Recall: Sumiran Chhetri
Sumiran Chhetri, SMIT 2000-2004
Before joining SMIT, Vivek and I would go to the Education Department (Government of Sikkim) a lot. Sometimes just to get away from home, and sometimes for serious business. We were at the end of our teens, and about to step in to college. The world was at our feet. It was in one such trip to the Edu department that Vivek introduced me to a very sweet aunty and her son. The son had way more marks than both Vivek and I in the 12th boards, and was also touring the Edu department like us. The son was in a blue checked shirt, and with side parted hair like Shahid Afridi. Incidentally all three of us - Vivek, The son, and I - ended up in SMIT.
Meet The Son, aka Sumiran Chhetri.
Days progressed in SMIT, and "Sumir" - as he's called for short - became the first guy in SMIT to have a girlfriend. The pioneers of Mall Road in Majhitar they were. Following which a lot of other couples came out in the open! The Mall Road then was a battle zone, where couples had to fight to stay there - all in the name of love. Amongst constant bickering and social taunts from the lecturers, love survived.
Once, before one of our daily trips to the Mall road (it was always from 8-9PM, including weekends), Sumir and I had gone for a smoking up session. Then, I was a regular – almost to the point of being labeled an “addict” in fact. Now I’ve been clean for a good number of years with a few instances in between. Anyway, there we were before the Mall Road time. I took my “regular dose”, and as usual Sumir was a bystander merely cracking jokes and waiting for me. Once done, we made our way from inside the boys’ hostel, through the winding corridors, and towards the Mall Road. It was raining outside, and we had an umbrella with us. But it was only when we exited the boys’ hostel did we realize that we had the bloody umbrella open the entire time – all the way from inside the hostel, through the corridors. And the cherry on the cake - we were both huddled under one umbrella like it was actually raining inside!!! I was stoned no doubt, but that incident proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that passive participation in a smoking up session can do funny things to you.
Sumir has always had a very close connection with food. According to him, his nickname at home was "khaanchu" - which is Nepali for "Yes, I will eat!” I guess that says quite a lot about his appetite. In our early days in Majhitar, when we were still getting used to the dirt cheap booze, we would go out for birthday treats to the only restaurant out there - Thapa's. And we would eat more, drink less. And Sumir still holds the record in the group for polishing off one full roasted chicken in one sitting.
Blessed with a great sense of humor, Sumir usually would be the one who would tell silly stories and make us all laugh. An upright guy in his own right, he knew almost everyone in college. And the good part - everyone else knew him right back. Not that the rest of us were less popular. We were notoriously popular, but Sumir was known for his jovial, funny and friendly ways. And that was the difference.
Gradually, as years progressed, we started increasing our affinity towards alcohol. Primarily because the rates in Majhitar (or Sikkim, for that matter) are dirt cheap. Imagine a full bottle of beer for 30 bucks! One day, a few of us were out for a mid-day beer session at Thapa's - which by then had become "Drop Inn". Quite a few beers later, we were making our way back to the hostel when Sumir very coolly walked near the "public" drain (like the ones on the road-side?), doubled-up, and let go of the recently consumed beer via his mouth. There were a few school girls nearby and I can vividly recall them crinkling their noses at the sight. Because the water in the hills is pristine, the drains too are normally more like water outlets than for sewage drainage. But that day, the drain had a lot of sewage to transport, thanks to Sumir. No wonder then, that a couple of days later Sumir was diagnosed with jaundice!
From the 5th semester, Sumir quit SMIT hostel and would come daily from Gangtok. A one hour journey, give or take. A lot of things happened in his life then, and I will never forget those days. However, I'm glad that I was there to do my bit as his friend. Because I know that if I were in his shoes, he would've done the same for me without a second's hesitation.
Who can forget the time when the two of us went to Kolkata during our first (or was it second?) semester break - travelling all night in a dingy bus, waiting outside Alipore library, Saibal's birthday treat at Tangra. Good days! And then we all travelled to Bangalore in early 2004 for our major project. The time when Sumiran disappeared for an entire day and sent panic waves amongst us whilst the dude was busy bunking office to watch the shooting of a Kannada movie!
A lot of good memories, a lot of laughs. That's the best part about being this guy's friend - you learn to laugh, even at yourself. And for that, I'll always be thankful to you, Sumiran.
Meet The Son, aka Sumiran Chhetri.
Days progressed in SMIT, and "Sumir" - as he's called for short - became the first guy in SMIT to have a girlfriend. The pioneers of Mall Road in Majhitar they were. Following which a lot of other couples came out in the open! The Mall Road then was a battle zone, where couples had to fight to stay there - all in the name of love. Amongst constant bickering and social taunts from the lecturers, love survived.
Once, before one of our daily trips to the Mall road (it was always from 8-9PM, including weekends), Sumir and I had gone for a smoking up session. Then, I was a regular – almost to the point of being labeled an “addict” in fact. Now I’ve been clean for a good number of years with a few instances in between. Anyway, there we were before the Mall Road time. I took my “regular dose”, and as usual Sumir was a bystander merely cracking jokes and waiting for me. Once done, we made our way from inside the boys’ hostel, through the winding corridors, and towards the Mall Road. It was raining outside, and we had an umbrella with us. But it was only when we exited the boys’ hostel did we realize that we had the bloody umbrella open the entire time – all the way from inside the hostel, through the corridors. And the cherry on the cake - we were both huddled under one umbrella like it was actually raining inside!!! I was stoned no doubt, but that incident proved, beyond reasonable doubt, that passive participation in a smoking up session can do funny things to you.
Sumir has always had a very close connection with food. According to him, his nickname at home was "khaanchu" - which is Nepali for "Yes, I will eat!” I guess that says quite a lot about his appetite. In our early days in Majhitar, when we were still getting used to the dirt cheap booze, we would go out for birthday treats to the only restaurant out there - Thapa's. And we would eat more, drink less. And Sumir still holds the record in the group for polishing off one full roasted chicken in one sitting.
Blessed with a great sense of humor, Sumir usually would be the one who would tell silly stories and make us all laugh. An upright guy in his own right, he knew almost everyone in college. And the good part - everyone else knew him right back. Not that the rest of us were less popular. We were notoriously popular, but Sumir was known for his jovial, funny and friendly ways. And that was the difference.
Gradually, as years progressed, we started increasing our affinity towards alcohol. Primarily because the rates in Majhitar (or Sikkim, for that matter) are dirt cheap. Imagine a full bottle of beer for 30 bucks! One day, a few of us were out for a mid-day beer session at Thapa's - which by then had become "Drop Inn". Quite a few beers later, we were making our way back to the hostel when Sumir very coolly walked near the "public" drain (like the ones on the road-side?), doubled-up, and let go of the recently consumed beer via his mouth. There were a few school girls nearby and I can vividly recall them crinkling their noses at the sight. Because the water in the hills is pristine, the drains too are normally more like water outlets than for sewage drainage. But that day, the drain had a lot of sewage to transport, thanks to Sumir. No wonder then, that a couple of days later Sumir was diagnosed with jaundice!
From the 5th semester, Sumir quit SMIT hostel and would come daily from Gangtok. A one hour journey, give or take. A lot of things happened in his life then, and I will never forget those days. However, I'm glad that I was there to do my bit as his friend. Because I know that if I were in his shoes, he would've done the same for me without a second's hesitation.
Who can forget the time when the two of us went to Kolkata during our first (or was it second?) semester break - travelling all night in a dingy bus, waiting outside Alipore library, Saibal's birthday treat at Tangra. Good days! And then we all travelled to Bangalore in early 2004 for our major project. The time when Sumiran disappeared for an entire day and sent panic waves amongst us whilst the dude was busy bunking office to watch the shooting of a Kannada movie!
A lot of good memories, a lot of laughs. That's the best part about being this guy's friend - you learn to laugh, even at yourself. And for that, I'll always be thankful to you, Sumiran.
I don't understand how u(rahul) manage to recall all those special moments even years after the happenings.
ReplyDeleteSumiran has always been the sweet gunda of the gang with the infamous temper and the steel frame body (esp the abs). Man... ur outings in the malroad inspired us and the how can i ever forget the moon talk (hope u remember).
Those major project days ... basking in the sun .. with a jockey sleeveless vest... flexing the muscular body(irrespective of the size, though it was reasonably good then)... the palm reading security guard and line marofying at the JNC girls(;-)).
Dude.. u've been and ur the showstopper.
~Karki
I love the recall series.... Yeah! And, he can survive on mutton for years.
ReplyDeleteI still remember the "BBC News" time - 9:15pm onwards i.e after the "date" time. All the guys used to get into a room for the BBC News of the day. The News reader - Sumiran; Content - all about what Sumir talked with his girlfriend.. what she said... I loved the BBC news... as it was a big inspiration for us.. and ya lots of tips to take away from the "news" :P
ReplyDeleteHe is has always been a really good friend, always there to listen, help. Thanks for that.
Just a word of caution for the blog readers - he might have lean body but beware... beware of his temper. Now, that he is into "Muay Thai" you should be even more careful ;)
Nice one... one of the vivid memories of Sumiran which I have are his admiring his biceps in-front of the mirror :)... I remember seeing him working out with his dumb-bells even on nights before exams :)... but there is more to remember about him, especially his always happy nature.
ReplyDeleteThis part really made me laugh Nati... :D : "passive participation in a smoking up session can do funny things to you. " And I guess its true to some extent... :D...
ReplyDeleteVery well written....can almost see the two of u walking in the corridor wid the umbrella on!! :P