On Road In North East India-5

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: One of the things I am attracted to in any city, town or village is the film posters. It has a lot to do with my childhood surrounding. One, Chennai, erstwhile Madras, was renowned for posters and cutouts of politicians and filmstars. Secondly, my neighbour (Kanagasabhai) was in the business of pasting posters of Tamil and English films on city walls and political election meeting schedules. Strangely, this gentleman was associated with a leading DMK leader's family, but jolly well undertaken pasting posters for Congress, the main  rival party in late 1960s and early 1970s. Late MGR was still DMK at that time.

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Lonely at the top only? No.Even at the pyramid's bottom. This elderly carpenter, Parmanand Sahai, has arrived at this spot like any other day, scouting for business. He's confident, he would be gainfully employed for the day like any other day. Be patient. Why sitting alone and not with other masons and carpenters a few hundred yards away? "Did I enter this world in group? Or am I going to leave this world in group?" asks he rhetorically.

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Siri Kitika Dass, in a remote Kamrup village, refuses to reveal her age. "You want to marry me? .... Or you want me as your daughter in law, Chachu?," asks she boldly while trying to restrain six month old calf that is running helter-skelter and keen that it should also appear in this photo frame in vain. 

On Road In North East India-4

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Plucking flowers from roadside on a cloudy October end morning. Gently asked her, what is the name of the flower. She shot back: "Bhagwan bhi nahi poochta hai!"  (Even God does not ask!). A few seconds later, she adds: "How does it matter?" I used to accompany my maternal grandma on her daily morning flower collection (pavazha malli, nandya vattai, chembaruthi etc in Teachers' Colony and Sripuram near Lloyds Road, Chennai) in childhood. Sweet memories.

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Whether this gentleman needs a morning walk or not, Carlos & Genie - six month old Labradors - definitely require one. These two names made me rewound linking Carlos with the notorious international terrorist (Remember Frederick Forsythe's Day Of The Jackal!) and Genie, another fictional dog made famous by the most celebrated Tamil writer Sujata, who is no more.

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Absar Khan, from Bihar, when returns home, has earned Rs.300 for the day. This kabaddiwallah's (buys waste paper, empty cartons, empty bottles etc at your doorstep and sells for waste recycling) day starts at 5 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Monsoon season is a little tough. Otherwise, life is smooth, says he. Before we part, he says, 'Don't mistake for a ragpicker!"

Cheers

On Road In North East India-3

NORTH NOTEPAD: The Assam Tribune is the most trusted and venerable English daily in this region. But a dull and boring newspaper. Times of India is thinner than the waist of the slimmest catwalker. Even thinner than its Classified sections in  Delhi/Mumbai editions. The Sentinel is much talked about, but have not seen in people's hands or in newsstands much. Seven Sisters Post is laughed away as the paper meant for people passing through Guwahati airport! Telegraph is definitely a better option with a separate Guwahati pull out. "If your news has not appeared in Tribune, then the incident has not happened!" says a senior bureaucrat in the Assam government. That's the kind of clout AT enjoys. I wish every Tribune in every country/region enjoys that reputation!

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Monalisa Borakoty is an ex-colleague and a TV/print journalist worked with me in early 2000s in Delhi. She did a 2 years' MBA from Singapore University, came back with a lot of hopes to switch profession. Circumstances beyond her control uprooted this young and charming do-gooder from Delhi and sent her back to her hometown, Guwahati. This single mother with a 6 year old daughter has settled down as Regional Head for a financial multiproduct enterprise. Yes, she does miss Dwarka, her abode in Delhi for almost a decade. Does she like to be back in national capital? Nope. Family first. God bless you, Mona!

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: What am I offered when I visit the Horticulture department of Assam government? A bunch of bananas. "Absolutely nectar! You will not get it anywhere in the world. Unique variety," tells officials while thrusting the bunch into my hands. Tempted to finish off th entire bunch, but the image of my spouse Kala Ramesh dangles before my eyes who will kill me even if I am seen with bananas. It is strictly a 'no-no' as a diabetic. Yet, I take a bite to please my hosts. Have I not tasted similar bananas in my hometown, Tamilnadu? Yes. India, incidentally, is the largest producer of banana. Remembered Prashanti Pandit's witty and imaginary dialogue that opens my forthcoming "Naked Banana!" Yes PP, bananas never feel 'lonely' because they hang in bunches!

On Road in North East India-2

NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: Beedi/cigarette and paan vendor Sambhu and tea vendor Sankeshwar, from Bihar, have been in this spot - Paltan Bazaar, a stone's throw away from Guwahati railway terminus, for over 20 years. Business has been excellent and never thought of returning to home. "Lallu or Nitesh in the saddle does not make much difference," they argue. Daily, they set shop around 3 a.m. that is when passengers alighting at railway station troop out to catch mini-cabs, buses to other parts of northeast and close shop around 11 p.m.

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NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: In Assam and not taking notice of the much celebrated film director Jon Barua? Well, here is a film poster of his latest offering. Can't read this Assamese title, but the English translation reads "Waves of Silence". A theatre nearby screens this flick. Will I watch it? Dunno.
It is running at a nearby theatre. Will I watch it? Dunno

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NORTHEAST NOTEPAD: What's this man upto? He's making boats out of banana trunks. For whom? I ask. For you and anyone. What for? To cross the samsara sagar (ocean of life) with less hurdle, devotees offer these boats to the Devi mandir nearby. It costs Rs.50 per piece.

Enough for this morning....

Cheers

On Road in North East India-1

It all began almost 18 months ago when I was questioned by a senior bureaucrat in Government of India that my travels on Indian highways were in easy-to-travel mainland.

"Have you done it in the north east?" was the moot question and the trigger for the trip am embarking on today (28 October 2012/Sunday).

Naturally, I was stung.

Had never crossing Kolkota in the east and hence even Guwahati is alien to me.

The senior bureaucrat kept poking me.

Gutless?

Seven sisters (Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh) were never new to know.

Almost a decade ago, I did a project for National Informatics Centre (NIC), Govt of India, when late Pramod Mahajan was handling the IT portfolio in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government.

Under NIC, I was 'site-mapping' for CIC being established in all these states. Harjeek Kakkar (now running VHire4u.com from Bangalore) was the biggest support that time.

That is when I trawled on the cyber highway to read about north east earnestly.

I had several colleagues from north east: Angana Barali at TVI and Mona Lisa @ Investors India.

Beautiful people. And brilliant too.

Once the fire has been lit about northeast, I began quizzing 3PLs and transporters about their interest and how they serve this region. Heard a lot of gory tales from everyone.

Transporters, who became my closeknit friends, told me: "You proceed. We are with you!".

Automotive OEMs were also pushing their vehicles with a vengeance into this region. My association with London-based Automotive Logistics & Finished Vehicle Logistics magazines also helped me to pursue this area.

It was also the same time, Vipul Nanda, Chairman of Mercurio Pallia Logistics who was instrumental in getting my maiden book, 10,000 KM on Indian Highways (www.10000kmonindianhighways.com), established his Guwahati branch and a standing invite to his new perch from where he services the entire north east, provided the extra and fresh fillip.

Last, but not the least, is the recent induction in the Government of India's National Committee on Supply Chain & Logistics, under the Ministry of Agriculture.

As Member of this Committee, I have been asked to visit cold supply chain infrastructure (beyond cold storage facilities) to gain fresh perspective on post harvest marketing of agri-produce from this region.

Transport, Highways, Marketing etc. all rolled into one 30-day, 7 state trip on road.

Plus the biggest attraction is by the time I complete this north east trip, I would  have completed fresh 10,000 KM on Indian highways in this calendar year (January 2012 onwards)!

Already done 8,500 km on highways in trucks only.

North east will provide opportunity for me to finish the balance 1,500 km.

Yes,  Yes.... This will provide fresh inputs for my forthcoming book, An Affair With Indian Highways to be released sometime in Feb/March 2013.

In a few hours from now, I will be on this trip.

By sunset, I should be in Guwahati, my first halt.

Will keep blogging during this trip.

Of course, I will continue to use @konsultramesh (my twitter handle) and linkedin (www.linkedin.com/in/rameshkoman) to help you about fresh updates and quick comments/views.

Cheers