My mind towards Assamese Literature was literally like an Axanto Electron. (The electron is a subatomic particle carrying a negative electric charge. It has no known components or substructure. Therefore, the electron is generally thought to be an elementary particle.) Coming from an English medium school I hadn’t read anything Assamese apart from my course work all my life. SKC is responsible for turning it around. Quite late in life, I asked my friend Aporaj to suggest me an Assamese book to read. Prompt came the answer. Suran Medhi’s work. I was like... Who? And why would you suggest reading his books.
Now Aporaj being a calm and composed poet friend as well as an avid reader not to mention, a huge fan of SKC gave me a “prolonged summary” of his work and narrated some of SKC’s book scenes to me. I decided to give it a go. The first story I read was Gulam. My mum, my biggest critique and rock in life after Deuta, saw me reading SKC’s book. A sarcastic smile followed by her saying... Make sure you finish the book. Reading a signboard and completing a book are two different things. Yes it was hard in the beginning and it took me twice the time to read a page in Assamese but then... language is practice. The more you speak and read, the easier it becomes. Maa is also an avid reader of Assamese Literature and I often felt left out when she discussed about her books with her friends. I am still learning and enjoying the richness Assamese Literature has to offer.
I was hooked on SKC. I smuggled Aporaj to Panbazar and instructed him to get me the best SKC’s books and I dutifully carried them back home to London. Manoj Goswami once told me that he requested SKC to write a New Year peice for his then Axomia newspaper. SKC was reluctant and later Eta Bhaal Khobor was on the papers on one new year’s day. Altaf Da made a short film out of it , When I watched it, I was gobsmacked to see the impact, the subtleness and the beauty of narrating a story. A very well made film . I liked the angel Altafda chose for the film. I also liked the fact that SKC was subtle and was thrilled that he used a pseudo name. I write my blogs as Rukmini Boigari. Why? Well why not? It isn’t necessary for people to know you as long as they read what you wrote. A journalist once asked my=e why I chose the name. Rukmini gave from North East and I came from the same part of the world and Boiragi is a surname is secretly loved to have. It sounds like a song. Beautiful. In real life I cannot us it for that became my pseudo name. The fact that SKC writes under different name gave me a kick. Not that I am comparing him with me for that will be preposterous.
Every Time I visit Guwhaati, I am tempted to ask Altaf Da to introduce me to SKC but I shy off the idea and tell myself- Bublee Toi Jugyo Nohoi. You are not worth enough to meet such a persona. But deep in my mind I connected with him and had immense respect for his work. His passing away news came hit me like a bolt out of the blue through his Facebook SKC Fan Group. I was not prepared as I was not aware that he was ailing.
25th June is a very special and private day for me for its that day when my idol and The biggest inspiration in my life, Deuta passed away... four years ago. It is spooky that SKC passed away on the very day day. I felt as though somewhere in ether he connected with me and gave me his blessings which I couldn’t get in flesh and blood. People like him should not be mourned for he will live forever. Eti Londonor Duporiyat,bagisat rod loi moi Apunak shrodhanjali jonalu. Ehaat dobar khelor dore, hothaht apunar dehatu hera kintu apuniye hol Asomor Baputi Sahun.
Security forces are spreading tentacles to nab the ULFA militants who are unleashing terror in Sivasagar town with a powerful blast that killed one person on Monday evening.
Ten others have been injured in the blast who were rushed to the hospital. The injured have been identified as Krishna Sahu, Prakash Yadav, Arun Dey, Hari Sahu, Sadhu Khan.
The blast took place amid a simmering war of words between ULFA’s anti-talk faction and superintendent of police.
The controversy erupted on Sunday when body of a local youth was found in Sonari. Police claimed it a handiwork of ULFA. ULFA’s anti-talk faction on Monday held SP Akhilesh Singh responsible for the incident.
NO...
Fellow Citizens of Bharatvarsha and Friends, Hari Om.
You might think this opening statement a pompous beginning to this evening’s proceedings, but as we go along I will endeavour to explain how this is one of the most illuminating ways to address one’s people and how that light shone in Assam over 500 years ago and its effulgence burns to this day in the hearts and minds of every Assamese.
It is this spirit of enlightenment that we would like to present and radiate not just here, but throughout India, and to every corner of the globe where human and sincerely secular values have a meaning.
In all my life, this is perhaps my proudest moment. At a time when Assam burns...
One person was killed and ten others have been seriously injured when ULFA militants exploded a powerful bomb in Sivasagar town on Monday only to make their presence felt.
The explosion took place with a huge sound at around 9 in the evening near the Central Market. The bomb was believed to have been planted at a motor cycle which exploded when the spot was teeming with people. Security forces arrived in the spot. One person died on the spot. The injured have been rushed to the Sarma Nursing Home and some of these people have been rushed to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh. On the other hand, security forces have cordoned off the entire area in the town launching an operation to...
Krishna Kanta Handique Open University is gearing up for introduction of post graduate courses in a number of subjects from 2012-13 academic session. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Monday, open varsity’s vice chancellor Srinath Baruah said that these new courses include sociology and linguistic on semester system. According to him, the open varsity would impart training to the newly recruited teachers.
Hundreds of Assam Youth Congress and National Students Union of India activists hit the streets in Guwahati on Monday demanding immediate deportation of Bangladeshi immigrants. The protesters said that they wont rest until and unless the immigrants are flushed out. They further alleged that BJP was trying to divide the people in the name of religion and ethnicity. APYC president Piyush Hazarika said that BJP and BJYM were trying to extract political mileage from the immigrants issue.
The opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Monday alleged that FDI in retail would leave lakhs of youths unemployed in Assam. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, party president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta feared that FDI in retail would completely destroy local outlets where lakhs of youths are engage. He said that it would be a shocking chapter in a state like Assam where there is hardly anything to be called industrialization.
The overall flood situation remains unchanged. Toll has gone upto 9 where over ten lakh people rendered homeless in 16 districts. The water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are still rising. Three children drowned in a boat mishap at Makum near Sadiya in Tinsukia district last night while NDRF rescued 42 others. Two others died each in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts and one each in Sibsagar and Nalbari on Sunday. The worst affected districts are Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup (rural and metro), Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sibsagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia.
Asom Gana Parishad on Monday strongly criticized Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi for his Japan trip at a time when the state is reeling under devastating flood waves. Talking to reporters in Guwahati, party president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said that Gogoi is making a habit to stay abroad in the time of crisis. He further demanded more central funds for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit people.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday ordered deployment of helicopters and mechanised boats to step up rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit areas.
Gogoi in his telephonic conversation from Tokyo asked revenue minister Prithibi Majhi, water resources minister Rajib Lochan Pegu and Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das to efficiently deal with the rescue and relief operations. He further ordered adequate food materials be supplied to the affected areas.
The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has announced the third EMFA awards to be held in the second half of January 2013 in the city. The exclusive media forum for the television journalists and non-journalist employees has also invited entries for the 3rd EMFA Media Awards 2012.
Addressing the reporters in Guwahati Press club today morning the EMFA has also informed that the entries for the annual awards should be telecast between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2012 through the television channels and those must reach the office of EMFA (c/o Guwahati Press Club, Ambari, Guwahati-781001) by January 7, 2013. The awards will be given in 16 categories comprising on specific reporting,...
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