By Neena Bhandari
Imphal (India), 21.04.2009 (The Hindu Businessline): While Manipur simmers with unrest, memories of a once serene State come flashing to mind. As the aircraft takes off leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Dum Dum, the Manipuri air-hostess greets us with a polite `namaste’. Flying across Bangladesh in this Calcutta-Imphal flight, an uncertain delight engulfs me for North-East has always held a special fascination for me.
After a few hours and a stopover at Silchar, where passengers who board the flight remind one of bus commuters, some even carrying sacks of potatoes, we touch the rain-washed airfield of Imphal.
As we drive through the arterial roads of this capital city, women clad in phanek (skirt) and inafi (dupatta) and men in khodai (dhoti) and shirt portrayed the traditional Indian more than anybody else.