Shillong The abode of clouds

Northeast India is known by its scenic beauty. The land of mystic magical beauty overcasts its spell on every nature lover. It has every essence to feed your soul. The tranquility and remoteness of this virgin landscape attracts every one with open arm. The North east region possess the magnificent Himalayan peaks which adorn its beauty, mighty rivers, green valleys, deep dark gorges and rare species of plants and animals. Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram are the states, which complete the beauty of Northeastern India. Shillong, Meghalaya’s capital and also the district headquarters of East Khasi Hills District, lies on the eastern part of the state. Situated on a plateau at an altitude of 1,520 m above sea level, Shillong is bounded by Umiam gorge in the north, Diengiei Peak in the northwest, and the hills of the Assam valley in the northeast. Shillong is one of the most beautiful cities of North East and is also referred to as the "Scotland of the East" due to its striking similarity with the Scottish highlands. It used to be the capital of Assam from 1874 to 1972. Shillong is located at an altitude of 1496 meters above sea level in the hills of eastern sub-Himalayas. The city is blessed with temperate climate all year long. This makes it a favorable holiday destination. It makes a perfect destination to unwind amidst simplicity and natural beauty. You can feel rejuvenated by visiting the place.
Set at an altitude of 4, 908 feet above the sea level, angelic green Shillong got its name from the local tribal deity Leishyllong, who supposedly resides on the Shillong Peak - the highest point in Shillong, located at a height of 1, 965 meters above the sea level. According to popular legend Leishyllong sits at the highest point of this dense green Eastern Himalayan paradise and guards the sun washed city below from ill luck and unwanted invaders. This hill station is connected by a long road in between high hills and deep elevations with the rest of the country through Guwahati, Silchar and Garo Hills. The nearest airport is at Umroi, 30 km. from Shillong, which connects this lovely city by air with the rest of the country.

The way to Shillong:

National Highway 44 connects Shillong with cities such as Guwahati and Silchar. 35 km from the city, at Umroi there is an airstrip suitable for small aircrafts. The nearest airport and railway station is at Guwahati in Assam. The preferred options of travelling to Shillong are in a car or in a MTDC bus (Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation) from Guwahati. The journey imbibes a fresh feeling of a union with nature as one rides through the tree lined roads. In the four hour ride one can see the great “Barapani” lake.

The spectacles of Shillong:

The highest point of Shillong is the Shillong peak at 1965 meters above the sea level and about 10 km from the city itself. On a clear fogless day it provides a spectacle of an eagle’s view of the city. It takes your breath away. The spiritual pastor of Mylliem State offers prayers at the sanctum during Spring. If the view of the human abode below is breathtaking during daytime, then the view at night is awe inspiring. The city and other dwelling lights render an almost ethereal aura.

Wards Lake is a century old lake is set amidst beautiful surroundings. The story behind the origin of the lake goes like this. A Khasi prisoner, bored with the penitentiary routine requested the warden for some creative release by permitting him to create some construction over the Wards Lake. He was permitted to do so and what stands today is a marvelous site of the Wards Lake or Polok's Lake as the locals prefer to call it. This century old picturesque (horseshoe-shaped) artificial lake lying beneath the Raj Bhavan (Governor's Residence) is located at the heart of the city and is extremely popular for its garden walks and boating. The lake is chock-full of fish it's a common sight to see tourists feeding fish from the bridge. The lake is encircled by a winding walk-way and is inter spread with gently sloping flowerbeds and innovative illumination, edged in by luxuriant greens. There is a beautiful garden jest nearby, which is called as The Botanical Garden. As the name suggests, various trees and plants complement it to the fullest.

Situated in Shillong is also, Lady Hydari Park named after the wife of Sir Akhbari Hydari, the first Indian Governor of Assam. Spread over four hectares area, Lady Hydari Park is eye-catching with roses and blossoms of exquisite colors. A specialty is that this park is landscaped in Japanese style. Mini zoos coupled with a deer park add to the charm of the park. There are about 73 birds, 140 reptiles and mammals in this zoo.

Crinoline Falls, Gunner’s Falls, Spread Eagle Falls or Sati Falls, Sweet Falls, Elephant Gait, Elephant Falls, and Beadon Falls are the major water falls.
The Elephant Falls located just outside the Shillong city at a distance of approx 10 kilo meters provides a unique sight wherein the water column carves out its way and surrenders to gravity at two successive locations. The gigantic stream accumulated just at the pinnacle comes crashing down the terrain and rebounds only to cover a short distance and once again leap into a daunting gorge. The very sight of natural pandemonium is enough to make one miss a heartbeat and leap with joy. The surrounding basin sheltered by the sky like green vegetation provides a perfect backdrop to this enchanting picnic spot.
Smack in the middle of the Shillong city is another natural splendor. The Crinoline Falls cascading down the luxuriant woodland create a graceful waterfall. The pool created by the fall has been creatively carved out to serve as a well sustained Swimming Pool. A dip in this pool is a foregone conclusion for the allure of the lagoon would drag and float the most ardent watch babies. The pool is perennially abounded with screeching hordes outdoing each other and feasting on the nature's bounty. An attached restaurant provides relief for the tired spirits and the adjacent area nourishes the heart with some soul stirring cultural programs.
The Bishop's Waterfall is often referred to as the twin brother of the Beadon Waterfall since both tumble down the same escarpment into a yawning gorge. As the gushing stream of water plunges and crashes into a cavernous lagoon the sprinkled droplets create a mystic rainbow that stretches across the spectrum. The emerald pool formed at the bottom is inviting and it's a fantastic idea to trek up or down the hills along the stream discovering the marvels of nature. Although a few hotels and local vendors offer grub for the famished do not expect a five star spread from these simple souls who are untouched from the mean grasps of bottom lines and profits.
The normal trends of Indian waterfalls do not apply to the unique waterfalls in Meghalaya. These waterfalls are almost always at their full glory and rarely dry up or become a trickle as is the case with rest of the waterfalls. The Beadon waterfall is surrounded by verdant forests from every side and the sight of the creamy torrent gushing down almost a 100 feet and crush the resilient rocks below is awe inspiring. The clear water stream and the picturesque surroundings make for a memorable sight. The sight is always in demand and provides an excellent opportunity to relax and enjoy a half day trek cum picnic with the entire family. An operational hydroelectric powerhouse is situated at the base of the falls.
Considered to the first 18 hole Golf Course in India the Shillong Golf Club (an altitude of 5200 ft) is any Putters dream come true. The Shillong Golf Course is sometimes equated with "Glen-eagle Course" in the United States because of its beauty and unique location. The Golf Course is picturesquely set amidst pine trees and rhododendron bushes. The course initiated as a 9 (nine) hole course in 1898 was later converted into a full fledged 18 hole course by Capt Jackson in 1924. This enchanting Golfing paradise is also often visited for the enormous panoramic view it presents of the Shillong city and against the backdrop of snow-covered Himalayan ranges.

Shillong :the city
The romantic city of Shillong has been one of the important tourist destinations of the North East. Lying in the cradle of the tall pine conifers and pineapple shrubs, Shillong's undulating terrain is a constant source of attraction for tourists from both home and abroad. One will probably arrive at Police Bazaar in the heart of the city, where most of the hotels are located. This is where the main buzz occurs, including a market where you can buy local products from the emporiums and roadside stalls. Although small, the market offers a wide range of things including dresses, shoes, accessories, warm clothes and bamboo crafts. The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribes add color to this Hill City. The Khasis are probably the only matriarchal society in the north-east. Interestingly in Shillong the bridegroom leaves his parents and goes to stay in the bride’s house to stay after marriage, something that would shock and stir the Hindu majority of the country!

INDIA- the super power

All the hype about India being the next 21st century world power has been played around with many a time by economists and common men alike. The tagline “India an emerging economy” sounds perfect at the start of the news peg. But in my notion world leadership is extremely archaic. By what measure do we recognize the honorand? If it is population India is on course to top china by the year 2034. Is it military strength? We have the world’s fourth largest army. Is it nuclear power? We know we have that and the Americans have even recognized it in a recent agreement. In terms of economy we have the 5th largest economy in the world in purchasing power terms and we continue to grow. But somehow none of these quite add up to what India can really aim to contribute to the world in the 21st century. It is the combination of these things added to something else- the power of example, the attraction of India’s culture, what is known as soft power. In the city, our friendly neighborhood grocery stores have been replaced by the Spencer’s and the Big Bazaars, our “chayer dokan” has been replaced by a Café Coffee Day Express stall. And to most of us that’s a pleasant change, a sign that India is finally living its potential. India represents an economic opportunity on a massive scale, both as a global base and as a domestic market. Indian consumer markets are changing fast, with rapid growth in disposable incomes, the development of modern urban lifestyles, and the emergence of the kind of trend-conscious consumers that India has not seen in the past. For most multi-national corporations and foreign enterprises India means a large populated market to sell goods and almost all reputed international companies have ventured into India and have got the taste of the local people and their psyche. All are joining the bandwagon and it is a big profit making opportunity for these corporations. While consumers across the world are seeing a growing number of “Made in India” labels on the goods they buy, Indian shoppers are witnessing a more subtle change. Increasingly, multinational companies are selling products that are not just made in — but that are made for — India. Entire generations of Indian consumers, who once felt grateful simply for being able to experience the same brands as the rest of the world, are now realizing they can ask for products that cater to their wants and needs. And they stand a good chance of getting what they want.

Things have changed. As Indian consumers became more aware of trends and advancements in technology, they began to demand similar sophistication. More important, they wanted products built to their needs. That meant not just automobiles, household appliances and consumer electronics, but also mobile phones, foods and apparel. “Earlier, there was a reverence for anything foreign because local products were of terrible quality,” says Abraham Koshy, professor of marketing at the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA)

An American cosmetic manufacturer conducted a survey by handing out its lipsticks (without the brand name) to housewives. Half the sticks carried a "Made in USA" label while the rest said "Made in India". The first lot received no product complaint while the latter received several. So the aura around foreign brands obviously exists.
When it entered the market four years back, Baskin Robbins advertised its 31-flavour super range. Priced at Rs. 35 a scoop (when local brands cost a fifth), the ice-cream found few takers. Today, at about Rs 25, sales are picking up.
Revlon priced its lipsticks at around Rs 200 initially when Lakme cost a fourth. After slashing prices to about Rs 95, Revlon today shares 70 per cent of the premium range market with Lakme.

Obviously, many Indians are willing to pay more for foreign brands. The crux is the price-value equation that the consumer works out in his head, consciously or unconsciously, every time he surveys his options. And here, the Indian is turning out to be savvier than all the imported statistical marketing models and jargon-dripping theories would have it. "Indian consumers are very mature and smart in estimating value for his money," feels Ashit Mallick, director, AIMS Research.
The yesterday luxuries have become today’s necessities. There is heavy western influence seen on urban middle and upper class. People have become more conscious about their looks and there is a growth of beauty parlors, beauticians and health clubs. The middle class is much interested in buying the dresses and brands by the multinationals. Bulk purchasing seems to be the order of the day with purchasing becoming a week end affair. The current trend seen is that the consumers prefer to buy things from hyper stores and super markets.
Abraham Koshy adds, “As the market developed, the focus started shifting from the product to the brand. Customers started patronizing a brand only if the product suited them. So the need arose for companies to adjust their products to customers’ requirements.”
Across most of the world, Nestlé’s Maggi is known best as a soups-and-sauces brand. In India, it has become the generic word for instant noodles. The product sold in India, though, bears little resemblance to the ramen of East Asia. It was introduced in 1982 with a masala (spicy) flavoring and, over the next 25 years, Nestlé continued to launch variants that would appeal to local and regional tastes. Of course, they weren’t all equally successful, and the masala variant continues to be Maggi’s best seller.
Shoppers Stop came out with what I feel was the perfect summation, “Consumers are evolving entities. Their aspirations and expectations are continuously changing. Today’s shoppers are more intelligent, discerning and tuned to their individual preference. They are increasingly fashion and brand conscious and select labels which define who they are or who they want to be.”

So when you see the local grocery deserted and the “istri walla” missing do not look surprised. Hold the rapid transmogrification of India responsible. Now if you ask me is it good or bad, I will have to give you an uneasy stare and say “I don’t know”. In spite of all the glorious developments we can observe as facts, India still continues to be a third world nation with not a respectable GDP or anything to show for itself in reality. Most villages in India might have electricity, some of the farmers might carry stylish mobile phones playing Bollywood numbers when they ring but what cannot escape our eyes are the ugly images of the poverty stricken, illiterate and unemployed Indian famished in more ways than one. The insurrections that we see in the forested areas of eastern India, although heinous, strike a conscience for the antisocial somewhere because no matter how much we gloat in the resplendent glory of snazzy headlines like “resurgent India” we cannot wash our hands of the failure of the Indian government to alleviate the treachery faces by the people in the lowest strata of the Indian economy. Police or farmers being brutally assaulted (read: gunned down or blown away or both) every day does not reflect a 21st century super power. Farmer suicides, rotting food grains meant for the poor due to lack of storage space (yes that was the reason cited by Mr. Pawar, the Indian… ooops! the ICC president and the president of the BCCI) is not something you would like to see either. It is time India forgot about the race with China to the cover of the Time magazine and focused on undoing the wrongs or at least attempting to. Till then “India the super power” is more fiction than fact.

The shoddy bit of rainfall that ruined it. Look at me; this is the life I chose. I’m dreaming when I should dream to wake up from the disillusion. Better watch the sun go down than see myself in the mirror. I have got to walk away. It has demented my thoughts it’s emending what I knew and what could be. It’s the wrong religion. Then she said as she passed by in the darkness, “I’m here to stay, don’t be afraid”. And I woke up.

The "R" word and us

It’s not fiction, for I didn't make up all of it. Neither is it quite faithful journalizing, nor does it have nothing to do with literature. Well I can possibly call it a letter. Of the sort I used to write to unknown, fictional people I loved to share my feelings and thoughts, before we walked away and became cooler and forgot everything. Well, most of it.

On my trip back from London on the airplane along with the other passengers were two particular passengers who seemed to draw an enormous amount of unwanted and unfavorable attention. A young woman and her child. The child seemed different physically from the “normal” children. Short of stature, a slightly larger head, unique facial characteristics, different from the larger section of “normal” children. Though I did not think so, this difference in appearance mattered to a great extent to my co-passengers as they stared and talked in hushed voices, making pitied sounds very obviously directed at the child. She hated this uncalled for attention. The child was obviously going through some discomforts which made it whither and cry, it sobbed helplessly and its caterwaul pierced everyone’s ears. She tried to shield her child; took it in her arms. The child did not like it. It burst out in tears, this time only louder. The young mother’s discomfort was evident as she helplessly tried to console her child. The wailings grew louder as it rang through the airplane. But they, the rest of the people on board, seemed oblivious to the discomfort of the mother. The passengers shook their head and spoke among themselves with an air of nonchalance. Almost as if it was not happening and after they got off, it had never happened. Some of them were considering the option of helping but it did not seem a very good one probably, for they did not help. A section of the passengers did sympathize with the woman but that was the most they did. They never acted upon the messages from the heart. Probably their brains forbid them. This ruckus amidst all the quiet around her unnerved the mother; she struggled to put her child back to sleep. She felt the prick of the stares that besieged her from all around, accompanied by the occasional grumble probably depicting impatience. As the wailings grew louder and the mood of the co passengers changed from pity to annoyance as they complained to each other in muffled voices. They seemed to think the mother could not handle her child well enough and how apt they were themselves when they had a child to handle. This scrutiny unnerved the mother, she struggled to put her child back to sleep. She felt the prick of the critical stares that besieged her from all around, accompanied by the occasional grumble and hissing sounds depicting impatience. She felt as if she had committed a crime, she deprived her co passengers of a quiet trip back to Mumbai, she had tread upon their slumber denied them their very right which would alleviate them from the trauma of listening to the shrieking cries of an abnormal child who demanded little tolerance in this world. That is how she felt and that is what she thought. It was all her fault. They made her think so. They opined, the scrutinized, they judged, they criticized, they denounced her, a few pitied her, yet none attempted to help. Not one among the large number flexed a couple of their precious motor muscles and made an effort to lend a helping hand to the befuddled mother who knew little to do. She needed the help, some assistance in whatever form.

I wondered then as I wonder now - is it the child’s deformity that prevented the passengers from helping or was it generally our attitude to live and let die. In case the latter holds true then it is a sad reflection of what society and its inhabitants have degraded to. This air of nonchalant ambiguous individualisticgestures exhibited, stand as a direct contradiction of the primary norms of social behavior and renders futile the guiding spirit of human beings, humanity. Did they shudder at the thought of being called nosey? Was it a deliberate safety precaution to exhibit that air of cool, that unperturbed poker-face, while the young mother was so distressed? But I seem to think it’s not the case. It is more of a self imposed social behavioral pattern that forbids us from walking up to someone and offering to help. It is a trend of self-consciousness that denies us of acts of generosity, that humane touch, the basic foundation of human beings. I question myself and find no answers. Would it have ruined anyone’s reputation or harmed any one in any possible way? I can not think of any such possibilities that should be a palisade to join a movement of mutual respect and human dignity. It would have been a grass-roots effort to raise awareness of the impact of the thoughtless, hurtful actions so often carried out by us. That child was a special child and any implication of the “R” word should have been vehemently condemned and I am sure that certain ominous afflictive word was used in that plane multiple times by multiple people and it had it’s effect on people. This general lack of altruistic behavior is astounding, and even more astounding is the fact that we are satisfied enough with our unnerving ways so as to not check ourselves in front of a poor helpless young woman on the plane having a turbulent time already, who would be more than just comforted by a simple act of generosity and who would obviously be more than just hurt to hear her own child being called a retard.. Just a simple offer to hold the baby for a moment, would have refreshed the young woman. She needed that consolation. That would at least to a certain degree symbolize positive attitude and a commitment to make the world a more accepting place for all people. I firmly believe there should be some measures taken devoted to educating and raising awareness of the positive impact individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have in our communities and why the use of the R-word is hurtful, even in casual conversation. That would at least to a certain degree symbolize positive attitude change and a commitment to make the world a more accepting place for all people. Maybe that would do away the awkward stares and hush-hush conversations.