A memoir of My Brother

Dear Followers and Readers, I have started a page named "My Brother" in this blog and have been updating whenever possible. This page is intended to create a kind of a small memoir about my brother and help his life and writings be preserved and read by others.

It is an enormously difficult task to chalk out someone close's life. It hurts at first but I am so happy to be able to do something to keep him alive. It is a small effort and I hope to receive your appreciation and encouragement. I will  be writing about him and post his poems in the coming days.

Thanks.

"The Last Time I saw You"

I was a little surprised,
The last time I saw you;
We had so many things in common.

I was excited,
So were you,
I was worried,
And you were too.

We held an eye lock,
Speaking a million silent words,
We held our trembling hands,
And strolled for miles of evening roads.

Amidst confusion of where to begin,
I trembled at a thunder,
You held me close,
Whispered "You are safe";
That was the magical moment,
When you took my heart away once again.

I know you do that stealing everyday,
Day after day from the time I have known you;
Since three years back.

The Mighty Brahmaputra

A view of the Mighty Brahmaputra, flowing below the 3 kms long Kolia Bhomora Bridge connecting Sonitpur and Nogaon. I have been through this bridge for many times during my visits to my Granny's place, Aunt's and probably entire set of relatives!!! This bridge was named after the famous Ahom General Kolia Bhomora Phukan. The construction company, Hindustan Construction Company, had been awarded by the American Concrete Institute, the Certificate of Merit for "The Most Outstanding Concrete Structures" in the year 1988.

I have always noticed the Brahmaputra flowing over danger levels in the monsoon season and thus this sight was a surprise. Right in the heart of the river was a small strip of land shaped like an arc with numerous trees and bushes in full growth. Subject to my sleeping senses consequent of heat, I thought we had crossed the bridge. Then came the light of enlightenment! The Mighty Brahmaputra has gone so shallow giving way for a dense growth of trees. Is it just industrialization or human handiwork? 

Nevertheless, the Brahmaputra is still the largest river in India, and still the cause of fertile and green Assam. I had noticed that industrialization has its own Blessings and Curses. We are blessed with high quality, varied and hi-tech commodities. We are cursed with deforestation and filling of river beds for supporting the means to acquire the blessings.

I am forced to think where is population growth going to lead us? I have seen settlements right in the middle of this mighty river. They get washed off like sand when Brahmaputra floods. Then I think where will we support all the people? The rich can afford a house/flat but the poor seem to be destined to nature's mercies. It is difficult understand how much can I or any of us do to help this situation. NGOs have been working, but it is a pretty alarming situation. We can't tell people not to get married nor can we tell them not to have even a single child..!