“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.