Khowai Times – A new beginning

Coming back to the blog after two years of sabbatical is almost embarrassing. Firstly, I wasn’t writing such long pieces of masterly writing to deserve a sabbatical. And secondly, I was being plain lazy to write.

However, a few weeks back, another lazy friend encouraged me to start writing again. I tried to procrastinate as much as I could, but finally gave in to the advise. That makes me a better friend than a better writer.

Anyways, three years have passed. I have changed locations, met unique people along the way, learning from them and laughing and crying with them. I will like to think that I have grown personally and professionally in these years. But that will be better told by the people who have known me across the years. I sincerely hope they have all the positive things to say about me.

But what I’ll say in this blog is about the place I am currently situated in. Khowai. A small town in the far-off state of Tripura.

Many people still don’t know what Tripura is and it is would be near-impossible for me to believe that anyone besides the Tripura-ites and those posted here (like me) would know about Khowai. But let me take this opportunity to introduce a new town located in the corner of the North-Eastern state which is also situated at the last end of the eight states of the North-East.

Khowai is named after the Khowai river which passes through the district. It is neither a Kokborok nor some other tribal language word. It is a sleeping town of around four lakh people (I am from Delhi, so I would count this as a sleeping town). There are many peculiar facts about this place, like it is the cultural capital of Tripura, it was settled by Upendranath Roy, surrounded by two hill ranges etc.

However, my blog is mostly based on my experience of my place rather than on facts, which could be easily obtained through Google also. I came to this place on 17^th September, in anticipation of my first posting. And being a fan of small places (irony, here), I got endeared to the place. And to the people.

I like people of small towns. The fast-paced, consumerist lifestyle hasn’t caught up with them yet. They are in a stage of transition. Adapting to the changes around them. But the hospitality and spirit of community, as seen in a village, remains. Khowai is similar. In a stage of transformation. Amenities of city getting developed, but the spirit of village remains.

The other thing I love about not just this place, but the whole state is greenery. I grew in a concrete jungle but very close to trees (albeit few). When I see greenery around me, it makes me feel rooted. It brings a sense of familiarity. A smile on my face. A delight. And so seeing the trees, the lush farms melting into the blue of the sky with sometimes the red sun of the dusk adding to the element, makes my day. Another thing which completes this mosaic is water. Water of ponds, rivers and rain. It enlivens the green and my mood. It makes me feel a little less lonely. A little less away from home.

My journey in Khowai has just started but the natural beauty of Tripura I am already enchanted with. And one thing I came to realise about myself- give me a view of nature, and I am home.