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.
Amidst protests against price rises of essential items throughout the country, the PM Manmohan Singh has again started harping on the issue of the Indo-US Nuclear Deal. The Deal has been pushed forward in India in an anti-democratic manner without approval of the Parliament - in fact in the teeth of opposition by a large majority of parliamentarians. The Deal has the potential of disturbing regional stability and further distorting India 's relationships with important neighbours like China , Pakistan and Iran.This cannot also but severely undermine the prospects for both vertical and horizontal non-proliferation and thereby the prospects for global nuclear disarmament. This allurement also...
There is yet another stumbling block that tends to stymie the on going peace process in Assam. The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Monday has expelled the 28th battalion top guns now in ceasefire, namely Captain Mrinal Hazarika, second lieutenants Moon Bora and Jun Sonowal who have been all out to carry forward the peace process. According to information, the order to this effect has come from ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa who has announced that the trio have been expelled from the outfit charging with cooperating with the state machinery in the name of peace brokering between ULFA and the government which is the clear violation of the outfits Constitution.Rajkhowa asks the...
A devastating fire that broke out in the wee hours on Monday left a city factory completely gutted. The incident took place in the Udalbakra area in at an acid factory but the reason of the fire has yet to be ascertained. Minutes after the fire broke out, fire tenders have been rushed to the spot and it took nearly three hours for the fire tenders to bring the situation under control. When asked, the management officials of the factory refused to speak to reporters when the fire that have engulfed the entire factory. One person has been left with minor injury.
Top ranked ULFA cadre of the 28th battalion, now in ceasefire namely Mrinal Hazarika and his aide Jun Bhuyan are camping in the city as part of their mission to carry forward the peace process. They are holding talks with various political parties, organizations and individuals seeking their advice and opinions.Talking to reporters on Sunday, Mrinal said their first duty will be to save the Assamese from the impending identity crisis. Mirnal Hazarika more rough days await the people of Assam. He maintained that identity crisis most dangerous these days. On Sunday they hold discussion with the leaders of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra parishad on how t carry forward the peace mission.ULFA...
The Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti is doubtful of a fruitful peace process following the recent unilateral ceasefire by the A and C companies of ULFA’s 28th battalion.Addressing a press conference in the city on Sunday, the human rights organization leaders said the government has again shown its lack of interest for holding a fruitful negotiation with ULFA. They said the way the cadres of A and C companies of ULFA’s 28th battalion are going to carry forward the peace process will not be a successful one. For the MASS leaders, need of the hour is an amicable political dialogue between Centre and the ULFA.MASS adviser Lachit Bordoloi said the government lacks interest for holding...
The Asom Sahitya Sabha has proposed to set up a full fledge varsity in the city to promote studies and research on art, literature and culture not only of the north eastern region but of the entire country.Addressing a press conference in the city’s Bhagwati Prasad Baruah Hall on Sunday, Sabha president Kanak Sen Deka said the varsity would be set up at its huge 50 bigha plot beside the Express Highway. Deka said the university will accord top priority on the archaeological studies on the various ethnic groups in the north eastern region.Deka said said the proposed varsity will provide the scholars across the world with an opportunity to exchange their views on language, art and...
The north Assam districts of North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji are still reeling under the second wave of flood and more areas have come under the surging waters of the rivers Singara, Jiadhol, Dikrong et al.All sorts of surface communication to North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts have been remaining snapped from Saturday morning after a temporary sub-way on national highway 52, built following the breach of the main road, was washed away due to heavy flood.According to information, a bailey bridge, being built after NH 52 was breached on June 14, is expected to be opened for traffic this evening that would restore road communication. Moreover, a sub-way was built with boulders and sandbags...
The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) says it will not dissolve the Peoples’ Consultative Group it formed to broker peace process with the government .But in the same breath it says it will have nothing to do if a member of the panel wants to pull of it citing personal reasons.In a statement, ULFS chairman Arabinda rajkhowa on Saturday has said that though two companies of ULFA's 28 Battalion had criticised the PCG's role in the peace process, the central leadership had constituted it for a specific purpose. Rajkhowa has maintained that the relevance and social responsibility of PCG cannot be undermined. ULFA desires a negotiated political solution of its problems and the PCG...
Noted writer and poet Tafajjul Ali is no more to seek the fragrance of Bokul ful and thereby to command appreciation from all section of the people. He breathed his last on Saturday at his beloved Bakultol in Bakultol in Guwahati.The multi-faceted personality was born in 15th October 1929 in a tea garden in Darrang district. After completing his schooling from Tongla and Mangaldoi, Ali graduated with Assamese Honours from Cotton College and attained his post graduate degree from Gauhati University. Although his father was a physician, Ali had been exposed to a musical environment at home since his childhood days. He composed his first song at the tender age of eight.He has given music to...
The over all flood situation in Dehmaji and Lakhimpur districts has taken a grim turn again in the face of the the incessant rains that have been lashing the districts along with the catchment areas of the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh. Lakhs of people in more than 1000 villages have been rendered homeless last evening when the river Jiadhal breached a portion of its embankment in Dhemaji district. Moreover, hours after it, the flood waters have washed away a railway bridge in Moridhol area wrecking havoc for more than 500 vilages. Caught in this situation, the people in the affected areas have left for safer places. On the other hand, some more areas in Lakhimpur district have again come...
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