Bhubaneswar: They booked their flights in January, before the West Asia war began. The conflict disrupted their plans, but uncertainty and long waits couldn’t stop them from travelling 5,000 miles to exercise their democratic right.For UK-based IT consultant Anupam Barathakur and his wife Anahita, a PR and marketing professional, the three-week Easter trip to their hometown of Guwahati was more than a holiday—it was a step toward the change they want to see in the state they grew up in.“We felt that it was our responsibility to vote. It matters who heads the govt in Assam, as our family stays here. My father had asked us to plan accordingly,” said Anupam, who voted from the New Guwahati assembly constituency on Thursday. Anahita cast her vote from Central Guwahati and feels that quality people should run the state. The couple, whose visits to Guwahati have become frequent over the years, feels Assam has grown in terms of infrastructure, with more flyovers, restaurants serving different cuisines, live bands, pubs, shopping malls and several international brands opening stores in Guwahati. “As a child, I used to play in our backyard in Ulubari. Now, my child can enjoy a nice time at a well-maintained park,” said Anahita, whose daughter is 7 years old. “I also found that there has been an increase in the pub culture in Guwahati. However, I am yet to visit one,” she added. The duo also noted an increase in the number of people from other northeastern states and other parts of India in the city. “I met a Haryanvi man and a man from West Bengal at a restaurant. They are working in Guwahati. Assam has become a melting pot of different cultures with the increase in employment opportunities,” said Anahita. Amid the increase in business activities, she feels that traffic must be better managed in Guwahati. Anupam believes that the election process should be further digitised so that people living far away can also exercise their franchise without having to travel long distances. “The wait time at each booth is very long, while in the UK it is not so,” said Anupam, adding that Indian IT talent has gone places and now it’s time to bring change in the country. He feels that whichever govt comes to power should focus on controlling flash floods in Guwahati, improving waste management, and resolving water scarcity problems. He also wants the new govt to focus on upskilling the youth. “This year, I found many young people being fielded as candidates. I hope they bring about a change,” said Anupam, adding that no matter where he lives, his heart is in Guwahati.
