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.
The Centre has sent an advisory to the Assam government asking it to take all necessary steps to ensure safety and security for the innocent people in the violence hit Darrang and Udalguri districts. According to home ministry sources, the Centre asked the state government to maintain law and order at any cost and restore normalcy at the earliest. But the advisory was not sent under Article 355. The Centre is worried that if the clashes between Bodos and immigrant Muslims was not brought under control immediately, it would snowball into a major problem.Taking these facts into consideration, the ministry has asked the state government to deploy adequate forces in these districts. The Centre...
Two more persons were killed at Dalgaon in Darrang district in police firing for dispersing an some miscreants on Tuesday midnight.According to information, the incident took place at Chahgaon around 11 midnight when police tried to disperse some miscreants with firing when they were trying to torch a village. Two persons died on the spot. On the others hand, following this the panic-stricken local people have left the 3rd APTF camp at Sajuabeel.There are reports of some more house being set ablaze at Nahoroni village under Majbat police station on Tuesday.A group clash also took place at Khandikar village in Goreswar. 3 persons were injured in the clash. However security forces managed to...
"It is not about money. No amount of money will give back my limb" said a 65 years old woman with diabetes (name withheld on request) who underwent limb amputation at the Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals (GM & AH).She couldn't have been right in conveying the message in the lead up to the World Diabetes Day, 14 November 2008, to prevent many diabetes-related complications that are extremely devastating."Diabetes ups the risk for heart disease and stroke" said Dr Rishi Sethi, who works with Department of Cardiology at CSM Medical University."This increased risk to stroke and heart diseases can be lowered by keeping blood glucose (also called blood sugar), blood...
Forty six rebels belonging to different outfits like ULFA, NDFB, KLNLF, NSCN have surrendered before the army at the Dinjan Camp in Dibrugarh on Monday.All they surrendered at a function organized by Second Mountain Division where these rebels have also deposited a huge cache of arms and ammunitions which include 22 pistols, 14 grenades, four revolvers, a gun with several rounds of bullets and some RDX. Of these rebels, 5 from ULFA’s 27th Battalion, 17 from the B company of ULFA’s 28th battalion, 3 from A company while one from the B company.On the other hand, the NDFB has 2 rebels, KLNLF 6, NSCN-(IM) 4, NSCN-(K) 5 and 3 from ANLA. In his address, General Officer Commanding...
Tension is still simmering in five districts of lower Assam even as the Centre has dispatched 1,400 para-military force personnel to contain the situation where more than 60 people were killed in communal clashes.According to sources, these forces have been rushed to the worst hit Udalguri and Darrang districts. In an effort to restore peace in the area, 16 columns of Army have also been deployed to assist the local authorities. The army personnel staged flag march in the area to instill confidence among the people.Over one lakh people from the affected areas have been sheltered in relief camps in Udalguri and Darrang districts.The Centre is in constant touch with senior officials of Assam...
The Assam Public Works has alleged that the orgy of violence in Udalguri and its adjacent districts are nothing but a handiwork of Huji and other fundamentalist forces.Talking to a private satellite news channel, managing director of the non governmental orgnasation Abhijit Sarma said it’s a retaliation of the recent killing of the Huji terrorists in Dhubri.He said, “it’s the fallout of the prolonged attempt to safeguard the interest of the Bangladeshi immigrants by a section of leaders like AAMSU leader Abdul Aziz and AUDF MLA Rashul Haque.”
The All Assam Students Union and All Bodo Students Union has accused the Gogoi government for its failure to ensure the identity of the indigenous people of Assam.Addressing a press conference at the Swahid Nyash Bhawan, the student leaders termed the Udalguri and Darrang violence as a case of administrative failure. They have alleged that the Bangladeshi immigrants are going all out against the indigenous people.AASU adviser Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharya expressed grave concern over the feeling insecurity that grips in the minds of the the indigenous people and blamed the Gogoi government for not only remaining indifferent to the situation but also for taking sides with the Bangladeshi...
The Assam government ha come in for sharp criticism for the burning situation in Udalguri and its four neighbouring districts where as many as 60 people were killed besides leaving more than 200 injured. An all party delegation comprising members of AGP, AGP-P, CPI, CPM, BJP and AUDF on Monday visited the riot hit areas of Udalguri and Darrang districts. However, during the visit, the delegation had to face an embarrassing situation and left the Bhakatpara refugee camp After visiting these areas, the CPM held a press conference and blamed it all on the government for this orgy of violence and demanded Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s resignation for this utter lawlessness.AGP president...
Noted singer and Sangeet Natak Academy award winner Dilip Sarma passed away on later Monday night at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital. He was 78. He was suffering from cancer for the last two years. Details are awaited. Dilip Sarma was born at Bajali in erstwhile Kamrup district, as the eldest of five children, to the illustrious family of the founder editor of Awahan, late Dinanath Sarma and late Renu Devi in 1926. He married Sudakhsyina Sarma, the younger sister of r Bhupen Hazarika. The couple was honoured the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award on March 25, 2003. Sarma retired in 1985 as a subject teacher (Assamese) from the Bengali Higher Secondary in Paltan bazaar in Guwahati.
There is report of fresh clashes in five riot hit districts of lower Assam on Monday where other tribes joining the Bodos in the attack against the suspected Bangladeshi immigrants. All these have led to the increase in the death toll to 53. According to information, one lakh people from both communities have been displaced and 500 houses have been destroyed. Over a 100 people are reported to have been injured. Many people have shelter in the 36 relief camps that have been set up. To bring the situation under control, Army columns are now staging a flag march. Besides, 10 companies of the paramilitary force have been deployed and helicopters are surveying the area.According to information,...
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