Life in the seas

A recent visit to Andaman’s let me meet some fascinating folks and experience the diversity for which India is famous for. Andamans is an interesting place, for its people, culture, food and everything about it. The focal point of its evolution is the co-ordinates – An island in the heart of the seas. Everything is driven by the salty water flirting with the picturesque shores. Your day’s schedule depends on the high tides and low tides and the entire system is driven quite a lot by these tides, which tirelessly hit the coasts day and night.

People and Culture – It seems that Bengal wins the race hands down. Their willingness to take to the seas is evident with their proportion of the residing population in Andaman; Tamils run the show as well, with many managing mom & pop stores in the capital. Friendly and courteous – a tradition borrowed from different lands in our country. Hard to believe that three wheelers had meters (A measurement tool instrumental for gauging distances and the corresponding money that needs to be paid) working and they worked quite accurately, unlike the same that I generally see in supposedly the developed and advanced lands in our country. In fact, a driver offered me a free drop as a token of generosity which is unbelievable in today’s world. I was left nostalgic about my early Calcutta days, where you would find such care and munificence commonly.
Food: As they say ‘people make the place’. And the same translates to the food. The spicy seafood, the traditional postho, luchi alur-dum dished out of mustard oil bore the signature of Bengal. The breakfast menu constituted mainly dishes from south India, enough for a foodie like me to gorge.


Place: This should have hit the list first, but I wanted to save it for the last. The capital has less to offer and I prefer to bring in my experience in one of the islands near Port Blair (Havelock Island). Pristine beaches – I would state, if I had couple of words to describe it. Of course, the place deserves appreciation beyond words or at least, I am culpable of offence if I had to use my literary skills to describe it. The coast is made of pallid spotless sand, with green cover somewhere ahead. Most of the island is made of the reserve forests and hence the green goes on and on till your eyes could support your vision. The water would be clear and as you look, you would find your heart filled with satisfaction. There is something about the endless stretch of clear blue water extending to the silky horizon. A few crafts floating in the sea completes this remarkable picture. The water has multiple colors, which is dependent on the life in the sea bed. As you enter the water, you would able to what lies on the sea bed even 15 feet away from you – that’s for clarity. The amalgamation of the blue, white and green enchants the heart every being and imbibes poetry to even the most intellectually challenged individual. Such is God’s creation. And humans can only sit down and enjoy.
Reaching the island is difficult and that’s what keeps it clean. It’s a crime to miss being here; I already have my plans lined up for my next visit;