Assambirds

From The Himalayas To Golaghat: A Homecoming Diary This illustration captures the essence of Mithu Das's journey from Nepal to India. His trek home to Golaghat begins with an EV ride from Jibjibe to Galchhi, followed by a Night Super Deluxe bus to the Kakarvitta border. From there, he’ll hop on another bus to New Jalpaiguri before finally boarding the Avadh Assam Express for the last leg to Furkating Junction. A journey of recalibration from the Himalayas to Golaghat, this blogpost weaves together colonial history, Uncle Robin’s Natural History Museum, the wild beauty of the Nambor rainforest, a warm Rongali Bihu and a tribute to Zubeen Garg. Returning home is more than a change in geography; it is a recalibration o...

The Envelope from London: My Personal Connection to Shackleton The photograph depicts Shackleton (right) in the raw environment of the Antarctic. It highlights the desperate reality the men faced once the pack ice destroyed their ship Endurance. A single envelope from London, which I received on 27th January 2001, sparked a personal journey into the harrowing history of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his legendary Endurance expedition. I received the large envelope postmarked from London on January 27, 2001. Inside was a piece of history: a photograph of Sir Ernest Shackleton, accompanied by a handwritten note from the Picture Library of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). My journey to this photograph began in December 2000. After readin...

The Secret Guests In Our Garden Two Common Tailorbirds huddle together on a slender branch under the large, green leaves of a Hibiscus plant; Golaghat, August 2021. Image: Mithu Das At twilight in Golaghat, August 2021, my mother found two Common Tailorbirds perching under our hibiscus leaves. I caught the moment on my Nikon Coolpix. There is a specific kind of magic that happens during the twilight—at the moment when the world begins to quiet down. In August 2021, in the heart of Golaghat town, I was settled into my evening routine with a cup of tea when nature decided to tap on my window. It wasn't a literal tap, but a whispered discovery from my mother. She hurried into my room, her eyes bright with excitement. S...

The Crown Jewel of Jibjibe: A Close Encounter with Heliophorus tamu A colored pencil illustration of the Heliophorus tamu , or Powdery Green Sapphire . The butterfly is shown from a top–down view with its wings spread, revealing a brilliant metallic blue and turquoise center bordered by deep black and thin red-arched markings on the upper wingtips. It is perched atop a cluster of fuzzy white Ageratum–like wildflowers, surrounded by lush, layered green leaves rendered with realistic textures and shadows. High above the winding trails of Jibjibe, where the mountain air remains crisp and the forest edges hum with life, a flash of metallic brilliance often c...