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--- Debarati Bhattacharjee
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Yes, it was
my home, my abode during the tender years of my life.
The
quiet hill station of Shillong is located in the North Eastern part of India
and is the capital of Meghalaya. The British had found here a home away from home and had named the city
“Scotland of the East”.
Till 1972, Shillong
had been the Head Quarter of undivided Assam. The state of Meghalaya was formed
in the year 1972 and Shillong became its capital city. The kings of Tripura had also built their
Summer Palaces here. Shillong was fortunate to have hosted noted personalities
like Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and
many more.
Shillong is well connected by NH40 with Guwahati, the nearest railway
station. Shillong also has a small airport at Umroi, although it is better to
opt for Guwahati airport when visiting the city.
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| Jit-Bhumi |
The city of Shillong has a cosmopolitan flavour. Though the majority of
population consists of indigenous tribes of Khasi, Jantia and Garo, the city
has inhabitants from almost all communities of India who are no less
Shillongnites. During the end of the British period and after independence,
many government offices were set up in Shillong and people from across India
had migrated here for a living and settled here ever since.
The society here is matrilineal. Women run the family and do all sorts
of chores which are otherwise done by men elsewhere. Women are much more safe
here than the rest of the country.
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| The winding roads |
The essence of Shillong can be felt in its
winding roads, valleys of pines, green hills, flowing streams and overall
romance. Music lies in the air here. In every nook and corner, a local band can
be found singing western music. Shillong is also fondly called as the rock
capital of India. One more thing that is in the heart of every person apart
from music is football. Every house here boasts of colourful flowers and
sparkling window panes. The city is
also the seat of premier educational institutions including national
institutes.
The winters in Shillong are chilling and the
temperature falls down to 2-3 degrees. In the last week of December, the whole
city is decked up for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Christmas carols are
sung in all places. Santa visits homes and distributes chocolates to the kids.
Stars are hung in every verandah and Christmas tree in all sizes sits pretty in
the corner of every living room. During winters, the small streams which run
down the hillocks are frozen in the morning. In the early morning, the glass
panes are covered with mist. The water pipes are frozen and are required to be
heated to dissolve the ice. The tap water is icy cold and a huge pan of hot
water is always kept on the kitchen heater for use in all the household chores.
Of course, now the winters in Shillong are less cold thanks to the menace of
deforestation that came with development.
After the winters, springs arrive when small green leaves come up on the
barren trees. And winds come with the onset of springs and the weather is so
dry during this time that every other person has a red dry cheek. Summers came
when the winds subside in the end of March and this is the best time to visit
Shillong. In the summers, the temperature remains around 25 degrees and the
weather is very comfortable. Rains in Shillong arrive like unforeseen guests.
Rains are unpredictable and sometimes last for days and months without
stopping. Autumn is brief here and is most celebrated with autumn festivals
held everywhere.
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| Umiam lake |
Shillong occupies
a very special place in my heart. I can never detach myself from those flat
nosed and red cheeked kids, the old lady in the fish market, the guitarist who
plays in the corner of the road, the small stream that used to run down the
hill behind my window, the sound of rain on the tin roof, night view of the lit
up hills, the drawings I used to make with fingers on the frosted window panes
in winter mornings, the first pout of rose in garden, the sunset over Umiam
lake, the long walks in the winding roads, the hills where I learned to live and
love.
I wind up here
and now. The city of Shillong and its surroundings still remain largely
unexplored and is a must on your travel list. Come and feel the romance and
beauty of the place.
As for me, once a
Shillongnite, always a Shillongnite.
KHUBLEI.
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