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 Gauhati High Court on Monday granted bail to Peoples’ Consultative Group member Hiranya Saikia, who was arrested for ULFA link. According to information, the bail order came up when the court was hearing a bail petition moved on behalf of Saikia, Mr Saikia was also booked under the National Security Act. Saikia was second PCG member to have been arrested by police for ULFA link. The first one was Lachit Bordoloi who was also booked under NSA.
Assam Indigenous Assamese Muslim Development Board has urged the people to ignore the 12 hour Nalbari district bandh call on Monday they announced earlier alleging harassment by AASU and AJYCP on them in the name of detecting and deporting the Bangladeshi immigrants.Talking to reporters, the leaders of the organizations said some vested interest circle could cash in on the situation to spread communal conflagration.It may be recalled that the board announced the bandh call to protest the recent incident in Titabor where some indigenous Assamese Muslim people from Mukalmuwa have been mistakenly picked up by AASU activists. They fear that a section of political leaders and fundamentalist...
A section of political leaders of the ruling Congress is behind the documents being used by some suspected Bangladeshi immigrants to prove their Indian citizenship. Some startling revelations have further complicated the situation in Lakhimpur district when AASU activists picked up altogether 57 suspected illegal Bangladeshi people from a newly set up village.A few of the suspected Bangladeshi nationals when rounded up by AASU activists made some uncomfortable revelations saying a section of ruling party leaders have being helping them even issuing them documents to prove Indian citizenship.Akbar Ali is one of them who came out with these revelations that could drag two Congress leaders...
Peoples Organization for Social Transformation (POST) had organized a one day seminar on rights at the Asel L P School at Mahur in N C hills District on 5th August. The seminar was to sensitize people around the Mahur area on various social issues and individual rights. Ranjan K Baruah, youth activist from Guwahati was the resource person in the seminar who spoke on right to food and right to work with special emphasize on PDS NREGA, ICDS, etc. The seminar was moderated by P. Thaku Hmar of POST. POST was established in the year 2007 to work in Mahur area which is not well connected with other parts of the state due to poor communication. More than 100 individual including village headman,...
Prior to India’s 61st Independence Day, Guwahati Press Club invited a veteran freedom fighter pf Assam, Paniram Das as its Guest of the Month. A brilliant student, Das, now 92, passed out Matriculation in 1937 from the Kolkata University with first division, but joined the freedom movement following the call of Mahatma Gandhi. He had to serve jail terms for two times.
Weightlifter Monica Devi was on Saturday cleared off all doping charges by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The clearance came after IOA found that the charges leveled against the athlete were false and an attempt to malign her image. After Monica Devi's allegation that she was being framed, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh stepped in and approached the Prime Minister Office, thus paving the way for the weightlifter's return.The clearance brought momentary relief for the athlete; however, as the IOA said that it was too late for her to fly to Beijing.
Historical records provide ample evidence of glorious textiles tradition of Assam. At the request of the Koch king’s brother: Prince Chilarai, Sri Sankaradeva took up the project of tapestry weaving for which he engaged the weavers of Tantikuchi or Barpeta. Eventually, the Brindabani Bastra was lost though the last place of resort for the Bastra was the Madhupur Sattra in Koch Behar. The Brindabani Bastra a figured silks from Assam: from the 16th – 18th century (measuring 120 cubits long and 60 cubits broad) are rare silk textile fragments depicting scenes from the life of Lord Krishna in a floral, naturalistic and preciously elegant style are preserved at the Blythe House,...
Sport persons protesting against barring of Manipur weight lifter L. Monika from participating in Beijing Olympic on charge doping by Indian sport authorities, in Imphal on 07-08-08. PHOTO: UB PHOTOS.
Sonitpur Police have arrested four Bangladeshi people including three women to push them back to Bangladesh very soon. But an arrested Bangladeshi national has alleged that he paid Rs 15,000 to a government employee Dhiren Saikia who assured him of documents to prove his citizenship.According to information, in its stepped up operation against Bangladeshis, Zakir Hussain, wife Tavassum begum, sister in law Chorabari Begum have been picked to be deported soon.These people have been sheltering in Goroimari area under Tezpur police station in Sonitpur district. Police sources said they would be deported after completing the legal formalities. The family has two children. Talking to reporters,...
He is Sarawat Ali. Sawawat, owns of 20 bighas of land, have been living in Naptipara gaon under Kalaigaon police station in Darrang district for the last 30 years and his family. How far is he an Indian citizen? The historic Assam Accord, 1985 has announced that those who have come before March 25 in 1971, are Indian citizens. But it’s not true with Sarawat. He came to Assam in 1978 only. Before that he was even a Bangladeshi soldier., he has a identity card to prove his assignment. But he managed to get some documents to prove his Indian citizenship.Talking to a private satellite TV news channel that beamed the on Wednesday, Sarawat said, “I was a soldier of Bangladesh. I came...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment