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.
No. 28 (A & C) Battalion of ULFA publishes a monthly magazine “Hondhikhyon”. The magazine was released by Bhupen Saikia, Principal of Dibrugarh D.H.S.K.Law collage at ULFA Designated camp, Kakopathar, Tinsukia on 25-10-08. Photo: UB Photos.
The Opposition parties on Friday sharply pinned down both Delhi and Dispur in Parliament for failing to deal with the communal riot that claimed atleast 55 people in lower Assam district of Darrang and Kokrajhar districts.Participating in a lively debate on communal violence in Orissa, Karnataka and Assam, BJP MP Kiren Rijuju alleged that the Centre is not serious on the subject as it in the case of Orissa. He said it’s a fall out of the infiltration of the Bangladeshi immigrants. He urged home minister to visit the north eastern states. He further demanded Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s resignation after being proved that Bangladeshi immigrants are still there in his state after...
"Diabetes is a deadly disease, and each year, almost 4 million people die from diabetes-related causes. Children, particularly in countries where there is limited access to diabetes care and supplies, die young", according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) which is an umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries. IDF leads World Diabetes Day (www.worlddiabetesday.org) which falls on 14th November. The campaign is focusing its efforts on raising awareness of diabetes in children and adolescents.Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children. Every day more than 200 children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes,...
A huge gathering seen during period for submission of tender papers of vehicles at Oil India Limited’s contract office in Duliajan on 21-10-08. Photo: UB Photos.
A Division Bench of Supreme Court of India comprising JJ Dalbir Bhandari and H.S. Bedi after hearing Prof. Bhim Singh, Advocate for the petitioner ALOK, a human right group in Assam and Mr. Amarender, Senior Advocate for the Union of India regarding the case of Select Killings in Assam between 1998 and 2001 known as Select Killings, the Supreme Court allowed Prof. Bhim Singh to file Additional Affidavit in connection with extending the jurisdiction and scope of Justice K.N. Saikia Commission and enhancement of compensation to the victims upto 50 lacs. from 3.5 lacs. This was stated in a press release from the Prof. Singh's office in New DelhiALOK, a human right activist has filed a petition...
Five German cyclists, known as Karmariders, will tour 60 kms across Guwahati tomorrow, accompanied by a thousand cyclists and more than 500 walkers, mostly students from educational institutions. This is a part of the 2,500 kms North East Cycle Expedition undertaken by the German youths which has started from October 13. The tour will cover Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur and will culminate in Imphal on December 6. The Guwahati city tour will start from Latasil playground at 7 am tomorrow. It will go through Maligaon, Jalukbari, Dhirenpara, Beltola, Dispur and will culminate with a cultural programme at Nehru stadium at 5 pm in the evening. The event is being...
A media report labeled diabetes as a lifestyle disease. Rightly so, but it doesn't imply that poor and underserved communities are not at risk of diabetes. In fact, the World Diabetes Day (WDD) was created by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in 1991, to draw attention of the world community towards escalating incidences of diabetes amongst the rich and poor, old and young alike. WDD is celebrated world wide on 14th November, on the birth anniversary of Fredrerick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin."Diabetes is affecting all classes of our society, be it rich or poor, high caste or low caste, urban or rural residents. So it is no longer the...
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations has recently issued a report which reveals that currently there are 75 million (7.5 crore) people in the world who have fallen victim to famine and if the current crisis of price rise persists this count may reach the total of 920.25 million (92.25 crore).India too is facing the same harsh situations where poorest of the poor of our country have to go to bed hungry. But at this crucial time when the country expects some stringent steps from the government's side, it is defending itself by saying that food crisis is a global problem which has already struck over 30 countries, most of which have witnessed food riots. It is not...
A 13 member business delegation of Czech Republic will visit Northeast from Sunday. The delegation led by Dr Hynek Kmonicek, the Ambassador of Czech Republic in India will pay visits to Guwahati, Shillong, Itanagar and Gangtok. The delegation will comprise of 4 companies of Aviation Sector, 3 companies of Small hydro Power sector and one from Small Brewery.The nine day visit will commence on 19th October. The NEDFi is coordinating the visit of the delegation and have arranged for open interaction with the local entrepreneurs in Shillong (21st Oct), Guwahati (22nd Oct), Itanagar (23 rd Oct) and Gangtok (25th Oct), stated in a press release from the financial institution."Apart from...
The eminent Bengali writer and literary translator Shaktimoy Das will attend the Guest of the Month programme of Guwahati Press Club on October 17 (Friday). The programme will begin at 12 noon.It may be mentioned here that Mr. Das, a resident of West Bengal, has already translated some outstanding literary works of Assam into Bengali language. Those includes Burhi Aair Sadhu (by Lakshminath Bezbaruah) and Kirtan Ghosa (by Srimanta Sankardev).Member-journalists are requested to participate in the programme at the press club auditorium.
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