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.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is landing in more trouble if All Assam Students Union is to be believed. The state's powerful students body has urged the prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to order CBI probe into the allegations against five cabinet minister of the Tarun Gogoi Government.Talking to reporters on Tuesday in the city, the AASU leaders said they called on Dr Singh in the capital on Monday and urged Dr Singh to order CBI probes into the allegations raised against five cabinet ministers citing some specific allegations against them namely health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, water resources minister Bharat Chandra Narah, excise minister Gautom Roy and power minister Pradyut...
Gauhati University has announced the results of the B.A./B.Sc./B.Com. Part-II examinations-2008 conducted by it on Monday evening. According to information, in the BA exam, 13,966 candidates out of a total of 27,167 were successful, with the pass percentage being 51.41. In the B.Sc. exam, 1,655 candidates out of a total of 2,494 passed, the percentage being 66.36. In the B.Com exam, 2,378 out of a total of 3,186 passed, with the pass percentage being 74.64.
Three hardcore ULFA cadres were killed and a lady cadre has been apprehended in two separate encounters in the state on late Monday last night. According to information, ULFA leader sergeant Aditya Naidu was killed at a fierce encounter that took place at Timon tea Estate under Kakotibari police station in Sivasagar district early in the morning on Tuesday.Acting on some specific inputs, Army's 66th Field Regiment Jawans launched an operation in the area at around 5 in the morning which led to this encounter and ULFA's 20th Battalion B Company sergeant Aditya died on the spot. A lady cadre has also been apprehended in the encounter. Aditya, an explosion expert is known to be the close...
Former Assam Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta has urged the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to look into a number of problems confronting Assam. Mahanta on Monday called on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi and apprised him of the state’s law and order situation and alleged that the Assam Government has been failing to deal with the situation.He also urged the Prime Minister to expedite the implementation of the Clauses of the historic Assam Accord in letter and spirit. He rued before Dr Singh thaty several central government project have been remaining idle. He further submitted a memorandum before the Prime Minister citing the deplorable failures of the Gogoi...
The 12 hour statewide Assam bandh that disrupted normal life has ended on Monday evening. The bandh was by and large peaceful. Barring a few stray incidents, the situation was by and large peaceful. Police arrested as many as 100 AGP and CPI bandh supporters while they were picketing on the streets in Morigaon, Jagiroad, Tezpur, Jamugurihaat. Some supporters in the city tried to make the bandh call success by burning down tyres on the streets. The Assam state secretariat registered thin attendance during the bandh hours that began at 5 in the morning and ended at 5 in the evening. All shops, hotels, markets, offices and banks were remaining closed during the bandh hours. Roads were...
A special CBI court on Monday has rejected the bail petitions moved by sacked education minister Ripun Bora and his associate Ramesh Maheswari. Hearing the arguments placed in favour of Bora and Maheswari in the afternoon, judge S P Garg rejected the plea while Mukul Pathak’s case for bail did not came up in the court due to his absence in the court.
A security personnel trying to keep away the tires that have been seen burnt by the bandh supporters in the midst of the street in Guwahati on 09-06-08 during the 12-hour Assam Bandh called by the various parties regarding the price hike in the fuel products like petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder. It is mentionable that government few days back raised the petrol price by Rs 5 per liter, diesel by Rs 3 and LPG by Rs 50 per cylinder and came under heavy attack from its allies as well as opposition parties. Pix by UB Photos.
Normal life across the state of Assam has come to a grinding a halt on Monday following a 12 hour bandh call by the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad backed by some other parties and organisations.Streets are remaining bare and all shops, hotels, offices and other financial institutions are remaining closed from early in the morning as the bandh has began at 5 am.Barring the vehicles of police and para military forces, no other vehicles are plying on the streets. Our Correspondents from all district headquarters have informed that the bandh is total and peaceful and there is no report of any sporadic incidents of violence from any parts of the state.Train services are also being disrupted...
A weaver bird carefully building its nest on top of a coconut tree with straw and thatch collected surreptitiously from households as well as forlorn forests. Monsoon is the mating season of the weaver bird, known for its skill in quickly constructing nests, in Eastern India. Pix by UB Photos.
Assam's overall law and order situation is improving a bit if the recent Home ministry report is to be believed.The report says there is slight decrease in the violent scenario in Assam adding that the state has registered only 152 cases till March 31, 2008 as compared to the corresponding period of the last year when the number of such incidents was 156.The report, however, has attributed it to the sustained counter insurgency operations against militant outfits. It says till March 31, 2008, 293 militants have been killed or arrested or surrendered 146 of whom were from ULFA. activists.Attacks on railway personnel and property continued in North Cachar hill district by 'Black Widow', an...
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