I witnessed a very disheartening incident while living in a small district in India. The place was called Karbi Anglong (Assam) and people belonging to various tribes inhabited it. Since many days, a clash was going on between two communities. People were divided into two groups based on their castes. One group consisted people from the “Karbi” tribe and the another consisted people from the “Kachari” tribe. We were living in a house which was made of mud and bamboo. Most of our neighbors also had the same kind of houses in the locality. The weather was too hot and people were inside their homes. Few people sat under the shade of a tree to escape the scorching heat. Suddenly, I heard a loud noise of people. I whispered to my mother and we both peeped from the narrow bamboo holes. A huge crowd walked straight to our neighbor’s house. We saw them yelling in frustration and anger. In a split second, those people set all the houses on fire and immediately left the place. The bamboo houses soon turned into huge pile of ashes. I was completely shocked by this incident and it created a lasting impression on my mind. The whereabouts of our neighbors remained a secret until today. They must have fled from the city in search of peace and security. Although, knowing it is impossible to meet them again, their thoughts occupy my mind. A decade has passed, but my heart still feels their sorrows and sufferings. I pray for their wellbeing even today.
We all need shelter to live in and houses are one of the safest place of abode. No matter wherever we go, we always miss our homes. We feel very safe, comfortable and happy to be at our homes. In fact, we are all emotionally connected to our homes, every corner of our home provides a sense of comfort and a homely touch. However, the sad truth is there are also many people around the world who couldn’t afford a roof over their head and food to satisfy their hunger. People also become homeless due to various reasons such as war, social violence or natural calamities. I strongly believe that every house is beautiful and exhibits an interesting story. Houses are built using different materials such as bricks, cement, woods or glass. Houses may also differ in terms of size, structure and colors. The outer appearance of the house may be appealing to our eyes but what matters most is the memories that we create and the connections that we build inside our homes. We live the best moments of our life in our homes. Here’s a poem about an old house that was built decades ago. It is an old mud house with a wooden roof and many small painted windows. This beautiful house has its own aura which is filled with beauty, charm and simplicity. It can offer you a homely touch which is full of love, sense of belongingness and comfort. Unknowingly, the ambience of this lovely old house has carved into my memory for lifetime. Would you like to hear its story? Let’s get started!
I still have those memories clear in my mind
As shiny and fresh as the morning dew
The night was cold and the moon brightly smiled
As if welcoming the world with an everlasting joy
We were cool kids, playing hide and seek
Unaware of the sorrow and pain that aging could bring
As I tried to hide behind the wooden stairs
I heard the giggles of a passer-by
The scented smell of the burning woods travelled far and wide
That’s when we pushed ourselves little closer to the fire side
The jingling sound of Grandma’s bangles soothes my ears
As she lifts her hand to scoop the rice in haste
Slowly and quietly, Grandpa walked through the narrow space
Asking for a glass of wine and putting a smile on his wrinkled face
Then I sneaked outside to catch the fireflies
I wonder, how they got the gleaming light?
From where they got the gleaming light?
The two chirping birds sat on the tree of Grandma’s garden
She seems strong enough to carry the hefty family burden
They say, a kind heart is better than a pretty face
But why there’s a deep- rooted feeling of enmity among the human race?
The chattering of few villagers caught my attention
Living in a distant village would bring immense peace and satisfaction
The vibrant and wild flower likes to dance along with the cool breeze
And the morning sun quietly strolls over the mighty Himalayan peaks
As the gentle fragrance of the yellow incense dissolves in the air
The Grandma rings the metallic prayer bells with great devotion and care
Throughout her life, she has only learnt to love, forgive and share
She lives life on her own terms without any fear
Every house has a story to tell
But this old house has a different one
It has witnessed many generations with dignity and grace
And has united people from different culture, religion and race
I’d picked the story of this old house
Because, it has influenced me in some way
Thereby, keeps on reminding me time & again,
Everybody owns a “House” but only few of them make it a “Home”.