened. The most horrendous experience I had, lasted for two years. I started getting threatening calls in 2008, when we were tracking down recruiting agencies, taking young girls from the Northeast. When my car was vandalised, I filed an FIR in September 2009. Finally, one day, I was assaulted outside the court and the whole thing was turned around accusing me of assaulting the person. That was the most strenuous incident. Then the Asian Human Rights Commission took up my case and made an international appeal. These incidents have affected me psychologically, but I never deterred in what I believe. It has been tough, especially because I’m a woman. It’s more difficult because people try to drag your personal life into all of this. But the whole journey has made me stronger. As an NGO, did you have to face financial constraints? How did you manage them? Initially, we did a lot of fund raising. Our economic generation activity has helped generate funds to keep the team full-time, over the years. We go through ups and downs because as partnership and

reach grows, the financial demands also grow. I was fortunate because the Meghalaya Model (a tested and replicated model) fetched me the Ashoka Fellowship, which supported me for three years. Right after that, I got the Aspen Fellowship and then I had my Commonwealth Scholarship, which helped me put quality time into the work. I also earned a lot before as a freelance writer. Today, Impulse has got two divisions — Impulse Social Enterprises and Impulse NGO Network. The former promotes rural handicraft of the Northeast and the profit that is generated, goes back into development. What do you like doing in your leisure? I enjoy blogging very much. I used to write book reviews and fashion columns as a freelancer. Recently, I completed a few chapters of two books to be published by Sage Publications, India. What are your future plans? My goal is to make Impulse Social Enterprises a company, with a vision of making it committed to the promotion of a just and equitable society and to the goal of enabling individuals to live a life of dignity and respect. Its mission will be to develop goods, services, and markets to promote sustainable livelihoods for those in need, investing in other development organisations that advance human rights for all, particularly women and children. Through quality products and services that engage customers in social responsibility, Impulse Social Enterprises will seek profitability to ensure its long-term sustainability and the realisation of its vision.

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 29

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Photo: Nilay Talukdar

“Just about 10 per cent of viewership will depend on an anchor’s looks and that too won’t last long. What matters most is hard news and being professional.”

Rise and shine

Tracy Shilshi Bochung, TV anchor She is a voice who makes sure your morning is always good, and who serves a platter of news on CNN IBN Breakfast with India with her charming smile and pretty features. Tracy Shilshi Bochung, who belongs to the Lamkang Naga tribe from Chandel, Manipur, is a Senior Anchor in the news channel and is currently settled in Delhi with her family. What got you here? As a medium, television has always interested me. During my second year of graduation in Mass Communications from Delhi University, we were offered internships at various media houses. I got mine at a news channel and that’s what got me hooked to the whole process of producing news. After graduating, I first worked in a news agency. That, I believe, really helped me build a good foundation in producing TV shows, and reporting and writing for news. Gradually, I started anchoring a few shows too, which is when I gained confidence to approach a national TV network. After working with TV Today for about a year, I was offered a job with CNN-IBN. And it’s been a great five years since then. What do you believe in? Study hard and don’t shirk work. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zones and explore new avenues. Be ready to make compromises, but not at the extent of losing your dignity. Besides, life is to be enjoyed as it unfolds, and whatever happens, happens for the best. I believe God has a plan for all of us, and we will achieve all we deserve, if we are true to the people we love and the work we do. Never take yourselves too seriously and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Take pleasure in making others smile. What kind of challenges did you have to face so far? Being live on national television, not knowing of what news may suddenly break – that’s a daily challenge! And my unpolished Hindi has put me in a tight spot a few times during interviews. But apart from that, I have been lucky to have had a pretty interesting ride so far. What do you think about the Northeast and its involvement in the national media? A 30-minute news bulletin actually contains just 17 minutes of news (the rest are commercials), which has to be packed with not just national but also international news, sports and entertainment. So, unless it’s a very big one, stories from the Northeast, mostly fail to make the cut. But, having said that, I think all our English news channels are paying much more attention to the north-east region. There are many of us from the Northeast (around 10-15 of us in CNN-IBN itself), working in this field now. But yes, there’s a lot more to achieve. Firstly, parents have to realise that a government job is not the ultimate goal. Secondly, working in metros means staying away from home and that’s a big commitment one has to make, including some lifestyle changes (house rent is skyhigh everywhere). Also, the language barrier! A thick regional accent, whether you’re from the Northeast, Bengal, Punjab or Kerala doesn’t go well with a national TV audience. But like I said earlier, things are changing. What is the glamour factor in being a TV anchor? I would be lying if I say good

looks don’t make a difference. But at the most, just about 10 per cent of viewership will depend on an anchor’s looks and that too won’t last long. What matters most is hard news and being professional. Unless you’re a Rajdeep Sardesai or some other big names in the industry, anchoring on TV isn’t that glamorous. And I’m sure that if you ask him, even he will say no! The whole make-up and hair routine may seem fun initially, but, doing it every day is a chore. But yes, there’s a certain high in carrying the responsibility of representing your channel — for that one hour of live news, you’re the face and the voice of your channel. How does the TV show host feel like, becoming a mother? Gosh! I wish I had the exact words to describe how I feel and how life has changed. Being a mother is all you’ve heard so far and much more. It’s tiring and rejuvenating all at once. Unconditional love takes a whole new meaning. The guilt trips about being a working mom haven’t hit me yet. But am sure if my baby knew how much I enjoyed work, he would forgive me for leaving him for a few hours every day! In other words, it is part of the continuous celebration of a thing called life. What are your future plans? I want to remain in the news business, and as always, be the first person to give viewers their daily dose of news. I love being a breakfast show anchor and will definitely continue being one. I would also love doing a chat show that is more people-centric, informal and fun. Some projects relating to the Northeast are also in the pipeline, but it’s too soon to talk about them now.

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Thespian Tales Seema Biswas, Actor

From Khubsurat Bahu to Khamoshi, the Bandit Queen of Bollywood has been an actor to reckon with, in the past decade. She has mostly done supporting actor roles if you count, but each such role has been able to etch an eternal image in the minds and hearts of viewers. Seema Biswas, from Nalbari, Assam, is a ‘simple human being’ but a profound actor who believes in making sense of her life and being the best in what she does – acting. What got you here? My mother, Mira Biswas, who used to work in the theatre, had agreed to an offer for me from the local theatre. And before I knew, I was frequently doing plays. I had also joined the Nalbari Art School and used to actively participate in Silpi Divas and other functions organised by the school. Soon, theatre became my first love. After my graduation from college, I enrolled for a three-year course in NSD. Following that, I officially started my career in Repertory Company of NSD. Nine years in the Repertory Company made me capable to make it in films. My first break in films was Bandit Queen, which is often presumed to have come to me, because no one else would take it! But the fact is that when Shekhar Kapur came to me asking if I’d do it, I was blissfully doing theatre and was in fact, a leading actor with the NSD Repertory Company. Shekhar had seen my play Khubsurat Bahu, which was very popular in the early 90s and decided to cast me for his movie. When he heard of it, Naseeruddin Shah (my senior in NSD) asked me to read the script before I decided anything. I was 34

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deeply moved by Phoolan Devi’s story and felt that only I could do justice to it. I had reservations about doing the frontal naked scene initially, but after my NSD teachers encouraged me to take up the challenge, and Shekhar settled for a body double, I did Bandit Queen in 1994. What do you believe in? There is no short cut to success. Only hard work pays and you have to be very focussed, sincere and honest in whatever you do. My family and friends have helped me gain a lot of confidence in life. Whatever I have achieved today is also due to the encouragement of my college friends and teachers in NSD and Nalbari Art College. My friends have always maintained that I shouldn’t go wrong whatsoever the situation, and have helped me become the fearless person I am. Every wrong encounter in fact helps me emerge stronger in life. What kind of challenges did you have to face so far? When I started my career at NSD in 1984-85, I used to get a meagre 750 bucks as salary. With that amount, I had to manage everything on my own, without any financial assistance from my parents. Being absent for a day meant deduction from my salary. There were times when I used to survive on breads and eggs for months together! But nothing ever affected me. What do you think about onscreen skin show? There’s a lot of difference between vulgarity and sensuality.

Madhuri Dixit, Sridevi and Kajol have also exposed on screen, but they are known more for their histrionics rather than their itsybitsy nothings. It is totally the individual’s personal choice and we cannot term it as exploitation. Strictly speaking, in terms of exploitation, forget women; today even men are not spared! How has Bollywood treated you? Bollywood has been good. My co-stars love, respect and appreciate me a lot. I have worked with many different directors and all are brilliant in their own way. What are your future plans? I am doing Midnight’s Children with Deepa Mehta and Baromas with Dheeraj who is from the (Film and Television Institute of India) FTII, Pune. Besides, I just finished Society with Rahul Dholakia and am doing Blackout with Saurav. As for plays, I am doing Salesman Ramlal with Satish Kaushik by the FerozAbbas Khan Group in Mumbai, and Antigone in Delhi, with the Vivaldi Group. Though I was actively involved with the Assamese theatre scene in the late 90s (I did Bandit Queen Seema Biswas with Hengul Theatre in the year 1999-2000), but due to the distance and non-stop show format, I am no longer doing theatres in Assam. I still get offers from theatre groups in Assam, and I tell them that ‘if you all just have a three-month show, I am game for it’. (Recently Seema was in talks with the Ashirbad Theatre group in Assam, but the project couldn’t materialise because she met with an accident and broke three ribs.)

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Photo: Anup Baruah

“There were times when I used to survive on breads and eggs for months together!”

Truly glocal Jesmina Zeliang, Entrepreneur

She is considered as one of the leading exporters of hand-crafts and bamboo products from northeast India. It’s quite surprising and inspiring at the same time that with an academic background of Mass Communication, she could churn out an entire handcraft enterprise without any formal training in design or business management. Her design firm Heirloom Naga, set up in Dimapur (Nagaland) with her joint effort with another partner, exports exclusively indigenous and eco-friendly handcrafts all across the world. ET caught up with her just after her visit from the Maison et Objet Show in Paris. What got you here? I think I actually strayed into it. Blame it on the fact that I was a very young, bored homemaker then, in the early nineties, and was always averse to working under somebody. Of course, my passion for anything handmade stoked it. Being surrounded by so much of colour and culture, I guess on a subconscious level, design was already ingrained in me. Also, back then, nobody else had forayed into this sector seriously, save for the customary emporia-styled stuff. What do you believe in? Discovering your own strengths is very important for any person, especially in whatever field of business you’re in. Perseverance is another key to making your dreams come true. Accept even the bad times gracefully and learn from it. 36

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Also, don’t be complacent. Always be alert, and ready to adapt and accept change whenever necessary. What kind of challenges did you have to face so far? The biggest challenge to my mind was to devise a way out to provide sustainable employment to all my workers. Initially, many people would not take me too seriously, but I persevered. Besides, it was a huge challenge to work in a very chaotic, unstructured and laidback working atmosphere. What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage it? I fear that the craft sector may soon jostle for its existence, what with the onset of globalisation and that my aesthetic sensibilities may saturate. So, I travel a lot to keep myself abreast of the latest trends. Did you have an exhibition at the Maison et Objet? How was it? I was fortunate to get a stall there, as it is hailed as the best home decor fair globally. It was an amazing experience to see so many awesome products from all over the world. There were big names like Ungaro, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Missoni and Sonia Rykiel, to name a few. The managers found my merchandise (Heirloom Naga textiles) very unique while having a western soul, and they have also invited me next year. Your heritage hotel Razhu Pru has helped in the image

makeover for Nagaland. What is its USP? Razhu Pru is poised between a heritage and boutique hotel, with contemporary comfort, which brings together tradition, art and hospitality, all under one roof. It is also a visitors’ visual delight to see many old Naga artefacts and each of the nine rooms have a different look. The guests also love the homemade food the chef stirs up. What are your future plans? I want to showcase all things beautiful and culturally northeastern, at all possible platforms. Till date, people from our region are happy to talk only about the potential and possibilities that the Northeast can throw up. We need to get over this potential stage and strive in our own individual capacities to make it a destination on the global map. We need to remove this tag of terror and terrorism that is synonymous with the region. We have much to showcase by way of our own distinct cultures. I also want to ensure that the younger generation in the Northeast learns to appreciate its richness instead of mimicking the western culture. We have such a rich repertoire of arts and crafts, and great hospitality skills that we need to encash on all of these. As a small start, I have started a store called Konyak in Assam. It is located on the riverside in Uzanbazar, Guwahati.

Photo: Zubeni

“I was a very young bored homemaker in the early nineties and my passion for anything handmade stoked my interest in designing.” March 2011 │eclectic times │ 37

“We have a saying in Adi that translates something like ‘wear your own heart.’I say this for my personal and professional life.” 38

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Word worthy Mamang Dai, Writer

A ‘messenger carrying the whispers of the world’ in the wings of her writings, Padmashree awardee, Mamang Dai is a passionate writer from Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh, for whom chronicling her traditional history looked more enticing than a job in the IAS. She is one of those by-the-riverside writers, who love to weave stories of her people in the midst of the verdant soil; stories, that subtly bear their poignancy in the garb of a Wordsworthian cloak. But for all that, she is ‘always ready for a good laugh’ as she rightly claims. What got you here? It’s a combination of factors. Our community is still very closely knit, and when I started research on our traditions, it was not difficult and tedious. Everyone extended help with information, advice, anecdotes. I could document this in English and this also helped to reach a wider readership. It was the way it started. My novels came later. My protagonist is usually a woman, but I try to let the characters live their lives... What do you believe in? I believe in ‘life’. I trust people. I count my blessings. What kind of challenges did you have to face so far? The challenge was to keep my thoughts open. We have a saying in Adi that translates something like ‘wear your own heart.’ I say this for my personal and professional life. There was a time when I was writing speeches and press releases,

but I realised that I had no ‘feeling’ for this. I think words should have meaning, should be lived before we use them easily. This is the struggle, and (I might add) the anticipation, that there is a greater reality out there somewhere, which is bigger than the sum of our fears and doubts. How much has your immediate environment and the prevailing socio-political climate in the Northeast influenced you as a writer? The immediate environment – tremendously! From where I live, I can see trees and mountains. Big clouds are ever present, and all this, sort of rolls over the town and affects me in different ways at different times. About the sociopolitical climate of the Northeast, there are events and incidents that touch us all. Another sphere is that of change. When I write, I do not consciously start out as a reformist or activist. But, obviously, a sense of what is happening around us seeps into the writing. Has your decision of favouring writing over your IAS job, contributed to a sense of fulfilment? Oh yes! Writing is like a path of discovery. There are so many landscapes both interior and exterior. And given the right mood, the strength of feeling and the utter conviction that this is all that matters, it is very fulfilling. You have recently been conferred the Padmashree. How does it feel,

both as a writer and as someone from the Northeast? I feel grateful because it gives me a chance to acknowledge so many people who waved me on, on this road. Personally, my work will go on quietly. It is something I enjoy doing in solitude, but this marks a milestone in my journey that makes me stop and reflect. For the Northeast and in my home state, I hope the recognition will serve to help create a greater space for literary movement and focus new emphasis on research, translation work, documentation and new writings of young poets and authors. You had attended the Cultures of Peace Festival, held recently in Delhi. Do you feel that these literary exchanges actually help in bridging the gap between what is perceived as mainstream India and the Northeast? I think literary exchanges have their function. I don’t know about bridging the gap, but a discourse is an attempt that should provoke a number of opinions and lift the blindfold. Someone said during the festival – there are different kinds of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders.’ What are your future plans? I would like to travel some more. I have a great desire to be near the sea!

Compiled by: Agamonee Barbaruah, Parinita Dutta, Nazneen Hussain & Nathaniel Majaw Story concept: Tanushree Hazarika March 2011 │eclectic times │ 39

picture perfect

   

I doubt....I trust......I love......

Photos: Kausiki Sarma

Shringaar

I play with light. I play with darkness. I defy. I challenge. I follow the world. The world follows me. For, I am a woman.

The temptress

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briefcase

TEST-DRIVE IT TODAY! The Volkswagen, considered by many to be the ultimate one-of-a-kind dream car, finally zooms along the streets of the Northeast

f you’re one of those who want to make a statement with their car, take a Volkswagen out for a ride! With its stunning looks, German technology and energetic colours, it’s difficult not to notice this stylish vehicle as it passes by. Selling its broad model range from the Fox to the Phaeton in more than 150 countries worldwide, the leading automaker from Germany recently 44

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inaugurated its first authorised dealership in Assam. It will retail all Volkswagen passenger-car models currently available in the country. The company currently offers the Jetta and Passat, assembled in Aurangabad for the Indian consumers. Also available on sale now, are the iconic New Beetle, the powerful (Sports Utility Vehicle) SUV Touareg, the Phaeton, the Polo and the Vento.

As with every other Volkswagen dealership, Volkswagen Guwahati has been provided with intense training in management of sales, service, spare parts and business systems, to assure customers of the best-inclass pre- and post-sales ownership experience. According to Manish Agarwal, Dealer Principal, Volkswagen Guwahati, “We are pleased to partner with Volkswagen and look forward

Excerpts What are the expectations from the Northeast market? At this point of time, this market has a size of around 17,000 cars to be sold in one year across all segments. We anticipate to sell around 1,000 cars in the Northeast for the year 2011, only in those segments in which we are present.

Mr Neeraj Garg, Member of Board, Director,Volkswagen passenger cars, Volkswagen Group India Pvt Ltd

to building strong relationships with our premium customers here. We are confident of providing Volkswagen’s global standards of experience to our customers, as all other Volkswagen international dealership.” Gracing the inauguration of the first dealership showroom in Guwahati was Neeraj Garg, Member of Board, Director, Volkswagen passenger cars who shared more details with ET:

Any specific plans for the Northeast? With the first showroom in town, we’ve just touched down. We would, first of all, like the awareness of our brand to be there amongst the customers and within the region. We would like them to feel the product, have the service experiences (which are of global standards), and which, in our opinion, will be a fantastic service experience for them. And once we’re being able to have a stable foundation, we’ll look for expansion and try reaching geographically to the customers in the other parts of the Northeast. Great! So, who are your prime competitors? As you know, we have seven products which we are selling. For every product section, there are different competitions. So, I would say it is a basket of competitors out there and as you know very well, for

the Polo segment, Suzuki is one of the players, General Motors’ Chevy is one of the players, Ford is one of the players. So, in every segment, the competition is there, as lots of players are there in the market. But, I am sure, it’s the ‘survival of the fittest’. (smiles) Are all the models available here in the Northeast? Yes, all the passenger models are available. How has been the experience in India so far? It has been quite a wonderful journey. We started our journey in June 2007 when we launched our first car, Passat; in September 2008, we added Jetta and in the year 2009–10, we have been in the volume segments car. From 3,000 cars that we sold in the calendar year 2009, we have reached a level of 32,000 cars in 2010, which is 10–11 times more than that of the previous year. Moreover, we’re hoping that we’ll be able to continue this growth in the time to come; and that’s the reason why we’re expanding our dealerships very fast. We started the year 2010 with 40 dealerships and by the end of the same year we had reached a level of 70 dealerships across the country. What’s the USP of Volkswagen? First, it is German engineering, which is best in class. So technologywise, it’s a very high quality car! Then, on the services front, the dealership, the ambience, the buying experience for the customers, owning experience of the cars for them and getting the after-sales services from the dealership, I think it’s the complete experience that sets us apart. Anything you would like to say to the readers? We would like the readers to come and experience the cars before they go and buy any other car and they will be pleasantly surprised that we offer fantastic cars for them to buy. (smiles) Words: Himakshi Goswami March 2011 │eclectic times │ 45

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SHRINK YOUR HEAD Avilasha Barooah is a neuropsychologist, a learning disability specialist and an NLP coach and consultant. She offers consultancy in Guwahati and is currently working in GNRC Hospitals Limited. You can contact Avilasha at syh@eclectic.co.in

My 19-year-old domestic help has been acting really spooky lately. I overheard her talking loudly in presence of no one in the room. The other day I even heard her talking in the bathroom. I don’t really know if she is talking to herself or to some imaginary figure as she doesn’t really talk much with me. I’m really freaked out. Please help. Smita Rai, Guwahati AVILASHA: Fritz Simon said that humans are the only animals that can’t stop talking to themselves and, between the ‘normal’ and ‘crazy’ people, it’s the crazy ones that talk to themselves aloud. It’s just a form of intrapersonal communication which is not harmful except that one is thinking out loud and trying to process things. So, don’t worry about it. It might be just loud pieces of what seems to be daydream conversation. Snap her back to reality when you find her doing it as she’s just ‘somewhere else’ until she gets brought back. This could be the result of stress or because she’s coping with being in a situation she’s not comfortable with; whatever, her brain takes over and ‘puts her’ some place else. She’s a normal functioning kind of person, so continue to enjoy her services! ET QUACK: Next time she comes, sit in the drawing room having tea and conversation with an imaginary friend. That will sure frighten the wits out of her!

Illustration: Abhishek Kumar

I was an avid video game player, especially the racing car ones. So, now when I drive, I still feel like I’m in a race and start driving rashly. I even feel a compulsion to hit other cars and people. It has got so extreme that I often drive at night when the highways are clear in order to get a real buzz. Please help me overcome this before I end up killing myself. Partha Saikia, Delhi AVILASHA: I’m sure you’ve tried hard to fight your OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) but you need to plan it along with a structured, systematic programme that’ll allow you to confront your fears without ritualising. So, think of yourself as a would-be swimmer who jumps in a pool, finds the water freezing, and jumps

out. He tries again every week, but always climbs out quickly, feeling too cold. But, now imagine that he decides he’s going to stay in the water until he can stand the cold. With some difficulty, he manages to stay in the pool for an hour at a time. As the minutes pass, he begins to adjust to the temperature. He repeats the exercise several times. It gets easier eventually and he dismisses his initial ‘cold’ thoughts because he knows he’ll stop noticing them shortly. He no longer avoids the water, and when he’s in it, he learns he can handle the cold. That’s how you could overcome your OCD too. ET QUACK: Sit at the wheel with a pair of 3D glasses on, get a fan blowing to simulate speed and pretend you’re driving fast – but without the engine on!

I have been having dreams about me and my sister being in a physical relationship. She’s 18 and quite attractive. I’m 20 and I have a girlfriend and we are doing fine on all fronts but I can’t stop imagining myself being with my sister in that way. I do care for her and am quite possessive about her. I know this leaning is incestuous. Now I feel guilty even if we hug in the ‘normal’ way. Please help. Name withheld AVILASHA: Incest occurs more often than people think. But I’m truly praying for you at this moment as it’s not even healthy to fantasise about it! If you pursue this, it’ll lead to problems for a LIFETIME. And think of the consequences of your family finding out, or the mental scar on your sister’s mind. So, I suggest you find something or someone else to fulfill your fantasy. Also remember, it’s against the law to engage in sexual intercourse with your sister. The fact that you feel like this, in spite of having another woman, is also a sign of dysfunctional behaviour. So, seek professional help. A relationship like this isn’t fair to you or your sister. She might be a lovely girl, but she’s not a sexual plaything for you; she’s your flesh and blood. Therefore, reconsider this. One day, you’ll meet a lovely girl and wonder what all the fuss was about. ET QUACK: Look up the grotesque genetic mutations of double-headed children born from incestuous relationships on the internet. You’ll soon snap out of it, man!

For heartaches, heartburns, multiple personality disorders, insomnia, anorexia, seeing dead people, sleepwalking and all other weird problems that you might have, Avilasha Barooah will try to suggest the best solutions possible. For alternate solutions you can always try ET Quack’s pointers. DISCLAIMER: Follow the suggestions of the ET Quack entirely at your own peril. │ eclectic times │ March 2011

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palate

Corn Relish Ingredients y 1 small tin tinned whole corn y 1 cup chopped green capsicum y 1 cup chopped tomatoes y ¼ cup chopped onions y 4 tablespoons virgin olive oil y 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar y Salt and pepper to taste

Method Drain out the water from the corn and add to all the vegetables in a serving bowl. Separately mix together the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and pour over the corn mixture and serve.

Whetherit’sbreakfast,lunchordinner,chutneysand relishes canaddazing to anymeal.In general, chutneyshaveachunkyspreadableconsistency, whereasrelishesarehardlycooked,uselesssugar ifany,andaremorecrunchytothebite.Here's GoldenReejsinghaniwithsomeunusualideasto tantalise and impress your guests!

Almond Chutney Ingredients y 250 gram blanched almonds y ½ teaspoon cumin seeds y 100 gram raisins y 50 gramsdates y ¼ teaspoon saffron dissolved in 1 tablespoon hot milk y Juice of 1 lime y Salt to taste

Method Grind all the above ingredients to a paste in the blender. If the chutney is too thick, add enough water to a smooth consistency. Serve with hot puris. 50

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Onion Relish Ingredients y 500 grams baby onions, peeled y 2 cups vinegar y ½ cup sugar y 2 tablespoons ginger strips y 100 grams seedless raisins y Pinch of salt y 4 dry red chillies

Method Heat sugar with vinegar and, when the sugar melts, put in the remaining ingredients. Cook over a slow fire till the ingredients are translucent. Cool and bottle.

Spinach Chutney Ingredients y 1 cup chopped spinach y ½ cup coriander leaves y ¼ cup mint leaves y ½ teaspoon ginger and garlic paste y 1 medium onion y 100 grams chopped tomatoes y 1 teaspoon chaat masala y 1 teaspoon black salt y 50 grams fresh besan sev y 1 green chilli

Method Mix together all the above ingredients and grind to a paste in the blender. Serve with snacks of your choice.

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ne pride riting in ‘displacement’ is so much more than just stitching plots and characters; it is about reconciling factors of geographic borders, blurred lines of nationhood, the concept of ghare baire, adoption of a new place and vice versa. Siddhartha Deb is just that writer who is juggling all. Born to East Bengali migrant parents in the rolling green hills of Shillong and now living and teaching in one of the world’s focal cities, New York, writing has become a juggling act for him. There are several stances that he had to manoeuvre through. First there is the place where he comes from, a sort of an acknowledged fact that it’s an alien part of the country, at least in the common perception of the mainstream. Then again, this same place, becomes the subject of his novels while writing outside of this periphery.

Q: So do you feel a double alienation while writing on north-east India from New York? What are the different gears of writing that you need to shift while writing a New York story and a north-east India story? Siddhartha: I very much felt that double alienation for many years, although these days it feels less of a burden and more like something that might be worth cultivating. In terms of writing stories, it has meant that although a story set in New York might be based on a very familiar kind of reality, it’s still possible — and interesting — to try and approach New York as an unfamiliar, peripheral territory. Ultimately, however, I don’t think the writing gears are very different, even if the terrain, one is writing about, is. My first two novels, The Point of Return and Surface, were both set in the Northeast. The Point of Return was written in Harlem, while I was a graduate student at Columbia, written late into the night on an old computer given to me by one of my professors

and accompanied by the pleasing sound of a ‘ghetto blaster’ on the street below. The second novel was written partly in Kolkata and partly in New York. Of course, the Northeast that I was writing about, was invisible in New York, but that didn’t matter to me much. I wrote about the place because I had to, and I also had a somewhat naive sense that people would be interested in stories from the periphery. I’m less sure about that these days – publishing seems more interested in familiar stories than unfamiliar ones – but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed my approach to writing. He began his career as a journalist in Delhi and Kolkata and his work has appeared in Boston Globe, the Guardian, The Nation, the New Statesman, and the Times Literary Supplement. He went to Columbia on a literary fellowship when he was 28 years and is presently teaching at the Eugene Lang The New School, New York,

as an Associate Professor. According to him, he tries to demonstrate ‘the artist’s passion, the critic’s intellect, and the reporter’s endurance’ while teaching his students. As he began his reporting career and later moved into the craft of writing fiction, he had to again manoeuvre through the different nuances and strokes of writing both the crafts. Q: What are the approaches of writing and research that you employ while writing fiction and how different is it from those employed while writing non-fiction? Siddhartha: Fiction offers me many more ways to go wrong than non-fiction, but the sense of liberation it allows, is correspondingly greater. Non-fiction depends to a greater degree on organisation, on checking off boxes, but fiction is more anarchic. In nonfiction, I depend on the frontal assault, on a relentless battering down of the subject; in fiction, the approach has to be stealthy, from the side, the weapon of choice, a knife rather than a lathi.

     52

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As for research and travel, I worked very hard on both these things for the non-fiction book. It’s important not to kill a book with too much reference material, and yet is crucial to have as much detail and nuance as possible. In practical terms, I spent perhaps 12–13 months doing my reporting and gathering this material in Delhi, Kolkata, Bhopal, Manipur, Bangalore, Hyderabad and the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. However, the novels are far less dependent on research and much more on imagination. Both in the case of fiction and nonfiction, however, I read extensively. I read even when I am not writing; it’s one of the few dependable pleasures in my life. Q. How important is your own accessibility and intimacy to the subject, in terms of research work that goes on while writing?

Siddhartha: I don’t think one is born with accessibility or intimacy. One has to work on it, and given the time and effort, it’s possible to get closer to areas and characters that are quite unfamiliar. Having said that, there is

“Normal is saying I love Big Brother. As of now, with all my resentment about being unclassifiable (and unsuccessful?), I’m grateful that I don’t yet love Big Brother.”

of course, a question of temperament and preference, and I am drawn to the unclassifiable, quirky and odd. Or to get endlessly self-referential about it: Graham Greene quoting Robert Browning: “Our ‘interests’ in the dangerous edge of things…” Admittedly for him, his work stands out. There is no easy way to break barriers. And it hasn’t been easy to classify him as a writer and his work. It will always be like rolling dice while looking for a ‘proper’ audience while writing on such ‘distant and foreign’ topics like north-east India. For him, it has always been trying to manoeuvre through different stories and the craft of writing fiction and non-fiction. But is he trying to be ‘normal’? Q. In an interview you had said that the West perceives you as an ‘unclassifiable writer’. So, after how long, in terms of book releases or MFA degrees or agents in the West, will that tag give way to a more ‘normal’ one? Siddhartha: Normal is death. Normal is a successful lobotomy. Normal is ZoloftTM . Normal is saying, I love Big Brother. As of now, with all my resentment about being unclassifiable (and unsuccessful?), I’m grateful that I don’t yet love Big Brother. Q. What, according to you, is the expectation of a Western reader

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 53

from writings of a region like northeast India? It’d be definitely different from the usual staple of urbanised and ‘Bollywood’ised books but would it be able to break the present stereotype in the imagination of a Western reader? Siddhartha: I have to confess I don’t have a good answer to this. I guess western readers come in all shapes and sizes, many profoundly embedded in stereotypes, but one writes in the hope of reaching the reader who is interested in having stereotypes demolished. Q. How important is it placing yourself as a writer and your writing in a literary tradition? Siddhartha: I guess I like to create my own predecessors as I go along, and for the most part, I do so without caring much about nationality or language. But that’s largely a question for the critics to answer. I’m drawn to writers who give off a sense of displacement, physical as well as literary. Over the past few years, northeastern writing in English has been receiving enough hype in different festivals all over the country. And added to that at a constant rate, there has been enough writing being published by prominent houses in the country. Siddhartha has been writing fiction since his days in Columbia, and for him, he

“I guess I like to create my own predecessors as I go along, and for the most part, I do so without caring much about nationality or language.”

has been writing in transition. His novels –The Point of Return was The New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 2003 and An Outline of the Republic was longlisted for the Impac Dublin International Award, shortlisted for the Crossword Prize in India and a ‘Book of the Year’ in Daily Telegraph, London. His non-fiction The Lost Generation of Manipur has been anthologised in AIDS Sutra: Untold Stories from India, while his Do You Know Who I Am? Stories of Wealth and Poverty from India is forthcoming. Q. What should be the form of impetus for the formation of a canon like ‘Northeastern Indian writing in English’ that would be able to stand alone in the world literary scene? Or is it even possible to dream of one? Siddhartha: The goal should be to take over Indian writing in English first, and then all writing, all world literature. But jokes apart, NE writing in English is making its way into mainstream Indian writing, and from there to the West is not that difficult. The first journey from the periphery to the centre is harder than the second one, at least in my experience. The complicated thing will be to retain a sense of distinctiveness, of grievance, of edge in the writing while making one’s way into the mainstream. Q. Finally, what is your latest project? Siddhartha: My new book, The Beautiful and the Damned: A Portrait of the New India, will be published this June in India by Viking. It’s a narrative non-fiction book, and an attempt to get a nuanced look at what has been called India Shining, to get some perspective on this story of freemarket success that India is supposed to have become. It’s a journey into the world of the haves, the have-nots, and the in-betweens. It is both a critique of inequality and an exploration of the mystery of how people live their lives during a time of rapid change.

I began writing this book, in part, because of a sense that the complexity of contemporary India wasn’t being explored very much by the media or in writing. I had the sense that the poor were being left out of the story entirely; and that even the rich and middle-class being paid so much attention to, were caricatures, people who had no meaning beyond their conspicuous consumption. It was in order to challenge all this that I decided to approach social and economic questions through the lens of characters. These are exciting times for writers and their writings, especially true for those from the periphery, and Siddhartha Deb has proved just that. Even though there is a lot of ground to cover, a lot of ground to break, it is making a mark, niche or otherwise. On an endnote, on the question of why Indian mainstream media, primarily the visual media, adopts an attitude that NE doesn’t ‘sell’ and hence an excuse that the region can be blanketed inside some sort of invisibility on the media map of the country, he answers, “Racism? Colonialism? Ignorance?” Interviewed by Ribhu Borphukon

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the eclectic lady

If you are a smart and socially savvy young professional with a zest for life, then send your photo and details to: editorial@eclectic. co.in to be the eclectic lady of the month.

The world knows you as: Jyotismita Bhagabati You dropped on earth on: December 25 You earn your bread as: Content Analyst City you live in: Bangalore 3 words that reflect your outlook towards life: Splendid, Lively and Simple Guilty life indulgences: Dissatisfaction You idolise: My grandfather, Sarat Chandra Bhagabati Mantra that keeps you rolling in life: Trust yourself, everything happens for your own good March 2011 │eclectic times │ 55

social sense

   The statistics could be overwhelming. The idea could be even more overwhelming. Ritwika Phukan speaks to the real figures

“I

t was all sweet during the period of courtship. But, now after our wedding, things have changed. My husband treats me like an outsider and shouts obscenities at me quite often. After a few sessions of counselling, things are getting a little better, but I don’t know when it will all erupt again,” says Shivani, her voice quivering as she speaks while twisting the ends of her sari nervously. Mita’s story is along the same vein. “Ours was an arranged marriage, so there was obviously less time to get to know each other. I never knew he was an alcoholic and had no inkling that he would beat me at the slightest pretext. I’m at a loss but am slowly gaining courage to walk away, for the sake of our daughter.” Domestic abuse has been encrusted deep within the fabric of society like any age-old dirt stain. After hundreds of movements and thousands of such cases all over 56

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the world, be it in a progressive, industrialised country or in a fundamentalist country, there are only cosmetic changes. But, there’s no doubt that the facevalue has changed: today women are climbing fast on the corporate ladder, diving deep into oceans looking for adventure, flying high in fighter jets patrolling the borders of a country or simply fighting for their own rights. It is always the success of women that’s splashed on pages of newspapers and magazines that take the eyes off the real women victims, who are still languishing in fear inside the four walls of their homes. There are still those women who are writhing in pain from domestic violence, still hoping in earnest for a quiet meal without the abusive cries of her in-laws or those fervently praying that her newborn foetus will be a male, lest she’ll be made to feel unworthy. Both Shivani and Mita are average housewives, and hundreds can be placed in their shoes with stories that seamlessly

fit theirs. “It was a dramatic change after the honeymoon. I guess the literal meaning of ‘the honeymoon is over’ was quite apt for me,” says Shivani, her dark humour, only a facade to the ordeal she had to undergo. “Before our marriage he’d frequently call me while he was at work, but he stopped once we got married. When I asked why, he’d abuse and then thrash me without reason. There was no one in the house I could turn to. Even my inlaws turned a blind eye.” In this regard, counselling psychologist Tinamoni Chetia says, “Even a small reason may have a much bigger outcome. Abuse cannot be termed ‘abuse’ based on a sole incident. It is the result of prolonged abuse over two–three months or more and can take any of the following five physical or emotional manifestations: physical aggression, sexual abuse, emotionally-related, verbally and economic deprivation. Abused

women often have very high stress levels and can exhibit PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) due to fear. They feel helpless and alone and may even have suicidal tendencies. Mental problems like Borderline Personality Disorders, Bipolar Disorder or schizophrenia may result due to the prolonged abuse. There may even be physical symptoms like irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, arthritis, ulcers etc.” Violence perpetrated in whatever form is prolonged torture. In a marriage, it will soon cause it to turn sour and the women then stand on an uncertain edge as to what to do. As Mita says, “I had to take care of my daughter and, since I didn’t have a job, I had to depend on my husband to take care of our daughter. So, I had to stay and face whatever came my way. But when I realised that I couldn’t take any

more, I began to look for help.” Indeed, women on a low-tiered economic class may not have enough awareness on what the options could be, while an educated woman of an affluent family might be apprehensive of actually coming forward to confess. Practicing advocate Momita Bora, says, “From the legal angle, our law says that we should try for reconciliation before divorce, because a Hindu marriage is considered to be a sacrament, unlike a contract marriage. So, at the initial stage, there should be an attempt for reconciliation between the parties. But greater tolerance, faith and understanding between the man and the woman is essential for mitigation. But, if a couple has been trying repeatedly and it has been a failure, then I would also say that it’s not right to live together forcefully.”

It’s a vow broken but it’s not the dead end. Though Shivani is one of the thousands who continued to suffer silently, Mita ultimately chose to make a change. As she says in a defiant voice, “I could not take any more battering and bruises and so I separated from husband. I got the custody of our daughter and I got myself a job. I guess hope has taken a good turn for me. Now, I can see my daughter grow into a strong woman.” It is said a marriage is for better or for worse, but if it harbours prolonged pain and suffering, there are ways and means to make for a peaceful solution. After all, as Momita Bora says, “You only live once, so whatever you decide to do, you have to make sure that ultimately your life is happy and peaceful.” Ritwika Phukan is a freelance journalist based in Guwahati.

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 57

live in style

     

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ith panoramic views of Shillong, you’d be forgiven for thinking this house on the top of Lachaumiere Hill was actually floating in air. Perfectly in synch with nature’s elements, this magnificent house is striking but understated, grand but practical, old and yet so modern. Built over 30 years ago, this ‘cottage’ on the hill (La Chaumiere literally means ‘the thatched cottage’ in French) was the brainchild of Late Manoranjan Agarwala. A man far ahead of his time, he envisaged a comfortable family home which made the most out of nature’s elements — such as space, air and light. So, with the help of Guwahati-based renowned architect Bipul Das, they set about turning his dream into reality. Rather unusually, it was decided to construct the house into the hill so that it would blend in with the surrounding landscape, without being an eyesore. As Das says, “Since the land had two small hillocks separated by a dip, I decided to create two ‘ground’ floors at different levels as opposed to levelling them out into one floor . In this way, when you climb the stairs from the ground floor to the first floor, you are again on the ground.” Since the land was elongated, the house slowly began to take shape, becoming somewhat longer 58

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than it was broad, like a huge cruise liner. As Das says, “The house took on a horizontal ‘flat’ character because we didn’t want it to become too overbearing due to its size.” Soon, stepped terrace gardens were cut into the hill and, to keep the house design consistent, a man-made terrace garden was constructed on the second floor, directly above the first natural terrace. “This ensured that the terraces were directly above or below each other and gave some uniformity and balance to the flatness.” 60

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When a house feels like it’s on top of the world, it would have been a sin to shut out the copious amounts of natural light. So, Das put in lots of glass, which not only kept it light and airy inside, but also enabled great views of the scenic beauty from any part of the house. As he says, “Windows dominated all four sides of the house so that we could maximise natural light. In fact, the whole concept was of continuous space, ample light and ventilation.” Indeed, the feeling of

continuous space was apparent as soon as one ascends the first flight of stairs at the entrance and enters the long, open plan drawing room. The idea of ample light and ventilation was exemplified by the circular sun rooms and kitchens, where the windows were built along the circumference, ensuring optimal light. Of course, a house blessed with such ample amounts of natures’ elements had to be complemented with natural-looking interiors too. The obvious choice was pine wood

Horizontal flat structure

Cubby hole Circular kitchen

and lots and lots of it — walls, ceilings and floors! Not only was it an aesthetically appealing option, but its durability and ability to retain heat kept the ambience literally warm and cosy. To make life more comfortable, other interesting features soon followed: cubby holes for easy transport of food from the kitchen to dining area, the proverbial open hearth and mantelpiece, the chic ‘chullah’ chimney, porcelain bath-tubs, even an elaborate intercom system connecting all the rooms.

Every nook and corner was meticulously thought over and ultimately, it took over two years for the house to materialise into a tangible testimony of Agarwala’s vision. Being the late 70s, its innovative design became muchtalked-about; not only was it used for film shoots, but people came from miles just to take a look at it. However, Junu Agarwala, wife of Late Agarwala, says that while the house may be impressive, it was always meant to be primarily just a practical and comfortable home.

“My husband put his heart and soul into this house, and in many ways, I am often reminded of him by its simplicity and down-to-earthiness,” she says nostalgically. Indeed, it is often said that a house is a reflection of its creator and like the title song of the film Titanic, perhaps this simple and yet charismatic ‘ship-shaped’ house will always resonate with a ‘heart that will go on and on.…’ Words: Loya Agarwala Photos: Omnath Khushwaha

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globetrotting

 LOCATION: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK, ARUSHA, TANZANIA “Serengeti under a canvas tent is the ultimate approach to the wild! There was just a zip between me and the wildlife!” Experience the exhilaration of the Great Migration with Sumitra Senapaty

Photo: &Beyond Africa. 62 │ eclectic times │ March 2011

Photo: &Beyond Africa.

yes heavy with sleep, I peer through the netting of my ‘Serengeti under Canvas’ tent and try to guess the time, based on the inky darkness of the sky. I hear hyenas laugh and birds chatter, so it must be the early hours of the morning; I return to my very comfortable bed under canvas, for a few more winks. Soon, the sun seeps over the horizon, turning the early hours of morning from violet to pink to the bright blue of African daylight. After breakfast, I am on the game drive as I swat tsetse flies while waiting for elephants to cross the road. I am lucky, for many tourists to Africa complain that they didn’t see too many animals. Maybe they should have come to Serengeti. This national park encompasses over 6,700 square miles of plains, with thousands of acacia trees, sausage trees and vegetation, so who wouldn’t love it here? In the distance, what looked like a dark green patch of vegetation turns out to be thousands of beasts on the move. They shimmer at the rim of the sky — almost mirage like — flowing towards the Mara River in perfect formation. Leading the endless procession is the wildebeest, a quaint-looking beast said to be assembled with leftover parts of other Savannah animals: the horns and long legs of the bigger antelopes, the coarse hair of a warthog, the tail of a giraffe and the almost non-existent brain of a fly! Amongst the wildebeests are the zebras. They stand in family clusters when not on the move, heads resting on the black-and-white striped necks of their partners. There are lions panting beside fresh kills, limping calves injured in the crush, doomed to be an evening meal, hovering packs of hyena, crocodiles lurking in waterholes, and in the sky, the ubiquitous circling vultures. Here, life and death are constantly on the run, a symbol of the eternal cycle of life. Every year, millions of wildebeests, joined by tens of thousands of other grazing animals such as zebras and gazelles, cross the vast plains of the Serengeti (between Tanzania and Kenya) in search of greener pastures. From the banks of the Mara River, it is possible to witness the Great Migration of wildebeest across the Serengeti. March 2011 │eclectic times │ 63

SAFARI TIPS

Rosso, the & Beyond Tanzanian guide, is an admirable spotter, being able to see creatures where I could see nothing but trees, rocks and grass. He speaks in Swahili and is in constant communication by radio. Suddenly, he speeds up the Toyota Land Cruiser and there’s a leopard or perhaps a lion, standing magnificently atop a group of rocks. Having finally spotted the rhino, I had been honoured with the bragging rights of having seen the ‘Big Five’: rhinoceros, leopard, buffalo, elephant and lion. As I return from the game drive in the evening, a private butler greets me with a Sundowner and escorts me back to my tent. Serengeti under a canvas tent is the ultimate approach to the wild! The tents are well equipped and although there is a proper double bed, an indoor toilet and outdoor shower, I cannot forget the fact that I am really under the canvas; it’s just a zip between me and the wildlife! My favourite part of the trip is night-time, listening to the animals that come into the camp at night. Later, I meet up with the girls from Brazil and the Chinese couple from Canada around a campfire under the stars before dinner. While we do the cocktails together, dining tables are laid out for a sumptuous bush meal which is served with great South African wines, giving us a memorable taste of Africa! Next morning we are relaxing in our tent when all seven tonnes of a huge elephant stroll into view, maybe 30 yards away. He looks around slowly, lifts his trunk, and wanders away in search of better company! During the next four days in Serengeti, we see as many as 15 elephants clustered together, giraffes by the score, lions, 64

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• Be prepared to get up early and stay out late. • Many animals hide from the heat of the day, under trees and in the long grass. So, if you want to see them in action, you need to be around in the early morning and late evening. • Don't linger over breakfast and don't rush back to the camp for dinner. • Wear the right clothes. Buy good quality clothing. Plain beige or khaki is the best colour. Blue, apparently, attracts tsetse flies, and you don't want to attract those! • Avoid bright colours; they can warn the animals of your presence. • Don’t dress skimpily! Exposing too much skin will get you sunburned during the day, and eaten alive by mosquitoes at night. • Be prepared for warm days and chilly nights, and take sunscreen and sunglasses.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS/VISA/HEALTH REGULATIONS Kenya Airways run flights to Nairobi from Mumbai. From there, you will need to connect to the flight to Arusha, Tanzania.You can then hop on to one of the charter flights to the heart of the Serengeti, and, if you are lucky, you will get an aerial view of the migration! Tanzania, the largest country in East Africa, is focussed on wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with approximately 28 per cent of the land, protected by the government. It boasts of 15 national parks and 32 game reserves and is the home of the tallest mountain in Africa, the legendary Mt. Kilimanjaro. All visitors to Tanzania need entry visas. You also need proof of sufficient funds for your intended length of stay, and a return ticket. A Yellow-Fever vaccination certificate is mandatory to enter Tanzania. Consult your doctor about the best malaria prevention tablets. Take plenty of mosquito-repellents.

BEST TO EXPERIENCE THE MIGRATION IN TANZANIA The migration follows roughly the same circular route at roughly the same time, every year. The route covers thousands of miles but the timing can vary from year to year, depending upon nature and climatic changes. So, be flexible about your arrangements. It is recommended that you stay in a movable tented camping, such as Serengeti under Canvas. Best time to see the migration across the Mara River, between Serengeti and Masai Mara ,are the months of August and September.

CAMPING IN THE SERENGETI The tented camps of companies like &Beyond and Serengeti Under Canvas, move around the Serengeti National Park the year round, bringing guests within reach of the Great Migration, as well as offering exceptional sightings of the resident game in the remote corners of the park. Using only private campsites, these exclusive seminomadic camps offer the epitome of classic African style and romance in tented travel. There are two camps with just eight spacious tents, each with double bed, ensuite bathroom, separate flush toilets and al fresco ‘bucket showers’! Crisp linens, sparkling crystal and polished brass add an elegant finesse to the simplicity of camping. Guests can enjoy hearty bush meals served next to a blazing campfire under a starlit African sky. You can experience exhilarating game drives led by trained guides; and get closer to the soul of Africa by drifting off to sleep amidst the night sounds of the wilderness. The camps aim to bring guests within comfortable driving distance of the herds during daily safaris in the early or mid-morning, and then again in the afternoon or early evening, or even for the full day. Camping under the canvas offers the best of both worlds — the flexibility to be near the best resident game or the excitement of the Migration, with the added luxury and romance of elegant private tents available on a nightly basis.

leopards, baboons, zebras, dik-diks, impalas, warthogs, parrots, ostriches, vultures, storks, mongooses, gazelles, crocodiles, cheetahs, buffaloes, a seemingly endless line of wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, crested cranes, hartebeests, monkeys, monitor lizards, hippos and so many more creatures great and small. This is Africa, the home of the Masai, who have grazed their animals on the vast plains of the Serengeti for centuries, the place where the land moves on forever, giving tourists like me, a taste of memorable adventure. Sumitra Senapaty is an international travel writer, based in Delhi and Bangalore

Inside Serengeti under Canvas

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Holi Special

Lathmar Holi is just what its name suggests. Dharmaraj Joshi tells us about the one-of-a-kind Holi of Barsana, Mathura

round the time of the year when the winters in North India receded and the warmth of the days increased, a young boy would play with the milk maidens of his village, drenching their clothes with coloured water, breaking their milk pots, so they could do little to save themselves. This young boy was Lord Krishna, who lived in the North Western province of Braj, in India, about 4,500 years ago. He was known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and made no bones about his power. Krishna was the quintessential young man, with an eye for the babes and a yearning for butter. Right from childhood, he was known to steal butter and curds from the community kitchens, and the older women of the village were indulgent enough to let him. The woman he was in love with, Radha, was a married milkmaid but that never deterred him from flirting with her or even seducing her. His pranks grew, and soon it was the turn of the village girls to be seduced. Legend has it that Holi was 66

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devised by Lord Krishna as an official day when he and his friends visited Radha’s village and playfully teased her and her friends. Taking offence at this, the women of Barsana chased them away. Since then this tradition has continued and men from Krishna’s village, Nandgaon, visit Barsana to play Holi in the town which has the distinction of having the only temple dedicated to Radha in India. Celebrations in Barsana start a week earlier than the rest of India. The mothers-in-laws feed their daughters-in-law rich food so that they show off their prowess on the Holi battle zone. Men of Nandgaon raid Barsana with hopes of raising their flag over Shri Radhikaji’s temple. They receive a thunderous welcome as the village women greet them with long wooden sticks. The men are soundly beaten as they attempt to rush through the town and reach the relative safety of Shri Radhikaji’s temple. Men are well padded with foam, since they are not allowed to retaliate. In this mock battle, the men try their best not to be captured.

In this mock battle, the men try their best not to be captured. Unlucky captives can be forcefully led away, thrashed and dressed in female attire before being made to dance! Unlucky captives can be forcefully led away, thrashed and dressed in female attire before being made to dance! In the sprawling compound of the Radha Rani temple in Barsana, thousands gather to witness this unique Holi, called Lathmar Holi. The next day, men of Barsana reciprocate by invading Nandgaon to win over the temple of Shriji. Clouds of pink and white powder mark the frenzy of activity taking place in its narrow streets. The women of Nandgaon beat the invaders from Barsana with sticks to keep them off. The air reverberates with holy songs on the occasion of Holi. These songs known as hori are based on the conversations between Krishna and Radha. In the interest of tourism and safety, the State Tourist Board has today set up excellent vantage points for the public. A large open ground, on the outskirts of the town, is specially set aside for the most magnificent display of the festivities. It is indeed a delight to watch all the people participate in this unrestrained merrymaking. It is pleasantly entertaining and provides everyone with a lot of joy.

The festival, thus, is not about spirituality, but about life. Or maybe, it was the wise ways of Krishna (who believed in living life well and was no ascetic himself) that he encouraged this kind of public display of celebration, to ensure a peaceful community life, a harmonious relationship between sexes and an outlet for pent-up frustrations. Whatever may have been the case, it worked. Hence Holi at Barsana presents an unforgettable lifetime experience, downed with the spirit of devotion and affection for the Lord. The author is a freelance writer, based in Guwahati

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 67

culture



TRADITION Wander through the famous Joonbeel Mela that blends history with the modern. ET offers a glimpse of the excitement

A dancer in gay spirit

The Howrahboti Cultural Troupe performing an experimental Bodo folk dance

Karbis displaying their skills in a martial dance form, depicting battle preparations

f I offered you one kg of pure, unadulterated spices in exchange for a kg of aromatic Joha rice instead of asking for cash, wouldn’t you think I was crazy? Barter? In the 21st century? Yes, it does take place, not in any exotic country but right here in Assam! In the first weekend after Magh Bihu, people from the hills like the Garos and Karbis come down to exchange their goods with the people from the plains of Assam through the barter system in the historic Joonbeel Mela. Situated near Jagiroad, around 35 km from Guwahati, it is an annual three-day affair and is held on the fields by the side of the crescent-shaped Joonbeel Lake, in Morigaon district. The mela is a 400-year-old tradition which was started by the Tiwa king in 1729, to promote goodwill among the people. In those days, goods were 68

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Chiefs in ceremonial procession

Deep Singh Deo Raja, the present Tiwa king in traditional attire

A quick sip of the local brew

Traditional toys

Selling sweets for survival

bartered amongst a small group of people amidst a feeling of amity. Today, however, Joonbeel Mela has morphed into a meeting ground encompassing the Tiwas, Karbis, Bodos and Garos, enabling a rich cultural exchange and understanding. The intermingling of various communities amidst brisk business of every conceivable item, lends a harmonious touch to the occasion, making it truly a symbol of cultural unity amidst diversity. The items on display surprise and delight the visitor. If you love dry fish with your lunch, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find a huge variety on display, along with the fresh catch of rohu, magur, chanda, ari and sitol on display. Besides fruits and vegetables, it is a blend of the traditional and the modern that gives Joonbeel Mela its unique flavour. Nothing short of a cultural confluence, the surging crowds that descend, reinforce the belief that tradition indeed, does have a timeless appeal.

Prized possession

Words: Nazneen Hussain Photos: Sadiq Hussain

Various forms of potatoes exchanged by Garos

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 2009 Vodafone Crossword Awardee Siddhartha Sarma comes up with his brand new book on north-east Indian travel, East of the Sun. ET chats up What made you write this book? I was travelling to research my novel, The Grasshopper’s Run, and before I left, my friends asked me to write to them about the land and my travels. So, when I came back, I sent them a series of five emails. These emails got circulated among their friends and ‘friends of friends’ and finally reached the editor of Westland Limited, Delhi, and my editor there asked me to expand these emails into a book. Your first book was on war, second and third on travel. What’s the fourth going to be? My next novel will be based on the 11th Century Europe, the Middle East and South Asia. It will be based during the Crusades, so it’s going to be a historical fiction novel. In this book, do you think the Northeast gets a stand of its own, instead of being considered “the other”? What I have said is that the Northeast is a little different from the rest of the country, but it’s not really Mars or something. It’s the same people, similar in many ways,

 Author: Siddhartha Sarma Publisher: Westland Ltd. Siddhartha Sarma’s East of the Sun isn’t like a usual travel book. Written in a super-casual and colloquial style, with tidbits about history, heritage and how-tos, the book is an instant buddy. North-east India has been in the fag-end of Indian discussions for a long time, with minor references to its ‘hill-type’ culture and major, to its insurgency. This is where Siddhartha’s book fills in the gap. It serves as a pickle for all those travel-hungry people, for whom knowing a place by its references is not enough. East of the Sun is about normal everyday people of the Northeast, doing the usual things around them, while obliviously living in a paradise that is more explored by travelling ‘lame-type’ research scientists than themselves. Siddhartha’s advantage remains that he grew up in a place and an era that started looking at things from the perspective of self-awareness. So, when he writes about 70

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but it’s also different. There are historical reasons why we are different. We’ve borrowed a lot of culture and religion from mainland India for instance, but historically we’ve never been a part of mainland India. But we’re not alien either. People need to understand the similarities and appreciate the differences. Who is your target readership? It’s mainly for everyone. This is a very brief introduction to the region, to anyone who has never been to the region and who is interested in coming here, either an Indian or a foreigner. This is also targeted at anyone in the Northeast, who hasn’t been to his neighbouring states. It would give glimpses to various parts of the state that do not fall into the usual tourist zone. A lot of your extensive research seems to come from history, geography and even grandmother stories... (Laughs) I haven’t done as much research as I’d like to. I didn’t look specifically into any book or reference material for research. Everything I have written in the book was from my head and from what I could remember from my childhood stories. What kind of books do you like?

the Ahom rule, the musical heritage of Meghalaya, the exclusive war-history and animist rituals of Nagaland, the potholes of Manipur roads or the arms extravaganza in Myanmar, he doesn’t give it a discerning notice. The idiosyncrasies of the people and the states chalk out their one-of-a-kind identity, while remaining a part of the larger Indian spectrum. The main attraction of the book is its quirky and fun language. However, the Cid’s desperation to prove himself seems slightly detracting at times. In fact, what starts off initially as a very different style of writing gradually becomes a little tedious. Much like a movie, it gains momentum around the middle, probably from around Manipur or Nagaland (according to your choice) and takes you through to the end. If I had to vouch for it, I’d say the book deserves a read for its totally different approach to the ‘Look East’ policy and also because every ‘inch per square yard’ it gives you a reason to smile! Agamonee Barbaruah

I like reading all kinds of books, including fantasy, historical fiction, war novels and spy thrillers. I can tell you what I don’t like, to make it simple. I don’t like chick-lit, self-help books or health books; I don’t like books dealing with metropolitan urban angst and sports either. What is the one word that you’d use to describe yourself? Boring! I would like to think that my stories are interesting, but I am just an empty cup.

 Author: Narayan Wagle Publisher: Random House We are in an age of deterrence, not of war — not of ‘brinkmanship’ but ‘crisis management’. Yet below, and to an extent guaranteed by this strategic statement, lies an underworld of politically motivated violence — sometimes organised, often encouraged by states which, in their official pronouncements, proclaim adherence to peaceful coexistence and the principle of non-intervention in the interval affairs of others. Numbered among its practitioners are the

contemporary folk heroes, Mao Tsetung, Ho Chi Minh and Che Guevara”: a few factual statistics from well known commentator, Anthony Burton on modern-day terrorism. But it is the writer who produces gut-wrenching fiction dealing with terrorism and insurgency that takes one beyond the pale of factual presentations. Statistics and analyses are all very fine from the purely academic point of view but the stark human tragedy of a life snuffed out, the senseless destruction of an iconic structure that has stood for centuries (read Bamiyan), the diseased understanding that suicidal deaths, while simultaneously taking others’ lives, will lead to a certain kind of glory are symptoms of a terribly wasted civilisation. Palpasa Cafe by Narayan Wagle is a bestselling novel, originally written in Nepali. From the very first page the story grips you, as Wagle – through the eyes of a painter – faces the throes of insurgency that has ripped apart his country’s fabric. Told in the first person singular, first by Narayan, a journalist and then quietly shifting the narration to Drishya, the painter, the story weaves into the character of Palpasa, a sensitive young woman who befriends Drishya. With a refined yet simple structure, the novel takes a straight clear path, uncluttered by Rushdielike convolutions of sentences and thoughts. It is essentially an anti-war novel, the pictures of rural Nepal invoking a serenity that stands in stark contrast to the kind of death and terror unleashed by the Maoists on the one side and the retaliatory action taken by the government security forces on the other. Narayan Wagle shows a remarkable understanding of a painter’s agony and dilemma in carrying out his chosen profession. Drishya stands out as a sensitive, honest and brave character and Palpasa herself as a surreal being caught in a whirlwind of life, which

she is not able to comprehend until far too late. From city to village, the book is saturated with descriptions that are evocative of a stark simplicity, a condition that stands out against the brutality of death from guns and bullets. He writes, “I followed him into the village. The field was dotted with heaps of cow dung. We took a detour, climbing along a trail that snaked up to the village centre. Ahead of us were several women, carrying dokos full of grass which they must have cut from the banks of the river below. I still remembered the rocks on the river bank. Those rocks had made me an artist. In their shapes I’d seen the forms of people, animals and birds. The birds that landed on them had intrigued me, I’d become so fascinated with birds that once I even tried to fly off the top of a haystack. That flight had kept me in bed for two days.” I had met Narayan Wagle during the Asia International Literary Festival held at Guwahati from December 3–5 last year. Thoughtful, humble and articulate, “Narayan was born in the hills of Tanabu in Central Nepal. After completing secondary school, he moved to Kathmandu in 1998 to attend college. There he began an illustrious career in journalism which saw him rise from a humble reporter to the editor of the largest daily in Nepal.” In 2005, Palpasa Cafe was awarded Nepal’s most prestigious literary award, the Madan Puraskar. There is very little doubt in my mind that Narayan will write more books as lyrical and sophisticated as Palpasa Cafe. Dhruba Hazarika is a member of the North East Writers’ Forum, Guwahati.

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book mark

 

It’s what you say, as much as the way that you say it, that counts – Napoleon Hill

ords. Indeed, they have an immense power to influence. Used effectively, they can leave a lasting impression. As eminent writers, journalists and poets converged at India Habitat Centre, Delhi, the marginalised Northeast found expression in different ways. From Temsula Ao’s touching experience of childhood

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times │ March 2011 Mona Zote

alienation to Subir Bhaumik’s recollection of humiliation at the hands of an officer, the outpourings clearly revealed the impact of conflict and violence on creativity. Every participant had a story to tell, an experience to share. As Indrani Rai Medhi elucidated, “I had grown up in Shillong which was part of undivided Assam without a sense of the ‘other’, without realising the ethnic differences. But, the sound of drumbeats announcing the creation

Laxmi Murthy

of the separate state of Meghalaya, made me acutely aware that henceforth, we would belong to different states. That was how I first felt a sense of alienation.” Indeed the Northeast, being a multicultural region, the issue of ethnic differences does raise its head now and then, a fact corroborated by Ao. “Yes, my experience of alienation goes back to childhood, when I was asked to wait in the outer room of my

Urvashi Butalia

Sanjoy Hazarika

Theatre artist Ojas enacting the play Le Mashale (A woman with torch) based on a poem by peace activist Irom Sharmila

friend’s home. She had wanted to share some dish that her mother had prepared and had asked me to accompany her home. But on reaching her place, I was asked to wait there, and did not venture inside. I got the feeling that since she was a Bengali and I, a Naga, I was not welcome at their home.” The sense of inferiority as a race, had also set in. “I still remember the reaction of a Bengali widow who would take her bath many times during the day. One day, she had just come out of her bath, and I happened to be near by. She shrieked, and went to have her bath once again, because I had crossed her path,” recalled Ao. Over time, deep-rooted alienation in the region has ultimately manifested in a demand for establishing identity of race through territorial boundaries. Violence was just a by-product. Caught in such conflicting situations, how then do writers cope? Pradip Phanjoubam, editor of the Manipur-based Imphal Press, explained the trauma that can easily engulf journalists caught in the middle of chauvinistic patriotism. “One can feel guilty for not participating in the movement while one’s friends would be in the thick of it. It can be traumatic to write about because one has to choose between supporting militancy and maintaining a clear perspective of the ground reality. In doing so, violence becomes internalised, because one goes on inflicting violence on oneself in a constant tussle between judging whether one did the right thing or

Temsula Ao

not. In fact, one often encounters layers of guilt that just seem to last.” It is dealing with this reality that challenges writers writing from the conflict zones.“Yes, it depends a lot on us, how we interpret reality. We need words for survival, for creation. Words are important to us. Hence, our projection of reality is important as it has the potential to affect others,” explained Mamang Dai who had recently been conferred the Padmashree. Exploring many facets of the stereotyping of violence in the Northeast, writers agreed that many publishers want the depiction of conflict and violence as a staple ingredient in fiction, while relegating any stories of hope and optimism to the background. Yet, it is the need for peace in the region that participants stressed on. As Bijoya Sawian so eloquently expressed, “We need to have respect for the other. Peace within is so important. We have to feel peace within us first before we can talk of, or work towards bringing peace elsewhere.” As poets read out their creations, the words had done their duty. They had touched the hearts of all who had turned up at the amphitheatre to listen and share. Indeed, as the sessions drew to a close, it was clear that through the discussions and theatrical performances, the pain, trauma and success stories of the Northeast had found an expression – one that would surely echo in the days to come. Words: Nazneen Hussain Photos: Zubaan Publications

Preeti Gill

WHAT THEY SAID Temsula Ao: How do we define peace? Who will give us peace? Rejection of any culture starts the problem. Sanjoy Hazarika: It is in the unity that the periphery must find its strength. Laxmi Murthy: We have a lot to learn from a culture that puts so much emphasis on silence, where dishonour, disrespect and dignity mean a lot. Arupa Patangia Kalita: Violence was alien to us. We celebrated death through religious songs in Golaghat. I want to go back to the idyllic time of my childhood where peace prevailed. Mona Zote: There is a scarcity of literature and writers in Mizoram. Our old religion simply sort of vanished. Subir Bhaumik: Somebody must forgive someone for the past, someobody must forgive someone for the present. Only then will there be a new dawn. March 2011 │eclectic times │ 73

ARIES

(March 2 – April 19)

Work: Confusion reigns, and it’s not just you! See if you can get a little clarity, but don’t expect any serious progress immediately. Love: You’re a natural-born flirt, and right now the stars are giving you even more of an extra edge in that department. Maybe it’s because you’re actually interested in what they have to say. Health/Style: Have some fun! Trade your weekday pumps for sneakers and start a pick-up soccer game. Or forget how your manicure will fare and take a pottery class with your friends. Who wants to be perfectly polished all the time?

Mayuri Sharrma is a Mumbaibased professional Tarot Card Reader, Columnist and Freelance Writer

TAURUS

March 2011 (May 21– June 21)

(April 20 – May 20)

Work: Your brainy energy may not be aimed in the right direction, but you are still sure to discover some new things that make you think. You may even find yourself changing course in a big way. Love: Too many people have too much to say about your love life. Their hearts are in the right place, but their noses are sticking where they don’t belong. You’re doing fine, so take their advice with a grain of salt. Health/ Style: The planning stages of a new look are crucial, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve made a change. Remember that a key principle of brainstorming is that no ideas are good or bad; it’s all food for thought.

GEMINI

Work: You can’t make yourself understood, which is incredibly frustrating for someone like you, so just kick back and entertain yourself or work on personal projects. Love: Your quick mind, high energy and undeniable allure make for a very tempting package, especially with the stars in your romantic corner. There’s no need to focus on one person (in fact, you’ll probably find it impossible). Health/Style: Even a people person needs a break from the masses from time to time, so go ahead and take your break now! You would be well advised to stay out of cramped boutiques and packed (June 22 – July 22) gym classes for a while. Work: It’s important for you to accept criticism, though it may be much harder than usual! It’s coming your way for sure, but you may need to steel yourself for it when it comes from co-workers and superiors! Love: (July 23- August 22) Constant misunderstandings can ruin any budding romance. When chatting with your current flame, Work: You usually don’t mind how make sure all lines of communication are crystal clear. complicated work can be, but Leave no room for blurred interpretations on the big for now, you’d rather that it was deal issues. Health/Style: You’re more focussed on simpler. Try to cut out a few extra possessions than people right now, but there’s nothing activities or tasks that you know wrong with that – you are sure to be back in the social you can pass on for a little while. whirl in the very near future. Shop, clean or rearrange Love: Do you flirt much? Why the for now. heck not? You’ve got a way with winning words, not to mention contagious laughter, smouldering looks and touches that are full (August 23 – September 22) of all sorts of implications (and Work: It’s a great time for you to get advice from your coelectricity!). Health/Style: Your workers, because they’re going to speak plainly and should health is important to you, of have some great insights to share with you. Let their words course, and also to your partner. sink in before you act on them though! Love: You may Now is a great time to embark on a meet someone very new or – somewhat more likely – see joint programme to improve your a different side of someone you thought you knew quite physical and mental well-being. It well. The odds that this turns out to be a seriously positive could be almost anything. thing are good! Health/Style: Colour and fit can certainly make or break an outfit, but these days, the importance of great material can’t be underestimated. So, pay attention: Does that top feel good against your skin? Will you have to dry-clean it? 74 │ eclectic times │ March 2011

CANCER

LEO

VIRGO

(October 23 – November 21)

SCORPIO

Work: What needs to be said? You know for sure how to get your message across, even if you’re not sure who needs to hear it. Broadcast far and wide and hope that you hit all the right ears! Love: It’s definitely the more, the merrier with you now: the more movement, the more people, the more conversations and the more ideas. Socialising is very favoured, as is learning a sweet thing or two. Health/Style: Treating your body poorly could have serious consequences. Before succumbing to bad habits, you should prioritise elimination. A little bit of willpower with a serious sense of purpose can go a long way.

Work: Your mind is focussed on the essentials — especially the basics of finance. It’s the perfect time to draw or redraw your budget for home or work. You can get help from the right people and make it shine. Love: There’s just no way to arrive at the truth about the past. Stop trying to arrive at certainties about a part of your relationship that’s changed. Ask for guidance about the present instead. Health/Style: Prepare to go from introspective to positively jovial in a few hours flat. So, for example, while you might prefer a quiet solo walk this morning, you’ll be all about a hectic group workout class in the evening!

AQUARIUS

SAGITTARIUS

(November 22 – December 21)

(December 22 – January 19)

(January 20 – February 18)

Work: Yes, you are an exceptionally powerful person — just don’t let that power go to your head. Acting as if you’re superior with co-workers will just lead to trouble, so keep humble. Love: Only you know what you need in your love life. What works for you doesn’t work for everyone else, and vice versa. Be true to your morals. Health/Style: Have you been telling anyone who’ll listen that you’re going to revolutionise your whole wardrobe or that weight-training is really the only fitness plan that makes sense? Time to make good and live up to your words!

PISCES

Work: No matter who’s around today, you need to take the lead and ensure that you’re being heard. Your good energy is just right for guiding conversations and moving groups towards a broader consensus. Love: One minute you’re all crushed out, the next you can’t stand them; first you’re dying for a relationship, then all you want is to be free. You may be extra fickle at the moment, so don’t take any dramatic steps. Health/ Style: It’s time to stop taking things so seriously (at least for a while). Have some fun and paint your nails bubble-gum pink, or trade your workday pumps for a chic pair of multicoloured sneakers. Let your hair down!

Work: Today is all about big ideas, so make sure you’re speaking and collaborating with the right people. Your good energy guarantees that things look a lot brighter by the end of the day. Love: A certain level of detachment really helps your relationship develop. If your first attempt to resolve an old issue doesn’t work, try the second, third and fourth. Persistence brings you success. Health/Style: Put the ‘fun’ back in ‘functional’. As long as you’re buying running shoes, why not get a pair in your favourite colour? Also, your easy-to-maintain hairstyle doesn’t have to be a ponytail; consider a chic new bob or pixie cut.

CAPRICORN

LIBRA

(September 23 – October 22)

(February 18 – March 20)

Work: Don’t bypass the details right now. With the energy around you these days, those niggling issues will just catch up with you down the road. Love: Sure, your friends know you’re shopping around in the love department, but what about that acquaintance? They’ve got access to a whole new side of the social network. Let them work for you! Health/Style: Upgrade your style! Are all your jeans patched and faded? Invest in a sleek new pair. Are you scraping the bottom of your lipstick tube? Try a luxurious new brand, and hey, splurge on gloss while you’re at it!

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 75

the reel

EASY AS PIE Adil Hussain, the hometown lad from Goalpara, has indeed come a long way. The latest feather in his cap is his appearance in Ang Lee’s adaptation of Yann Martel’s Life of Pi. ET in a tête-à-tête with the actor… 76

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ow is Ang Lee as a director? Has he been able to bring out some hitherto undiscovered nuances in your acting?

He is like a co-musician creating a score, a melody, though he should behave more like a music conductor, but he does not. He brings out the best which is the precise note required for the very moment he wants us to create. I felt completely at ease in his presence which is something very rare to feel in the presence of any of the directors I have worked with; this is a very rare quality, possessed by a very few people on this planet.

Most often, most directors are very intimidating and downright disrespectful, if not humiliating. Instead of being just a director, they transform themselves into dictators, if not obviously, but at least in their inner intention. Actors are very sensitive beings (though very often, narcissistic too) but, nevertheless, they are sensitive to vibrations around them. If they are not, then either they are not creative, or they have become indifferent! So, if an actor senses being judged, then he will shrink into his defensive shields and may blurt out stereotypes,

“

       

“

Adil Hussain on Ang Lee

banalities or even clichés, which is the opposite of creativity! Ang Lee is aware of that more than anyone realises. It’s a treat to work with him. He maintains an energy which vibrates around him to the comfort of his co-creators, actors and other workers. What was it that fetched you the role in Life of Pi? I presume I was there at the right time and at the right place... and Ang Lee is very particular about casting. Physically, I suited the part and perhaps my understanding and skill of acting was adequate enough according to his standards! Or, it could be

sheer luck, I’m not sure! How do you feel about your journey from the theatre scene in Assam to an international production with Ang Lee? I feel blessed and cared for. Also, I feel that if one continues to go deeper into one’s craft without attaching too much to the result or to success, then nature finds a way to give you back your due, in the course of time. What are the different challenges that you face as an actor for the big screen and as an actor for the stage? There are several big challenges I face, though it may be very different for others. I am very new to this medium and it demands a very unique sense of awareness and concentration, due to the fragmented way of putting the narrative together. In theatre, an actor gets an unbroken journey to the extent that it is almost linear; this is not so in films, at least in the ones that I have acted in. However, in films, the actor gets more opportunities to do the same scene, which is not possible in theatre. The other most interesting phenomenon is that in the film medium, the audience is quite often sitting on your lap! Yes, it’s that close! This proximity is allowed to only a very few people in life such as one’s lover, doctors; even one’s mother is not permitted to invade this personal space! On the other hand in theatre, actors are always — at least in the kind of theatre that we are used to — quite a distance away from the viewer. So, in order to rise above the mediocre understanding of “How Much is Too Much or How Much is Too Less” in front of the camera, I have to act in several more films. I have a long way to go, I guess! There is a trend that theatre actors often enter the film world, to

Ang Lee

quite good success. On the other hand, there seems to be a reverse migration in Assam where actors are joining the theatre. What could be the impact on either? There could be many different kinds of impact. Experience in theatre can bring maturity and ripening of acting in front of the camera, understanding the grasp of the role and, above all, a downto-earthiness in the environment in which the film is being made. The latter is a very important element in the creativity process, to be in touch with the ground reality of life. Likewise, an experienced film actor can contribute the finer nuances of subtlety and fineness which can also enrich the stage craft with finesse and precision. But, if your question is pointing towards ‘Assamese film actors in Mobile Theatre’, then my answer would be very different! What is your upcoming project after Life of Pi? I am playing the protagonist in Anita Nair’s story Lessons in Forgetting, which will be directed by Unni Vijayan. It will be shot in Bengaluru. I am also about to complete the shooting of Agent Vinod by Sriram Raghavan, which is produced by Saif Ali Khan, who also plays Agent Vinod, and I play the bad guy! Interviewed by Ribhu Borphukon March 2011 │eclectic times │ 77

the reel

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries) Cast: Aamir Khan, Monica Dogra, Kriti Malhotra & Prateik Babbar Director: Kiran Rao

t may be called an Inarritu hangover. Even the music is composed by Gustavo Santaollala, Inarritu’s music composer, right from Amores Perros to Biutiful. Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat veers through multi-layered movements in narration using the same sparse strings and beats. The stories are compacted well together, though in the end it falls short of the extraordinary and dramatic flourish of connections that Inarritu has always provided. Nonetheless, it delivers. Basically, it chronicles four stories of four different people, of how their lives intersect in the backdrop of the city happenings of Mumbai. The stories are explorative – of emotions and polarities – through some medium of art or the other. Arun (Aamir Khan) is the generic reclusive painter who chances upon Shai (Monica Dogra), a US-based investment banking consultant, and they end up spending a night together. The next morning, while Shai had felt a real connection, Arun just wants to be left alone as he is traditionally the loner. Monica Dogra, a Maryland-returned Indie singer, effortlessly lends her accented Hindi and her rebellious fascination for the class below her in her role as Shai. Munna (Prateik) is the dhobi who acts as the guide for Shai on her shooting spree, which her bourgeois mother terms ‘mad’ and probably would have wanted her daughter to be vaccinated before stepping into the night, shooting pictures of the sewer-rat hunters in the dirty alleys of Mumbai. Munna gradually aspires to love her (which he never speaks out loud) while Shai thinks that he is just a good friend; a crucial point in the film is when her friends tell her that once she runs out of conversations with him, it’d be just “How many clothes did you wash today?” The tragic character of Yasmin (Kriti Malhotra) provides the company for ‘loner’ Arun, which he relives through the recordings, and finally becomes the muse in his painting. And it’s her character that rounds off a tragic end, while throughout she has constructed a facade of joy through her handycam, diluting her reality which can be seen in bursts in her recordings. Photographs, recordings and paintings become an integral part in the construction of the narration. The almost-obsession with the different mediums — be it the camera, the handycam or the canvas — in understanding the different emotions and their internalisations, elucidates the plot to the point where art and humanity meet, the point where art is brought to the level of emotions of a common man living in a city, while all pretensions of art is rejected.

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times │ March 2011

Ribhu Borphukon

dine out

 THE ORIENTAL WOK Zoo Road, Guwahati

Meal for Two: Rs. 350-400

e Indians seem to have always had slightly twisted notions of what ‘Chinese’ food may be. More interestingly, innovative interpretations of the same can be seen varying from region to region in the country. But things have moved beyond just being ‘Chinese’ or for that matter ‘Indo-Chinese’. Oriental cuisine, as a whole, seems to be gaining ground in the Northeast. Red Garlic, situated right opposite to Tanz Supermarket on Zoo Road, brings the Orient to our townspeople! Their menu, although slightly limited in terms of number of items, envelops a range of cuisines that encompasses Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian and Malaysian elements. All their dishes come in three variations, vegetarian, chicken and prawns. Among soups, Miso, Tom Yum and Laksa Lemak are on offer. Laksa Lemak is a spicy glass noodle soup and, according to the chef, an amalgamation of Chinese and Malaysian ingredients. Miso soup is a light soya-based noodle soup. The starters are quite interesting. Sang Choy Bao consists of crispy noodles, chicken, sesame oil, carrots and dry mushrooms served in a bowl shaped like an iceberg lettuce. Bok Choy rolls are dimsums wrapped in Bok Choy and steamed. Satay Chicken is an Indonesian starter, marinated in lemon grass and a paste of spices. Roasted Teriyaki Chicken consists of dry pieces of chicken, glazed in Teriyaki sauce, and garnished with sesame seeds and slightly burnt with Marine sauce. It had a smoky flavour, with the sesame adding depth, but

I thought it could have been slightly less burnt. The restaurant provides main course options in a set variety of sauces to accompany fries, ‘wok curries’ or even rice or noodles, according to preference. Sauces include Soy Chilli, Hot Garlic, Black Bean, Teriyaki, Green Curry, Red Curry and Tamarind Chilli Sauce. The Thai Red and Green curries are made with coconut milk, aubergines, sugar, Kaffer lime leaves, lemon grass and basil. Soy Chilli consists of a fermented soya-bean sauce base. Rice and a variety of noodles are available either in similar sauces or just plain and simple. Noodles on offer are Traditional, Flat Thai, Cellophane and Rice noodles. Cellophane noodle is basically translucent or ‘glass’ noodles made from starch of bean, yam, potato or cassava. I tried the Flat Thai Noodles, which were homemade. The noodles were moist and could be had even without an accompanying gravy. But the flat noodles did not hold themselves intact and were broken easily which was not expected. For dessert, Sticky Rice Pudding and Stuffed Pancakes are available. The music is peppy and interiors have a futuristic design, but the space is quite small. Words & Photos: Aditya Kiran Kakati

March 2011 │eclectic times │ 79

model of the month

18-year-old Devlina Bhattacharya is passionate about modelling and hopes that one day she can show her acting skills in a Bollywood production. She is now pursuing her engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications in Guwahati. Smiling is her favourite exercise. She loves Chinese and Indian food and can die for chocolates. Height: 5’2” Vital Stats: 32-24-33 Photographs: Pranjal Pratim Make-up: Pranab

│ eclectic

times │ March 2011

Kiranshree Portico, a centrally air conditioned has 61 well-appointed rooms, including Presidential Suite, Chairman Suite, Corporate Suites, Royale Club Rooms and Elegant Club Rooms. The rooms are spacious and tastefully embellished. All the rooms include a tea/coffee maker, a well stocked mini bar, data ports, L.C.D. T.V., electronic safe lockers and other modern amenities in all category rooms. For the culinary delight the White Pearl, our multi cuisine restaurant, The Mezz9, our Coffee Shop & the @mosphere the cosy bar. The hotel has an efficient 24 hour room service as well as offers the best of Conference & Banqueting facilities 15 to 500 PAX at Crystal, Coral, Onyx, Topaz & sapphire. Thus ensuring Kiranshree Portico, Guwahati would be the perfect venue for your conferences, meetings, interviews, seminars, weddings and parties.

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until april

GOD SAVE

alling all 21st century men! Have you noticed how nowadays the Jungian anima has taken over the animus? If you’re a little rusty on Carl Jung’s ideologies, what I’m trying to say is that we guys have slowly relented to the feminine, inner personality of our unconscious minds, allowing it to swamp over the masculine inner personality of the unconscious female. Got it? Don’t you agree? Just take a look around you — right from the reservations in Parliament to the dominatrix in the bedroom — the signs are everywhere, threatening all the juices of masculinity in men. It’s become rather complicated for us guys, eh? However, for those of you with brains just sharp enough to talk to savages from the Dark Ages, then it’s alright. Or even if you are a MCP, that’s alright too. But if you’re sensitive to women’s issues, and yet feel the pinch of that post-feminist scenario, then it becomes an entirely different contact sport. The problem becomes especially apparent if you happen to be in the highly electrifying atmosphere of dealing with a pronounced feminist; you will have to tread very carefully. Remember that you are in the midst of a cacophonic maze of feminist logic, rhetoric, theory and practice and, if you accidently or intentionally overstep or misstep on those lines, prepare to be heckled or hacked. If, like me, you happen to be living with a feminist

girlfriend, you better watch out. Admittedly, I am the self-confessed ultimate dummy in the Dummy’s Guide to Living with a Feminist. The living room is always strewn with Simone de Beauvoir and pages of The Vagina Monologues and I’m still demystifying the mystery of the missing commode lid. What happened to the pitiable copies of my classic collection of Playboy? I have absolutely no clue, though I found some traces of an ashen Anna Nicole Smith in the backyard. The bedroom doesn’t have any satin bedspreads. Apparently the fabric reminds the woman of the house of how her silken skin is being caressed nonconsensually when she sleeps. And – get this guys - I cannot watch the under-dressed WWE ladies’ bouts on TV as it is just a violent and sexualized projection of women (“We are not objects of entertainment,” she rants). But, of course, she didn’t have any problem with the Commonwealth Games, which ‘sanctioned’ women’s wrestling. This actually shows how women can fight like men using the same props of sweat and grit and, most importantly, remain fully dressed for the occasion. Now, with my television programming in the living room being censored, what other ‘entertainment’ can I look for elsewhere in the house! Mmm, the bedroom! The rituals can never be pronounced out loud as entertainment, unless I’m gagged and bound. Ah, that hurts! And like a true Shakespearean aside I would add within brackets (mmm…). Paradoxes abound! Whilst my lady of love frets about such things, she does have some exquisite beauty: as far as her figure is concerned, she’s never had any trouble with the weighing scales going haywire, she does the cosmetic brush-up before stepping out of the house. But, wait for it, do you think she approves of the whole cosmetic affair targeting the girls? No, she doesn’t! According to her, it’s a cosmetic overkill out to butcher the image of women just for the visual satisfaction of the male fantasy. I question: “What about the girls who self-consciously, with all intellectual leanings, want that ‘self’?” Her answer: “Self-deprecating, yes, but it’s only because we let the male propaganda machine to win.” Do I point out her hypocrisy? Mum’s the word. So, there are things you know and there are things you need to anticipate to pretend. It comes with practice. But this fear psychosis of coming across to a lady as being insensitive has enveloped all males alike (again the distinction between the sensitive males and MCPs is reserved). Coupled with that, if we increase a notch on the sensitivity scale, we offend their strength. There’s no winning for us, ever! God save the man. Kai Ao

Do you fancy writing for this page to close in the issue? If so, send in your contributions with your photos to: Eclectic Times, Saraswati Market, 2nd Floor, Above SBI, Six Mile Branch, G.S. Road, Guwahati – 781 022 or email us at editorial@eclectic.co.in