Hello You,

To save you from a big disappointment in the end, let me be clear of this first, this is not your usual writer—Cindy. Stranger to the world of blogging, an undeniable privilege was extended to me (after receiving numerous enjoin from her and having every conversation thereafter with `write an article on that for the blog`). While trying to write, my thoughts keep changing from one to another. I started off by writing about one thing and found myself on another topic. It has been more than a year since I penned down anything or even ponder on ‘stuffs’. My writings were mainly because I have to do it as there was no other option—assignments and notes. Therefore, these are scattered thoughts from a half decent homosapien who tries to be a good friend.

My heart rest in the hills And my identity rooted deep The blowing breeze gives me chill And grant me the strength to love thee ~Mawi Thomte

On notes from the first blog post, Cindy rightly describes our little venture as ‘driven by curiosity and love for nature’ when we scaled Lanva River within the town area and the waste dumping site under ADC Churachandpur. 

It was an utter disappointment to see the despicable condition of the river and the threatening and hazardous way the town waste has been handled by the district administrators, though we are also glad that such initiative of collecting household wastes began. 

The workers on the site are literally risking every minutes of their life. Up on the hill is an elevated mount of garbage, which contains all types of wastes. And they are expected to burn them all to ashes without being provided any preventive equipment except gasoline; as we learnt from a short conversation with them. 

The site run the risk of destroying the agricultural land below and it’s a question whether there is a run-off of polluted chemical-liquid waste and joins Khuga River( the source of the town’s water supply) not far off; one has a view of the river down below and pass through the Dam trying to reach the place. How precarious!

View of agricultural land right below where the wastes are burnt. The waste that failed to burn to ashes are being scrapped down the steep mountain slope by workers without protective gear

A scenic view of Khuga river from the dumping site

View of the town from the dumping site

I have the privilege to spend days on farm land, hiking and trailing mountain and stream. The experiences is not something I could find words for, to quote Robert L. Stevenson ‘It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men`s heart, as for that subtle something- that quality of air, that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit’. On one not so recently, while surveying a land accompanying a friend, we were trailing a stream, though it was dry season and there was not much water in it. I enjoyed every bit despite being the weakest, running out of breath several times (only) and stopping almost at every convenient spot. 

What initially was supposed to be a morning walk ended up almost till noon and we went back famished and exhausted. For a girl—born and brought up in Lamka, having no experience to talk about the rustic village life, nature—like the rustling trees, or the rocks on the stream, and the sound of the falling water in the deep forest, is a chance to live the memories of tales from grandparents. The admiration and passion for nature and environment is not due to a recent study or experiences, in fact, this old love is what makes the experiences worthwhile and priceless. I haven’t been to many places, but from the few I have visited, and much I have seen through other people’s lens, our land offers beauty in all places. The land is mesmerizing and the scenic beauty that surrounds us is such a waste not to be admired. 

Do not forget to pause a moment in your day to look around; the sky, the hills and the valleys –you will find beauty you’ve never seen. Nature offers us infinite beauty each day, one unlike the past. I fear the beauty of our land will be discovered by outsiders and non-inhabitant before we do and fail to gain from it as well. We haven’t crossed the town yet in our description and the rural side offers a lot more, adventure tourism may be unheard to us, but it has lots of potential and people flock to such terrains for it.  Stanza from the poem ‘Elegy Written in the Country Churchyard’ by Thomas Gray is a reflection of ours-

“Full many a gem of purest ray serene,

The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear:

Full many a flowe’r is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”

Hiking, outdoor activities or physical exercises has gain momentum, partly due to COVID induced Lockdown compelling everyone to stay indoors and with shutting down of schools, institution and business houses, we have extra time at our disposal. The surrounding hills that have remained unnoticed and isolated saw many new faces. During our childhood days, M-Mual/M-Mountain has a tale that the evil spirits inhabit the mountain and that no one dared stay there. Now, it has become one of the most trekked hills, for it being the highest peak. People, especially the youths have a new re-connection with nature. 

View from M-Mual

However, as humans do best, we pollute every place that we have been. Nature doesn’t require the protection of humans if at first it was not invaded. However due to the increasing growth in population and the need for infrastructural development, it could not be left alone as we need more space for habitation and  also the growing industries- which could not be neglected and ignored for want of environmental equilibrium and rich ecosystem. Both are a necessity and one must be able to look through both the lens and find balance. Such is the state we’re in—economy concern us much more than ecology. Therefore, what is required is a sustainable action from our part. We blame big industries and factories or metropolitan cities for causing global warming while deforestation is considered part of our ‘tradition’. Shifting cultivation is practiced and cutting down of trees for coal and other use is rampant. We haven’t been able to work out on an alternate ways, not cool! Globally, the main reason for increase in deforestation is due to agricultural expansion. If we consider our land and population density, practice of shifting cultivation seems like something we can ignore, however, such agricultural activities also indicates that our year long labor results in meager production that hardly sustain the family and we are left with a chain of wounded hills. Majority of us are still practicing subsistence farming and few of us are able to cultivate cash crop. And the lesser still, the richer folks, are able to own a plantation or farm for commercial purpose. We haven’t found ‘Market’ for large production or create one. In town, we live in a land plot and few of the households have kitchen garden. One thing that I wonder is why haven’t we practice terrace cultivation atleast in some areas even if not all, when our land isn`t as slope as we have seen on some of our neighboring states or countries.

Path to M-Mual

Concern on the environment is an extra challenge for us as we transitioned from tradition to modern. I remember my highschool teacher telling us that, for want of a few flora and fauna we cannot be against infrastructural development when he talked about the proposed Tipaimukh Dam which is supposed to be the biggest dam. However, judging by how the Khuga Multi-purpose Dam has been utilized so far, we clearly don’t need a new Dam just for the sake of ‘development’ that will feed the contractors and took decade to reach the people on alternate days. Slowly, but surely we see new infrastructural development. Economical independent is our only thought forgetting our dependence on environment. I am not against infrastructure development or progress per se, but on unnecessary exploitation of environment that doesn’t meet the need of the people. Lamka has seen unprecedented growth in every sphere, it has become the hotspot where people migrate for want of better education and livelihood. Our villages are deserted as we all cram together here in town finding every possible job to earn a livelihood. No one is to blame except for the politicians and leaders living in the comfort of their house making our villages and town too easy to ignore and neglect. Dependent economy on the mercy of the incompetent State corrupts us in ways we did not think about. We cause self-harm to ourselves with our mindset of expecting that we are to be fed everything we want and that too will appear magically at nightfall.

To add a little side note, one thing that COVID pandemic taught us is that we took too many things for granted, the little things are what makes this life big. Tradition and culture aren`t as big as we once thought, it evolve and change as the need arise. A simple handshake or a courteous smile when we meet known faces in the road is all covered inside the mask now. Things change and we need to stand alone to stay together. Our environment and the rich biodiversity continued to be taken for granted and destroyed as we explore more. So, which part do you want to play?