FIRST JOURNEY TO MIZORAM

MY FIRST JOURNEY TO MIZORAM-LAND OF MOUNTAINS

It Was on 17^th November,2009,I bade goodbye to my wife Tincy, my parents and brother and started my journey to Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya,Saiha, Mizoram.It is one of the seven sisters in Noth Eastern Region. The appointment letter came from Shillong Region Deputy Commissioner three days before and it was a great rush for me to get the medical certificate .book the flight to Aizwal, etc. which was the only way to join before the last date of joining .

After working at St Mary’s English Medium School, Pulpally for eight years at a low salary this Central government job was very important for me. So very hurriedly I made preparations for my journey.

I had only a small suitcase with me. I didn’t know  the location of the school where I had to join. The only confidence was a call that came from the school and the journey I had made to NLI Chandigargh for my interview in the month of June all alone.I thanked all those people in my mind who helped me on the way those days of interview  especially the BSF officer who gave me company on the train, the people in the house in Delhi where I was given accommodation freely though I met them for the first time in my life. Similarly I thanked the nurses working in Chandigarh who gave me a stay on  my interview day.

Reached Bangalore Majestic Bus Station by KSRTC bus around 7.35pm and I hired an auto to reach Bangalore Kempigowda International Airport .The auto wala  ricocheted the vehicle along the crowded roads of the metropolitan city.

The Air India Flight to Kolkatta was at 11.30 pm. Took the boarding pass and there was a wait for an hour when I met Mr Jenson who was also going to Mizoram to join JNV Champhai, Khawzawl district. It was really surprising that he was also by the same flights  upto Aizwal. He was very talkative and helpful. I felt happy that somebody was there with me on my journey to a strange land.

The flight was on time and it was for the first time  I was on  an aeroplane. The facilities were amazing for me. It was a two and a half hour journey to Kolkata, then  at 10.30 am the next day there would be a connecting flight to Aizwal from there. My suitcase was already in the luggage section separately tagged and checked. I would see it only in Aizwal now. I felt comfortable and informed my wife that I boarded the flight. There was a TV screen in front of me and I could see some movies there. The flight jerked and moved along the runway slowly at the beginning then took great speed and took off while we are advised to wear seatbelts and remain seated. Slowly  the plane soared very high and I could see the  lights of the city like stars below me. Sometimes it jerked as it fell into airholes.

Some were reading the books available in the pocket in front of them and others slowly started sleeping. I too wanted to sleep as I found the passengers sitting beside me were not familiar with me. Jenson  was sitting three rows in front of me and already started making company with a man beside him. The airhostess served some cakes to all and  a small bottle of water. After cherishing them I fell asleep. At around 2.30 am the next day we landed Kolkata Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport.The landing was a little fearful for me in case some livers didn’t work…?

We grounded and were taken inside the airport by Air India Bus. Then we had to sit there till 10.30am. A long wait.We sat in the area meant for connected flight passengers. We wanted to eat some thing but the only available thing was some vegetable puffs costing Rs 120/-and  coffee costing Rs 60/- As there was no other way we had them and  sat in front of TV that was showing some Bengali/Hindi Channels.

It was 9.30 a m, we approached the Air India Counter for the boarding pass. But we were informed that the flight would be delayed, so boarding pass would be given half an hour before the plane took off because the weather in Mizoram was not good,it was cloudy and raining heavily. We suddenly felt shocked…we had to join by 21^st November,2009….We decided to wait …said some prayers …if the flight was cancelled how to reach there? There was no time to go all the way to Guwahati by train and then by bus to reach Aiswal …then again another 12 hours journey along the huge mountains by Tata Sumo to reach the vidyalaya…it would take minimum four days to reach the school if I travelled like that….I was worried….the tension was mounting up… I looked at Jenson… he was also worried…he said God would take us there…I called my parents and wife… they also started worrying and praying…

After one hour of waiting  ,an announcement was heard “The flight to Aizwal was cancelled”

What to do now…we moved towards the counter, the lady at the counter informed us to keep waiting there in the longue that some arrangements would be made for passengers with the connected flight. We got back our luggage and were asked to follow Air India representative to a hotel that was arranged for us by them for a stay there over night….though we were in high tension, we got relieved a little…the ticket was rearranged for the next day by the airline…

We sat in the car arranged by them and it took us through the dirty, old looking streets of Kolkata. The car went through many gullies and sometimes stopped at the traffic junctions…the dust was getting inside the car ....Jenson was trying to talk to the Bengali driver in Hindi…he was replying to him in half Bengali.

Finally he dropped us at the Hotel and the manager took us to a fine fully furnished  double A/C room.Though the A/C was on  we didn’t feel comfortable. Would there be the flight the next day? It was heard that there was a prediction of torrential rain in Mizoram…if it became true,we would not reach the school in time, we would not get the job…we could not sleep well. The dinner was good but it didn’t digest.

The next morning Air India had arranged a taxi for us to reach the Airport. By 9.30am we reached there. The entire expense for our stay at the  Hotel was borne by  Air India.

We thought of informing Shillong  Regional Office  about our plight. Jenson rang to Assistant Commissioner in Shillong Regional Office.The officer said not to worry, there would not be any problem in joining after the last date also. We were a little consoled.

Again it was announced that the flight would be delayed as the weather was not yet clear in Mizoram.The tension went up again.

Hours passed in worry and frustration…if the flight was cancelled again???

It was already 1.30pm.The plane was to start at 10.30 am …a delay by three hours already. We were losing hope…

Suddenly there was an announcement that the passengers to Aiswal should  start boarding the Flight …we felt as though we got back our life….we took the boarding pass and lined up for boarding..the co-passengers were also very happy as the flight was there to Aiswal after many days.

It was  a small plane because Aiswal Air Force  Airport was a small tabletop Airport.A mountain top was shaped evenly to make an airport. It was surrounded by mountains. We sat inside the flight. After telephoning to  my wife I switched off the phone.

For half an hour we sat like that ,but the flight was not taking off…again problem???  Oh God don’t test us again.

It seemed God heard our prayer… the flight  shot up into the air over  Kolkata. It was 2pm already. The flight was flying over the bay of Bengal when I looked down through the window. The sea looked calm but glittering in the day light. In an another half an hour we were above the huge mountains of Mizoram. It was not very clear as rainy clouds were about to shower down. I had never seen such big mountains before. The thick forests revealed the aboriginal nature of the people there.

I started worrying again as some passengers commented that there were occasions earlier that the flights could not land due to  bad weather. The flights had to be diverted back to Kolkata again without landing. I started praying again. The flight started taking some rounds over the sky of Aiswal.The runway  was still not very clear .The pilot was trying to get permission from the control tower to land. But he was asked to remain in the air for some more time. Anyway after fifteen minutes the flight landed on the tabletop Air Force Airport safely.

The passengers moved out .We were also very happy to land there. We looked around.It was very beautiful but hazy and the ground was watery. We collected the baggage and tried to telephone. But no signal. We restarted the phone and tried again  but no use. It was not working. Then we came to know that prepaid phone from other states would not work there due to security reasons. Then how to inform my wife and parents that I safely landed there. It was a strange land .My wife and parents had been  eagerly waiting for my phone since 1.30 pm. Now it was 4pm.We searched for some public booths. But they  were not available at the Airport.

We hired a taxi to reach Aizwal city. It took one hour to reach there along the curvy roads. In some places we could see the landslides. With difficulty the driver took us and parked his car in front of a hotel. Aiswal city was on different mountains. Narrow roads added to its discomfort. The houses and shopes were constructed on the slopes of the mountains. But the city was neat. First we wanted to inform  our parents that we landed there safely.We found a public telephone booth.I telephoned to my parents to the land phone. The phone was ringing but nobody was lifting….tried again and again…it was ringing only. Fed up, I moved to another booth and tried …no use…then I thought of telephoning to my wife’s parents and I succeeded …they told me that they would inform my wife and parents. I felt relieved…

We took a room in a hotel and stayed there. Chapati was given for dinner. We went out to book tickets in TATA Sumo. He booked for Champhai. I booked for Saiha, the extreme last JNV .He would take around six hours and I wanted twelve hours to reach there. The Sumo would start at 6 am the next morning. There were no day bus services.

We had a quite good sleep and woke up  early in the morning at about 4.30am, got ready and vacated the room.

We pulled ourselves to the Sumo counter. It was fully hilly. He got into his Sumo to Champhai and bade goodbye. I had to still move forward to reach my counter. I showed them my ticket and they gave me a seat on the second row. Seeing the  vehicle itself I felt sick. I just had a cup of tea.I felt it was coming out…

The Sumo started...the driver was an expert. The vehicle was full of passengers. They were all from Saiha district. It seemed as though they knew each other. They were chit chatting in Mizo and  I could not understand anything.I could hear some sounds coming from their mouth that’s all. Some looked at me strangely. I told them in English that I was a teacher, going to join JNV Saiha. It seemed that they understood what I said. Some were smoking- even the ladies…it was a habit there.

Mizos are small and short people but are able to climb mountains very quickly.They are honest and do not resort to begging. It is a female dominated society.The ladies are found to be marrying again and again if they find  another partner, leaving even the very young children behind. Because of this many orphanages are set up by the government across the state.

I felt, on many occasions that the Sumo was going to fall into deep valley, but the driver was used to it and an expert.On some occasions I thought the vehicle was going to hit against an another vehicle. But nothing bad happened. He drove very fast. The other passengers were sitting very calmly inside the Sumo.

It stopped for breakfast near a hotel at Serchip. There was a JNV in Serchip too,some five kilometers inside.The hotel was a small hut with some tables and benches. Some kind of rice was available with some vegetable curry without any masala. It was just cooked that’s all. I took a little and came back to Sumo.Others enjoyed their favourite food and came back happily.

The Sumo started again ,I felt like vomiting …the curves and the speed  were making me sick.

I tried to close my eyes, but couldn’t sleep. The Sumo was going faster. It stopped for lunch at Lunglei. Again the same rice and some curry without any masala were there. Some were taking non-veg also.They said it was chicken. But later I heard that it was nothing but dog meat.

It was 4pm.It was very dark. In North East the day begins early and the Sun sets early. I started becoming afraid. It was still another two more hour journey. How to find my school in darkness in unfamiliar place?

The Sumo now crossed a bridge across Tuipi River. I was told that it was one of the biggest rivers in Mizoram. From there a mountain to reach Saiha district started. Some fruits were available on road side. I didn’t step out.I wanted to reach my school at the earliest. How to ask others about my school?

By 6.30pm we  reached Saiha city. The driver told me that there were Deputy Commissioner’s/Collector’s  orders to drop the passengers at their own places at night. I felt relieved .The driver asked me where I wanted to go. I said, “ Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.” He didn’t understand what I said .Then I said , ‘JNV.’ He understood it quickly. We should say only ‘JNV’ in Mizoram. They would wonder if we said Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. Only three passengers were left now in the vehicle.The driver dropped one passenger on the way to school. He drove along the side of a big mountain and stopped the vehicle in front of a building and told me,”It’s JNV.”I looked out expecting a very big building. It was very dark. I could not see anything clearly. The power was not there then. I stepped out with my suitcase ,thanked the driver and moved forward. In the pitched darkness I could see a tin gate behind which there was a bamboo shelter.I opened the gate  and got inside. Meanwhile some students ran to me ,carried my suitcase and took me to the office room. There was  a candle light around which some teachers were sitting. The Social Science Teacher Mr Thyagi was the incharge Principal.A PET,a librarian and an Art teacher were also present. They welcomed me. My heart sank. How small it was.  Was it a school? Some hut like buildings on hills. The only concreted building was the office room. Was my choice the right one?

They gave me a cup of tea and explained that it was only a temporary building. The total strength of the students was only  46 !!!!  Are  these the famous JNVs?

The staff comforted me and then waited till the power came back. The dinner, again some rice with some dhal was served to me then they took me to my room upstairs  where three other teachers were also staying.It was a tin sheeted and bamboo covered dormitory attached to Students dormitory. A cot and a bed were given to me. I had to carry water up to the  bathroom for a bath. I lay down to sleep.

The next morning,that was 21^st November,2009 I woke up to the noise of the students.I got ready and went for morning assembly.I heard the Navodaya Prayer for the first time in life. They were singing very well. A teacher told me they would play football also very well. I could see the school in its full beauty and colour. A bamboo shelter…that’s all. Then  the Principal incharge  called me and asked me to fill my joining form. For the first time in my life  my Service Register was opened in my name in Government Service, dated 20^th November,2009.

After joining, I looked around to see the highest Burman(Myanmar) Blue mountain at a distance. We were on the boarders. The land was very beautiful. I was unlucky not to have a good camera with me. Some times I felt that we were above clouds, especially in the mornings and evenings. Really breathtaking scene it was…