Alive and punching in the land of Bahadurs! Reloaded

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I had written this post almost two years. And I felt that in the midst of the Prashant Tamang -RJ Nitin controversy this one finds some relevance again. But this one's less controversial for I have written about my friends who can take humour (unlike Tamang's fans! And do not stereotype people (unlike the RJ).

I write this piece with much apprehension. If Prashant Pakhrin happens to see the title of this blog he will want to punch me. Two things that make him want to punch people is the 'bahadur' tag and any comment that remotely relates to physical attributes. He is almost 5 feet 1 inch tall. He would squint every time he laughed. (Most of 'us' are small time sadists, count me in).

I met Prashant in Delhi again last year.

I could see that he had pushed himself hard. He rode a 350 CC Enfield and nothing less..

"Alright, I can see that you are doing very well Paku (that's his nick)" I told him. It takes a lot to make it big in cities for small town guys like us, I beamed. And then the guy next to us in the parking beamed too "Oye Bahadur Zara apni bike side laga dena" (No, I didn't let Prashant punch that guy)

Living in Delhi for the last four years, I still feel like an alien" Prashant complained. "They never really try to go beyond your physical features.

Frankly, I don't give a damn to what Prashant feels. Because, I think he often overreacts. Being a Bengali, I too am often called a 'Dada'. Or simply the fish eater! But come to think of it there could be some grain of truth in the way Prashant feels. There is something about 'Bahadur' that is different than a 'dada' or a Mallu and Gujju'.

India's Northeast is huge place of eight states, where people here look different, eat different, speak different languages, dress differently. There is a great divide.

An average Mizo is living in some forlorn corner of his state is more concerned about his clan kin in Myanmar. People in Tripura and Meghalaya still have active connections in Bangladesh's Sylhet. Some Sikkimese will still prefer being in Tibet.

So what? I don't know. The divide is on both sides. The moment you enter Mizoram, you have a 'Vai' (Mizo term for stranger) tagged firmly on you.

"Don't get out of your place after dark in the streets of Aizawl or some one will punch you" is the standard advice to first time visitors from veterans.

Why? I don't know. "May be because you look differently and because he thinks you are an Indian who needs a punch! May be because you don't squint when you laugh!