Setting Off On a Hitchcockian Voyage: China I

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Hello readers!
URBScribbles takes this opportunity to thank you all for your support and love. Your inspiration is the only fixed asset.
Beginning form this issue I am bringing to you a series of stories inspired by my recent trip to China as a part of the Indian Think Tanks’ Delegation. Hope it soothes your reading. (50secs read)

Bag full of anxieties associated with every upcoming trip to a new place is engaging and can deprive you of sleep for a night or two prior to leaving. The anxieties are multiplied when the destination is to be one unendingly fraught with mysteries and opinions shaped by media and a not-so-fancy history of contention. I remember the moment I had shared at home the news of my travel to China as a part of the Indian Think Tanks’ Delegation this summer.



Ma was hesitant, Dad confused. Well, how they would not be, for how could they overlook the popular discourse in India and especially in our part of the country (Assam) concerning China. China for us, despite being foreign has always been very much local. For China has forever featured in endless prandial chatters across the country and more so in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Issues of contention ranging from river water sharing and associated riparian anxieties to intermittent border transgressions by the PLA has forever kept China in the quotidian discourse in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Despite the overwhelmingly dissenting consciousness concerning China, there also exists a considerable degree of affirmation among some. If not anything else, an acceptable majority of our populace do romanticize to a great deal the idea of ‘made in China’.  The perception that anything out of China is cheap and hence the streets of China would by all means be the perfect shopping destination is undoubtedly ubiquitous in India.

As the day of departure kept approaching, streams of neighbours and “well-wishers” kept flowing in with respective share of opinions and cautions. A friend had called up to ask for a mobile phone of Chinese origin which he expected would be available at peanuts’ price everywhere in the streets of Beijing or Shanghai. One had asked for some Chinese tea while another was expecting some cheap and interesting electronic gadgets. Many of them registered their share of opinions about China and whatever possible bit of information they considered essential for the trip.

“They eat snakes; you better carry some packed snacks”

“The place is hell polluted, take a breathing mask”

“The place is full of buildings and skyscrapers, I have heard. I am sure green is a least known colour there”

“There is absolutely no freedom there bro. They even curtail social media. Be careful not to speak what is not needed”

“They are very strict with foreigners, never go out alone”

“Do not connect your laptop to internet, they will hack all your information”

“No one speaks English there; you can’t even buy a bottle of water on your own”

“How could you forget bro, they are enemies. They almost entered our homes in 62”

“Do tell them about our new bridge” (Dhola/Sadiya)

“Find out secretly what is the scene with Brahmaputra”



Packed with all opinions and prejudices I had to finally set off for this Hitchcockian voyage to this land about which almost all of us here in India have more opinions than facts. To unravel the mysteries and myths sustained and reproduced by the popular discourse here I knew this was to be the perfect opportunity. Anxious, confused, and excited, I finally left for New Delhi from Dibrugarh to eventually fly to Beijing with the other members of the delegation. Reaching airport abnormally before time and lingering around, waiting for a delayed Air China aircraft from Indira Gandhi International Airport, I however made quick friends with whom I was sure to have a wonderful 10 days coming up. 4:10AM IST on June 25th 2017 the boarding gates went open and we flew off at around 4:45 AM.

… to be continued


The days that followed took me on a roller coaster ride of adventure, knowledge and fun overlapping each other and the experiences shall flow in upcoming posts on URBScribbles. Keep coming back and do subscribe to it.

Coming Up...
Places in China

People of China












Wildlife in China

And much more...

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