Chord of Harmony: The Sattras & Dargahs of Assam, like the subjects themselves, is actually a reflection of the philosophy of humanism and universal brotherhood propagated by the great saints of Assam, Srimanta Sankardeva and Azaan Pir—a philosophy nurtured and carried forward by the later apostles and followers of both the saints. The Sankardeva movement, spearheaded by the Vaishnavite monasteries called the sattras, not only watered down the system of discrimination on the basis of caste, but also strived to save the society from practices of religious bigotry and untouchability by creating a system of harmonious co-existence. If the sattras remind people of Sankardeva’s contribution to social cohesion and the socio-cultural and literary resurgence in Assam, the dargahs, as the graves of the Muslim spiritual leaders are known, have remained the strongest symbols of the teachings of the Muslim pirs who did come to spread Islam, but stressed on unity among people of all faiths. No wonder, these dargahs spread across Assam are a favourite destination of both Muslims and Hindus, besides people of other faiths. Wasbir Hussain and Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta bring out the stories of these religious leaders who were great unifiers of people by featuring some of the sattras and dargahs.
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Yet another legend passed away. Famed poet and lyricst Hiren Bhatt shuffled off his mortal coils on Wednesday at Dispur Hospital where he was admitted last month. The end came at 11-30 in the morning. Doctors attending on him informed assamtimes that his condition slipped into coma during the last 24 hours. Popularly known as Hiru-da, whose famous poetry Sugandhi Pokhila led him to the acme of glory was born on July 27 in 1932 in Jorhat. His wife and daughter were beside him when he breathed his last. Lifeless Hiruda was taken to his residence for last respect. A pall of gloom engulfed the entire state and people and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. Assamtimes family members...
Renowned poet Hiren Bhatta remains unchanged in his health condition who is undergoing treatment at the Dispur Hospital. Doctors attending on him said that his condition is still critical and that the treatment is getting poor response. His fans in large numbers are gathering at the hospital premises to wish him a speedy recovery. He was admitted to the hospital last month following uninery infection where his condition refused to improve.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said that for the first times, the Centre will get fund to address the erosion confronting the flood-hit states for the last couple of decades. Addressing a press conference in Dispur on Tuesday, the chief minister said that the prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday had agreed to clear the funds to mitigate the misery of the post—flood situation.’The prime minister has already issued necessary instructions to the planning commission. Taking potshot at AGP and BJP, Gogoi said that NDA in Centre and AGP in the state did precious little to contain the situation during their tenures.
Veteran Congressman and former chief minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman is undergoing treatment at GNRC hospital after he was rushed to it following complaints of breathing difficulties and heart ailment. Doctors said that Dr Barman is in stable condition. A team of GNRC is attending on the doctor-turned politician.
Pranab Mukherjee will be on two days visit to Guwahati on July 6 to campaign for the presidential polls slated for July 19. According to information, the former union minister is scheduled to arrive Guwahati in the afternoon to attend a meeting of Congress and like minded party leaders at Machkhowa,ITA. After spending in Guwahati for the night the veteran Congressman will leave for Agartala on July 7. Congress leaders from Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya are scheduled to attend the Machkhowa meeting.
Army steps up relief and rescue operation in the flood-hit Assam where 77 people were killed. Talking to reporters in Guwahati on Monday, Red horns division, GOC major General RN Nair said that the district administration put them on alert and that they jumped in relief efforts. According to Nair, a section of the people is reluctant to leave their villages. Nair said that they are still continuing it by dropping food packets and providing water to the needy.Incessant rains triggered flood in the state submerging thousands of villages and forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes in search of higher ground.
In a tragic incident that sends shockwaves in Moigaon, a country-made boat carrying eight persons capsized in the Killing river on Monday. Seven persons were rescued while one remained untraced. The police said the missing person's name is Mian Baksh. The mishap took place at Bamunjhari village in the Nellie police station area. Later the body was rescued.
Caught in a barrage of criticism, Karimganj Deputy Commissioner Debeswar Malakar on Monday ordered the inquiry into the incident of mob attack on Rumi Nath and Jaki Jakir. The report of the inquiry is to be submitted within 15 days. But the incident still sparks off violent protests and bandh in south Assam's Barak Valley.On the other hand, three personnel security officers of the MLA were suspended due to dereliction of duty. The PSOs had allegedly failed to protect the MLA and her husband and had fled from the spot when the mob barged into the hotel where the duo were staying. Violent protests by supporters and opponents of the controversial MLA have been going on in Barak Valley since...
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said that there is no dearth of materials to provide relief for the flood affected areas. Addressing a group of senior journalists at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport on Monday, he said that the Air Force have lifted 20 tonnes of relief material for the marooned people. He said 4.84 lakh people have taken shelter in the 768 relief camps set up across the state. According to him, 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force comprising 640 personnel and 71 boats have been pressed into service for carrying out relief and rescue operations.
The Centre on Monday doles out a Rs 500 crore special package for mitigate the misery of the flood-ravaged Assam. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced the package after he made an aerial survey in the worst-hit areas with Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Monday.
Dr Singh also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh to the next of the kin of each of the 77 people who met watery grave. He said the the primary focus would be on rescuing people who have been left marooned in flood-hit areas and providing relief to them. The Prime Minister said that immediate steps would be taken by the Railways Ministry to restore the stretch of damaged rail lines which has cut off links to Barak Valley,...
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