It’s hard to focus on the man with my camera despite being empowered with its developed focus system . His face is radiating with an aura beyond the measure of rules of Optics. Every single time I encountered him, I found him with that aura. Much like the snow sheathed Eastern Himalayan range that radiates similar halo. There is something about the discipline and asceticism of the monks. He seems to be an epitome of eternal serenity characteristic of the heavens there since ages.
It occurred to me that beneath the veneer of apparent stagnancy he is dynamic enough to perform several duty at the high abode of quietude. I broke the silence.
“Have you ever been out of here?”
“I have been here for last thirty six years. In this peaceful land, the memory of 1960 war is still haunting me. The rival army arrived in Tawang. The air is heavy and humid unlike quintessentially Tawang. The calm, still life whose reflections can be found in the dewdrops hanging from the orchid trees were disturbed for once and all. I ran leaving all his belongings behind across the tough mountainous terrain with insurmountable hardship and arrived at Assam through Tamulpur (a place in bordering Bhutan) and then Barhampur, Nagaon District of Assam.”
“Can I get a ticket?”
We got interrupted as a visitor sought an entry to the GALDEN NAMGYEL LHATSE (Tawang Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh) Museum –the hub of ancient rare Tibetan Buddhism artifacts. He went back to help the man. Established in 17th century AD by Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto, Tawang Monastery is considered to be one among the biggest monasteries Mahayana sect in Asia. Chodak Thonduk (he told me his name) returned to me.
“Why Gompas (monastery) and other places are decorated by different colored flags hung in unison?”
“ The messages from our Holy Scripts and Lord Buddha about religious teachings and universal peace are inscribed on these. They are hosted on the eve of Losar (Tibetan New Year) with the hope that the wind will carry these sacred messages to everyone and the air will brim up with peace and happiness.”
“Please, you have to leave for now. The roads leading to the town are blocked due to landslide.” an Indian Army official alerted us.
I worried, “What about road leading to Circuit House?”
“I don’t know. Please wait until I get further communication.” The officer said. There is clear sign of anxiety in his face.
But Thonduk was composed. He smiled as he sought adieu from me. I nodded.
I thought about our lives in the plains. People are always preoccupied with the nightmare of violence. Can such aerial message bring some peace to the region?
I felt if I could raise some flag the next day
