The Manipur connection
During my stay in Bangalore, I got a chance to spend a couple of months with some Manipuri schoolgirls. Our hostel with its bare minimum facilities provided a roof over my head and experiences for a life time. I drew inspiration from these little girls, who were at least ten years younger than me, to overcome my anxieties of living away from my family. Initially, they maintained safe distance from me and spoke only when asked. Gradually the seemingly shy and reticent girls started opening up and I bonded beautifully with them. They were like a family, I looked forward to meeting in the evening. From discussing academics and family, bearing the only-rice-meals provided in the hostel to preparing special meals on Sundays; from secretly watching late night movies on the school computer to gossiping about the warden and the cook, we shared our lives with each other. Though my stay there was short, I tried my best to meet them on weekends. Playing, celebrating birthdays or ju...