Skip to content Skip to navigation

Poetry Reading Program in Delhi University: Assamese Culture and Contemporary Politics Discussed

Aruni Kashyap, young English language poet from Assam, opened up for discussion several problems and issues relevant to contemporary Assam in a Poetry Reading Program held at Hansraj College, University of Delhi, on 26th August, 2008. This was the monthly reading series that the Department of English, Delhi University organizes. He read his poems along with eminent Hindi poet Jitendra Srivastava.

Jitendra Srivastav teaches Hindi at Indira Gandhi National Open University and Aruni Kashyap is a student of MA English Literature at St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi. Jitendra Srivastav has published three poetry collections and they are In Dino Halchal (2000), Anbeli Katha (2003), and Asundar Sundar (2008). He has also written critical works on Hindi literature and they are Bharatiya Samaj Ki Samasyae Aur Premchand (2002), Bharatiya Rastrabaad Aur Premchand (2004), and Sabda Mein Samay (2008). He is also the winner of "Kirti Sanman (2005)" and "Ramchandra Shukla Puraskar (2006)."

Aruni Kashyap has published in Amar Asom, Sadin, Satsori, The Assam Tribune, Tehelka, Postcolonial Text , The Daily Star, Indian Literature, Muse India and Pratilipi. Aruni debuted in Assamese with his popular column "Dilli Vishawavidyalar Pora" in Amar Asom daily, when he was a young student of BA English at St. Stephen's College Since then, he has written reviews, essays, short stories in Assamese and English. Homen Borgohain wrote in "Prothom Kolom", Amar Asom that, "Aruni Kashyap's name is one of those names that would be uttered among the best writers and scholars in Assam after ten years."

"I didn't choose English, but English chose me", he said in the interactive session that followed after his reading, when asked by the audience how he inhabits two languages. "Since childhood, I have been writing in Assamese and after coming to Delhi I started writing poems in English. I read Ngugi Wa Thiongo in college, and used to feel guilty, thinking if I had cheated my people, state and culture by choosing to write in a colonial language."

"But gradually I understood the necessity and responsibility of writing in a language which is not my own. Being from a post-colonial nation, we cannot avoid the presence and importance of English. We need more English writers from Assam so that issues and problems get discussed at least in the national level, if not international. Today, I don't have to wait till my work is translated and hence I can make my work available to the whole world and open up what we are suffering at the hands of the central government, the Indian army and the corrupt politicians of Assam and also what we face here in Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore as students." Almost all of Aruni's poems are about Assamese rural life, history, and borrows extensively from folklore.In the section "Blood, Guns and the Sun" he read out poems that depicted the plight of common people caught amidst insurgency due to ULFA and racist attitudes faced by Northeastern people in Delhi.

He was also asked about the theme of exile, and he said that it "Has a historical lineage. Had I not come to Delhi to study, may be I wouldn't have written in such a nostalgic manner about Assam. In this way, I feel myself linked to the Assamese students in Calcutta in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Dr Moheswar Neog in his history of Assamese literature says that it was the nostalgic feeling among Assamese students that lead to "swajon preeti" and thus they formed the Asomiya Bhasar Unnati Sadhini Sobha in 1884."

Aruni plans to publish a collection of poems in English soon. "I want to continue writing in English and Assamese. It's more liberating to write in my mother tongue, but since English came too, I'd continue as it opens up Assam for the rest of world more easily."
Author info

editor's picture

Please send your comments to editor@assamtimes.org

Comments

Syeda Semim's picture

Aruni is Assam's hope. We wish him all the best. May the Almighty bless him with good health and spirit. We love you and are proud of you Aruni!
rjmandira's picture

All d best you made us proud and keep up the spirits. Assam needs more of Aruni now !!
Umananda's picture

He's doing really some good research with a content that enlightens our identity and enriches the mind... kudos Aruni...Keep going
Srutimala Duara's picture

We are proud of you Aruni. Keep it up!
Mitali Barman's picture

Aruni... All the best...
Nanda Kirati Dewan's picture

Kudos Aruni.....
ANAMITRA GOGIO's picture

I know you are the brightest star of Assamese literature at present :)
sangeeta saikia's picture

Excellent job. Yet i believe you still have lots to do for your land. just keep on soaring high!
navaneeta's picture

I had been lucky to attend a poetry recitation of the young poet at the south campus and the poem "bohag" has stayed with me...we feel really proud to have found a voice in you.
pratisha kumari's picture

i am really surprise to know about your enthusiasm about Assam.....hope all assamese people should try to do job like you.
dr.ranen sarma's picture

Please give me your mobile no.
milk talukdar's picture

When will "rupohi asomi" give birth to an another poet who can create a poem like - nojona biror muro' rongamuwa o rongamuwa ???
pranjit bora's picture

I wish you all the best and expect more and more from you..
roop's picture

I read his writings in Tehelka, they are really awesome.. im really touched
himangsu baruah's picture

netot bisari palo mone bisari thaka eta natun thikana, dillit thako..asomiya kabita likah mela alap karo..bisaro alap sambandha sthapan kariboloi..parim ne...
Satish Kumar Baishya's picture

Assamese should be proud of Aruni Kashyap. I respect his thinking -"We need more English writers from Assam so that issues and problems get discussed at least in the national level, if not international".
Sushma Lekha Chetia's picture

We want more young people like Aruni to represent the young generation of assam.Wish you all the best Aruni.

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

Student’s death shrouds in mystery

8 Oct 2014 - 11:59am | AT News
Shock and anger grip the people of Assam following the death of Nuprur Kinkor Kashyap in New Delhi which is still shrouded in mystery. The 21 old boy from Biswanath Chariali was found hanging at...

Music, Mind and Microchips

21 Jan 2009 - 3:09pm | Aiyushman Dutta
Music the fiercest grief can charm,And fate’s severest rage disarm,Music can soften pain to ease,And make despair and madness please,Our joys below it can proveAnd antedate the bliss above...

Remembering Panditji

3 Jun 2008 - 1:03am | editor
Forty-four years ago on May 27 the first Prime Minister of India died in harness. About Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad wrote in his autobiography: ‘Jawaharlal asked me in...

PM opens cancer hospitals, adresses 'hired' people

28 Apr 2022 - 6:11pm | AT News
Diphu and Dibrugarh: People thronged through thousands in Diphu to catch a glimpse of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister was in the hills district on Thursday. Modi highlighted the initiative to...

Other Contents by Author

Wanna do online journalism? You can do if you are confident and workaholic. Need only an online training. We at Assam Times are ready to help you translate your dream in this roaring job. Come January 1, 2018. Register now for online course free of cost and get the advantage. Manned by a team of sharp and dedicated journos of international repute we are coming up from the new years day.  
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan where thr body of the victim was recovered on Saturday. Identified as Guneswar Basumatary, the local resident of Koila Moila near Dotom was believed to have been killed alleging witch craft.  According to family members,Guneswar went missing on September 16 evening he visited his relative's house at Koila Moila area. Family members lodged an FIR with Amguri PS,case number 45/2017, under section 302/201 IPC. During a search operation, police and family members recovered body in decomposed...
A local magistrate in Nagaon on Friday remanded Mithu Roy to two days police custody after the trader was produced before it in connection with the recent incident where he and his associates thrashed four former ULFA rebels who approached him for fund to feed the flood hit people.  According to allegations, he was the main culprit who hired a few local associates to beat up the youths who were raising fund.  He was arrested on Thursday as he was on the run as police arrested his three associates on Wednesday afternoon.  Meanwhile, a huge gathering in the central Assam town demanded examplary punishment of the accused youths saying that they...
A candle lighting rally was  carried out at Salakati in protest against killing of ABMSU leader Lafikul. The was organized by ABMSU and was participating by ABSU, AKRSU, bengali Federation, Santhali Student's Union and many organizations. The rally was started from Salakati anchalik Abmsu office and concluded at Railway gate. Thousands housands of activists from various student's union and civilians participated and demanded early arrests of main culprits.The ABMSU demanded CBI inquiry into Lafikul murder,arrest main culprits and provide safety and security to the persons of the region. Moinuddin Ali,ABMSU leader said that main culprits should be nabbed  as soon as possible...
United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) said The Nagas Nation has lost a true and uncompromising Nationalist. "In the creation of Western South East Asia geographic identity with an organic soul giving hope to even the smallest nationality of the region opportunity to get just political representation amongst the family of Nations reflects his deep understanding and vision in keeping with his superb statesmanship".  Describing him as a 'Grandee' of the indigenous citizens of the WESEA region, ULFA(I) chairman Dr Abhizeet Asom in his condolence message to media said "as the Chairman of United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, he brought an affinity amongst the...
Amid an escalating controversy over beef consumption, yet another leader has quit BJP in Meghalaya suggesting a setback for the saffron party in the pre poll political landscape.  North Garo Hills BJP president Bachu Marak pulled out of the party after the national party spokesman Nolin Kohli warned him against a beef party in Tura to celebrate the three years of the NDA government at the Centre. Marak, who pulled many people to BJP in the Congress ruled state rued in his resignation letter to state party president Sjibun Lyngdoh made it plain and simple that he would never go against the sentiment of the  Garo people for whom beef is an inevitable item at any feast. He...
A crucial meeting of BPF and AGP leadership with Amit Shah is clearing the decks for the expansion of Sarbananda Sonowal cabinet slated for April 15. Senior BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma along with AGP president Atul Bora, his BPF counterpart Hagrama Mohilary is meeting the BJP president in New Delhi on Monday where the entire process would be finalized. Sources told www.Assam Times that Bongaigaon legislator Phani Bhushan Chaudhury is likely to be inducted in the cabinet from AGP. Both AGP and BPF will have one each in the cabinet while BJP will have six new faces in the expanded cabinet. Those who are attending the close door meet include Hagrama Mohilary, Arul Bora, Hemant Biswa...
In a bizarre incident that triggers statewide anger and surprise, the police have arrested a top ranked officer in Dispur on bribery charges on Tuesday before recovering more than Rs 1 crore from his possession.He is none other than Kujendra Doley, the irrigation secretary who alleged to have been collecting lakhs of rupees from the contractors for releasing their bills.Acting on a complaint from a contractor, the sleuths of the vigilance and anti corruption cell caught the secretary red handed and seized an astronomical amount of money from his office locker he allegedly to pay minister Ranjit Dutta.Then Doley was taken to his residence in the city and Rs 10 lakh were seized in cash during...