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.
Prior to India ’s 61st Independence Day, Guwahati Press Club has invited the veteran freedom fighter Paniram Das, 92 as its Guest of the Month. The program will take place on August 10 at 12 noon.A brilliant student, Das passed out Matriculation in 1937 from the Kolkata University with first division, but soon joined the freedom movement. He had to serve jail terms for two times.During the program at press club, Das is supposed to narrate thrilling stories of the struggling period of his life.Member-journalists are requested to attend the same.
In Assam every second day some boys and girls from various student organizations bring out processions demanding the ousting of Bangladeshis from Assam, sealing the Indo-Bangla border etc. But, these so called student leaders or different social organizations donot realize that the people of Assam are not aware at the grassroot level.In order to prove my point let me site the example of Orissa. In Orissa, no student organization has to fight Bangladeshis or any infiltrators because the grassroot or Oriya villagers are aware. If any Oriya villager sees a Bangladeshi, they shoot the infiltrators with bows and arrows and never enter Orissa.But in Assam once the procession or dharna is over,...
The Centre has put the Assam Government on alert apprehending ULFA's massive strike during the Independence day celebrations on August 15. According to information, acting on some specific inputs that ULFA is drawing up a blue print for a massive strike during the Independence Day programme, the Centre has alerted the Dispur to be extra vigilant. According to information, the Union home ministry has told Dispur to intensify security measures especially around vital installations as ULFA militants have been targeting these places in support of their demands.The Centre further has asked Dispur to deploy adequate security personnel in all towns and Guwahati city as there have been recent...
The quick deportation of Kamaluddin acting on the landmark judgement of the Gauhati High Court has touched off a seismic wave of reaction across the state. AASU, AJYCP, BJP have endorsed it while NCP would have been happy if he was interrogated for obtaining some vital information in terms of illegal influx from across the border. But the AUDF has made it plain that they will not remain mute if the genuine Indian citizens are harassed in the name of detecting the illegal Bangladeshis.Nagaon police on Tuesday have picked up five Bangladeshi immigrants from Doboka area after being detected by the Gauhati High Court. According to Nagaon police superintendent Nitul Gogoi these people will be...
Every year, peace loving people all over the world, and more so in Japan , observe 6th August as Hiroshima Day in memory of the millions killed and/ or maimed for life for generations to come.Hiroshima day is a grim reminder of the dropping of the first atom bomb (ironically named Little Boy), 63 years ago, by the U.S. on the helpless and innocent citizens of Hiroshima . The Uranium bomb detonated at precisely 8.15 am, 2000 feet above the ground surface, turning a beautiful Monday morning into an inferno of unprecedented destruction.As of today, the death toll ( due to immediate loss of life and the long drawn out radiation impacts) stands at 242,437. About 270,000 A-Bomb affected people ,...
A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to sacked Assam education minister Ripun Bora, Delhi Based businessman Ramesh Maheswari and journalist Mukul Pathak who were arrested by CBI on June 2 charging them with trying to bribe one of its officials.According to information, hearing the bail petition on Tuesday Judge RK Yadav at the Patiala House they were granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 3 lakh each. CBI on July 31 filed chargesheet against the trio under Section 120-B of the IPC and the Section 12 of the Anti-Corruption act.
The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday ordered exemption of ULFA leader Dibakor Moran from the National Security Act. A division bench of the Court comprising Chief Justice J Chalemeswar and Justice Ashok Putsangbash was hearing a petition filed by Maran’s family members challenging the arrest of Dibakor under the NSA. The order for arresting Dibakor under the NSA was issued by Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner D K Dwivedi.
Prabhat Sarma, a renowned folk exponent, flutist, music director of Assam, has been admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of Guwahati Neurological Research Centre in Guwahati following a heart attack on 05-08-08 morning. He was suffering from heart ailment for some time. According to the doctors, his blood sugar level was found much higher when he was admitted. Reports last came in, he was normal but still under the observation of the Doctors in the ICU Unit.
We, the undersigned urge the people of Assam to celebrate the 61st anniversary of our Independence Day on August 15 in a befitting manner.We, the people of the State have inherited the spirit of the freedom-fighters who had made immense sacrifices to make us a free nation. The great patriots like KushalKonwar, Kanaklata, Mukunda Kakoti, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani and many brave hearts laid down their lives to free the country from the clutches of colonial rulers.We therefore, call upon the people of the State to express their gratitude in memory of those patriots and martyrs, and hoist the National Tricolour on the Day atop their houses and also to organize community celebrations in...
The recently detected illegal Bangladeshi national Kammaluddin has been deported to his country on Monday. This was followed by the arrest of ten more illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators on Tuesday at Doboka in Nagaon distirct.According to information, before pushing Kammaludding back to Bangladesh, he was rushed to the Border Security Force personnels at Mahisashan checkgate along the Indo-Bangladesh border on Sunday. His Bangladeshi identity was confirmed by the Guwahati High Court recently and a bench of Justice Biplab Sarma ordered his arrest to be pushed back to Bangladesh. The court further talked tough with the government for its inability to detect and deport the illegal Bangladeshis...
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