By Aparmita Das
“Woh abhi pineapple khane ke liye rukega aur video bhi banayega, (Trans: He will now stop to eat pineapple and will also make a video),” said the driver of our vehicle. I chuckled, like as if it were happening…
…Rewind to an hour ago, the atmosphere in Jorabat was electric with excitement as everyone eagerly awaited Rahul Gandhi’s arrival for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. A question was thrown around, “So, what are your expectations from Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra?” The funniest part was that for many, “Nyay” (Justice) turned into “Naya” (New, literally), but most remained positive.
One woman from Mylliem couldn’t hide her excitement, and a young supporter expressed her anticipation of seeing Rahul Gandhi live after following him on social media for years. The loyalty of the people of Bhoi to Congress was evident. A massive bus marked the arrival of the Nyay Yatra in Meghalaya, although Rahul Gandhi wasn’t on board. It carried his supporters, some of whom had been with him since the journey began last year when it was called “Bharat jodo yatra”.
Engaging in conversation with one such passionate “yatri”, I learned about the challenges faced during the yatra in Assam. The discussion soon shifted to his home state, and an invitation to visit was extended. As a Congress MLA from Uttarakhand joined our conversation, a second bus arrived, prompting me to capture the moment as part of my journalistic duties.
The atmosphere turned festive as traditional Khasi musicians, adorned in cultural attire, prepared for Rahul Gandhi’s arrival. Amidst the excitement, he emerged from the bus, also dressed in Khasi attire. “He remained handsome, despite the years. I last saw him in 2011, and now, though older, he still retains his good looks,” I thought. Journos from other states surrounded him, hindering my view until one of the gentlemen I spoke to earlier ensured I had a clear sightline.
After this, we decided to trail the bus in our vehicle. Other journalists opted for a truck to capture every movement. I, however, tired and unwell, chose to stay in the vehicle. We moved swiftly, but suddenly the road came to a standstill…a massive gridlock. “Arey sacchi mein pineapple khane ko rok gaya kya? (Trans: Did he actually stop to eat pineapple, for real?),” our driver said.
Indeed, his prediction had come true. “Should I get out of the vehicle and capture it on camera?” I asked. “But again, I am 100% sure he will mention it in his public rally in a while,” which would take place a few kilometres from Jorabat, at Nongpoh. “Kong ka face toh abhi khil gaya ho gaya khushi se. Rahul Gandhi ne uske dukaan se pineapple khaya (Trans: The face of the shop owner must be glowing with joy right now. Rahul Gandhi ate pineapple from her shop),” the driver said. Yes, when the road cleared, we saw a tiny roadside shop, a Kong and her daughter, grinning. “This must be the pineapple shop,” I told myself.
The journey continued, and at Pahamsyiem ground in Nongpoh, a massive crowd awaited Rahul Gandhi. The Meghalayans’ love for food and music was evident, as a Khasi Congress theme song played. Joining the “padayatra”, I witnessed the overwhelming support for Congress, with chants of “Ha ka Ktieh” resonating from kids to the elderly.
As we reached the gate, it became clear that the Ri Bhoi Congress fans outnumbered the journalists. Desperate to cover the event, I managed a backdoor entry, hearing Rahul’s speech from a distance. Soon I made my way right in front. He criticised the BJP, MDA, RSS (as usual), but what caught my attention was his mention of stopping for pineapples in Nongpoh. The predicted pineapple moment had come true, although Rahul seemed unaware of Meghalaya pineapples’ global acclaim.
The whole thing wrapped up with a local singer Wanjop belting out tunes (virtually) that got everyone excited. Rahul Gandhi just disappeared, leaving us with a day that was a crazy mix of politics, culture, and this unexpected spotlight on a little pineapple joint in Nongpoh. The driver’s hunch about Rahul grabbing some pineapples was on point, it even caused a bit of a traffic jam for a hot minute.