A Thought

I had the privilege of being invited for lunch at my friend's place one hot day in May.Once there, I sat chatting with her father,who is  a civil servant and his friend and colleague. The conversation ranged from the weather to my studies and went predictably to the situation back home."How's the situation back in Nagaland?, he asked. I tried to paint a realistic yet positive picture about the place I call home. I don't know whether I succeeded or not. It's hard for me.It's also hard for them I guess, to think that the situation in "the northeast" can be anything but normal.

What is "normal"?What does a" normal situation" mean? What do people have in mind when they talk of"restoring normalcy"?
I don't know.

But I do know that it is not"normal" to meet with uniformed armed personnel  patrolling the streets when you walk back home from school. The armed forces in civilian area is no good news.It's not"normal" to have your classes suspended and sent home early because there has been a gun-fight. It's not "normal" to be running for cover on your way back from church because you heard  gun shots. It's not "normal" to have your house searched at night. It's not "normal" to be told to be taught how to react should we get caught in a crossfire. It's not "normal" to read about killings, extortion and threats in the newspapers daily. It's not "normal" to grow up under the shadow of guns and bandhs.

We say,"If you are walking by and a bird drops its poops on you, be grateful elephants don't fly! "
But I would consider myself sadistic if I apply this analogy to the situations above.

So, did I have a normal childhood? What should have been the "normal"scenario?
You tell me.
I don't carry a persecution complex nor do I endorse violence. This is because I know peace is possible,peace is real....and this in turn is the reason I feel things are hardly "normal".