April 2001 exactly a year after our wedding , in fact on our
first anniversary, we are on a train going east. Both of us had taken a month
off and we were heading to Arunachal Pradesh.
2001 does not sound too long ago , but that’s pre cell phone
era and most of our correspondence with our friends and contacts there were delivered by a postman.
The train journey was not much to write about . Our plane from Calcutta
A jeep took us to Vivekanand Kendra , Dibrugarh , set on the
banks of the Bramhaputra. We spent a nice evening on the terrace there ,
watching the mighty river flow by.
Everyone here has a story about the great river . Some years ago this very building started getting phone calls from schools up stream in Arunachal about flooding. After every call , people watched out of the windows and sensed nothing different. Few hours later the whole of the first floor was under water. This is the story that welcomed us here . And we were not even in Arunachal yet.
Everyone here has a story about the great river . Some years ago this very building started getting phone calls from schools up stream in Arunachal about flooding. After every call , people watched out of the windows and sensed nothing different. Few hours later the whole of the first floor was under water. This is the story that welcomed us here . And we were not even in Arunachal yet.
Whatever the distance to be traveled, no one here starts off
on an empty stomach , simply because they
just don’t know when they will reach .
We left in the jeep . Ram from the Vivekanand kendra was to accompany us to the school at Sunpura.
We left in the jeep . Ram from the Vivekanand kendra was to accompany us to the school at Sunpura.
Some rain and some flat tires later , we were at Sadiya Ghat
to cross the Bramhaputra. The Bramhaputra changes course often so a few
kilometers before the river is a
wasteland . A sandy desert with hidden dangers . We went past a number of jeeps
and buses stuck in the sand.
The ferry was at the jetty so we were spared the wait. The ferry was actually two diesel powered wooden launches tied together with coir rope. On planks laid across the two boats, were a minibus, a car , a few bikes and lots of people.
The ferry was at the jetty so we were spared the wait. The ferry was actually two diesel powered wooden launches tied together with coir rope. On planks laid across the two boats, were a minibus, a car , a few bikes and lots of people.
We reached the other side after two and a half hours. A bus
was waiting to take us ahead. It was waiting four kilometers away. We walked
through the sand .
Whatever the situation , people here always find something to be thankful for. We were thankful that we were carrying rucksacks not suitcases and it was not raining.
Whatever the situation , people here always find something to be thankful for. We were thankful that we were carrying rucksacks not suitcases and it was not raining.
Two more bus changes later we were at the border post to
present our Inner Line Permit. The various busses had all been so jam packed,
we had not seen any landscape from the windows. We had just stolen some
glimpses of rolling plains and fields. Every where in Assam
Across the gate , Arunachal had a completely different energy to offer us. Tall trees , clean air, bird chirping and no policemen with guns all around.
Across the gate , Arunachal had a completely different energy to offer us. Tall trees , clean air, bird chirping and no policemen with guns all around.
The bus left us at the school gate . VKV Sunpura was going to be our home for the
next ten days.
A train , a plane, jeep , boat , a long walk and four busses later , we had finally arrived . We were lucky they said . Sometimes , a tractor , an elephant or simply a few more days are added to the list.
A train , a plane, jeep , boat , a long walk and four busses later , we had finally arrived . We were lucky they said . Sometimes , a tractor , an elephant or simply a few more days are added to the list.
:) nostalgic!
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