Ever charming Shillong

I took a walk down memory lane last night when I was sitting on the front porch of my small 2 room house in Shillong and looked at the vision that is this place at night. As if stars had in actuality decided to get up close with us mortals . I remember Shillong of a decade ago, a soft, whispering town in the hills. Chilly at the warmest and icy at the moodiest. The pretty hill people walking along in that peculiar gait that is attached to these regions. A town of merry drinking , beautiful women, winding windy paths, captivating sunrises, never ending rains and warm cups of tea, all rolled into one of the most comeliest places to go to if in a mood to let the hair down.

Much has changed and some not all.

The sunrises are still there, glorious, intoxicating and rejuvenating. A sunrise from the Polo grounds is indeed a sight to behold to be convinced of it’s magnificence. I know there are vistas all over the world that have appeared in newspapers, magazines and the like that will most likely put a shade on my claim. None the less, I ask, please stand on the 5^th hole of Golf Links grounds at 5 o clock in the morning and watch the sun rise in a slow crawl on the East khasi hills. If nothing else the play of the rays on the dew drops on the grass will captivate you. It is one of my most favorite things about this town.

So are the windy paths, but a better modernized version, with sleek cars zipping past. 50 cent and the gangstas’ music replacing the boy bands of yester years. Shillongites like their music diversified and sometimes eclectic. Just walk into any of the cafes that are now littered all over town to find proof. I used to remember when we had to walk all the way to Glory’s plaza to have a bite of Aunty’s momo. Delicious. Even now. Now Police Bazaar and Laitumukhrah is full of momo places. Roadside vendors selling the vegetarian option. Not that they aren’t delicious. From automobiles to food ,change is everywhere and most evident. There’s even a Dhaba, a proper Dhaba here.

New buildings, new roads, new localities. Shillong is indeed now expanding. Almost rivaling the rate at which it’s nearest City, my home town Guwahati is growing. But along with the outlines and colors of it all the identity has morphed as well.

The identity of the city has changed. No longer a place of rest and recollection. It has become a bustling business hub. There’s a office of almost every major business house of India now located in Shillong. Small, wooden cottages have become a rarity. Replaced rapidly by multi storied concrete giants. Hills have made way for more of these. Trees in the city while intact are not as dense. The color of money has grown greener. There are daily traffic jams in on the main roads. So much so that parts have to be blocked from time to time. The coffee shops of old have given way to swanky cafés. Costlier and less cozy. Restaurants have changed, the hotels have changed, a whole new plethora of bars, both discreet and colorful have come up. And the pace at which it is happening? Astonishing.

Shillong has changed beyond all comparisons from it’s previous avatar, yes. And yet it still manages to charm me, time to time.

For you see the rains are still magical, the women still beautiful and the sunrises magnificient