The year began well with the starting of my pet project Creative Hands on the 6th Feb 2024. It was a lovely occasion and we were all very happy and enthusiastic. There was another big high with the starting of Sabhaghar at Panchabati on my mother's birthday on 29th November 2024. Besides this we had a memorial event for Jayantada on his first death anniversary on 26th August. It was held at the small hall at the ITA Machkhowa Complex with a screening of Bisheshwar's film and readings from the anthology Scent of Rain.
And the year ended on a very friendly note when 15 of us when to the Bouganvillea Resort on the last Sunday of the year to spend some time together in memory of our dear friend Sruti. It was long pending and I was really happy and relieved that we could make it happen so beautifully on that day.
But there were many deaths in the year... the most shocking was that of my lil cousin Dhentepa in July and of Tithi's son Ayudh in August in a fatal motor cycle accident. Sadagar Mami passed away in May, Bandana's husband Kamalda in July, in Germany Inez's dear friend Walburgis passed in August, followed by most shockingly, Ayudh. If that was not enough Rita Goswami baideo's lovely only daughter Mitu (Amrita Goswami) also passed very suddenly in the US while on a short work trip. Then in November Chetiya Sir, Biren Dutta Sir's baideo, Upen Sarma Sir, Addaghar member Pragya Baideo's husband and now most recently MKC and Farida's husband. [Added later: And then just before the end of the year Anil Goswami Sir.] So many deaths...
And many fell sick this year: The year began with news that Bhonti was sick again, with a new disease, then Khura had a stroke and needed to be operated on not once but twice, then Tithi and Anima were disgnosed with multiple myeloma, and a large (but thankfully benign) tumour was detected in Amlan all in May. I went to Bangalore to be with Amlan during and after the operation, while Khura and Khuri stayed at Panchabati for more than a month.We were hardly out of it when disaster struck again with Dhentepa's sudden and untimely death. And now as the year draws to a close, Bhonti, Tithi and Anima are still under treatment.
All that notwithstanding, there were a few happy occasions like weddings as well -- Basanta's son Amar got married in April, and Tarun Mama's son in December. Karuna mama's son Rishi and Rajuda's daughter Hiya also got married. Besides that, I did go on a couple of nice trips, a 10-day trip to Kerala with Dugald and Jaynee at the end of October, a short trip to Bhutan with Prabinda and Bou, a trip to Freiberg (and from there to Weimar with Elias and Petra) and to Berlin from Wuerzburg, and two short trips to Germany in March/April and then again in Sept./Oct. The trip to Berlin to celebrate Axom Milon 2024 was really a happy and fun occasion.
I had two nice visits, first Paula visited me in Wuerzburg in September and later Winky and Nate visited me in Kharghuli in December. Tithi has not been able to come to stay with me this year as she has been unwell. But we have done a few short and nice outings together. Chotu and Mami came all the way from Bangalore to be with me for the opening of Sabhaghar. That was such a huge act of love. Not just that Upen Khura came from Nagaon and braved the steps to the second floor to do the inauguration. I felt blessed.
Workwise, I have written small things in the blog but otherwise creatively this has been a very unproductive year. I have been so busy running the shop and then later getting Sabhaghar done that it has not left me any space for writing and reading. Debuda's book of stories translated into English was also accepted for publication this year. It will appear in 2025. That was also really big news as we have been trying for a long time. Addaghar seems to work well these days and I dont need to do much to keep it going but Sishugram still is stuck. The land work has not moved at all this year and this bothers me a lot. Because 2025 is the Golden Jubilee year of the Trust and we have so little to show.
What were the year's highlights: undoubtedly the starting of Creating Hands and Sabhaghar. But also making new friends as with Mitali (De) in Guwahati, or coming close to existing ones like Elias, Gabi and Ronjeeta in Germany. One happy development is that Amlan and I have become better friends since this summer and we understand each other better. I also feel blessed in having Bablee and Chotu with whom I can talk about everything. With Tithi I have seen disease and then death (Ayudh's) from up very close. Being there for Tithi has left me little time to keep in touch with my other school friends. That is a pity, but can't be helped.
But moving beyond my own circle, news in the world have been terrible this year. Climate change continues unabated. The Russia-Ukraine war continues to rage while the Israel-Gaza conflict has blown up and threatens to evolve into a full blown world war, with many countries in the middle east -- Lebanon, Yemen, Iran and now Syria all being pulled in. Olaf Scholz has lost his mandate in Germany and there will be fresh elections in February. And Trump has won a second term! What will happen once he becomes President we will have to wait and see... But it certainly does not augur well for the health and well being of the world...
I will turn 60 in 2025. There could be many things that will change, many decisions that will need to be made. I am just grateful that I have had no big health issues and have financial security. Of course I am lonely and still can't decide where I want to be... but I have started so many things in India that it might be difficult to stay away for too long. Ideally I would have loved to do fifty-fifty but technically it seems difficult. I will have to sit down with Eva once I am in Germany and sort out the various issues. It will be a pity to have to give up my German home but perhaps it will be for the best. But I certainly need to get back to reading and writing (and not just doing things or troubleshooting). And to slowing down and not taking on everything. Many big decisions regarding Sishugram will also need to be taken. And hopefully the Frauenhaus Xokaah will also happen as planned from early next year.
I will be able to rest once these four different projects of mine: Addaghar, Sabhaghar, Creative Hands, and Xokaah are all up and running well. Besides there is work on Baba's Trust and the Award which will enter its 30th year in 2025! The Girls' Home Sishugram is also due to celebrate its golden jubilee in 2025 but we have so little to show... and we are badly stuck and don't know how to proceed. I had given myself three years with Sishugram. I tried but have failed. It is time to hand it over to someone more competent. I just hope we find that person soon.
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