The tattered Tricolour
Barik Point has been the self-proclaimed jewel of Shillong’s beautification project. Parks have been promised, greenery envisioned, and of course, the pièce de résistance, a towering national flag that had intended to flutter majestically.
But instead we end up getting a flag that looks like it survived a wrestling match with Shillong’s unforgiving winds and lost, that too, twice.
This symbol of national pride has been reduced to a sorry sight, flapping around in tatters like an old rag clinging to the pole out of sheer habit. It’s ironic, really. The government spends lakhs (or more!) on beautification, yet the most visible emblem of the project, the Tricolour, couldn’t even last until next Christmas.
If the first torn flag wasn’t embarrassing enough, its replacement didn’t fare much better, proving that our “beautification” efforts are as sustainable as a plastic flower.
Maybe it is time that before we add more cosmetic touches to Barik, we should fix what’s already there? And the nations’ pride, the Tricolour, does definitely deserve better.
The original ‘pocket-friendly buffet’
What would Shillong be without its ubiquitous Khasi stalls? These humble and tiny establishments, dotting every nook and corner of the city, are almost synonymous with the city’s identity.
And honestly, it might as well be that these stalls are the original “buffet spreads”, minus the exorbitant price tags and waiters lurking to snatch your plate the moment you finish your meal. The kongs serve it all, steaming bowls of jadoh, crispy doh-neiiong (pork with black sesame), and, once in a while, some hot tea with a sly wink and a wide smile thrown in for free.
The city may change, but the Khasi stalls remain steadfast, feeding us with love, laughter and that extra piece of pork we didn’t pay for (bless their kind hearts).