Retro Town

Retro Town is city located restaurant which is newly opened at Sixmile, Guwahati. The restaurant is a must for food lovers in the city. It is also the right hunt for party animals.

The theme of the restaurant alluringly draws the traces of the glorious gone-by era that has been shrouded in people’s memories. The entrance itself has beautifully decorated old jeep steering wheel, a saxophone, cassette player, a typewriter and a telephone. These things which have been replaced by modern gizmos take you back to antiquity. The restaurant is a paradise for indoor game lovers featuring a pool table and a carom table. The ambience is often thrilled by live bands playing classic rock and pop. The dais of the restaurant is open for young and blooming bands of the city giving the crowd a chance to hear to the upcoming bands live. There is also a dance floor for people who love to shake themselves a bit to the live music. There are lots of places around to go for a click or a selfie.

The entrance to  the restaurant

As the door opens

As you walk ahead from the dance floor, the door opens to an open roof top restaurant and thus giving you an experience to dine in the city’s biggest roof top space restaurant. This gives you an option, or rather puts you in a dilemma whether to dine in solitude with some open air breeze or to enjoy the food with some classic rock.

The owners of this place are two young boys who firmly believe that a restaurant is not just about good food. They have designed this place keeping in mind the need for a perfect ambience and satisfying service. They have belief that food isn’t about a meal, it is rather a culture. They have designed their Carte de Jour from various kitchens across the globe. They have Indian breads and dishes, Mughlai, Chinese, Italian, American and French. The Chef also has specially designed menus for every weekday dinner. Sizzlers and Sea Food also form a part of the kitchen for the lovers of it. The helping staffs of the restaurant are well experienced to achieve customer satisfaction.

The menu

I have travelled across several cities and gobbled up at several restaurants, and I haven’t found so many which gives you such a wide space and a choice to choose upon among two contrasting ambiences. Also the wide recourse in the menu gives a chance to taste wide range of dishes. The availability of parking space is also a major reason for thumbs up to this great place.

The Unsung Hero

He always wanted to be a soldier. Once when asked by the teacher in lower primary regarding the aim of his life, he replied that he wanted to be a soldier and die saving the frontiers. Instead of appreciating such wonderful words from such an young boy, everyone laughed at him. They saw the fat and stout boy and not the brave-heart within.

He grew up taming the same aim. He tried hard, but he couldn't shed weight. He was rejected by the defence forces because of his weight. He was left disheartened every time. He didn't let the grief stay long and he kept trying.

It took him sometime to understand that service to the countrymen meant service to the country ans that he didn't need an uniform to serve his motherland. He started doing odd jobs which none could imagine. He filled potholes, taught kids who couldn't afford tuition's, and spend most time working with farmers in the fields. His life went along by rendering service to the people. He gave all time for community service. 

He visited a nearby town for an event. There was a huge crowd. His source of recreation was  such small town mela's where he exchanged conversations with those few people whom  he knew. Not many people knew him. Whosoever he was acquainted to, knew him as the old teacher's  kid. His duties always remained unnoticed. He neither publicised nor ever he repented. As he was strolling across the stall's he noticed a miscreant pull out the grenade pin and throw it towards the crowd. He had no time to decide. His decision was to be taken in an impulse. He gave no other thoughts and jumped above the grenade covering the grenade with his chest. The grenade burst pushing splinters across the young boys chest and tearing apart his muscles from the bones. It took no time for the soul to leave his torn body. He died minimising the impact with least casualties. The crowd enquired to the panel of old and known men from the villages about the whereabouts of the brave boy and they found out that he was the old teacher's son. Soon as the old teacher arrived weeping to see his sons corpse, the old folk pointed towards the teacher and said, "There comes the  brave-heart's father."

The father wept at the young son's death. The crowd cheered the bravery. A hero left the world saving it. They mourned his death only to forget him just after a few months, precisely after weeks.

Badluram Ka Badan

Badluram Ka Badan is the regimental march song for Assam Regiment. The regimental march song has traces from the Second World War. Indian Soldiers were taken to fight in the war. Every soldier at war was entitled to certain ration. It was the Quarter Master's responsibility to report deaths and thereby stop ration for the same and continue for the rest. However the Quarter Master of the battalion that was at the front didn't report the death of a soldier named Badluram and continued issuing ration in his name. The excess ration that had been released in the name of Badluram was surplus  and it got piled up for few months. Eventually during the phase of the war when the Japanese Army surrounded the Assam Regiment and cut off the regiment from all kinds of assistance the regiment suffered scarcity of ration. It was then the excess ration which the Quarter Master kept drawing in the name of Badluram helped the entire regiment from starving and the entire regiment had the ration even when they were cut off from logistical assistance. The regimental song is a tribute to Badluram. The lyrics of the song goes like this

Ek khubsurat ladki thi…

Usko dekh ke rifleman…

Chindi khichna bhul gaya…

Havaldar Major dekh liya…

Usko pittu lagaya…

Badluram ek sipahi thaa…

Japan war me mar gaya…

Quarter Master smart thaa…

Usney ration nikala…

Badluram ka badan zamin ke nichey hain…

Toh humein uska ration milta hain…

Sabashh… hallelujah…

Toh humein uska ration milta hain…

Tagra Raho!

Jai Hind

He killed the child

A young kid in his early teens walked to school holding his younger brother who was in such a age when school usually meant a place to unite with co-agers and play until they realize hunger. As the bell rang, a man who resembled to be an adult, but actually was a person in his early twenties waited rolling his moustaches, smiling a bit, but obviously not laughing. His acquintances often said, they had forgotten how he looked whenever he smiled. He walked with the young kids and asked them to have their lunch and take a nap.

The man often looked at the kids as they played. He saw them smile with joy. He seldom spoke anything. He spoke only when he felt that thee time was getting over. At the call of his one word, the kids ran to their home.

The man fearlessly killed the child. He thought nothing. He wasn't so but he acted merciless. He always saw his younger brothers play and he often thought to join them. He refained himself always. He was still a kid within. He too wanted to play football, walk across streets aimlessly, eat icecream, play holi and live for the child within him. He couldn't. He had already killed the child within him. He had to be an exemplar of a perfect man who was socially accepetable for his brothers. To be an exemplar for his brothers, he had killed himself.

Things to do in Dhubri

Dhubri district lies to the Easternmost part of the state of Assam bordering internationally with Bangladesh and nationally with West Bengal. It is one of the most populous districts of the state. Dhubri is filled with scenic beauty and is a heaven for fish lovers. There are a few hotspots around the district and are explorable for first-timers to the district.

• Sri Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Gurdwara Dhubri is one of the famous pilgrimage sites in the district. It is located in Dhubri town itself. The first Sikh Guru Guru Nanak Dev visited the place in 1505 AD and he met Srimanta Sankardeva on his way from Dhaka to Assam. Sahidee-Guru-Parav is one of the renowned festivals which his held here every here. The place although holds importance for people of Sikh religious beliefs, but it attracts people from all religions.

• Mahamaya Dham is located at Bogribari, between Dhubri and Bilasipara town. The temple has its significance from past 400 years and it was also the presiding deity of the landlord of Parvatjohar. There is a bathing river bank nearby the temple, which is believed to be the bathing site of the Goddess. Every year a Shakti Yogya is performed by the priests of this temple.

• Panbari Mosque, Dhubri is located at Panbari and it has its roots from the era of the Mughal Era. The mosque holds its importance because of its architecture. One of the remarkeable facets of this mosque is the volunteer involvement. People are present round the clock near the donation box to facilitate donation from the bus passengers to the Mosque donation box.

• Panch Peer Dargah, which is located at Dhubri Town is a Mazar Sharif of five Sufi Saints who accompanied Raja Ram Singh during his Assam Invasion. The Dargah attracts people from all religious backgrounds and is a perfect exemplar of religious harmony.

• Netai Dhubunir Ghat at Dhubri Town is also a nature lovers paradise. It is a port connecting Dhubri Town with Medettari and Fakirganj. There is a small park attached and it a hotspot for Morning strollers of the town. It is one of the famous spots in the dusk to go on a date with your better half with the beautiful river breeze gently kissing you.

• The park at Gauripur also holds its significance. One can sit beside the pond and enjoy his day. Mostly cricket tournaments go on the beside field and one can stop by and enjoy the cricket while sipping his evening tea. To add to the list, there are several fast food joints nearby.

• The Hawamahal or Pratima Pandey Baruah's palace is also a noteworthy place to visit. The palace is now maintained by her relatives and the charm of its architecture has faded. However one can find the beauty and glory of Koch - Rajbangshi's hidden amidst the old walls.

• The marketnear the Panbari Mosque often holds beautiful Bangladeshi cotton sarees. One can stop by and take a look. There aren't too expensive, but obviously they hold significance.

• The Indo - Bangla border can be visited near Satrashal. There is also a Satra at Satrashal and it attracts a lot of tourists who hail from the religious beliefs of Sankardeva.

• For people who enjoy bike rides on deserted roads, there is beautiful road which is enveloped by nature. The road stretches from Rupshi to Barjan, passing through Bashbari, Kokrakhar District. The road stretches amist forests on both sides and the road is well maintained for bike rides. One can also stop for a fag at Bashbari and continue his ride. However late night rides through the road isn't advisible. I haven't faced anything wrong as of now, but its better to be safe than to dwell around danger.

• Gauripur is also a beautiful place for sweet lovers. Agarwal Sweets and Tridev Sweets are renowned for their 'Kheer Curd' and other sweets. Interstingly, sweets are cheaper at Gauripur than at anywhere else. It is perhaps because of the abundant milk availability.

• Local fish is abundant at most areas of the district and is also cheaper as compared to others because of near river location. Fish lovers must stay in the district for a few months and enjoy their taste.

For people who have been to Dhubri, they shall always be broken once they leave the place.

He waited

Alcohol has been a good healer, at certain times for fever and at most times for loneliness. He was suffering from the former since the day back and the latter for months. Even those wall paintings, cozy cushions and floral curtains which were all her choice, no longer fascinated him. For months, he was away from the beauty of her being present around. He missed the smell of her hair on his face as he woke up, He woke up to the smell of rum on his breath and rarely remembered the last moments of the last night. He drank like a dog. He drank to overcome loneliness. He drank even before he could get over his hangover. She was thousands of miles away from him. He regretted the decision of not having a baby at times, which she often insisted upon. At times, he was glad that he didn't let the baby suffer those moments of loneliness. He spent lonely anniverary. He had made several plans, but she couldn't be home.

A mail popped in. She was coming in a couple of days.

He lost his sleep. He made the house look home again. He bought gifts. On the day he arranged a cake and a bottle of single malt of the dining table. Although she hated him when he drank, however the occassion was to celebrate and he thought not to leave it incomplete and instead bought her favorite brand which they used to drink bunking college classes.

He waited for her at the door. As she walked to him, he openned his arms. She jumped to him. He held his world after a long gap. He kissed her desperately. He got upon her lisptick like a man who was away from food for days. He pulled her upon his lap and they kissed like never before. Her war had ended. He was a proud husband to a lady soldier. He waited for these moments.

Life's best lesson

The night before I didn't have my dinner. I woke up late on that day. I left home without any breakfast. I sat on my friends pillion. We left for breakfast at our old joint, but we couldn't due to an interrupted call.

 

He asked me if I could volunteer for blood donation. I instantly agreed, although I was six months less than the permissible age. My friend rushed to the hospital. While climbing the stairs I asked him who was unwell so as to find out if it any any of his kin. He disclosed that it was none from his kin but a lady who worked as a helper in the school where his mom was the Principal. We rushed to the ward and found a young girl in her early teens lying on the bed. We found out that she had severe haemaglobin shortage and needed blood urgently. Donors were asking for fifteen hundred bucks and the lady's salary was such that she could pay only for two such donors and she needed more. She managed a few donors from her known relatives. We immediately volunteered. The lady and one of her relative rushed to touch our feet, but we asked them not to do so as we were younger than them. We rushed to the room where there was some pre-donation inspection by a doctor.

 

"How old are you guys?" asked a lady doctor.

 

"Nineteen," my friend replied.

     

"Me too," I lied instantly.

 

"Did you guys have breakfast?"

 

"Yeah, we had had rice for our breakfast," I replied.

 

After our blood pressure check we were taken to the room. We were asked to take rest on adjacent chairs.

 

"Are you seriously nineteen?" I asked my friend.

 

He laughed and replied, "I have two months left to be eighteen."

 

"I have six months left," I added.

 

After our blood donation was complete, we visited the lady and said her that few of our friends would volunteer the next day. We were welcomed by a smile of relief from a helpless mother. We were contended.

 

With empty belly's we headed to a food joint. We emptied our purse and ordered for three chapatis and 1 butter chicken. We were allowed credit for some more as the manager was one of our close acquintances.

 

We broke a lot of rules hat day. We rode a two wheeler without any proper driving license and helmets. We donated blood even when we were not allowed too. We lied to the doctor which could have been fatal for our health. Things didn't go in vain. We got the good news a week later, when the lady called to inform us that the girl who had very less chances of survival as per the doctor was out of danger now. We saved a live.

 

The lesson we got is that we should never step away from helping someone because it could even save someone's life.

Allure of Marriage

An elderly man was disturbed by his neighbours compalints of a married life and he often got offended when recently married couples often cracked jokes that that 'happily married' was an irony. He called a few couples one evening and he asked any lady to volunteer for a small game.

 

 

 

"Write the names of twenty five near and dear ones in your life?" he asked the lady pointing the board.

 

The lady got astonished and she looked at the man. The man insisted her to continue. She wrote the names of her husband, her child, her parents, her in-laws, her friends and few of her close relatives. In no time her list of twenty five got filled on the white board.

 

The man read the entire list and asked her to remove five names, She removed a few relatives. The man again insisted to remove five more names. She removed a couple of her friends. When asked for the third time, she removed the names of few more friends. The final list contained six names which had the names of her parents, her in - laws, her husband and child. The man now asked to remove three names, which left the lady in despair. He reminded her it was just a game. She omitted the names of her in - laws and her Dad. The only three names in the board contained the names of her husband, child and her mother. The man now asked her to remove one more name. She left the game. He insisted her and reminded her about the veritability that it was just a mere game. She stepped forward unwillingly in the saturated silence of the entire room and unwillingly rubbed her mother's name. She was left with a board full of two mere names that held her whole world. The entire room of compalining youths was now left with silent sympatheies and realizations. The man broke all went to test the extreme endurance and now asked her to omit the final name. She broke down like never before. She forgot the game and repeatedly said that it was impossible. When insisted again and again, she rubbed her child's name.

 

"Now you all know the game", the man said and he helped the girl to her seat and asked her to calm down.

 

The irony of a happily married life was now turned in to deference. The man gladly remembered his dead wife.

Secularism

I don't get it why even there is a need to declare yourself as a secular? If you are secular, you are and its perfectly normal to be one. If you aren't secular than you aren't fit enough to be a social animal. Even if you are or even if you aren't, why is there a need to declare?

 

The first known person who took me in the lap just after I was born is my Dad. Just after him, his childhood friend, who took me in his lap is a follower of Islam. My parents recall that he occasionally gifted me the 'Kufi' skull cap and even I was too fond of it. They never hesitated me wearing that. In fact, they proudly recall that a few times I even insisted on going with him to the Mosque for offering the Magrib Namaz, and that was when I barely understood what was religion.

 

I inherit a lot of religious beliefs from my Dad and my family members. The 27th day of Ramadan is considered sacred among Islam followers and for the last 37 years my father has had the oppurtunity to arrange the Iftar at our village Mosque and he wants me to continue that. He has also been doing the same for Hindu festivals like Durga Puja. He says he finds a lot of peace when he watches people celebrate. Perhaps that is the essence of religion for him.

 

My Dad has a small wooden book shelf. There stands with dignity, the three sacred religious books - The Madbhadwad Gita, The Quran and The Bible. The Bible was guifted to my Dad by one of his friends Dad who wanted my Dad to know the preachings of Jesus. The Quran was gifted to my Dad by one of his Islam following seniors. He got the Mad Bhagwatgita as a birthday gift from one of his college mates. The three books stand together, supporting as walls, not for differentiating but for upholding the dignity of human belief, preaching good deeds and inspiring great deeds.

 

I have grown in a society where people hardly try to dig in to a persons name and surname to find out their religion. It disappoints me when I see some doing that. The only time when I saw my near and dear ones digging in to a persons name was when they tried to know the persons gender and a few times they miserably failed. Some names, belong equally to both the gender. Religion is a personal thing and I don't understand why it should be bothered about. All that should matter to us is who the person is and not which religion he beliefs it.

 

My thoughts on secularism doesn't indicate that I am an atheist. I am religious and I strongly belief religions brings discipline to our lives.