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.
Around 10,000 people joined Assam Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad’s massive protest rally on Saturday in Guwahati demanding expulsion of illegal immigrants from the state. The protestors further demanded quick update of the National Register of Citizens. People of all walks of life joined the rally with slogans seeking immediate ouster of foreigners, immediate update of the NRC and slammed the state and the Centre. They also accused the government of aiding and abetting the immigrants.
The rally is amongst the many that have had been organized in the state in the last few fortnights. On September 6, the North East Students' Organisation, in association with All Assam Students' Union...
A local court in Nalbari remanded two youths to six days police custody a day after the duo were charged of killing a local businessman Ashsis Maskara in the town on Friday. Police produced the Chandan Kalita and Kunaldeep Sindhu before the court who sent them to police custody on Saturday. During police interrogation hours after the incident, they confessed that they attacked the businessman. Police further recovered 5 lakh rupees from their possession. Maskara was shot dead when he was on his way to a bank.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday said that there was no threat to the UPA government after the Union cabinet decided to proceed with the FDI on retail. Talking to reporters in Delhi, Gogoi said that Mamata Banerjee can’t prevent other states from implementing the FDI decision. Gogoi said that the benefits of economic reforms initiated by Manmohan Singh as Finance Minister in early 1990s is being reaped by everyone now and yesterday's decision would be cherished by everyone in the years to come.
Defying the countrywide resistance, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Saturday welcomed the 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail. Talking to reporters in Delhi on Saturday he said that those opposed to it should not prevent others. He called the decision a bold one and said that under no circumstances should it be reversed. According to him, it would benefit the farmers, consumers and boost the rural economy with the setting up of cold storage and other infrastructure. Gogoi was among the first to ask the Centre to take the decision of FDI in multi-brand retail as it would help in the growth of small and medium enterprises, cottage industries and overall rural economy.
The Asom Gana Parishad on Saturday burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Petroleum Minister S Jaypal Reddy in the district protesting against the steep diesel price hike. AGP workers in Barpeta district unit shouted slogans against the UPA government and demanded immediate roll back of the price hike that will lead to economic hardship of the people. District leaders said that the UPA government does not think about the general people's problem as the price of all petroleum products and essential goods will naturally rise.
Amid an all out drive against immigrants, railway police on Saturday arrested an illegal Bangladeshi migrant from the Guwahati station. The Bangladeshi national was apprehended from platform number No 3 during an operation by the RPF. He was identified as 30-year-old Mohamed Ali, a resident of Bangladesh's Mirpur.
Security has been beefed up in Guwahati following ULFA’s threat to strike in the city with car blast. Checking has been intensified following intelligence inputs that cadres of ULFA opposed to peace talks between the rival faction and New Delh have been trying to sneak into the city. People have been asked to alert police about suspicious Maruti vans. All entry and exit routes are under strict vigil.
Ajmal Foundation has shown its gesture for some affected journalists of Assam. Under its Ajmal Media Welfare Scheme, the foundation has offered financial supports to 6 media persons in a function held at Guwahati Press Club on September 14, 2012.
The foundation has offered Rs 75000 to the closed relative of Raihan Nayum, a reporter of Ganachabuk, who was killed on September 8 last in Dhubri. Similarly Raj Kumar Sahu (DY365 with Rs 50000), Amulya Nath (NewsLive with Rs 25000), Sarat Das (NewsLive with Rs 25000), Lalit Sarma (DY365 with Rs 25000) and Kulen Kalita (Janambhumi with Rs 25000) were also awarded.
Khasrul Islam, manager of Ajmal Foundation, who was present on the occasion...
At least six people have been injured when suspected ULFA militants exploded a powerful bomb in Tinsukia district on Saturday. The explosion took place in the heart of Digboi town at around 7-15 in the evening where one of these six people were seriously injured. Top ranked police and civil officials rushed to the spot and cordoned off the entire area to nab the culprits. The injured have been shifted to the hospital. But no outfit has so far claimed the responsibility.
Bodoland Peoples' Front MLA Pradeep Brahma on Friday was released a day after the Gauhati high court granted him bail. Brahma, who is lodged in Kokrajhar jail, was granted bail on Thursday in all cases filed against him, against two sureties of Rs 30,000 each. The high court asked Brahma to deposit his passport at the sub divisional judicial magistrate's court in Kokrajhar and take permission of the concerned magistrate before visiting the violence-hit places there. It also directed him to cooperate with the police in case of further investigations. Brahma was arrested on August 22 on the basis of seven FIRs lodged against him at Dotoma and Fakiragram police stations in Kokrajhar.
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