In no time this news travelled far and wide in the family circle. Next to know were, my core group of life-wire friends who must get all updates of my life. To them, I disclosed the news in my typical style -- sprinkling humour with a pinch of suspense. What I could have said in one simple message, I decided to do in batches.

So here was my first message to the group: "Hi ladies, just got my result. And the result is..." These lines were broken and conveyed in three different messages. Gloating at the thought of the suspense making them curious and entertained -- just before I could type "negative", something unexpected happened! My doctor entered the room with a rather sombre expression on his face. "I have to share something. You have tested positive for Covid-19," he said and left the room even before I could react to the news.

Related Stories

What Is The Treatment For Coronavirus?

What Should You Look For In A Hand Sanitiser?

What You Should Do If You Come In Contact With A Covid-19 Patient

I looked around and all the other attendants who were brazenly roaming about had vanished in no time. All by myself, I sobbed in disbelief, sitting alone on the bed. Next instinct was to dial my husband and cry out to him. I was informed that the error had occurred because the nurse thought (much like me) that I looked healthy and could not have contracted the virus, missed reading the word "detected" in the report. After a quick thought I decided it was time to accept the situation and gear up for the days ahead.

Soon PPE-clad staff came inside the room, packed my belongings (I had nothing except the clothes I came in a day before) and wheeled me all the way down from the Covid-19-suspect floor (third floor) -- down into what looked like the most secluded part of the hospital.

I was now in the basement where an entire general ward named Nightingale Ward, comprising three large halls, accommodates a 40-bedded ward that has been converted into a makeshift Covid-19 ward. In pre-Covid-19 days, this was the general ward. I noticed there were multiple beds separated by white screens with little or no privacy at all.

Amidst incessant coughs and heavy breathing, a staffer wheeled me all the way to my bed. I could hear my heart racing and wondered, "Would I not get worse if I breathe the same air as other heavily infected people?" With a very heavy heart I brought myself to lie down and took refuge in prayers to the Almighty. Like always the power of prayers worked its magic and uplifted my spirit. A new "never say die" attitude enveloped me with positivity. I had no space for anything negative left in my mind. It was my turn to accept the present and move on. It was my time to buckle up and put my best foot forward.

Now, did I feel any symptoms? The only symptoms I could zero down were fatigue and a feverish feeling. My appetite was intact -- in fact, I rarely lost my appetite. And now my only weapons to shield me throughout this journey were going to be my attitude and appetite. I must have them perform, I promised myself. How on earth did I catch the virus? There was no way I could track the source. I had been as careful as I could. Always shielding my face with my mask and a glove each time I picked grocery items. But then, it could be from anywhere, for, I had been at the forefront right from the start.Even when the intense lockdown started, I was the one who stuck my neck out to walk the dog. I was the one to go and fetch fruits and vegetables for the house. I refrained from unnecessary socialising, but still I got caught. 

It all began one evening as sudden fatigue overtook me and lingered for a week. I rested when I could and tried to do my daily routine of sitting and writing and helping around the house. Finally, on the seventh day, I had a full-blown fever (100.5) followed by a terrible body ache refusing to go. The next day, after I settled my five-plus son for his online class, and scooted to the doctor with my husband, I didn't have the faintest of doubt that I won't be returning to the house in a few hours.

Before I decided on the hospital, I scanned my mind to remember if I knew anyone in that particular hospital. I called up a senior authority and took the name of a duty doctor in the emergency. Now, that’s something I am truly weary about in our notorious health industry. Would I be fleeced or would I get the correct treatment? For fear of all that, I made sure that I went with reference so they know that I know. My blood count was on the borderline and it was mandatory that I did the dreaded test for Covid-19. We felt it was sensible to get admitted to the hospital sooner than later just in case my health worsens!

So, there I was in the Covid-19 ward being constantly administered by the staff. By this time, my concerned friends already got in touch with the top management of the hospital to ensure that I am taken care of in the most ethical manner. This request was made not to seek undue attention, but to ensure that I was administered the right medication and care I deserve as a patient. And if you are raising your eyebrows wondering if these references were a must, let me tell you they were! Why? Unfortunately, we have lost faith in our private or otherwise healthcare system and all we needed was such reassurance.

This hospital first treated Covid-19 patients back in the first week of May and that time it was all so new for the hospital as well as its staff. On the ICU floor, doctors had dedicated a space for Covid-19 patients and the treatment was based on experiments with no experience. Many Covid-19 patients were kept in ICUs.

Cut to today, many hospitals, including Fortis Research Memorial Institute, have come a long way and exhibit a remarkable level of confidence in their treatment protocols.

I soon learnt how this new drug -- FabiFlu -- came about for patients like me. So, India-based Glenmark Pharmaceuticals has secured regulatory approval for the manufacturing and marketing of antiviral drug Favipiravir under the brand name FabiFlu to treat mild to moderate Covid-19. The approval, granted under an accelerated process, marks the first authorisation for oral Favipiravir in India for this indication.

Since 2014, Favipiravir holds approval in Japan to treat new or re-emerging influenza virus infections. The hospital started using this since July and the success rate has been encouraging.

Manned by a very cheerful nurse, the Covid-19 ward would have paled into a gloomy ward had it not been for the staff who are trained not just to handle patients but to keep them in good humour. It made all the difference to patients like me.
To my satisfaction, our ward was sanitised twice to thrice a day, our sheets were changed daily, and the food that came straight from the kitchen was all healthy and nutritious.

Well, under these circumstances there were also some unhappy patients in the ward. Just next to my bed, a lady in her 60s, who was admitted with her son and husband, never missed a chance to take a dig at the staff, the food and just whatever she could come up with. Thankfully, the hospital staff are used to patients like her as well.

I used to look forward to seeing Sonali, a young nurse from Himachal Pradesh who always used to lighten up the ward with her bright smile every time she walked in. A bright and efficient staffer, her swiftness and presence was always like an extra watt in the bulb.

In fact, as I learnt to observe, I thought each one of them brought such joy and cheer to the ward. Their involvement with the patient and the eagerness to serve made me see light in the tunnel, and that’s when I got up and started picking one hero a day and interviewed them. In the process, I noticed my own pain and physical discomfort slowly disappearing.

It was like a comfort of being surrounded and protected by warriors who are risking their own safety to look after us. The ward boy, I noticed, wore his PPE suit like a badge of honour and took much delight in mopping the floor and cleaning our tables, and wasted no time in emptying our bins. Once they get into their suits, for a stretch of six hours, they cannot eat, drink or relieve themselves. And what's surprising is that they remain cheerful to us. At all times.While there is a doctor on duty, our cases are handled by more senior doctors who monitor files and reports precisely from a distance.

I was more than sure that I was in good health. Slowly, I got into the groove of things. And never left my humour. While regularly monitoring our health they take us for a scan or two. This is a drill that requires them to send a code word that a Covid-19 patient in using the lift so that the path is cleared. On day three, when I was wheeled out for a chest scan, it was a breeze through long corridors and three lifts up. Towards the scan centre a crowd gathered, but soon disintegrated and ran helter skelter when I announced "Covid-19 patient...please make way." That made me realise how terrorised people are of Covid-19 patients. And the stigma that comes with it!

Back in the ward, these warriors have no hesitation in doing anything for us. Our bathrooms are spic and span. Our food is always served piping hot and, most importantly, with a smile.

In the ward my thoughts often took me home, where lives my brave little boy who is my sole cheerleader. I have missed him. He, with great innocence and pride, took it upon himself to break this news at his online class with, "Ma’am! ma’am! My mother has coronavirus." The announcement may have shocked some parents or teachers, but soon got me inundated with such lovely feel-good messages from the mothers' community!

So, on day four, I was spirited despite being so tired. Even though I was said to be mildly affected, when the virus gets inside you, you know that there is an effort you need to put in, even to smile. I managed to keep my spirits intact. As I lay on the bed, I tried to be and feel as normal as I could. I bathed and changed every single day. I did my exercises in the corridor leading to the rows of toilets. Then I returned to the room and said my prayers. I made sure to never miss a single meal and relished it as if it was the best meal I've ever had! I stretched myself tossing and turning and so many times and still couldn't decide which position would work for me. One day, as I lay down and chewed on an apple, I realised I had not done it in years. Lying down leisurely and chewing an apple.

That’s when I valued this time of forced rest and some soul searching. And the interaction with the staff and their infectious joy in everything they did for us. One of the staff, Shishupal, each time he came to take my blood sample, would leave me with this line: "Be positive to be negative." It stays with me. Had I been complaining, despairing and mourning, I would have failed to notice these blessings. I doubt if I would ever get better.

Finally, on the eight day, I tested negative. All because I decided to embrace positivity all through the journey.

But look at the timing. The sub-brand was launched almost a fortnight after the stand-off between the Indian and Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley in Ladakh. By then, we mourned the loss of 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer, along the Sino-India border. It hurt like no other wound. This face-off was different even though it wasn’t the first clash between the two countries that went to a full-fledged war in 1962. This time, the barbaric manner in which the neighbouring country carried out the attack was disgusting. So disgusting that it seemed only befitting for us to call for a boycott of Chinese goods. And then, amid the growing anti-China rhetoric, an appeal of sorts came from a politician to give up on our favourite cuisine (Chinese) altogether. Perhaps, this was the best way to vent out our anger! If that be the case, in some way, we all have been guilty of promoting a spirit and culture that does not quite deserve the adulation it enjoys. Look at us, we would rather chomp on our noodles instead ofpani pooriordhokla! Not that we have lesser love for the latter. Of course, the call to boycott Chinese food was immediately scoffed by restaurateurs who are in the food business largely for profit.

If India’s foreign relations were to determine the kind of cuisine served in restaurants, we would be completely deprived of so many sumptuous treats for obvious reasons. No restaurant would have dared serve Chinese cuisine after the 1962 war. And no one I know or spoke with recalls such an action being taken after the Sino-India war. My anthropologist father, who was in his Pre-University then, only recalled what he read of the war in the absence of any television in those days. The way the Chinese soldiers came marching on was something he is never tired of narrating even to this day. One weapon was carried by three soldiers. The logic was, a man is born in every home, but a gun is produced only in armaments and, therefore, is far more precious. If one soldier died, there were two of them to bring back the weapon. At least, one soldier would always make it to home with the weapon. And ironically, when Indian soldiers came as far as Arunachal Pradesh, the then North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), their first encounter with fellow Indians – Arunachalis – led to a disaster. Many Arunachalis died at the hands of their own Indian brethren who only looked at the size of their eyes and mistook them to be foes from across the Line of Control. That’s another story for another day!

Anyway, ten years after the Indo-Chinese war, a brave young man named Pavan Verma, who studied engineering in Dusseldorf, came back with his degree and a soft corner for Chinese food, the only cuisine he could stomach in a foreign land and intimately fell in love with it. He chucked up his degree and instead opened Golden Dragon, a Chinese eatery in Vasant Vihar. Today, his sons Rohit and Nitin, who run the show, would tell you about our unwavering love for Chinese food. And during all the ups and downs in Indo-Chinese ties, Vermas’ business only flourished.

Differences in the world view through history generally found expressions in geopolitical doctrine and economic policies. Sometimes these differences were also naturally reflected in the most universal things such as food. History is replete with hearsays like how during the height of the Cold War, vodka, which is associated with the then Soviet Union, was poured on the streets in America and bartenders demanded a ban on it as well as Moscow mule. Well, in 2016, all was forgotten. Vodka outperformed whiskey as Americans drank approximately 69.8 million crates of this clear distilled alcoholic beverage (almost one in three bottles ordered in bars was vodka), against 53 million crates of whiskey.

In modern history, food and politics don’t really gel. Our choice is determined by our desires that know no boundary or territory. In fact, in our contemporary understanding of food, India has never had it so good as we are indulging in a happy state of “my cup runneth over” phase. From an oh-so common Greek salad and Greek Yogurt to taramosalata, or to Peruvian Ceviche, to so much so that Thai and Chinese look rather home-grown.

Anyway, the Chinese food that we love is not Chinese enough. It is, in fact, in complete adherence to the spirit of ‘Hindi-Chini bhai bhai.’ No doubt, the food is called Chinese, and is cooked by Indians, especially if you take the common majority’s favourite ‘chowmein’ that truly cuts across all economic barriers—made in India noodles, stir fried in a wok, tossed with a hint of local soy sauce and vinegar, and a dose of Ajinomoto for flavouring. Or the famous Manchurian—we have our versions in cauliflower, broccoli and what not. But our counterparts in China may not even acknowledge the ‘Chinese food’ we have tampered with to suit our taste buds. So what we eat in the name of Chinese cuisine is really a very localised or homegrown version; the taste, nuances and flavour differ from place to place, restaurant to restaurant. We have manufactured our own version of Chinese cuisine.

Meanwhile, I wonder if Siliguri traders who, in the heat of passion, contemplated renaming the 50-year-old Hong Kong Market into something they were still undecided about finally got a new name yet.

The recent uproar over a ban on dog meat in Nagaland—which followed a similar order in Mizoram—is, to my mind, just one of the many examples of misconception and misunderstanding. The ban must be seen and examined strategically through the eyes of animal rights activists, who hailed it as a victory and a turning point and, through the eyes of Nagas, whose cultural practice is questioned by this very decision. But what needs to be cleared first is that, not all Nagas eat dog meat. And for those who do, it is their prerogative and a personal choice. Naturally, some sections of Naga society frowned upon the decision, calling it an infringement on their personal space and belief.

First, let us uphold animal rights which are a set of belief that animals too have the right to be free of oppression, confinement, use and abuse by humans. By this token and doctrine, it simply means that all animals regardless of whether it is a dog or a lion,  human beings must not carry out any experiment on them; no breeding or riding them during marriages and, playing that fancy game of polo, among many others. In fact, restaurants wouldn’t be serving tandoori chicken. Since time immemorial, animals served as models in biological research in genetics and in drug testing. All that, in the light of this argument, is frightfully wrong and puts us in the wrong. And I shudder to think of the plight of the poor guinea pigs that are used in endless medical researches time and again as if it is their sole purpose of existence.

But to stretch it to that level may not entirely serve human purpose. For, animals in many ways, are there for the benefit of mankind. And there will always be a contradiction on why do animals that are typically used and seen as food by the majority, like chicken, fish, mutton have lesser rights as compared to dogs.

So, in essence, the animal rights activists are right in that context if their concern is purely on the ground that animals (dogs) must be treated with love and care. But that uproar must be extended for every animal that is abused—be it chicken, duck, etc.

On the other hand, there is a deep cultural context when we address food and food habits. They are shaped by many factors ,as sociologist Deborah Lupton rightly wrote: “Food consumption habits are not simply tied to biological needs but serve to mark boundaries between social classes, geographic regions, nations, cultures, genders, life-cycle stages, religions and occupations, to distinguish rituals, traditions, festivals, seasons and times of day.”

Indeed, there are deep cultural context when it comes to animals and the Northeast. People in the region practiced subsistence economy that barely fed their hungry bellies. Making it worse, they relied on shifting cultivation that yield enough not to starve. They were hunters, fishermen and gatherers—all rolled into one, and looked upon their environment for shelter and food. The rough terrain; harsh climatic conditions; impenetrable thick jungles went on to influence and define their diet and dietary habits. Pulses, something as basic to the rest of India, came to the region much later all because access was an issue. Cut to today, their food habits and choice cannot be put on a scanner and judged upon in isolation. “When we talk about food, we are, then, in the midst of a rich and complex mosaic of languages, grammars, narratives, discourses, and traditions, all of which are tightly intermeshed. In this binding, they overlap and even contradict each other,” as Angel F. Mendez Montoya explained in Theology of  Food.

Dog is an indispensable animal for the primitive people of the world and not just for the different communities of Northeast, playing multiple roles in their lives. Not just as the faithful friend who accompanied them on their hunting trips or forages for food. They also depended on the animal it for sustenance, strange as it may sound to many. For instance, if you look at Manipur, among some communities, the dog was used for exorcism to cure illness and even madness. The blood of dog was supposed to have curative effect, as found in folktales. Dogs were used as an offering to the spirits to cure all types of illnesses among the Chin Kuki Zomi people.  Offering dog’s blood to the spirits for appeasement to cure madness was also a traditional practice. Some primitive rituals include wearing of dog’s tail and teeth as amulets as it was considered protection or shield against the dark forces of the spirits. And its meat is considered potent and immunity building even to this day.  It is no exception in Nagaland, where the life of Nagas has always been intertwined with dogs. Dogs are omnipresent in their life. In fact, a dog was responsible for the Nagas’ eternal loss of script. Legend has it that the handwritten script that was painstakingly written on an animal skin was carried away by a hungry dog. To this day, Nagas rely on Roman script and their tradition and knowledge perpetuated down the generations orally.

It is therefore, with a different context when we say that dog meat has been part of Naga cuisine for a long time. The intake of the meat is not entirely for indulgence like, say, a pork, beef or chicken. It was always with a belief that it would stimulate them and give them the much-needed physical power and vigour to climb mountains and walk on foot for miles and miles into the jungle to gather food. Clearly beyond the physiological function, there are unexplained cultural meanings and discourses surrounding the intake of dog meat. Food habits are always products of the socio-cultural and economic environment. And that holds true for the Nagas or many other communities in the Northeast.

If the ban on sale of dog meat, “both cooked and uncooked” is with an intention to put an end this cultural practice, the abrupt act does not seem like a long-term and a bankable solution. In fact, it does not also reflect a long-term policy that would steadfastly guide the Nagas as they long evolved from a head-hunting tradition to yet another milestone of shunning something their forefathers did and questions their identities. If the intention was so, then what needed to be brought upon is a more structured policy to introduce smooth behavioural change and awareness building. And a thoughtfully studied process wherein authorities partners with stakeholders like the church leaders, youth leaders of the society and yield a more positive result. As a friend rightly pointed out, this change must be gradual and has to come from within and, mere changing laws may serve little purpose. Of course, the reverse impact may only push up prices and illegal trade.

Again, as far as the customary practice is concerned, it has to strike a fine balance with the doctrine that is put forth by animal rights activists. And the freedom of what one wants to eat must also strike an equally fine balance with public policy. The larger and more worrying issue is, just because what one community eats does not fall into the sensibility of certain section of the society, or say, the majority, it may be absurd and rather too insensitive to ban what is truly one’s question of identity. And how can the right of a goat or a chicken be lesser than that of a dog? That’s a tough question many need to ponder upon.

The recent border clash between Mizoram and Assam and how it was allowed to flare up brought home many things not just about the two states but also about the region in totality that has seen too much bloodshed. Sometime in the ’90s, I witnessed an ethnic feud that involved two communities—Paites and Kukis— whose ethnic proximity is enough to club them as brothers. They fought nonetheless. The contention was identity. I was a silent and helpless spectator, but mindful of all the gory details. That left me cold and disillusioned. What I saw was brutal—when the divide was sudden and friendly neighbours turned into deadly foes overnight there was little to take home. That was that. After a peace accord was signed, the two communities had the wisdom to never look back. And then, in the early ’90s, again, the longstanding feud between Tangkhul Nagas and Kukis over strips of land shook the social fabric of Manipur over claims and counter-claims over community land.

These feuds and many more in other states of the region, without necessarily going into the origins of the fights, have shaken the Northeast, which is already fractured and wounded from myriad problems: from insurgency to political instability.

Nagaland had its share of internal feuds too. Not all the 16 influential tribes see eye to eye. But the Nagas have the spirit of restrain and maturity to never let that get the better of them. That’s also partly because, in the shadow of a far bigger battle for freedom and sovereignty, the internal conflict pales. Still, in the words of a local in Nagaland, infightings are frequent and keep recurring. Sometimes even a small mishap is enough to ignite the powder.

Meghalaya, a peaceful state now, hardly can forget its brutal brush with homegrown insurgency. Following its statehood in 1972 (being carved out of Assam), the first trigger for the conflict was a strong anti-outsider movement. Suddenly non-Khasis born in Shillong became strangers. Writer Bijoya Sawian captures an interesting account of Shillong’s bloody underbelly in her book Shadow Men.

Tripura is rife with similar anti-outsider sentiments too—the indigenous people versus the Bengali-speaking populace, many of them immigrants from East Pakistan or Bangladesh. The deep-seated mistrust and hatred continue to fester. What simmered at the time of Independence continues to be a stumbling block for growth in the state.

Sikkim, which is quietly surging towards progress and development ahead of the other northeastern states, has unspoken internal feuds among its resident communities—Lepchas and Bhutias on one side, and Nepalis on the other. Nepalis are considered “outsiders” and slowly outnumbering the ethnic communities. This is not discussed in public, but that people harbor such sentiments is no secret either. The reasonably well-governed state and its well-behaved citizens never let that come in the way.

And, of course, memories are also vivid of a near war-like situation that almost changed the course of history when the question of Greater Nagaland or Nagalim was making waves not too long ago. The key vision of the Naga groups has been Greater Nagalim, a sovereign state of Naga-inhabited land, including parts in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Assam. That entailed redrawing of state boundaries. The plan was protested in all manner of speech and action by the other three states.

Border disputes in the region are not new. At the heart of it is Assam, the biggest state in terms of population. It has the thorniest relations because of its common boundary with almost all the states—for instance, a 434-km border with Nagaland that has several areas of contention. Or with Arunachal Pradesh, an 804.10-km shared boundary that has several disputed stretches. Skirmishes spring up regularly along these borders. But Assam and Nagaland recently decided to amicably resolve its dispute. In doing so, they proved that all disputes needn’t be dealt with attrition.

Outside the realm of politics, it must be acknowledged that there exist real and thinking people who are truly weary of the fights that are often politically motivated. All the historical differences no longer merit the kind of attention and focus given now. Be that as it may, they must no longer be seen through the prism of politics. You can change your friends, but not your neighbours. All action should spring from that old adage to stop the infighting. It is time the Northeast moves on to a better space of real progress and development. Perhaps, it is also the right time to question our leaders and their intentions.

There is no reason why tourists wouldn't want to holiday here. If, for instance, tourists can queue up to see stalactites and stalagmite caves in the Philippines that are roughly 12.6 km long, I have no doubt that tourists would also love the caves in Meghalaya, which are more than 25 km in length and way more spectacular. If tourists enjoy the sunrise at Indonesia's Borobudur temple, they might also enjoy praying in Sikkim's 16th century Rumtek monastery.

Often described as the Gateway to Southeast Asia, the importance of the region becomes pronounced as the government's Look East policy gains momentum. But the region must insist that it should not be used merely as a corridor; the government must invest in developing its infrastructure.

Thailand is looking at the North-east as a new market for investment and at Upper Assam as a part of their Buddhist tourism circuit. Thailand has identified core sectors like tourism, infrastructure and aviation in the North-east for possible investment. Malaysia's budget airlines, Air Asia, may start a service between Thailand and Guwahati soon.

To build on its strength, the North-east must utilise every penny it gets from the Centre. The 2011-12 outlay for the region is R8,000 crore. In addition, there is R1,550 crore for infrastructure development allocated to the ministry of development for northeastern region.

It is also time for peace. For this, the people must stop bickering among themselves. For example, Mizoram's road to prosperity began in 1986 when Mizo leader Pu Laldenga, who led the Mizo National Front, signed the Mizo accord. Other states like Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura have fewer internal problems as compared to Manipur, which was termed as a 'land of jewels' by Jawaharlal Nehru. In the coming election, the Manipuris must vote sensibly for a competent leader.

In Nagaland, the Nagas are enjoying 'temporary peace'. The Music Task Force, a brainchild of the present chief minister, encourages the Nagas to sing professionally for peace. But peace and reconciliation must never be at the cost of other. There must be no ultimatum that peace for Nagas can happen only when the demand for Greater Nagaland is granted. There are far too many dangerous consequences if all demands made are met.

And if there is any room for logical argument, would it not be better for the people of North-east to learn to live in harmony?

In future, the youth from the NE can become even more vulnerable in other parts of India. This will happen because their states do not provide enough facilities that they should be getting as citizens, be it schooling or job opportunities. To provide these facilities, states in the NE will first have to function as states should and end the raging insurgencies and intra-state conflicts.

Most importantly, corruption, which is milking the coffers of the states, must end. In other words, the eight sisters need to rebuild their systems and infrastructure to lure their youth back. Among other things, this is also an appropriate time to reflect on the existence of DONER (Development of North-Eastern Region), a unique feature that was set up to encourage physical progress and tangible development in the region, as it completes its 13th year. This rebuilding has to happen; we have no time to lose.

Since the beginning of their statehoods, the NE has been embroiled in many internal problems. And the few states that have been spared the horror of insurgency are mired in corruption, internal politics and ugly squabbles on ethnic lines, making life difficult for their youth. It is due to this failure of the NE states that their youth are seeking refuge/opportunities outside the region.

At another level, there is a lingering sense of neglect and anger against the Centre. For instance, the absence of chapters on the NE in our education syllabus even after 67 years of Independence appears to be an attempt to keep the region divided and isolated. When ignorance reigns, we have deaths like that of Nido Tania.

So what makes the youth from the NE soft targets? Perhaps, the issue could be as shallow as physical appearance or clothes. Most forget we are a part of the Mongoloid race and so we have a different culture and ethos. This innate cultural difference sets us apart from the rest of the country. We have our own mores and each state has its own distinct norms even to the extent of defining acceptable male and female attire. These norms also specify and dictate appropriate clothes for different occasions and ways to conduct our lives.

By no stretch of the imagination, do we live in a ‘free society’ as is often perceived and, this is often the source of misjudgement and prejudice. Yes, there is an element of Western influence because of the presence of Christianity (for some). The offshoot of this influence is our progressive mindset.

There is a high degree of modernity and egalitarianism in most communities in the NE. For instance, a girl can talk to a boy openly without any fear; this only reflects mutual respect and girls are rarely looked upon as objects. However, to an outsider, she is often seen as a ‘loose’ woman.

Being different from the prevalent norms is not a deviation from normal; customs that are different from the ones followed by the majority are never inferior or strange. Tania paid with his life for being a Northeasterner. Surely the youth of India’s Northeast deserve much more than this

At the most when the dreams do not turn fatal, there are experiences that are enough to mar them for life. There are teeming examples of how people, mostly, young women from the Northeast, come to Delhi only to go back horrified. In 2005, a young girl from Mizoram was abducted and raped by four men in a moving car. Apparently, the victim was walking back home from Dhaula Kuan after buying food from a roadside eatery. Again in 2010, we woke up to a yet another disturbing news about another girl from the Northeast who was forcibly picked up from the Ring Road in Dhaula Kuan and raped in a moving vehicle.

Like many students, these girls lived in rented accommodations and had only their wooden doors to fend themselves from the wicked world that waits for them to falter. I do not know any of these victims personally but I do know that they came here to fulfil their dreams. I do know that they had a purpose and a reason to be in the Capital.

Of late, there are far too many incidents that are reported and unreported of harassment and violence against women from the Northeast. I have heard of young girls living on rented accommodation around Delhi University and are often at the mercy of bullying landlords, despite paying up their rents. In parlours and spas across the city where I often frequent, I have met cheerful and smiling masseurs who tell me of how their landlords take liberties to walk into their rooms at odd hours. I have met many young girls who tremble in fear and in silence when their employers let them work till late at night, beyond their duty hours, and are not even provided a transport back to their living quarters. It’s another matter that these young people need to be sensitised to assert their rights. I have heard of how young girls from the Northeast are often teased on end, when they go on rickshaw rides around North campus.

Discrimination though is a strong word to use here. And it would be wrong and an exaggeration to suggest everybody discriminates people (women) from the Northeast. There are far too many successful people from the Northeast in the Capital who are at par with just anyone from anywhere in India. Why would anyone discriminate them purely on the basis of their origin? It is time we get over this imaginary complex and move on. If one is truly good at what one is doing, there is no room or scope to be discriminated by anyone in the world. At the most, it would be closer to the truth to say that people from the Northeast (women) tend to be misjudged and misunderstood by people. That is sadly because of the few black sheep of the community. Like every community that has its share of black sheep, Northeast is no exception. There are black sheep from the Northeast that have gone astray and are hovering around in Delhi. Sadly, they are responsible for tarnishing the image of many hard working Northeast women in Delhi. Coupled with this fact, is the tendency of prejudice towards women from the Northeast.

Therefore, many times women from the Northeast become easy targets and preys. Often, for no fault of theirs. Another reason that could be the reason for being misunderstood is the fact that there is so little understanding of each other in the real sense. There is a distinct cultural barrier that exists between Delhi and distant Northeast. People from the Northeast come from a cultural background that’s more egalitarian, close knit and where there is a more open interaction between the genders. They come to Delhi not quite geared to understand the existing cultural difference. That proverbial truth “Do in Rome as the Romans do” seldom apply to some of them. When locals watch and witness their free interaction with their opposite sexes, they interpret this as cheap behaviour often embolden them to take advantage of the situation.

Also, another character about people from the Northeast is, they are open and transparent in their approach. They are trusting and take things at face value. They are often too soft or weak for people with wicked intentions. Back home, do we lock our doors when we go to visit our neighbours. We do not even lock our cars when we go to buy vegetables in the market. We carry our trusting nature and instincts to the point of being termed gullible. There is a significant Western influence in the way people from the Northeast like to dress. If they are attired in shorts or dresses, they are considered provocative. There is a need to be understood in totality by India at large. While at the same time, Northeasterners living in Delhi must have the sensibilities to effectively respond to the new environment that is now their temporary home.

Meanwhile, the story of Northeasterners in Delhi will always be that of contrasts and contradictions. There will always be mixed reactions about how they fare in the Capital. For some, it’s a heaven as they have crafted their own success stories. For some, it’s a constant struggle and they will remain strangers throughout their stay. For those who have understood the little secrets of survival, it’s a place they would not trade with anything else in the world. Not even the summer heat! And for those “outsiders” who know and understand a true Northeastener, they will love them for life!

Maximum City

The current unrest began with the recent creation of seven new districts. Given that the state is divided on communal lines, this decision did not go down well with the Nagas, as they stand to lose control of their ancestral lands in two districts: Sadar and Jiribam. People doubt chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s assurance that it was only for administrative convenience. But then, given that there is a perpetual breakdown of law and order even with the earlier nine districts, the intended purpose of administrative efficiency for which the state now has 16 districts is something that’s debatable.

Read | Creation of new districts could be game-changer in Manipur polls

What’s unfolding is an ugly chain reaction of things. The economic blockage was imposed by the United Nagas Council (UNC) to protest to the government’s decision.

In Manipur, economic blockade is nothing new. In 2011, it withstood a blockade that went on for more than 100 days. What really comes across during such economic disruptions are a couple of things about this landlocked state. Most glaring is the state’s utter dependence on other states for sustenance even for basic survival. Despite having fertile land, Manipur depends on other states for items like potatoes, onions and lentils.

The Meiteis responded to the blockade with counter protests. Vehicles that belonged to Nagas were burnt and a place of worship was destroyed. And those enterprising Naga women who sell daily fresh produce in the local markets are conspicuous by their absence. Suddenly, it’s as if that happy co-existence is something alien to the people. It’s almost as if the shadow of an ethnic war is looming large.

Read | Curfew continues in violence-hit Manipur district

Prices may soar but the deeper cut isn’t on the purse strings, it’s on the psyche of the people. It’s a worrying sign for the government that each time it announces a political decision, things should go out of its hands and people resort to take laws by their hands. And Ibobi Singh, who is said to be using his “Naga trump card’ each time his popularity is on the wane, surely needs to act like a leader and not a divider.

It is about time, the state, which is home to more than 33 different ethnic groups, learns to find peaceful solutions. It is about time people celebrate the diversity and learn to live with tolerance and respect. Importantly, it is also about time the Centre keeps a check on who it sends to Manipur, to make sure that the very emissary it sends isn’t just paying a flying visit but doing something constructive for the state.

North EasternersPillai should know. He has had a long stint as a government official in charge of the region. "There is immense potential in the people and the land. I have been impressed by their talent and creativity. Today, their talents are partly recognised, but they need to be fully recognised," says Pillai.
To writer and filmmaker Jahnu Barua this recognition of North East talent is just “the beginning of a long journey.” Nonetheless, he says: “The driving force of these people is immense since they know that they have come from so far away to make something out of themselves. So you cannot ignore them anymore.”

Indeed, you can’t. Whether it’s sports, music or fashion, we’re seeing a lot of North Easterners out there. Their food too is preparing to compete with other cuisine in the market. And their unexplored and virgin land is drawing tourists like never before.

So is it time to look East? We think so.

Fashionably yours

FashionThe innately stylish don’t need a big brand to make that statement. Even a simple export surplus off-shoulder top teamed with a label-less made-in-China skirt can give them a diva look. "Brands do not spell style. I am not brand conscious but quality conscious. And we have the ability to understand what looks good on us," says well-known model from the North East, Esther Jamir. So is being well-dressed part of the North East culture?
Kos Zhasa, former board of governors member of the National Institute of fashion Technology (NIFT), says: “Ours is a very effortless, natural style. I would attribute it to our culture and partly to Western influence because of our faith, Christianity.” Churchgoers in Nagaland often look as though they’re in a fashion show, she says, when they’re dressed in their Sunday best.

Youngsters Winnie Sangtam and Imsu agree that style is a personal thing. “I mix and match and follow my instinct,” says Imsu, a fashion blogger. And Sangtam the student doesn’t dress in the college uniform of salwar kameez or jeans. She stands out in her dress or spaghetti top with jeans.

Naturally, when innate style goes commercial, looks and cuts are bound to be different. Look at designer Atsu Sekhose whose Western sensibility has an impressive client list across India and a niche market overseas. Since he started his own line in 2006, he has never looked back.

Kos Zhasa, a fashion and textile designer from NIFT, started her career as designer for embassy clients. She sold her label, Personal Touch, at up-market stores around the country. Zhasa is now back in Nagaland researching textiles of the North East for book she plans to compile. And as a student at NIFT, Devson Yengkhom, a designer from Manipur, made news when he invented a machine that would produce garments without seams.

Fashion 2Designer Raghavendra Rathore was one of the first designers to experiment with fabrics from the North East. "It was one of the most successful collections that we had ever done and that was purely because of the range of fabrics," he says. "They had a tremendous recall value and we did exceedingly well where this collection retailed."
Musically tuned
Give them a guitar and you’ll get a song. While this may be slightly exaggerated, you’ll always find music in North Easterners. Three consecutive winners of the Indian Idol contest were all from the region. Prashant Tamang, Amit Paul (runner up) and Sourabhee Debbarma proved that music is part of their life. And last year, Divine Connection, a gospel band from Nagaland, won the Kurkure Desi Bests Rock show on MTV.

Quietly unnoticed, Abiogenesis, a fusion Naga rock band comprising a husband and wife duo, has been making international waves. In 2008, the band released their album, Rustic Relish, worldwide and made it to the 51st Grammy Awards. Easily the most popular choral group in India is the Shillong Chamber Choir led by Neil Nongkynrih. The choir members sing in foreign languages and Hindi, have won television reality show India’s Got Talent; they also sang for US President Barack Obama on his maiden visit to India.

SourabheeShillong-based music legend Lou Majaw continues to draw crowds from the farthest corners of the world when he celebrates Bob Dylan’s birthday year after year. "I have been singing with the deepest devotion since the 50s," he says. And every state in the North East boasts multiple musical bands.
But in Nagaland, there is a slightly different approach to music. The state government has set up a Music Task Force that organises India’s biggest rock festival, the Hornbill National Rock Contest, every December. “We see music as an industry and we are focusing on every aspect, including sound, visual media and recording,” says Gugs Sema, director of the Music Task Force.

In Patkai Christian College, a premier college in Dimapur, music is part of the curriculum. And every year, 20 to 30 music graduates pursue higher degrees in music in the state. With over 66 home-grown bands in 11 districts in 2008, the number has only increased over the years. In Shillong, Majaw estimates that Meghalaya has about 15 to 20 local bands who sing in English. Mizoram is not far behind with its own rock band, Magdalene, releasing well-made music videos for local audiences. And Albatross, Frisky Pints and others have performed in metro cities as well.

No wonder then, international stars would rather play in the North East than in India’s big cities. On his maiden trip to India in 2007, Eric Martin, the voice of Mr Big, headed straight to Shillong where other bands like Firehouse and White Lion have played. Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, the current king of the royal house of Tripura and the man who brings international acts to Shillong, says: “It’s purely for the love of music. There is also a need to show that our region is capable of hosting world class shows. Also, the perception that the region is unsafe had to be removed, and what better way to do it than with packed stadiums?”

Strictly business

If there is a will, there is a way. And when Raja Sithlou and his wife Ahoi returned from a holiday in Thailand in 2006, they were decided. They would start ‘the McDonald’s of spas’. In 2008, the dream came true. The couple now run Oriental Senses at Select Citywalk mall in Delhi, a spa that offers luxurious services at affordable prices. “We saw a great business opportunity in introducing commendable services at affordable rates,” says Raja.

Ahoi trained in Asian massage therapies in Thailand and Indonesia, and now personally trains her staff who are mostly from the interiors of Manipur. “We wanted to do something which will directly help build skills and create employment opportunities for our people,” says Raja. And it helps that most of his staff are from the North East. “A lot of customers do come in thinking that the spa is run by Thais. It does make a difference if the therapist ‘looks’ like a Thai!”

As the head designer for an export house, Dodou Tunglut always wanted to start something of his own. In 2006 he chucked up his job and set up a studio manufacturing home furnishings. Today he caters to high-end boutiques in America and Europe. “People who are familiar with my work keep ordering more,” says Tunglut. As of now, he is researching the textiles of the North East. Mary Claire dived into designing out of sheer passion.

The Mizo, married to an Italian restaurateur, the owner of Delhi’s Flavors, is already making many trips to Europe to meet clients. But for someone who made her own dresses at the age of 12, this is only expected. Claire fuses North East handlooms with frills and adds stones and beads on table runners, mats, and head boards. “They are all sold out in Europe,” she says.

Lost and found

RhinoA few years ago, heading to the North East for a holiday would have been unthinkable. Forget the insurgency problems. There weren’t enough hotels! It was also difficult to get there. Now, there are more direct flights to the region than ever before. And accommodation? You are spoilt for choice. So tourist traffic to the North East has really taken off. Assam, for instance, had 36.7 lakh domestic arrivals in Assam in 2008. In 2010, it was 40.51 lakh.

"The region is clearly poised for a growth in economic activity, linked both to the huge tourism potential and the availability of resources, natural and human. Hence, we anticipate that the region will see a greater presence of branded hotels, going forward," says Prabhat Pani, CEO & director, Roots Corporation Limited.
Locals are also doing their bit. Take for instance Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman, the current king of the royal house of Tripura, who opened a heritage resort by converting his family’s summer home into a hotel, Tripura Castle, in Shillong. He is now adding a few more rooms, another restaurant and a spa.

“The market is growing. There is a definite demand for high-end hotels in places like Kaziranga,” says Subrto Sharma who invested in a luxury resort in a tea garden in Kaziranga. Says Rakesh Mathur, president of Welcomheritage which has a slew of properties in Jorhat, Sikkim, Arunachal and elsewhere, “It was only a question of time for us to promote the North East as a destination. The doors have opened and the time is ripe.”

Mayfair Hotels & Resorts has opened the region’s first luxury resort in Gangtok, complete with spa, helipad and casino. And ITDC, which owns two hotels in the region, is open to proposals for new hotels.

New star on the Culinary map

North east kitchenWhen 12-Michelin star chef Gordon Ramsay came to India to shoot a Great Escape episode, he headed to Nagaland and Assam. Two recipes, fish tenga, a sour fish curry from Assam, and Majuli fish cakes with tomato, another local dish, made it to his 100 favourite recipes from India. And when Italian slow food icon Carlos Pertini came to India, it was in Meghalaya that he bonded with locals over sumptuous pork curry and herbs and spices that he was surprised to see. "I have never had such delicious food," said Pertini.
There is something about the flavour from this region. Considered exotic anyway by gourmet gurus, the simple but healthy and flavourful food that uses natural spices and little oil is slowly finding takers. Celebrated chef Bill Marchetti for one, thinks the cuisine has huge potential.

So it’s no surprise to see Nagaland’s Kitchen, a 48-cover fine dining eatery right in the middle of Green Park Extension market in Delhi, vying for attention and customers with more established neighbourhood restaurants. Chubamanen Longkumar, all of 29, and his two sisters, owners of the restaurant, are more than confident that this venture will work. Why not? The siblings from Nagaland have already felt the pulse of locals with more than a decade of successfully running the buzzing Nagaland Kitchen at Delhi’s arts and crafts junction, Dilli Haat. They know that soon, their sumptuous smoked pork curry, Naga thali and other authentic dishes will find more converts. Since they first opened last October, their restaurant has attracted 60-70 diners a day.

So it’s not surprising that even five-star kitchens are intrigued by North Eastern cuisine. Take the Park in Delhi. It has incorporated a dish from Manipur in its coffee shop menu after a North East food promotion was held in the hotel. At the Oberoi in Gurgaon, executive chef Ravitej promises that their multicuisine restaurant threesixtyone will soon feature a smattering of North Eastern dishes too.

Ravitej was prompted to do this when one of his chefs, Siamsang from Manipur, asked him to sample a Manipuri dish. “It was tasty and different and I felt I could take it up to a commercial level,” he says. It will need initiation, though, he adds. Just like the Japanese and non-Schezwan Chinese food that were introduced in small doses. “We will use the same approach to promote North Eastern food,” he says.

And chef Praveen Anand of Chennai’s ITC Sheraton will soon hold a long-planned Brahmin Manipuri food festival in his restaurant. “It will be during navratra as I intend to serve only vegetarian dishes that are best prepared by the Manipuri Brahmins,” he says. “There are a number of connoisseurs in Chennai who would love to eat something new. In my research I realised that there is so much to unearth from the North East.”

Chef Sabyasachi Gorai of the Japanese restaurant, Ai in Delhi, knows this. He has been quietly sourcing his ingredients from there for half the price he would have paid in Japan. Organic blackberries, passionfruit, black mushrooms, flat bamboo leaves, black rice and more come from Shillong. Gorai vouches for the quality and freshness. “The North East is home to many interesting ingredients,” says Gorai.

Good sports

BhaichungCircumstances have made them fighters and winners in their chosen fields. Whether it is Mary Kom, three-time world champion, or gold medallist boxer Dhinko Singh or weightlifter Kunjarani Devi or soccer king Baichung Bhutia, they all say hard work was their mantra. "Whether it’s training, cooking or housework, Kom does everything with precision and perfection," says Kom’s husband Onler.

Soccer star Baichung Bhutia, the first Indian to play for a European team, believes the highest number of footballers in India come from the North East. “Football is bigger than cricket here,” he says. “Also, kids are much more energetic here and the weather is generally good for outdoor games.” To catch that talent, Bhutia’s newly-formed club, United Sikkim, will be perfect. “This is going to be the biggest and most professionally-run club in the country,” he says. “I see a lot of young talent all over India and this can be a platform for them.”

Literally speaking

And now, it seems the “most interesting voice in India” is from the North East. And VK Karthika, chief editor of HarperCollins India, is serious when she says that. Karthika is referring to Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih whose poetry has just been published by HarperCollins India. “He has a sophistication of thought and ideas which is combined with a very dramatic story-telling voice,” says Karthika. “We have not explored voices from the North East before.”

For a long time, writing from the North East remained confined to the region. Sometimes, it was because good writers did not necessarily write in English. Kynpham, 46, for instance, says that he has been writing in Khasi and English for more than two decades. But as translations take off, you’ll read more from the region. Zubaan, for instance, has translations from Assamese in their list.

For more than a decade, a group of writers under the North East Writers’ Forum has been meeting and encouraging its members to write. “And they are committed writers who write for the love of it and not necessarily to be published or with any political agenda,” says Karthika. “We have been getting good manuscripts.”

Preeti Gill, editor of Zubaan, says writing from the North East has a certain freshness and strength that compels the reader. “And to me, it presents a reality that many of us were unaware of till recently,” she says. “I see a certain truth, honesty, a brutal ‘reportage’, retelling of popular myths, of local histories, of community stories. It’s a very exciting area with rich literary traditions and there is much to be discovered.”

Zubaan has in fact held writers’ forums where writers from the North East have interacted with fellow writers from other states. Gill has personally built up Zubaan’s list of titles by travelling in the region and getting in touch with new writers through friends and associates.

India’s urban spaces lack playgrounds. And the few that we have, there are no formal norms with regard to running them.
ANALYSIS Updated: Jul 27, 2018 10:21 IST
Hoihnu Hauzel
One of the biggest concerns of urban Indian parents is keeping their children entertained in a safe environment. Every parent dreams of open spaces like a public garden or a park where their children can play. But that’s only a hypothetical proposition given that there is no thought spared for the 0-6 years group of children who constitute 29% of our 1.21 billion population. We don’t have an answer to basic questions like: Where are the parks for the children? Where are the playgrounds? And then, the most urgent question, where is the clean air?

All across the country, the lack of playgrounds has given rise to the mushrooming of indoor air-conditioned play areas, promoted by people whose sole agenda is to make profits. Safety and sanitary norms are not in place. From Surat to Mumbai, Bengaluru to Chennai, Kolkota to Gurugaram, parents are forced to herd their children into these air-conditioned play areas. The convenience of dropping your child off at such swank places that transport them to an instant wonderland come with a premium fee charged by the hour, and with extra cost for snacks. No doubt, it’s a fancy world where kids zipline, bungee jump, go on a mock veggie shopping expedition, jump on bouncy castles and pretend they are climbing mountains. The flip side, of course, is that most of these urban children will never know the joys of playing in open natural spaces under the sky.

Now play dates and birthday bashes are increasingly held at such venues as every requirement for the event is catered to. These have become thriving businesses across the country.
But behind this glitzy world is the danger waiting to happen. As safety rules are blatantly overlooked, there are many ambiguities even when it comes to the maximum number of children that play areas should accommodate at a time. This means greedy promoters can host, for example, private parties while simultaneously allowing children — to pay and play — with little concern for the venue's capacity limits. This is often the case in many play areas in Millennium City (Gurugram). And lack of rules to ensure specified space for running such businesses often means dingy basements are converted into brightly lit play areas with no ventilators or exit routes, except the same narrow staircases that lead to the venue.

Paediatricians fear that such places could be breeding grounds for infection and allergies. And if children are not supervised by trained staff, they could suffer sports injuries. Even the food standard and quality are questionable in most of these places. While there are rules for creche facilities in the country, norms with regard to running play areas are yet to be formalised. If the required space specified for a child in a creche is six to eight square feet to allow the child enough room to play and rest without any disturbances, what should the rule for play areas be? For the sake of India’s young population, it’s about time authorities realise the need for formulating rules for running play areas and giving children their childhood back.

Hoihnu Hauzel is an independent journalist and founder www.northeastodyssey.com

The views expressed are personal
Hindustan Times, Friday, Jul 27, 2018
https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/open-playgrounds-would-be-a-boon-for-children/story-XWru6Wn7CvSdzdwmdoCgTO.html