Minoti Khaund: The evergreen violinist of 70's musical world of Assam, she is undoubtedly one of the most popular violinist today and can equally be placed among the best. With her disarming smile and charming manner, the bespectacled Minoti Khaund exudes a comfortable air: music, she says takes her closet to divinity and accords her peace and tranquility. It is an invigorating experience which exalts her spirits.
Born in a well to do Phukan paribar of Jorhat. Her father Manik Chandra Phukan and mother Nalini Debi. She was raised in a culturally rich atmosphere. Her maternal grandfather: Bisheswar Sharma, well-known Tea planter and a culturally gharana of Jorhat. Being a connoisseur of the fine arts himself encouraged Minoti and bought her a violin. So, she started to play at a tender age of 10.
Minoti had her early training in violin from Shri Indreswar Sarma of Jorhat, in the music school of late Darpanath Sarma. She performed in several concerts and festivals and the turning point in her life came when she was performing at the All Assam Music Conference in 1972 and violin maestro Pt. V.G.Jog heard her on stage and offered to impart his art to Minoti. Her husband Kabindra Ram Khaund and the daughter in law of Deputy Commissioner Rabindra Ram Khaund a traditional family of Assam supported her and started her apprenticeship under Pt .Jog. Thereafter started the traditional Gururshisya Parampara between Minoti and Padmavibhusahan Pt Jog.
The Rising Talent Conference at Kalamandir Calcutta in 1978 introduced Minoti as a talented artiste. There has been no looking back since then. The Amir Khan Music Conference at Rabindra Sadan Calcutta, Benaras, Burdwan, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Tatanagar, Rabindra Natya Mandir mumbai, India International Center Delhi, Mehta Memorial Hall Allahabad, IIT Festival, Shankardev Kalakshetra Guwahati, National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai, India Habitat Centre Delhi, Women's International Forum Goa, Madhusudhan Manch Kolkatta etc were the platforms that Minoti performed in and enthralled the audience and press alike. She became the foremost violinist of Assam. She was conferred the title of Sangeet Jyoti.
Minoti started her parallel studies in the field of music and attained Sangeet Nipune from Prayag Sangeet Samitti, Allahabad, in 1986, bagging a gold medal for her Sangeet Visharad. During this period she also got associated with vocalist Pt. A.T, Kanan of the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkatta and imbibed the "gayaki ang" in her style. She also underwent music studies in the field of raga improvisations and rhythmic patterns of "tala" from sarod maestro and musicologist Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta.
Sunita Bhuyan is a violinist of the Hindustani style and has carved a niche for herself as an upcoming musician of India. Recepient of the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award for Music. She was initiated into musicat a tender age by her mother Minoti Khaund. The mother daughter duo of Minoti and Sunita have performed duets all over the country and abroad, regaling the audience and the press alike with their "jugalbandi". What makes her great is: selection of her tune, her style of presentation and she stried to give a semi-classical touch which has a blend of folk western classical.
Sunita has attained a master's degree in Hindustani Music from Prayag Sangeet Samitte, with a distinction and has also studied advanced music under the apprenticeship of violin maestro Padmabibhushan Late Pt V.G. Jog.
Minoti Khaund, the award winning violin master whose musical career spanning 50 years. She has been awarded the prestigious Silpi Bata this year by Govt. of Assam.
A violin recital by Minoti Khaund and her daughter Sunita Bhuyan are on an exclusive UK tour at the prestigious Nehru Centre (the Cultural wing of Indian High Commission) on 26th June and other British cities: Manchester: Kalapremi mandal, Birmingham and Nottingham organized by Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK.
Also the Glasgow concert is organized by Mrs. Anima Sharma, an active member of Lancashire Hindu Association.
Indefinite curfew has been clamped in Haflong following a clash between a group of people and DHD(J) militants during the ongoing Dima Hasao bandh on Friday.Tension started in the hills town when a group of bandh supporters attacked a veterinary office and started pelting stones at the DHD(J) designated camp. A DHD(J) militant was injured in the attack. Other camp inmates also tried to retaliate forcing the security forces deployed there to resorted to blank firing to disperse the violent picketers.
Dispur on Friday announced a Rs 200-crore scheme to revive the field of agriculture in the flood ravaged scene.Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen said that the government had formulated the special programme to help the agriculture sector, for which funds would be made available by State and central government.According to him, the department had cancelled all forms of leave of all agriculture department officers for the next two months, till the time of rabi sowing, to make up for the loss of kharif crop due to floods.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is scheduled to undertake another aerial survey of flood-hit areas in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts on Saturday.Gogoi is expected to meet district administration officials from these districts on Saturday. Towards the evening he would be back to Guwahati. On his arrival, the chief minister is slated to hold a high level meeting of the officers to take stock of the relief operations.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday conducted an aerial survey of flood-hit districts on Friday.Gogoi laid thrust on relief and rescue of the marooned people. At the outsit he reached Jagiroad and visited the affected people in Moigaon where the victims alleged non receipt of relief materals. Then he left for Darrang, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji apart from Kazaringa National Park and the Majuli.
The overall flood situation continues to improve on Friday. The water levels of the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries are receding.The death toll has gone upto 27. Six people have been remained traceless. Over 15 lakh people in 18 districts have been affected. Assam government has announced a 200 crore special scheme covering four lakh 10 thousand hectare crop lands which will benefit around 12 lakh flood affected population.
Aaranyak, one of the most prominent conservation group in the country has expressed its shock and deepest grievance at the recent incidences of poaching of four rhinos in the flood stricken Kaziranga National Park in just three days time. This is a massive setback to the efforts towards conservation and protection of this unique creature that finds an inherent place in the very heart of Assamese culture.We strongly feel that the management of the Assam Forest Department has not been up to the task of protecting the rhinos, especially in conditions of flooding of the Park. This, we feel, can be ascribed to a complete lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Karbi Anglong...
The Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi formally released a book, on September 18, titled “West meets East: Schopenhauer and India”, edited by Arati Barua under their specific program “Germany and India 2011-12 : Infinite opportunities”. Robin Mallick , Program director South Asia region formally released the book. Astrid Radunski, cultural counselor of the Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany in New Delhi, spoke about IDSS and its work. Professor Nirmalya Narayan Chakravorty , Member Secretary of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (ICPR) who Chaired the session, delivered a lecture on about the book . Professor Matthias Kossler, honorable President of the...
Security has been beefed up across the state following ULFA’s stepped up activities to make their presence felt.
The outfit is trying to carry out a string of blast in the vital spots forcing security forces to be kept on high alert. Vehicles are being frisked to avoid any incident. In Guwahati, security forces have sealed the entry and exit routes. According to intelligence inputs, ULFA’s Paresh Baruah faction has recruited 1000 new cadres who are being trained by Manipur based People's Liberation Army. ULFA has also stepped up extortion activities in Upper Assam.
Former army chief Gen V K Singh on Monday said that BTAD violence is a fit case for the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act to be applied. Talking to reporters in the sideline of a function, he said that army could have reached the spot early and that there was no need to wait. He further questioned the alleged delay in sending army to the riot hit spot.
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