This document provides a first person account of the author's visit to Shillong, the capital city of Meghalaya, India in April 2013. Over the course of a few days, the author observes the blue sky landscape from their window, local children playing football in the morning instead of cricket, narrow roads that accommodate vehicles, and posters advertising local films. The author notes the unique local flavor of Meghalayan newspapers compared to major Indian cities. Scenes of women preparing local snacks for government office workers and processing strawberries, a major Meghalayan crop, are also described. The author reflects on enjoying fresh organic strawberries before concluding their stay and preparing to tour more of Meghalaya.

1. RAMESH KUMAR

2. Blue sky
Picture Postcardish
Anywhere & Everywhere
*
Narrow roads but…
Accommodative
Shillongers
*
KICKER:
Cricket? No way…
It’s football, mostly
April 1-13, 2013

3. This is how Shillong , the capital of Meghalaya, looked from my second floor window April last
year (2013) – around 6 in the morning. I had flown into Guwati the previous morning and
then drove through the ghatsy Guwahati-Shillong Expressway under construction at the
invitation of Meghalaya Institute of Entrepreneurs. Spent rest of the day, helloing my hosts
and listening to their stories. Hit the bed as early as possible because I had left Delhi much
before sunrise to catch the early morning flight to the gateway to Northeast viz., Guwahati.

4. Temperature in single digits when I
stepped out for my customary
morning rounds of any place I
travel to. The idea is to get a feel
of it. The nearest ground had
several teams footballing while
seniors practicising ‘trebling’
hockey balls. Cricket, the national
obsession, nowhere in sight.

5. What’s a city in the morning without
school-going children? Excellent
weather. But umbrella? Afternoon,
when they return home, maybe a bit
warmer. Precautionary measure!

6. Many Shillong roads were this size only. Narrow, yes. Always wondered whether they can
accommodate two SUVs of Innova type side by side. At least this is government office area
and hence no roadside parking of private vehicles. In residential quarters, it is a nightmare for
outsiders. Not for resident Meghalayans. Fun-loving matriarchical society.

7. Film posters, I love the most. What can you expect from someone hailing from Tamilnadu? I
grew up in the cultural milieu of giant/huge cutouts of film stars and politicians: the land of
MGR – the matinee idol-turned-Chief Minister and now the land of his protégé, Jayalalitha
Jayaram. Posters, for me, an art form. Juxtapositioning of frames, fonts .. In a nutshell,
visualisation of film promotion. I did not miss this tiny poster on Shillong streets …. Oops!
Roads.

8. How can you begin a day
without newspapers? Every
city has its own quota.
Shillong is no exception.
Somehow, reading local
dailies don’t give the ‘kick’
one is used to in metros like
Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkota or
Chennai. But the local flavour
is different. Layout is
different. Story presentation
is different. Dull? Maybe.

9. Breakfast time, yes. No, not at
home, but in office. These
Meghalayan girls throng
government offices with these
delicacies – catering to the
needs of all – right from Chief
Secretary to the bottom-most.
Yummy!

10. Meghalaya is renowned for its strawberries. After the best have been packaged and exported
out of the state, the residual goes for processing. These women are busy cleaning, pruning and
readying the so-called ‘rejects’ to get it pulped at the government-owned processing facility in
the heart of Shillong.

11. Strawberry processing in various stages

12. Did I not swear earlier that Meghalaya is synonymous with strawberries? Yes, it is. Ready to
eat. Whatever strawberries we consume in metros actually comes from Maharashtra,
Himachal & J&K. Unless someone gifts you, the chances of you having tasted Meghalayan
variety is negligible. Why it is different, you ask? Organic, folks, organic. And the Meghalayan
soil…

13. Hmmm.. Shillong stay is coming to an end with a two week whirlwind tour of the state about
to kick up. Gearing up…

14. To be continued