An Immigrants Tale.

So, my friend, your predictions did come true. My plane from Delhi to Brussels had many Punjabees even though the seat next to me remained empty. I could only thank God that there were no crying babies and no harassed mothers sitting next to me!
Then, at the Brussels airport, I almost lost my watch at the security check-in where they literally abused our bodies, removed our shoes and checked our wallets, I was lucky enough to get it back from one of their offices after I went back searching for it. I thought somebody had snitched it, having suffered the agony of more than 8 hours journey, 3 hours wait at the Delhi airport and scepticism borne of being brought up in India. I really sweated it out there because it was my late father's watch I was wearing!
My journey from Brussels to Toronto took another 9 hours or so but it was memorable. I had a 79 year old half Belgian, half Canadian White villager sitting next to me and he simply entertained me throughout with some interesting quotes and stories about his countries. Again, I thanked God that it was not some old senile lady but a fairly wise old man who enlightened me with old wisdom!
As soon as we landed in Pearson International Airport after an agonizing few moments of turbulence and memories of the ill fated Air India Flight flying from Canada, as we flew over a vast lake Ontario, I was glad to be on ground. It was announced that the airport was voted as the best one in the world by some authority. I was amazed to see very few planes and a deserted looking airport. It gave me a sense of deja vu. It reminded me of a thought I had when I went to Chandigarh for my IELTS test. I had imagined Canada to resemble the empty and impersonal streets and buildings of Chandigarh and my nightmares were finally confirmed. It really looked empty, spaced out and impersonal as hell. I knew my clocks were ticking for my return journey.
My new experiences continued as I passed through a sterile protocol of security and custom check by smartly dressed police personals, mostly women of different origins and men who dressed like soldiers in some PC games. I began to feel like an immigrant and was treated as one. However, I had joined a fraternity of immigrant insecurities with one of my back seat passengers, a young chap who was also suffering the same agony as I, a first time immigrant and a first time travelling to West from Faridabad. We became friends and held on to each other like lifeline with a sense of Indian brotherhood, made stronger only when we are out of our own country.
Fortunately, my friend did turn up and drove me away from the massive airport and I remained seated in her Honda, with a sense of uninspiring awe and apprehension, because I did not see a single soul walking on the roads, even after we left the Highway. From that moment till now, I have seen, eaten and mixed only with Chinese and Asian people and I have seen, perhaps only 10/15 white people here in Canada. What a turn off!
So, you can expect me back soon enough and you will not miss me much even though, I have decided to complete my paperwork and join a three day tour as a tourist before heading back to my crowded, dirty, poor but very real India. Jai Hind!
Anand.

How an officer celebrate Indian Republic Day in Imphal?

Today is 25th January, 2009. It is 10.40 p.m. and just few hours away from India remembering its Republic Day. Few hours from now on, another day will dawn as one of the most auspicious day for every Indian. 26th January, 2009 will be celebrated as the Republic Day of India like every year. Or is it so for every Indian?
The big question is, " Who is every Indian?" or rather Who is a true Indian? Behind the glorious facade of India and its magnificience, its unity in diversity is being questioned in the remote areas of North East and also in the Northern tip.
For a district government officer, it acquires a whole new perspective. Every year on this day, the whole of North East insurgents declare a public bandh. As a result, for lesser souls who are not provided safety and security, the only alternative is to stay the 25th January night in the office. All the arrangements are made by each individual for their own comfort. They bring their warm clothes and other necessities to spend the night so that they are able to attend the State Function, failing which they are warned of dire consequences through various types of government orders. The celebration is another case! No civilians attend except the officials and the security people in almost all the places. The irony of the situation is such that just the day before the Republic Day, Imphal becomes like a fortress, with barricades and police frisking in almost every corner of the city. This is how we celebrate our Republic Day of India in Imphal, Manipur.