Moments Pass Memories Remain

I remember eating this tree berry from the deep woods brought for us by our teacher. Those days our school was surrounded by thick woods on all sides so whenever we had recess, we ran to those places to play. We would pluck all kinds of flowers and fruits, most of which were edible. Sometimes we were so engrossed in the forest that we would get carried away and get punished in class for being late. Our recreation was always related with nature and outdoors, we plucked and ate wild berries in place of chocolate, we swam in rivers and not in swimming pools, and for skipping we used creeper plants as rope. Life today is taken over by technology, children as young as two are able to use mobile phones, they prefer the indoors to outdoors. Children playing out in the mud is a sight we hardly see in today’s times.

Photo credit: Pamziuliu (Lulu, my niece)

Making memories in this challenging time of pandemic

Liyi Yabi Marli Noshi (Liyi), a lawyer by profession has been working on issues related to human rights especially on women and children and based in Delhi. She is from Ruksin, Pasighat, East Siang, Arunachal Pradesh. Abruptly she had to take early morning flight on 21 July 2020 and came home to see her father who suddenly fell sick although she never wanted to come home in this situation.

Meanwhile she is attending virtual court hearing under an umbrella shielding herself from rain standing at the only spot where she gets access to internet at her home. Picture by Liyi’s niece

 

“My Rambling Mind” by Gaichanglungliu Gaiduansing Kamei (G.G.Kamei)

I am tired.
Shh! I rebuke myself.
Count again your many blessings.
Remember the homeless, dying crowds.
This race has not even begun, much less, won.
Tis a marathon like none that has been run, I tell myself.

And a month
Drags on to half a year.
I’ve taken things in stride.
While many who stride on home
Do sadly find themselves at starting point.
They have no luxury to while and track the time and tide.

A dear perfume,
Dabbed on in idle leisure,
Seems more sharp and fragrant.
Colourful, balanced, lockdown meals,
That many miss, I guiltily consume each day.
Seems only right to wallow some in these depressing times.

The virus spreads.
Theories and remedies too.
In many, creative embers stoked.
With constant news of Covid and other ills,
Flicker flames of doubt and fear, hope and faith,
And prayers said, for worthier thoughts and deeds to fill our lives.

(The author is a civil servant from the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) and writes when inspired by various facets of life).

Mimi’s unexpected Home Return

Mimi (26) was working in a Casino in Goa since the last three years. Due to pandemic lockdown the Casino where she was working closed down and she lost her job.

She decided to return home to Mizoram and on 28 May 2020, she finally left for her home along with other returnees by a train arranged by the Mizoram government.

Mimi plans to go back to Goa if situation gets better as she feels there’s hardly any good chance of earning at home or finding jobs.

Mimi captured pictures of some places during her homebound train journey, which is a memorable one.

Pictures taken by Mimi during her memorable homebound journey

Homebound Journey of Sweetie

Sweetie (26) has been in Delhi since the last ten years and she came to Delhi in 2010 when she was only 16 years old. She lives with her grand parents and she is the only breadwinner in the family looking after her siblings.

She started working in retails and thereafter in a Restaurant near Delhi airport, which was shut due to pandemic lockdown. She didn’t receive her salary anymore so she  decided to return home till things are back to normal. She also feels unsafe as a Northeast person to remain in cities incase of any untoward situation.

Photo credit: Sweetie (returnee) 

Sweetie met lots of people like her during homebound journey by special train, which left Delhi on 23 May 2020 with more than 1600 passengers (returnees) from Manipur. They faced lots of challenges during their long journey as it took five days to reach Jiribam, Manipur. Despite all that she feels safer and happier to be home than staying back in cities.

After completion of 18 days quarantine at the community center Sweetie is now at home, Leiking village, near Phungyar under Ukhrul District, which has about 56 households.

Back to Village Life

This is Chingkao Village in Tamenglong District which is covered by thick forest and the village, the water fall and jhum field are beautiful sight to behold.

Mr. Gairiaksin, 27 years old and one of the returnees came back to his village in the month of May by special train from Chennai, the first train to Manipur arranged by the Manipur State Government. He left home in 2017 and worked in Kerala for 2 years and thereafter went to Chennai and worked in private company. His parents are cultivators and he is the only one working and supporting his family.

He is one of them who had gone through lots of challenges during the pandemic lockdown. He lost his job as the company he was working gave termination without proper and prior information. The only option left for him was to return home and spend time with friends and family.

He has decided not to go back to cities although he has no specific plans at the moment. He said he would be trying his best to find a suitable job to work within the state.

Water fall in the village. (Photo credit: Gairiaksin, returnee)

Jhum field. (Photo credit: Gairiaksin, returnee)

Chilli is the main crop after paddy and they depend on chilli as main source of  income.

Memories of democracy movement in Burma/Myanmar

I started my activism with the refugee particularly Burmese refugees more than ten years ago. Things changed and my focus shifted but my heart is always close to them and my solidarity in their aspirations for lasting peace and freedom from all kinds of oppression and for a place to be called HOME.

“NO ONE LEAVES HOME UNLESS HOME IS THE MOUTH OF A SHARK.”
– Warshan Shire

 

Village community Quarantine centre in Luangchum, Noney dist, Manipur

Location: Luangchum village community quarantine centre                                                (Photo credit: Dijinpou, returnee)Villagers building huts for returnees from metro cities.                                                           (Photo credit:Dijinpou, returnee)
This solar panel is the only source of power at the quarantine centre                             (Photo credit: Dijinpou, returnee)

“Portrait of a stray dog”

This is Moti, not any exotic breed but a regular local breed with its tail curled up and its ears pricked up, was born as a stray pup about 5 years ago inside our campus in New Delhi. Physically, Moti is neither a big dog nor a small one but rather slim and a bit smaller than most common stray dogs. It is a short haired breed and its coat color is reddish brown.

One might ask, “How did it get its name if it is a stray dog?” Well, children from the neighbouring houses used to feed him when he was a pup and they felt that it would be a good thing if they could give him a name, so they named him Moti and he has been known as Moti ever since that day.

We also used to feed him. Soon, he became very fond of us. And like any person who has owned a pet, I have had some happy and memorable moments with Moti. Before the pandemic lockdown whenever we walked pass the lane Moti used to wag his tail and greet us expecting something since we used to feed him.

This drawing is from when he was a bit younger and the real picture was taken a year ago. Since the pandemic lockdown, I have not seen him, I’m not sure if he’s still around or gone somewhere. Even stray dogs are crossing one’s mind and becoming part of pandemic memories.

First evacuation of returnees from Chennai to Manipur (Northeast India)

Returnees boarding bus for Railway station (Photo credit: Returnee)

On 10 May 2020, first evacuation of returnees from Manipur stranded in Chennai started, and a Shramik special train carrying 1200 people arrived Jiribam on 13 May 2020. Most them said it’s better to return home than suffer in unknown cities and even if we have to die we better die at home. These returnees mostly worked in private or unorganized sector and they are left jobless, homeless and penniless in cities due to pandemic lockdown.

10 May 2020: Returnees from Manipur at the Railway station, Chennai (Photo credit: Returnee)