I am afraid most of my posts (or stories) are becoming Assam (or north-east) centric, but you will understand this obsession if you have ever once been to this part of the country, this totally enchanting panorama of cloud-capped hills and far stretching emerald fields. The first thing that has always struck me whenever I have landed in this magical place is the “color of the green” here. Yes, this particular shade of green which I have found nowhere, a green which is not dull green, but a virgin green that is yet to be touched by adulteration of any kind. This green exudes health and brilliance, the kind that has the power to make you stop in your tracks and spare some thoughts to the ingenuity of the Creator. If the green in our National flag stands for prosperity, they must have definitely thought about this “green”. As you travel from Guwahati (Assam) to Shillong (Meghalaya), you will see more and more of this green, in the trees that cover every available inch on the surface of the hills, this green reflected in the clear water of the streams. The green trees pushing out of the brownish-red soil present an interesting contrast, but again there are more breath-taking contrasts to greet your eyes. Fiery red gulmohrs standing tall against the velvet green and yellow laburnums that look like bunches of grapes, swaying slightly in the wind amidst the green background. As you move further into Meghalaya, you see cabbages and pineapples grown in terrace farming, the climate and soil lending a distinct taste to anything that is grown there. Sometimes, true to its name, Meghalaya ( Megh: cloud, alaya: abode) engulfs you in clouds as you see snowy clouds floating by your car window, with the wonderful green valley beneath you intercepted at places by small streams, you wonder if this could be the blueprint of the heavens above.
When you come down to the plains of Assam, a different vista welcomes you. Areca nut trees and bamboo bushes, banana plants and soft green paddy fields, speckled by mountains in the distant horizon. And yes, contrasts. Almost all the fields have small ponds and they are thickly populated by water lilies and water hyacinths. When the water hyacinths are in bloom, they sprout the most fantastic lavender color flowers. Besides them, not to be let down in any aspect, the water lilies spread their brilliantly pink arms, floating gaily on rafts of dark green leaves. Trust me, this spectacle of pink, lavender and green in the sparkling water of the ponds, with the green fields stretching beyond it, will not leave your mind for quiet sometime.
There are many such sights, and there are many such memories, which are not possible to be expressed through words, sights which are yet to be seen and discovered. When I come back from there, I only search for one thing-that shade of “green”. I heard that it’s found in Kerala too. Might be, but for now the memories are enough to revisit that place and soothe my heart with that enchanting green. I have never much liked green before, but now, it’s my color.
“Xeujiya “is my world!
