An imaginative Interview with dad -- Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) --- who left for heavenly abode in 2020.
He was 87.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb
(1 Dec, 1933 to 29 Oct, 2020)
(creativity is linked to insomnia)
Satire ... Fiction
Nirendra (Blogger) :
I am doing this interview with you dad/Baba amid Indo-Pak conflict and also a Ceasefire. Moreover today (May 12th) is my anniversary day.... was just remembering things about you, Ma .... our young days.... You being a strict father and yet lovable.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Well I know about the anniversary... Congrats and our blessings. I only fixed it. In my family, it was I who always decided things. That's why ... you are all doing well. Your brother must be flying around.
Do well in life, all my grand children should do well. But what is this India-Pakistan thing going on? As a journalist you must be knowing a lot.
Nirendra (Blogger) :
Nothing like that. What journalism? You never approved my joining journalism. You wanted your son to be a government babu... or a big corporate honcho with pots full of money. This war, you were talking about ..... between India and Pakistan is not a war per se.
Old conflicts. But this time Modi ji looked serious and you will be proud to know Indian forces - especially army and air force put up a good show ... killed 100 plus terrorists and Pakistani soldiers .... more than 100 ! Even terror headquarters were destroyed.
Terrorists who hijacked plane in 1999 also killed.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Actually, journalism and your friendship with Naga politicians spoiled you. You are too arrogant. You did not listen to me ... nor studied hard. Your life would have been different.
You often think like a Naga...
and your argument; I pity your wife .... my eldest Bahu. How is she doing ? My last lunch was the Pabda fish and rice .... she is a good cook.
I told your mother and she was taking credit. The fact of the matter is I discovered Mili (Swati Deb) for you. In more ways than one, you did not deserve her. But I always believed people with contrast mindset and qualities make happy couple.
But in your case; I can't be sure.
My mother and your grand mom also spoiled you giving you all those indulgences. Why you are asking stupid questions ... I thought you wanted to ask about India-Pakistan conflict and Narendra Modi's plans etc etc.
That Trump fellow may trouble Modi more in days to come !
 |
| My mom's 'assets' which dad never cared about |
Nirendra (Blogger) :
Oh, ya. This conflict ... now they have announced ceasefire
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
What ceasefire ! ... it's so fragile. Be careful... all of you are in Delhi. Yes, what was your question ?
Nirendra (Blogger) :
You are now allowing me to ask. Was this going for war a right decision after Pahalgam ... or the ceasefire is good. At least guns will not boom ?
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
There are certain things at the basic level. Hindu upbringing or making of India has been on different stages unlike things in the west.
No amount of English education and all of going techie and launching blog sites, web sites will change that.
Narendra Modi is also Indian. One hundred per cent desi. There is a tendency in India among national leaders right from Mahatma Gandhi .... to constantly look towards west for a feedback. They think some 'reassurance' will come from overseas.
Possibly, Modi has fallen into that trap. These things come up with age. Nehru and Gandhi ji accepted partition .... that's fact of life. You are a Modi fan na ??
What ? Why you are feeling shy?
Nirendra (Blogger) : No I am not shy.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Whatever that means. Be decisive. Be a man. Do not run to kitchen to ask your wife, are you Modi fan or not. Decide it for yourself. This is a problem with your generation.
Any way, my point is ... you can write next time that till now Narendra Modi has done an excellent job. He is handling you media people, communists and leaders like Rahul Gandhi. The perception war is tough. But he has the guts... ask our senior Naga leader S C Jamir -- he was Governor in Gujarat.
Modi has guts and he can do miracles.
And your journalism ... it's a vanishing art. Hundreds of newspapers around the world have been shut... Their absence leaves a hole filled by social media and misinformation. Bad times. I am happy at least my grand daughter does not like journalism.
Nirendra (Blogger) : No I am not shy.
Let us talk about Modi.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
The Prime Minister should stop trusting Trump too much. These Americans have a track record of destroying friends. Modi should bring his spirit of 2019 when he abrogated Article 370. That was a man like decision.
Trump's betrayal is a good wake up call. Your Modi is a quick learner.
Vajpayee ji did that with nuclear test. Indira Gandhi had guts we all know.
 |
| Baba and Ma : Our lovable wizards |
Nirendra (Blogger) :
So, how does he go about now ?
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
You mean Modi ...? Arey he knows all that. May be he is doing his own calculation. Probably Pakistan will damage and harm themselves more by going for this ceasefire. May be India gets angry this time and even J D Vance and that Trump.... they will not be able to do much.
You only told me way back in 2002 during Gujarat riots .... that do not underestimate Narendra Modi. Who expected Modi to kill so many terrorists and their relatives and may be future terrorists at one go.
So give him time. Modi will play up his natural cards, the instinct.
I am confident, Modi ji is likely to write a totally new book or re-write that book .....telling the next generation how politics should be done.
He is an icon ... who is larger than life and who also dominates people's hearts. Some of it is gifted.
Any way... your mother was asking ... as it is your wedding anniversary today ... what is your wife cooking.
Nirendra (Blogger) :
I don't expect you asking these feminine questions when we are discussing something more serious.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
On ya. Women are like that.... they can get you distracted so easily. But how is your daughter doing?
Nirendra (Blogger) :
Everyone is fine. My question is India does not like to be put in bracket with Pakistan. But Trump's conduct has done so. Did Team Modi mishandle Team Trump?
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Tell your daughter and all other children to take fruits. Your mom may again complain that I am not passing on her message. She still does not know ... I am her husband ... not a messenger.
And ya, Modi ji .... he also knows .... in politics and more so in diplomacy ;
the narratives and perception matter a lot.
This may even beat reality – until your reality actually bites. So he has to be careful.
Now that he has shown guts. Now that his foreign minister Jaishankar told Marco Rubio on May 1st itself that India will strike; the US intelligence stands like a fool's paradise. CIA and all that ... they did not know India's operational style.
So, Trump will be careful that Modi and India should not come up much.
Moreover, the US needs a dirty boy in the east. Pakistan is there to do all dirty job. Tomorrow ... why tomorrow ... even today Modi is defying him.
Look the manner India kept befriending Putin. These show .... Modi is now in big league.... the competition is more.
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| Dadu and grand daughter Tanvi - "Birthday Cake may not be too bad for teeth" |
Nirendra (Blogger) :
But Congress leaders and others do not agree. They feel Modi is a failure.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Look, Modi must have done something or bargained something big with Trump. You never know. Modi can never be fooled or misused. Just forget that.
And I do not want to talk much about communists. You may not like also. Once you were a Jyoti Basu fan.
They are always anti-this or anti-that. They have spoiled Congress. Now Congress leaders often talk the language of Pakistanis and Naxals.
Leftists said computers are bad. I remember the Agartala airport of 2003... even Kohima NST bus stand in Nagaland looked better.... By the way... when did you go to Nagaland last ?
Nirendra (Blogger) :
Arey come back to the subject na.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
Okay, Okay... may be age... (smiles). It matters everywhere.... Any ways; I wanted to suggest that Modi is doing a good job... but all great heroes have their weaknesses.
Some time a small miscalculation changed the fate of a nation and communities.
Partition of India was such a big thing. Life is full of paradox ... sometimes three-four decades ...nothing changes. Sometime ... two days can make a big difference.
Communists chased away IBM and other American companies in the 1980s from Kolkata... so Bengaluru has come up the ladder. Your father in law is also here. He and your mother are often very friendly.
He does not believe that communists do not have single MLA in West Bengal and Manik Sarkar was voted out.
All path-breaking things in history and in ancient period also happened all of a sudden.
'Mahabharat' great war happened because Droupadi insulted Duryadhan and also his mother. She never realised that in the same war while husbands will win but all her five sons have to die.
Nirendra (Blogger) : Any final words for me .... any suggestion .... any advice ....
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
No use. You will not listen. You never listened to me. My two other kids were at least obedient.
Try to keep cool. As the eldest son in the family ... you have to take everyone along. These happen with all those who are the first child or the second. I was number 2.
The other name of life is sacrifice. Your mother still reads a lot of fiction... may be this writing business; you got it from her. Life also means compromises... she also used to say. Everyone has to do that.... we do not see what the other fellow is doing.
Keep meeting some of my relatives. I always did that... what did I get ?.... I don't know... still I did so.
Nirendra (Blogger) : Oh, your relatives.
Late Nibaran Chandra Deb (Dev) :
See no use talking to you. Go to hell ... you are a pandit (Mr Know all). I mean come here. You are bound to come one day. Your mom has made this place also hell.... She is busy gardening. I never get breakfast on time. My Murphy radio is malfunctioning.
Do you still wash utensils ?
ends
So much like Jethu. Missing Jethu and Jethimoni🙏 They will always be a part of my growing up .I learnt whatever Bangla I know from Jethimoni initially, not to forget knitting and stitching which always reminds me of her. The warmth of their love enveloping me everytime I think about them. -- Mitu, Kohima
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