Putha (Ahom Assamese for ‘maternal grandfather’) is a humble, quiet man. Once a towering headmaster of the local government high school, he now spends most of his time either gardening, or perusing through his daily newspaper. My mother testifies that he has maintained a journal since forever, in which he diligently writes every detail of the day before retiring to bed. I have always had the privilege of learning a thing or two about yoga and medicinal herbs whenever I’m at the ancestral home - his ‘castle’ in Amguri, Sibsagar. One could often spot him on his bicycle, masquerading across the village, calling out every tom, dick, or harry known to him.
My ailing grandmother often stays at her daughter’s house in Sibsagar town. An unnamed cat keeps him company in such times. One is bound to be greeted by its furry touch while eating food at the dining table, often accompanied by a needy “Meow!”. He proudly grows his own food and cooks quite a delectable spread with the most basic of ingredients. Post-dinner, a grinding sound of mortar and pestle, turns up like clockwork. Putha would be found grinding his areca nut – a habit evolved due to his weak teeth and inability to chew nuts. As they say, old habits die hard!
There are two store rooms in the house – one for storing foodgrains, et al, and the other for storing tools and other miscellaneous material. Putha says that before he built the pukka house, his entire family lived in the exterior thatched 12ft by 10ft hut (converted to the miscellaneous store room later), which is a bewildering feat considering that he had 5 siblings. He gets emotional whenever he talks about his poverty ridden childhood and the sacrifices he had to make throughout his youth to come out of it.
His friends, all of whom have found place in his ‘extended family’, often check on him and catch up. They would talk local politics, discuss the weather, and of course inquire about the well-being of each other’s families.
Before putha built an attached bathroom, the structure below used to be the destination 50-odd metres away from the house, when nature called.
My putha is a humble, quiet man. He minds his own business. Perhaps his daily clockwork-like routine does not allow for any mindless nosing in others’ affairs. His background in mathematics has built a solid rational
understanding for him to grasp current affairs, which he brushes up on every evening at 7o’oclock.
He has had a fulfilling life, with no demands left, barring one wish which he confessed to me. He wants to go on a trip with me across the country, cherishing all that this diverse country has to offer. I hope I can fulfil his wish.
