(One)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

         The mid-term exams of the sixth graders have started today. It was a social study exam today. I like the geography part of this subject. Even my favorite book is the map. Last year Mahi brought me a globe. 

         After coming from school, Maa told me that next week Mahi will come. Mahi lives in New Delhi. But she often travels abroad for her work purpose. I have marked every place she has visited.

         The work of plucking leaves in our small tea garden has also started today. 

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Friday, 14 June 2024

This afternoon, when Papa came home, he handed me a package of tea leaves. Not the usual tea bags we drink, but real dried leaves! Even though it’s still wrapped, I can smell a light, sweet fragrance.

Assam Tea. That’s what it says on the package. Hmm, does it taste ‘asam’ too? The name sounds like it, but it smells just like normal tea. Well, I do love tea. Papa knows that. Maybe that’s why he gave it to me right away. He said it’s an early birthday gift—even though my birthday is still two weeks away!

I know he’s just joking. Every year, he always gets me a book as a present. And not just any book—fun books about amazing places in faraway countries, about kids who live there and all the cool, different things they do.

Papa said the tea is a souvenir from Ibu Mayuri, a guest from India at Papa’s office. Wow, so this tea is from India! I’ve tasted Indian tea before, but not this one. I think I’ll make some tomorrow morning at breakfast.

Okay, I’m off to bed now. I’m super tired. There’s so much schoolwork, especially with the holidays coming up soon. I just finished my homework at 8 o’clock! Time to sleep.

(Two)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Thursday, June 20, 2024

         I talked with Mahi over the phone today. She had visited Jakarta a few days ago. I immediately looked for the place on the globe. Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia. Mahi said that this time she will bring me an elaborate book written about different places of different countries.

         When I visited my Mama’s home during the last Bihu, he prepared a special tea for me. Mama told me that was white tea. Although it was lighter to drink than other teas. But it had a heart-warming taste and a flowery aroma. The fragrance of the raw leaves wafted through the smoke like a perfumed incense stick. I was curious to know how that tea was made.  He explained the entire process of preparing that white tea in his garden. 

         I think I’m going to try to do it myself. And I’ll give it to Mahi when she comes. I have not told anyone about it yet. This is going to be a big surprise! 

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Saturday, 15 June 2024

Hooray! This morning, I made my first cup of Assam tea. Wow, the smell and taste are amazing! I’ve never had tea like this before. It smells so different, and the taste… just wow.

I started daydreaming. If I could walk through the tea gardens in India, I bet I’d feel like I’m floating on clouds. It would be just like when Papa and Mama took me to the tea plantation in Puncak, or that time we visited the tea garden in Ciwidey near Bandung. But I bet Assam would feel even more magical.

Friday, 28 June 2024

Happy birthday to me! I can’t believe I’m 12 now. Since it’s the school holidays, I was feeling lazy and didn’t want to get out of bed early. No big plans for the holiday, though.

When I finally got up and went to have breakfast, Mama and Papa were already at work. But on the dining table, I found wrapped presents! Just by looking at the wrapping, I knew one of them had to be a book. I felt a rush of excitement!

When I tore off the paper, I was even happier (and surprised!). There were TWO books inside! Mama got me a book of Indian folk tales. I flipped through it and found one from Assam! How cool is that? Papa’s gift was an India travel guidebook. But that’s not all. He put little stickers on some pages. When I opened those pages, guess what—they were all about Assam!

Mama and Papa must have known how curious I’ve been about Assam. Ever since I tried that Assam tea from Ibu Mayuri, I’ve been talking non-stop about how I want to visit a tea plantation there someday. I want to pick the tea leaves myself and then make a hot cup of tea right there!

I know it’s just a daydream, but no one can stop me from imagining it, right?

(Three)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Sunday, June 23, 2024

         Sundays are my favorite. Deuta doesn’t have office work on Sunday.

         He likes to listen to the radio very much. Deuta says, “TV, mobile, computer etc. can never give the same feeling of listening to the radio.”

         When they were child people often used to tell the time by listening to radio programs instead of watching the clock. When the regional news started to broadcast at eight and a half, they knew that it was time to hurry for school.

         Today, while I was waking up, a very beautiful old song was playing on the radio –

“Bondhu, somoy pale amar fale ebar aahi jaba.

Sohoj sorol gaonwar jibon khontek roi chaba.”

(Friends, when you will get time, come to us once,

enjoy the simple village life for a while.)

         I’ve never heard this song before. Deuta said that it was sung by Dipali Barthakur in 1957-58 for the radio. The song was composed by Rudra Baruah. Deepali Barthakur was able to sing only ten songs in her career. After that, she was no longer able to sing due to her illness. But with just these few songs, her voice was magical enough to make a forever home in the heart of the Assamese people. The image of Assamese rural life can be seen in her songs. 

         At eleven o’clock I went to the tea garden with my Deuta. 

         Our tea garden is on a hillock not far from our house. A stream is flowing from the edge of the hill. The tall Shirish trees, planted around the circular tea bushes in a circular way, look like umbrellas. many birds come there and sing songs.

         I saw some hornbills today. With the yellowish coloured curved beak and the cap in their head – these birds look like they are wearing a crown.

         Maa once said that hornbills raise their babies inside the hollow of trees. And till the babies are grown up the mother seals herself inside the nest. The male bird feeds the mother through a small opening from outside. During this period the mother bird never leaves the nest. Even if somehow the male bird died the female would also die inside the nest waiting for her partner.

         I observed them for some time. Then I ran through the small paths between the tea bushes to collect my desired leaves.

         Mama used to say, “In order to prepare white tea, you should pluck the silvery fur coated buds covered with silvery shiny shoots from the tea bushes. And you have to do it so soft and carefully that it doesn’t get hurt anyhow.” 

         I plucked the buds aka leaves as Mama said and collected them in the Hora that I have taken from home. It was not fulfilled, but enough to my experiment. 

         Mama said that the buds have to be left in a dry and cool place for three days after putting them in a cotton cloth. And I have to be careful that the buds should not touch each other. So, I put them in a cloth on a bamboo plate and hid them under my bed so that my Maa can’t know about it. 

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Monday, 1 July 2024

Hey, what’s going on? Just as I kept daydreaming about Assam, a documentary about Assam popped up on TV! Talk about perfect timing! I ran to the kitchen and made another cup of Assam tea to drink while watching. The tea leaves are already half gone. It feels a bit sad to finish them, but what’s the point of saving them if I don’t drink them, right?

The documentary showed beautiful mountains that seemed to touch the sky. And then, the tea plantations! Rows and rows of green, like waves on the hills. The workers were picking tea leaves, laughing and chatting while working. They looked so cheerful. I could almost feel the cool breeze and smell the fresh tea leaves just by watching it.

Monday, 15 July 2024

Today was the first day back at school. The 2024/25 School Year has begun, and I’m officially in Class VI now! Our new homeroom teacher’s name is Ibu Dewi. She seems really nice—her smile is warm and she’s super friendly.

She started the class by asking each of us to introduce ourselves. One by one, we said our names, where we lived, and how we spent our holidays. When it was my turn, I told her that I stayed home and read a fantastic book of Indian folk tales. Her eyes lit up, and she said, “Just be patient! Next month, we’ll learn about India in geography class.” I could feel my heart skip a beat. India! Assam!

Oh, and there are two new kids in our class! They both moved here from Bandung, but it doesn’t seem like they know each other. The boy’s name is Galih. He’s pretty tall and has fair skin. He always wears a friendly smile and ended up sitting not far from me. The girl’s name is Hira. I was surprised to find out she lives close to my house! She looks like she might be of Indian descent. She spoke with so much confidence, and her face radiated kindness. I think she’d be fun to talk to.

Wednesday, 14 August 2024

Big news! In geography class today, Ibu Dewi announced that at the end of the year, we’ll all be doing group presentations about one of the countries we study this semester. We get to form teams of three.

I immediately asked Galih if he wanted to team up, and he said yes! We haven’t picked a country yet, though. Of course, I’m secretly hoping we can do India, but we haven’t learned about it yet.

Right now, we’re still studying East Asia—Japan, China, and Korea. But next month, we’ll learn about India! I can’t wait. I hope I’ll finally get to learn more about Assam.

Oh, and if we don’t want to pick one of the new countries we’re learning about, we can also choose any Southeast Asian country from last year. But nope, I’m waiting patiently for India.

I wonder if Hira would want to join our team. It would be fun to get to know her better. And if she really is of Indian descent, maybe she knows something about Assam… or maybe she’s even been there! Now, that would be amazing!

(Four)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

         Our exam ended today. From tomorrow it will be the project submission and the practical exams. And after four days our summer vacation will start. 

         After returning from school, I observed the leaves. Mama said that the buds will dry by itself and white tea will be ready.

         The buds become blackish and they seemed like they were mixed with silver ore. I have to ask mama tomorrow morning if it is ready to consume. 

         I went to the Toklai with Deuta in the afternoon today. Like us all the small tea farmers send the leaves to the factory of big estates for sale.

         Our leaves go to the ‘Toklai Tea Estate’ of Jorhat. Deuta asked me, “Would you like to visit the tea factory?”

         Before that I’ve never seen a tea factory from inside. The raw leaves are spread wide under artificial light and wind to remove humidity and let them wilt. Then those leaves are lifted in big trays. The machine divides the leaves according to their size. They are cut into pieces again and again. Then again, the machine divides them according to the size of the sieve. In this way different qualities of Red Tea are prepared, which we drink. 

         Deuta also said that the world’s first Tea Research Centre and Instituted is here in Tokalai. It was established in 1911. He has promised me that one day he will take me to the research centre.

         I just found out about tea scientists. They do research there. I have decided to become a tea scientist. 

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Thursday, 22 August 2024

I started searching the internet about Assam today. I thought it was just tea plantations, but there’s so much more! There are wildlife sanctuaries and a place called Kaziranga National Park which is the home of One Horned Rhinos. I also found out about their unique culture and history. They have traditional dances, but I couldn’t remember the names. I’ll read more about them tomorrow.

Oh, and guess what? I asked Hira, the new girl from Bandung, to join my team with Galih for our geography project. She said yes! This is awesome, especially since she’s of Indian descent. Maybe she knows a lot about India—maybe even about Assam!

Friday, 23 August 2024

During the morning break, I went to the canteen with Galih and Hira. It was fun getting to know them better. But guess what—I was shocked when Galih told us that he used to live in India! No wonder he was excited to join my team.

His dad worked in New Delhi for two years when Galih was in Class III, and he went to school there. Galih said that India is actually a lot like Indonesia. There are so many different ethnic groups and languages. Even though he went to an international school where they spoke English, he also learned a bit of Hindi. He even picked up some regional languages like Tamil and Sindhi from his classmates.

When Galih mentioned Sindhi, Hira’s eyes widened, and she said she was of Sindhi descent! What a coincidence!

Galih tried saying something in Sindhi, but Hira burst out laughing. She admitted she doesn’t understand the language at all because her parents only speak English and Indonesian at home, with a bit of Hindi mixed in.

I was about to ask more, but the bell rang. Ugh! Just when things were getting interesting. Maybe we can continue this conversation tomorrow… oh wait, it’s the weekend!

(Five)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

         Mama asked me to send pictures of my tea. After seeing the photos, he said, “Wonderful! It looks very good. But we have to test its taste.” He also told my mother about it. She wondered, “I didn’t know about it.”

         “After all he is my niece!” – Mama said proudly.

         He will come to our home in a few days. I will go to my Enai’s home with him. When Mahi arrives, I will come back home with her. 

         Maa made Green Tea today. She does it sometimes. But I didn’t know the process. After drinking my White Tea and seeing my interest in tea making, she showed me the process of preparing the green tea. 

         Maa first roasted the raw pods of ‘one bud, two leaves’ in a pan on low flame for a few minutes. Then putting it in a bamboo plate, she kept on rolling the leaves gently with her hand. After some time, the dry green and rolled tea became ready to serve.

         It seems like a good decision for me to become a tea scientist. I need to tell Mama about my goals. 

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Monday, 2 September 2024

I’m getting closer to Galih and Hira, and we’ve been talking a lot about India. When I told them I wanted to know more about Assam, they got super excited. Galih said he loves Assam tea too! I invited them over after school, and we drank Assam tea together. They loved it!

This morning, Hira told me more about her family. She even invited me to her house. She said her parents are curious to know why I picked India for my project.

Hira explained that “Sindhi” isn’t just an ethnicity and language; it’s also a region in Pakistan, Sindh. In 1947, a lot of people, including her great-grandfather, had to leave Sindh and move to India because of political upheaval. A few years later, they moved to Indonesia because a distant relative invited them to Bandung to start a business. Her grandmother was born there, and later her dad was born in Bandung too.

I was fascinated by her story. It felt like I was hearing a chapter from a history book, but way more interesting. I’d love to meet her parents someday and learn more about their family history.

Sunday, 15 September 2024

Galih called me tonight, excitedly saying, “Quick! Turn on PQR-TV! They’re showing a documentary about Assam!”

I rushed to the living room, made a quick cup of Assam tea, and watched with wide eyes. The documentary showed the Bihu dance, with colourful costumes and cheerful music. I saw the vast Brahmaputra River, ancient temples, and the bustling local markets. My imagination went wild. I could almost feel the rhythm of the dance and the buzz of the marketplace.

My dreams of visiting Assam just got bigger.

Wednesday, 6 November 2024

We finally did our geography presentation today! It went really well. I’ll write more about it tomorrow. Too sleepy right now.

(Six)

Debashish, Jorhat, Assam

Saturday the 29th June 2024

         Our Summer holiday announced today. Vacation will start from tomorrow.

         At school we discussed our plans during summer vacation. Pragyan said that he will go to visit his aunts in Guwahati. He will visit the Zoo, Kalaskhetra there.

         Soumyabrat will go to Tezpur with family. Then in the way he may visit Majuli also.

         Mayuri said that she will not go anywhere. She will participate in dance and acting workshops during the entire vacation.

         But I’ll go to Mama’s place tomorrow. Today Mama came to take me. I give him a cup of my white tea to taste it. He said, “It’s good. But the dark colour is much highlighted. If it vanishes the quality will be very good. Keep trying.”

         He said that there is another tea called the Golden Tea. Its price is almost one lakhs rupee per kilogram! I have never imagined that tea can be that expensive!!

         I told him about my aim. He said that it is a very good decision. I must know many things about soil, water, weather and trees to become a tea scientist. So, I have to focus on study. And I have to study in the science stream in the future. Then also have to do research about tea.

         Mama said that he will take me to interact with a tea scientist at Tukalai Tea Research Centre during this summer vacation.

Johan, Jakarta, Indonesia

Monday, 2 December 2024

Best news ever! Today, Ibu Dewi announced the results of our geography projects. Our team got the second highest score! We didn’t get first place, but who cares? We’re so happy!

I rushed home to tell Mama, and she was thrilled. I wanted to tell Papa too, but Mama said he’d be home late tonight. That’s okay—I’ll tell him tomorrow. Right now, I need some sleep. Goodnight!

Friday, 10 January 2025

During dinner, Papa told me he had a surprise. And it was the best surprise ever!

Papa said he has to go to India next June for work. He doesn’t know yet if he’s going to Mumbai or New Delhi, but here’s the best part: After his office work is done, he’s taking time off!

“Mama and Johan can join me in India,” Papa said with a grin.

Wait, what? Are we really going to India? My heart started racing.

Papa then added, “After my four days of work there, you will meet me in New Delhi. Then the three of us will head to Assam for a holiday. You’ve been talking about it so much, Johan. You’ll have to be our tour guide!”

Papa said he emailed Ibu Mayuri. Another surprise. She’s originally from Assam. We can visit her relatives there. She even has a nephew of my age. His name is Debashish.

I couldn’t believe my ears. Am I dreaming? Is my wish to visit Assam really coming true? I’m so excited, I can barely sit still. And guess what—my birthday is in June! Maybe… just maybe… I’ll get to celebrate my birthday in Assam!

I have a feeling tonight’s dreams are going to be sweet.

—  Lexicon  —

Assamese Words:

Maa –              Mother

Deuta –            Father

Mahi –             Mother’s younger sister 

Mama –           Mother’s younger brother

Bihu –              Assam’s harvest festival, State festival of Assam

Hora –             A conical bamboo basket which can carry a burden

on the back using head rope

Enai –              Mothers Mother, Grandmother 

Indonesian Words:

Asam –             Sour

Ibu –                Literally means Mother, Women; addressed to show respect.

Image Copyright: www.dreamstime.com

About the Project:

Pulau Pulau was a matchmaking initiative created for writers by writers to find a writing partner. The aim of the project was finding a writing partner to co-write something together that goes beyond what either could create on their own. It was organised by the archipelago collective, a transnational community of writers and artists. From across the world approx. 80+ writers have participated from 30+ different countries whose are generally writes in 50+ different languages. 

About the Writers: 

Bikash Dihingia – India

Bikash is an author, freelance writer, translator, poet and teacher from Assam India. He was selected as a PM YUVA author, one of 75 authors under the age of 30 from across India. His book was launched by Nobel Laureate ‘Annie Ernaux’ at the 2023 World Book Fair in New Delhi. His short story ‘A Wagtail’s Song’ appeared in the anthology ‘A Fistful of Moonlight, Stories from Assam’ (BEE Books/India and Hachette UK/MacLehose Press, 2023). He was also a writer of the project ‘Write Assamese’ hosted by the Untold. Bikash represented the United Kingdom in a European Lit Event in 2023. He has invited to the Frankfurt Bookfair 2024 to read his short story. Bikash generally writes in Assamese language.

Danny I. Yatim – Indonesia 

Danny is a freelance writer, editor, translator and lecturer based in Jakarta with an academic background in psychology and education. He has published memoirs, children’s stories, short stories, poetry and non-fiction works related to psychology, social issues, pop culture and travel writing, in Indonesian and English.