What a man …….!


Date:- Undated
Place:- Zaranj, Afghanistan


There is a gentlemen somewhere in the busy world, amongst the hustle and bustle of modern life, whose expectations from life are poor in worldly measure, but rich from life’s necessities. Whose life flows fresh and clear, searing through the mad world of modern life.

His needs are simple, he just wants to lead his life with contented heart, tranquil mind and still soul. He doesn’t aspire to master anything or preach anyone, but has a clear mind and clear purpose which keeps him apart from rest of the world. He finds his peace and satisfaction in whatever work or job he does. He doesnt not have ill will towards anyone, nor he is rude or quick to judge others. He doesnt build a mental world of resentment and vengefulness.


Instead, he builds a heart large enough to accommodate loving words and rebukes alike, gentle mind to absorb beautiful behavior and occasional rudeness of the world with equanimity. He has a personality pleasing to both gentle teacher caring those tender children and hard worked men toiling by the quarry. He doesn’t look to being flooded with good only, nor completely shielded from evil, but he wishes to pass by both good and evil, and know their differences and place them in their own places. He prays that the grace and gentleness that God has blessed us be shared and rubbed into those who have wandered off and are in want of it, even if they don’t realize. He also prays for the healing hands of God to touch all our heart, which is burning and is in anguish because of spiritual darkness we are living in. He understands that good men and evil men as world understands are Almighty God's children. More than the world, it is God who understands us.

Having put in sincere effort, he is satisfied with whatever God has blessed him with. He understands and lives by the fact that man’s stomach needs just enough food to keep him from hunger and provide necessary nutrients, man’s body needs just enough cloth to protect him from vagaries of weather. But he also knows that hungry stomach and cold body is no vessel for spiritual freedom, and lack of these amenities causes all the miseries of life. Having realised this, he works hard so that for want of these worldy things, he doesnt compromise with his spiritual life.

This is the story, sulu tells himself.

Mother - The life giver.

Where the Life began .....

" The universe begins with mother. But for her, there will neither be life, nor the universe as we know. The life is her gift, but as we enter the life istelf, she is relegated to the background. And willingly she fades into lesser of the priorities, all the while, hiding her pains with prayers for not so gratefull progenies. What with necessities of life, is what we say. But these are excuses why there is not enough time for the one who gave us our life. The future has become the reason, to forget the past. The materialistic needs have taken the place of needs of love, feelings and passions for fellow human beings. In this race, we forget the fact that the progress in science and other materialistic comforts have occured as a result of undying love of our forefathers to bless the generations to come with the comfort they never knew for themselves, but wanted their children to have. The whole edifice of human civilization was built on the strength of parental love and desire to secure more comfortable life for their children. Take out the humane and emotional aspect of civilization, you have armageddon staring down at you. Love was the driving force, love will continue to be the driving force in progress we have made and we will make. Science devoid of love ... well .. I dread to think of it. The day we start to strive towards progress for sake of progress only, the beginning of our end will begin."

Love in its most refined form is exhibited in a mother's love for her children. As a mark of love for the source of all LOVE, shall we ..... Shall I say ... I love you, mother. And shall I request you all to express some act of acknowledgement of her love towards you ... in whatever small way, and bring a small smile on her face ... however old her face looks, whatsever number of lines that cut across her aged face .... for once, let the love be there once again, ... For once, give her a glow of a morning sun, during the evening of their life.

And, when they pass into the night, let them say, " Yes, I have lived my day, and night is the time for rest, rest in peace, shall I."

This post is dedicated to all the unsung mothers, whose love has sustained the humanity till now, but who have never been acknowledged. You all may not be eulogised in the golden letters, but it is on your spirit of love that this edifice of human civilization stands.

1. My mother atop Shillong peak.


2. Feelings, feelings is all that matters - Mom and her grand daughter.(My daughter)

3. What can compare the comfort of a snuggle under a parents arms. Another of grand daughters steals a snuggle under her arms.

4. And love dwelt in between our hearts. Children with their grand parents.

5. Moments of truth, moments of togetherness. Wife, Children and self with Mom.

6. But for you, what would world mean to anyone, Mother? Mother and me.

Ode to unsung Mothers


My Mother and me,
She sang ,
And I heard,
Of days that were long gone,
Of battles that were fought,
In the times that,
Lived in the memory,
So far.

Of the love and betrayals,
The ballads,
That passed down,
From mother to child,
In a soothing words,
Told.

Of the days to come,
Of mountains and rivers,
To be crossed.
The mothers dreams,
Of her children, their dreams,
And her wishes,
Mingled,
In her prayers,
Said in that,
Endearing voice.

Song sang from her,
Deepest heart,
Is all that took,
To spur her children,
To the heights, never attained.

So falls sulu in love with mothers.

Some more pictures from Afghanistan

Down the memory lane .

"Todays moments are tomorrows memories. Since we tend to live more in our memories of past, why not build beautiful memories by living our moments by the ideals that are so dear to our heart."
So says sulu to himself.

These are some more pictures from my Afghanistan sojourn. As I told you all, in my previous post, I was stationed in the South -Western Afghanistan, bordering Iran in a place called Zaranj, which is the capital of Nimroz Province. This is the most backward province of Afghanistan. I met some Americans and French people who were working with some charity foundation, and helping set up orphanages and vocational training courses for Afghani women folk to equip them to generate income for themselves.
To me, these people were the real heroes who had left the comfort of their home and country, and, living among the poorest of Afghanis were working without salary. Only accomodation and journet fair was provided to them, and their friends and families used to fund their stay in Afghanistan. Each of them were donating their time for cause of humanity. Some had come for six months, others for one year or two years. Can we take a leaf out of their life in helping our own people to overcome poverty and ignorance?


1.Myself with an American gentlemen called Mike, who was helping in orphanage and running vocational training courses.

2. Carpet weaving training centre run by an American Charity.

3. Finished weaving product/carpet depicting Afghanistan.

4. Tailoring and emroidery were also taught to Afghani women by some French and American ladies.

5. Training class for beauticians are also run by them.

6. We visit orphanage here. Considering the fact that there is incessant war in Afghanistan, the need for orphanage is immense.Among the boys in the picture are those American and French women with head coverings, my doctor friend, Dr. Raj, in dark googles and another American friend in the back.

7. An Afghani boy from orphanage. The beauty and radiance among the children are universal. Their hopes, their expectant eyes, the glow of youthfull spirit on their face are the hallmark of children everywhere.

8. Myself lost among the Afghani children.

" Long after my body leaves a place, it is in my mind and heart that this place shall continue to live, and it is in their mind and heart that I shall continue to live. How I lived the moments I spent with them, shall determine in which part of their memory, I shall continue to live."

So says sulu to himself.

--- ADIEU ---

Home Coming

One of the sweetest moments of our life is home coming experience. Wherever one may be, his home and her native land and neighbourhood is closest to her heart, however ugly or dirty the home and native town may be, it remains perched in the green land of our memory, forever lovely and refreshing.
On this subject, I posted a comment on one of the posts in Arunachal Diary. I am re-producing it down below because I felt so nostalgic about it when I read it again this morning.

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Cho, you have captured the basic essence of Ziro life in a concise and lucid manner. It still gives me goose bumps as we start to ascend the hills from Yazali. As one drives through hairpin bends, cool breeze is felt smooching your cheeks and gently weaving through your hair as if mother is running her loving fingers through hair while we are asleep in her bossom. One can smell the pine trees and feel freshness of mountain air coursing down your lungs.

But this magical scenery lasts till one reaches Ziro town proper. As soon as one enters Hapoli town one starts his life on a war footing, as you have to negotiate with numerous pot holes, dirty drains, spilled sewages,unplanned and ugly houses littering the lovely landscape, pigs, cows dogs and numerous four legged animals fighting with you for teir right to way. Town itself is no better than any slum. I wish we could do something to tidy up this dirt.Whenever I come over to Ziro, I spend most of my time in tending my bamboo and pine groves and little forest areas that my father owns. I feel better being outside among the fields and trees rather than Ziro town itself.
The thoughtless deforestation is the sad part of modern Ziro. Forest conservation in Apatani society was one of age old social wisdom of Apatanis which they have lost to the greed for quick money. Lets hope the cast away wisdom is picked up by younger generations.Ziro has a beautiful landscape and if its growth is planned properly and strict regulations for construction of new buildings are imlpemented, may be it will attract decent number of tourists. But whatever is to be done has to be done with urgency, otherwise it will be too late and the place will be littered with ugly scene of concrete jungle.

A thing of beauty is ... well guess what?

Well, I came to Ziro on 31st July' 2009 and left on 2nd August' 2009. Very short stay indeed, considering Ziro is my home town. The beauty of greenery that surrounds Ziro during the summer and the way it gives way to golden carpet during the autumn with blue mountains in the yonder, is the most beautiful moment that I have experienced. Here, I am posting some of the pictures I took of somewhere, where a small patch of my rice fields lies, both during my latest visit and the visit to my beloved valley I made during October 2005, before I left for Afghanistan. It was a gala harvesting time.

1.

a) Prelude to story of beautiful Ziro - A view as you drive down Aaabliya Balya - A Panoramic view of Ziro valley as you enter main my heartland.

2.

b) As I go to my field, I have to pass through LEYU,(Leyu is a passage through the bamboo groves which one must take to leave village for any work .. including field work.) Here I take nenting leyu, which is a way to upper Hija village's fields and forests.

3.

c) As soon as I leave Leyu, this is the vista my eyes are blessed with.

4.

d) Another eye feasting vista as you view the Myoko( Open space beyond village area) beyond your village.

5.

As I look back, I see the Leyu, with crops of millets planted on the sides of Aaji Ager(bunds)

6.

Moving with steps that are confident of grounds beneath, of the paths that I grew up with, I find the lush green fields swaying with a blush of young heads of rice as the wind blows gently.

7.

Here, I turn to my right and find the fields swaying to the music of the winds playing with instruments nature provided in abundance in the open fields. What symphony can compete with nature's sweet music. huh!!!!

7.

I take a detour and take picture of my field from afar, where my father was laid to rest last year. A patch of raised land is called Nendu Nenchang - a public burial ground. My dad, rests not there, but where I stand and take these snaps. Small hut you see is Myole Piinyi, where the apatani priests perform rituals to propitiate the spirits. White bamboo structures are burial memorials.

8.

This is another picture - my eyes are never tired of such visual feast of greenery, freshness, beauty and tenderness that was all along.

9.

Here, I look back before I enter leyu. My body leaves you, my dear, but I leave my heart with you. Keep it green, fresh, clean and forever young.

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When you see something, and find it beautifull, you behold it. Nature takes its tolls, and you look again, and wonder, where is that which I beheld with such awe? How has it withered with time and age? Where do I find such beauty, such love, which neither time nor age will leave it untouched. And you wonder!!!!!!

Suddenly, a whiff of fresh memories, not fresh in a sense it is new, but fresh because of its essence, ... the memories of childhood, of neighbours and surroundnings that looks so unpalatable to the foreigners, whispers, here I am. And, you know you have found true beauty. It grows with age, and as the seasons change, it reveals its beaty in phases.

What is beauty? Is it skin deep? Is it limited to the pereiod when you are young and fresh? Where does the beauty fade away when the age catches up with it?

Haaa Haa haa.... ha ha ha. Like most people, I am usually confused between youth and beauty. That loveliness that we see usually are the youths in bloom, not the beauty in its true colour. True beauty is deeper and unfathomable. Like a good old wine, it becomes better with age. So is Ziro. You thought, green and beautiful Ziro will give way to old and withering autumn and winter? No way. These are some of the pictures I took during the harvest season in October'2005, before, I left for Afghanistan.

10.
As Ziro matures from spring to summer and to autumn, it turns golden in its look and its content. Whole of Ziro valley is carpeted with golden crops of ricewith a far away blue mountains as a back ground. This is the time when gangs of male and females( Patangs), as per their age, band together and have maximum fun and frolick harvesting the rice fields and getting drowned in its celebration. Those of you, who have never experienced abandoned gay and joy, come during the harvest time to Ziro and join one of the patangs to drink the last drop of joy that lifes gives us. I assure you, you would have squeezed out the nectar, the honey that life has never blessed anywhere else.

This is a view from Siilang Diiting of Siilang, Boppii, Tbyo and Piisa pu putu. I took this scenary while proceeding to my fields beyond those blue mountains with my wife and children.

11.

Just as I cross a small stream to enter my field, I see this view. The fenced field is others. Beyond that, in a far off hirizon where lies the blue mountains is our clan's naring morey and katu morey.( Morey refers to forest, here clan forest.) To the left is Aifu Puttu(AAifu Hillock) and to the right is Piisa Pu Puttu.

12.

This is another shot of fraction of my field and beyond as described above. It looks surreal. Doesnt it?

( The first picture at the top is of my son Dingyang performing pabung banni, which means carrying the threshed rice grains to a place called intii pere. Usually children are tasked with pabung banni while the young and grown up females reap the rice stalks and young and grown upmales thresh the rice. It is one of the most beautiful moments of any childhood who have grown up in a typical Apatani Village life.)

13.

Rest a while. Well, goldend carpets all around. Why would anyone go for red carpets anywhere else?

Well, I will be in my home town this harvest season. God willing. Anyoneone who wants to have fun and frolick in the very work work that gives us life are welcome to join me.

Conversing with Myself - XII

Discovering Life

Life is,
What I think,
Life is.

Life's chores are,
But a vessel.
What I think of Life's chores,
Is what my life is.
Wah! I found you,
And you thought,
Forever you will remain elusive.

Life is,
What I think,
Life is.

So says sulu to himself.

Conversing with Myself -XI

Place:- Zaranj, Afghanistan
Date:- 21.01.2007

Peeking Through

I

Live your moment: hour will take care of itself. Live your hour nicely, day will take care of itself. Live your day to the full; life will take care of itself. Live one moment at a time, enjoy it with great hopes for future and pleasant memories of past. This is way to happy and contented life.

II

Also remember the wise words of Mark Twain when he said, “Lack of Money is root of all evil.”

Work hard for money so that you do not fall into evil ways .... and days.

Conversing with myself - X

Date:- 03.01.2006
Place:- Zaranj, Afghanistan

Waking from a Nightmare .....

I can see my life clearly and impassiontely wading through fleeting moments of time. My life, as of today is led by whims and fancies of mind rather than my detrmined purpose and direction. I can see the kinds of thoughts that constantly pour inside my mind. It has a strong leaning towards the fantasy filled world and is susceptible to to such pleasure seeking fun filled; foolishly melodramaticworld constructed to please the ever seeking lazy mind. I can see and feel the kind of thoughts that filters into my mind, I cannot check those unwanted time and energy sapping thoughts from entering inside and filling my mind.
My saner and more sensible part of mind has awakened and has recognized what is good and bad for mind. But now, if I don’t let those superfluous and negative thoughts enter inside my mind; then I should train my mind to accept constructive and positive thoughts. I need to tune my mind and heart towards positive and constructive world of thoughts and deeds. I wake up from twilight zone of half asleep and half awake.

So says sulu to himself.

Conversing With Myself - IX

Let me be ........

Let ,
My inner self and external world,
Remain balanced and harmonious.
Let,
Me learn to accept life as it comes,
Because,
Life and death,
Are nature’s rhythm.
Why … then worry?
Who can challenge destiny?
Let,
Me enjoy my life,
Like a child,
Free of care and worry.
Let,
Me take my life,
One step at a time,
Till it lasts.

So says sulu to himself.

Conversing With Myself -VIII

Where am I?

In silence and quietness,
Introspect.
There in one will find,
All his answers.

So says sulu to himself.