Gone fishing!

Sundays are supposed to be lazy and I did not look forward to it really, another boring day in the office, or so I thought. Lakpa Tamang in our office was going fishing and suggested I join him, I did.

Tamangda has ealier discovered new fish species and records for the State. He also has detailed information pertaining fish ecology, including what each species eat, where and when it breeds and has about three years of data about fish populations in streams around Itanagar. I suggested he publish a book since he has collected and preserved specimens of 48 stream fish species.

But one thing he does not have is formal educational qualification; a degree, and he happens to be our office clerk! The world is full of paradoxes indeed.

This fish seemed to be stuck to this pebble, we released it back in the stream, hope it lives on.

This was the fish catch for the day; Tamang da often returned individuals which were young and also did not catch species that were relatively small. In all he caught about 35 individuals of 7 species. We returned back, and it was not a boring Sunday afterall!

Anythings recyclable!

I know this much about the communities in the north-east: they are resourceful; they have an amazing array of handicrafts they make out of bamboo and cane, maintain their knives sharp, preserve dried meat for more than a year and brew delicious drinks. But this was something new I came across.

As I was walking in Yingkiong town in Upper Siang district, I noticed a vibrantly shining bag and wondered how such a bag ended up in a pan-shop. I was further interested and when I walked up to the shop I saw hundreds of pan masala, tobacco and biscuit covers and the lady in the shop was meticulously cutting and preserving these, later to be used to knit bags. These strips are washed and then knit to make them bags. One of the bags posted below I would’ve picked up; however these are really expensive because of the labour involved; this one costs 450 rupees! I couldn’t afford it and wondered if any Adi person in the place would be able to too, but then I put that thought behind and was pleasantly surprised by the innovation in front of me. Not a weak bag this one is too, for when I held it, it was moderately heavy and stronger than a cloth bag too I think!

Anyone who would’ve seen me walk away from the shop would’ve thought, “ here’s a young man walking in gaiety, satisfied with life!” I was indeed happy, coming from a city which may dump a crore packets like these a day, I hope someone starts this in the big cities.