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.
Nature's Friends Club, an environmental organization from Dhemaji had organized a seminar on abatement of wildlife crime through community participation at its office premises at Kachari Pathar near Botikur Tiniali (Dhemaji) on 3rd January. The talk was delivered by Ajoy Kr Das, lawyer from Guwahati who is also associated with the legal cell of Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation group of the north east. He spoke elaborately on various crimes related to wildlife and how one can take help of the law to punish the guilty. Moderating the talk Ranjan K Baruah, youth activist appealed to all the environmental organization of the district to work united. Representatives from Megamix Nature Club...
"I am the first woman farmer in my block who started cultivation 15 years back," said 45 years old Aisha Begum Khatoon of Hridaypur village in Ambedkarnagar district. When she picked up the hoe for the first time, all the villagers rebuked her for treading on a man's domain. However, she decided to move forward, despite all odds, in order to look after her three daughters and one son. Her husband lives in the city and takes no interest in agricultural activities. She owns a mere half acre land, but by resorting to organic farming, she is able to provide bread and better to her family of five members. She is now able to produce more than 20 varieties of crops, thanks to organic...
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asserted that the government will never go soft with those with gun tryng to foment trouble in the country.Addressing the media in Shillong after he inaugurated the Indian Science Congress, he said his government is ready to go to any extent to root out terrorism from the country. In the same breath, he said it's open to hold dialogue with those lying down arms.He said, "the growing menace of terrorism and naxalism is a cause of worry. The government will not compromise with terrorism".Referring to terrorists attack in Mumbai and Assam he said,"there were some initial setbacks, but we will overcome them. The government will go to any extent to...
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday contended that his government has laid down the foundation to foster research. Inaugurating the 96th Indian Science Congress at the North Eastern Hill University campus in Shillong he asked scientists to promote younger talent and strengthen leadership in universities and research institutions. Dr. Singh said, "the best science is done by young people. Our institutions must be receptive to the needs of the young people. They must promote younger talent and allow youth to lead."According to Dr Singh, "India is lagging behind not just developed western nations, but also the newly industrialising economies of Asia."He said while his...
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Saturday morning has left for Shillong to inaugurate the Indian National Science Congress oganised by the North East Hills University. Amid tight security ring Dr Singh arrived at the Nehru Stadium helipad and was received by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi before laving for Shillong by a helicopter.The Prime Minister, who arrived in the city on Friday evening a day after the serial blast rocked Guwahati leaving nine people dead and many others injured. Immediately after landing at the LGB International Airport, he droved straightly to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital and visited the blast injured people with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and some other...
Home Minister P Chidambaram says strengthening infrastructure will help Assam ensure development.Inaugurating the State Bank of India's 11,111th branch in Sonapur, he said bank loans meant development and this was a clear message that the Centre was for improving the state's economic condition.He said her was satisfied with the rate of growth in the state, the union minister said since the early days of under development, a lot had changed in the state which was visible through the expanding Guwahati.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the opening of the branch at Sonapur fulfilled a long-felt need particularly of farmers whose economic upliftment was the aim of the bank as well as the...
The city police on Friday has released a photograph of dreaded ULFA leader Pranjal Deka saying him the main culprit behind the gory incident that rocked Guwahati on the new year's day. Police have claimed that he did it at the instance of 709 battalion commander Hira Sarania only to show the strength of the rebel outfit. Pranjal Deka alias Biju Saikia is in between 18 to 20 in age is the son of Putul Deka, a resident of Duwarkuchi in Bagsa district.Police have received the details of the youth from the mobile phone he used bearing No 97075-28063.Police further has got his photograph and picked up 20 persons for interrogation.
A day after the serial blast rocked three places in the north eastern city of Guwahati with a toll of 9, ULFA has denied its role and said it's a conspiracy to stigmatise ULFA on the international scene. In a statement released here on Friday, the outfit's central publicity body leader Lt Anjan Borthakur said it has been a habit of the state forces to blame all these on ULFA wherever and whenever blasts take place.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Friday said no quarter will be given to militancy and hoped Bangladesh will make a "new beginning" by denying sanctuary to ULFA and NDFB.Chidambaram told reporters in Guwahati on Friday after a two-hour meeting of the Unified Command which is headed by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.He said guidelines have been given to Unified Command, comprising army, paramilitary forces and state police, that it should have a more sharply focussed strategy.On extending the ceasefire with NDFB which lapsed on 31st December, the Minister said a decision will be taken "in a day or two".He said he was hopeful that insurgent leaders will no longer get...
he death toll in the strings of blast on Thursday in the city of Guwahati has gone up to nine with four others succumbing to injuries at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital in the morning on Friday.The blasts took place at Bhootnath, Bhangagarh and Birubari area in the evening on Thursday minutes after the arrival of Union home minister P Chidambaram.
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