"Shillong Times" | Chronicles of Fear & Friendship

Recollecting a conflict-ridden chapter in the history of Shillong, author Nilanjan P Choudhury draws images of the 1987 riots and its aftermath through the eyes of two young men, Debojit Dutta (Debu) and Clint Eastwood Lyngdoh, and a beautiful young lady Audrey Pariat. 14-year-old protagonist Debu meets Clint at a math tuition class who further introduces him to Audrey, and a friendship nurtures between them.

Together, the three of them were set to embark on many adventures. But when tensions between the Khasi and Bengali communities boiled over, Shillong became a battlefield – old neighbours became outsiders and the limits of friendship were challenged. Increasing tension between the two communities had resulted in regarding mere survival as utmost priority. Young Debu was still in his early teens when he had first heard the word – dkhar. Upon enquiring, his father had revealed that dkhar is the Khasi word for a ‘foreigner’.

Going ahead, it is important for readers to understand the backdrop upon which the story is drawn. For many years, the beautiful northeastern town of Shillong has witnessed ethnic conflicts between its indigenous inhabitants and the non-tribal communities. There were times when people who grew up in the town and its periphery but belonged to a different race, were regarded as outsiders. Debu and his family were the victims of the same.

Once, Debu had encountered a group of local hooligans who wanted him to go back to ‘Bangladesh’. Since then, Mrs Dutta was worried about her son and warned him to stay away from the company of his Khasi friend – Clint Eastwood Lyngdoh.

On the other hand, Debu was unable to resist his friend. Debu would do Clint’s homework and, in return, the latter introduced him to a new life – food from Chinese restaurants forbidden by Debu’s mother, Pink Floyd’s soulful music, among others delights. Despite the tension, their bond was unaffected; rather, it blossomed with time.

Debu’s relation with his two Khasi friends – Clint and Audrey – deepened. He had done many of his ‘first-ever’ with them – right from the first sip of alcohol to the nervousness experienced on seeing the first girl as a teenager. At times, members of his community would taunt him for befriending a Khasi.

A curfew in the town along with cancellation of Mr Dutta’s trading licence had created a rift between Debu and Clint. Audrey played a vital role in bridging the gap between the two friends. Escalating tensions had resulted in the Dutta family moving to Calcutta – separating the friends.

The author regards Shillong Times as one of his most personal accounts with autobiographical elements – marking it an interesting read right from the word go. Narrating the tale in its closest possible reality, the author has not broken the flow at any given point.

Family isn’t the only institution with whom you share blood-relations. In the journey called life, we meet people through unexpected circumstances and develop a bond that lasts for a lifetime – irrespective of who we are. Shillong Times is all about that!