Basil For The Soul

The bus stopped for a tea break just 30 minutes before my destination: Tezpur, Assam. It was only six in the evening but it was already dark. I clambered down with the other passengers, found a corner table to sit at and watched the others order. Tea, a savoury snack and rasgullas! I signalled to the guy bringing a round of tea to give me a glass too. I asked him in Hindi what the people at the other table were getting. “Nimki?” he asked. It sounded like it might be the savoury fried snack I wanted. Nodding my head vigorously to that is how I managed to get my first bite, and learned my first word, of Assamese. It was a short trip in Assam and thanks to my lovely hosts- my friend, Bhanu and his wife, Panchali  (isn't it such a beautiful name?) - I managed to get a good look into life and ways of the Assamese. The Assamese love their fish, so it is hard for them to imagine what I, a vegetarian, could possibly explore in their cuisine. But if you look closely enough, you ca...