On June 26th, 2008, Nehru Centre, the cultural Wing of the High Commission of India in London presented a stunning confluence of semi-classical of violin recital “jugalbandi” with Minoti Khaund, the award winning violin maestro whose musical career spanning 50 years and her daughter Sunita Bhuyan, the recipient of the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award for music and has been giving performances both solos and duets with her mother on the world stage.
Sunita is one of the few musicians who balances a full time HR career along with her inherited passion for music. She is the Head of Learning and Development at Syntel, a global ITES company which entails her to train managers on leadership and all round development.
The function was inaugurated by Monika Kopil Mohta, Director and Minister of Culture. She spoke highly about the art and culture of North-East and welcome the invited guest artists of Assam: Minoti Khaund & Sunita Bhuyan.
Sunita Bhuyan in her speech conveyed her gratitude to the Director for giving them the opportunity to perform at this prestigious venue. She also thanked Rini Kakati, a prominent lady of the Assamese community who is instrumental to make this possible.
Both mother & daughter held the audience in complete thrall with their performance of jugalbandi in what was a fitting finale to the long list of cultural activities at the Nehru Centre. Virtues of simplicity and grace that made both Minoti & Sunita the most enchanting artist of the musical world of Assam, showed up in ample evidence during the performance by the yesteryear Assamese sensation.
The evening was started by raag Hanswadhani in Rupak and Teental. The Teental composition was an old and popular Khyal “Laagi Lagana”. This item resulted in the jhala crescendo which left audience spellbound. The next item was a scintillating light classical piece called Bharat Darshan. This had various folk tunes from different parts of India with a special piece of Assamese Bihu.
The grand finale was rendition of Vande Matarm: a superb vocal presentation of the powerful lyrics by Sunita. The audience were moved and became emotional. The duo were accompanied by well-known tablist from Bangladesh: Yusuf Ali Khan. The Asian & European audiences were overwhelmed by the performance and expressed that they had enjoyed the evening as a memorable one.
The invited guest of honour was Lord Dholakia & Lady Ann, Madhava Chandra, the minister representing the Indian High Commission, Jahnu Barua, the well-known film producer & director of Assam. In a traditional Assamese way, the dignitaries were felicitated with phulam gamosa.
In his closing speech Lord Dholakia mentioned about the richness of the north-east especially Assam and the importance of showcasing unity in cultural diversity. He mentioned his fruitful visit to Assam in the year 2005. As a state guest he was invited by Tarun Gogoi, Hounr’ ble Chief Minister of Assam to inaugurate the North-East NRI Convention at Guwahati organised by NECCI (North East Chamber of Commerce & Industry). He praised Minoti & Sunita specially the mother for her tremendous effort to train Sunita not only in violin but also a vocalist. Their next performance surely will be at the House of Lords. Lord Dholakia promised.
The jugalbandi performance was given a standing ovation by the huge audience when they played at the Hindu Cultural Centre, London on 14th June, 2008
The Milapfest of Manchester and Nottingham Arts Council slot were on hold due to Sunita’s busy schedule and other commitment. They have invited both artists to perform at the festival in the year 2009.
Minoti Khaund is an inspiration and her flawless performance is a silent but forceful message for all our upcoming violinist to follow.
PermalinkSubmitted by TLANG ROKHUMA on Wed, 16/07/2008 - 17:29
Dearest Sunita.
I am proud you. You are my Great Indian Musician idol. I also remember Film Festival in Mumbai in 2007, you are the guest there.
I hope one day your show will be in Mizoram.
Bye,
Mr.Rokhuma, Artist
Aizawl, Mizoram
PermalinkSubmitted by diana mavroleon on Thu, 17/07/2008 - 01:45
Hello Sunita,
Yes, this definitely conjures up the enthralled audience of the Nehru Centre that night of your concert; great that the pieces are listed also. The centre has become my 'University of lndia' and l am spreading the word amongst artists here in London, none of whom seem to know anything about it! l feel so lucky to have found it.
Best wishes to your Mother and to yourself and good luck with all the projects,
Diana x
******
PermalinkSubmitted by jul on Wed, 24/06/2009 - 08:16
hi ba,
how ru? i know, you stay here in powai, mumbai. longing to see you. wonder, if you would recognize me. m, pankaja (jul), sister of konkana(konki). we studied in LFS, dibrugarh. know you since than. i met your mom in my weddding last year (nov 23rd 2008, guwahati). infact, my husband abhineet(sanju) know your family very well. we both received the blessings from your grand mom, too. we stay in poonam nagar, mumbai. really look forward to meet you.
lots of love.
jul
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In yet another tragic incident, the children met watery grave and five persons went missing after a boat manned by National Disaster Response Force personnel on a rescue mission to help flood-stranded people capsized at Makum in Tinsukia district on Sunday.
According to reports, there were around 15 people in the boat, including Army and NDRF personnel when it capsized at around 4 in the afternoon in Barekuri area of Makum in the flood waters. An operation has been launched to search for the five missing persons.
Schools and colleges in Majuli have been closed indefinitely from Monday. The decision was taken in view of rising flood waters which have submerged over 70 per cent landmass of the river island. The district administration issued the ordered on Sunday afternoon. A nine-member SDRF team has been airlifted to the island to help rescue stranded people in the affected areas.
The United Liberation Font of Asom’s anti-talk faction on Sunday comes down heavily on BJP and its youth wing alleging that the proposed procession in Arunachal Pradesh would only provoke China. In an e-mail statement, the anti-talk faction of the outfit said that the proposed mid-October procession along Indo-China border would only provoke the neighbor. It further asked BJP’s youth wing not to make the people of Assam a scapegoat. Notably, BJP’s youth wing is gearing up to take out a procession in Arunachal Pradesh to offer tribute to the 1962 heroes.
The Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park have been reeling under floods and there is no hope of an immediate relief. Alert has been sounded in the Kaziranga National Park. At least 15 anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga have been submerged, forcing the security staff to shift to boats in order to keep an eye on poachers. The mighty Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Nimatighat, Dhemaji, Tezpur and Dhansirimukh in Kaziranga.
Dispur has deployed at least 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, 60 army teams and 18 teams of the State Disaster Response Force in relief and rescue efforts in worst flood affected districts. IAF has deployed four helicopters in the Sadia subdivision in Tinsukia district to air drop necessary food items and rescue marooned people. Ferry services have also been stopped at Sadia and Majuli in Jorhat district as the Brahmaputra river is over flowing. Several villages have been submerged in Sadia and Majuli.
The flood situation turns grim with over 800,000 people affected in at least 15 districts. According to information, seven people died during the past one week where over 700 villages have also been submerged in the affected areas. The worst-hit districts are Kamrup, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Sonitpur.
The devastating flood waters are posing serious threat to Guwahati where parts of the premier north eastern city have come under the surging waters of the Brahmaputra. Surging waters of the mighty river have spilled into Pandu where over 1000 houses have been inundated on Saturday midnight. Some more areas are feared to have been submerged in the city. If the water level of the mighty river continues to rise, then fancy bazaar, Lakhtakia, Maligaon and Panbazar would be submerged within the next 24 hours.
The Assam government deploys evacuation tram in the flood hit areas and announced relief measures. But those displaced have not yet received anything. Talking to assamtimes, affected people in Dhemaji and Majuli said that the relief measures are confined to som selected pockets. Thousands of people in he remote areas are still remaining trapped without any help.
The fourth flood wave continue to wreak havoc displacing nearly 5 lakh people during the last five days. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are overflowing following the incessant rains in ArunachalPradesh. Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and more than seven lakh people are said to be affected in the heavy and incessant rainfall over the past few days. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kamrup and Barpeta are worst-hit where surface communication remains heavily disrupted. Flood waters are posing serious threat to Majuli along with Kaziranga, Manah and Dibru saikhowa.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has strongly denied sending Koyu with money meant for AICC fund. In a statement, Tuki said that his name was unnecessarily dragged into the controversy. “I never asked any Koyu to send any money to party high command. Congress party doesn't transfer money like this”, he said. Meanwhile, Koyu who happens to be the president of All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Society has filed an FIR against Joshi. Papum Pare SP Hibu Tamang said that the Rs.1 crore has got nothing to do with the Congress party or the chief minister.
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