13th June, Monday
Lawngtlai.
I got invited to brunch at an aunt’s place where I suffered from another episode of overeating pork. Whew! Lawngtlai… my jeans are getting tighter and my belly’s gaining its jelly! Thanks to my overwhelmingly welcoming relatives who always have the grace to invite me over for dinner, for lunch and even for brunch. I made a mental note to boast to my dad about the welcome wagon I received. My dad will also arrive at Lawngtlai today and I doubt if he will receive the same welcome that I received. Ha!!
Arama called me during brunch and told me to be at the Council Office by first hour because the staff had some work on field and will not be in the office for long. So packed with my huge field gear, I rushed and was ready by 9 AM. I waited for an hour and a half. Did I hear it right?? First hour??
Finally by 10:30 AM, the staff arrived and I headed towards the Council Library.
I have just one word to say about the experience.
DISAPPOINTED.
The first thing the librarian (recently-appointed I later learnt) told me was that they were shifting the library to another room and apologised for the mess. I don’t see much of a mess in the first place. There are too few books to create a mess. I inquired and I was told that the library has 4657 books according to record. I didn’t want to offend the librarian by counting the books, but I don’t think the library would even have half the amount of books on the register.
When I browsed through the books, almost all the books dealing with the topic that I was searching for was either missing or checked out. But what surprised me was that borrowing books were not allowed. Then how come books are checked out??? I was told that it was the higher officials who checked out the books. And most of them went missing. My frustration peaked when I was told there was no photocopier in the building. So I ended up taking pictures of the many pages that I needed. The librarian was however surprisingly accommodating, giving me names of individuals who, he said, ‘will have a better collection of books than the Council Library.’ He also told me that I could check out the books if I want to make copies but should also make sure that I should return them. I left after three hours without taking a single book. The reason, I am not about to bend the so-called rules. Call me shrewd. But I would rather write about it and criticize about such malpractice rather than accommodate myself with it.
The librarian also made mild complaints about the negligence from the officials and maintenance funds which never reached the library.
I laughed, silently. The irony of it all.
I don’t even know where to begin. Here I stood in the middle of the Library of the District Council which I’ve heard so much about. An Autonomous District Council which is the only District Council in the world that the Lai community can ever claim as their very own. A Council, I trust, whose main aim is to promote and uplift the betterment, living conditions, identity and culture of the Lai Community in Mizoram. I wonder what kind of community will we create if we are not even well equipped with the written knowledge?!
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| The LADC Library on date |
I know I may sound biased because I could hardly find the books that I need. But I know I am right when I say that education should not be neglected especially with a community as small and lost-with-our-identity as ours. I hope when I come back in a year, the same frustration would not await me! I hope I see the library shifted to a new building, with the missing books restored and the funds used in the rightful place.
I left in the afternoon. With a frown still on my brows I headed to visit yet another batch of cousins and meet nephews and nieces I haven’t met before.
I got invited for dinner at U Thanga’s place, a bachelor pad. Four men ate with me but I swear I ate the most. Ha!! Arama took me to visit his elder sister’s family after dinner and later that night he dropped me off at my aunt’s place where I am to spend the night.
Working at Lawngtlai will be much more difficult if it hadn’t been for the Vuangtu brothers. So, if you are reading this Aram and U Thang, A zillion thanks, I owe you one. You guys are the best, indeed!!
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| Grinning away while sandwiched by my superheroes! :D |
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