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.
ULFa has killed a gaonburah in lower Assam’s Udalguri disitrct on Sunday afternoon.. According to information, the goanburah of Dolongghat Khagendranath Deka was shot dead at Bhakatgaon by two motorcycle born youths. Later ULFA’s 27 Battalion has owned up the responsibility. High level police officials arrived on the spot later on and investigation is going on.
Despite a simmering situation along the Assam-Meghalaya border, Assam health minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has laid the foundation stone a Primary health centre at Langpih, a place in Kamrup district which is claimed by Meghalaya. The neighbouring state decided to maintain a wait and watch policy helping the area avoid a major clash. Dr Sarma on Saturday along with his forest department counterpart Rockybul Hussain, AGP MLA Jyoti Prasad Das, youth Congress leader Rekibuddin Ahmed, Kamrup deputy Commissioner R C Jain, police superintendent Debojit Hazarika did it and not only that Dr Sarma announced a Rs 12 crore package for the development of the almost inaccessible area.In his address...
Majuli is set to be declared as a world heritage site on June 6. According to information, the decision to this effect would be formally approved at the UNESCO meeting slated for June 6. The global body is considering the long standing demand from the Government of India with due seriousness. Hours after the formal approval, the announcement is set to be made. The announcement for the seat of the vaishnavite culture, was to be made three for years back but it has not been possible in the absence of some official procedure from the Central and state government.
Good news. Really a good news for the state government employees as the Assam Government has set up the Sixth Pay Commission headed by former Union Secretary Bhaskar Baruah. A notification issued to this effect, said that the panel will examine the principles governing the structure of emoluments and conditions of the state government employees. Along with others, it will further suggest re organization of the existing service with a view to improving rationalization of work load and efficiency. Other members of the panel are Surendra Mohan Deka, Shantikam Hazarika while the Assam government's principal secretary of the finance department will be its member secretary. The Commission will...
Five Assam Rifles jawans in Jorhat have been arrested and sent to jail on Saturday for trying to kidnap a girl while she was on her way back to home after enjoying a Bihu festival.According to information, five jawans of the Assam Rifles were trying to molest some five girls at Garmurh area in Jorhat at around 11-30 on Friday night. A few girls were on their way back to their homes after attending a Bihu festival. The jawans from the Lekhapani camp tried to forcibly give them lift them on their gipsy. They even lifted one of these girls and took away from the G K Palace Hotel at Garh Ali. On the way, the jawans halted following an accident of a car. All they went to rescue the car....
The Gujjar row is gradually spreading to the north eastern region with the embattled community getting ready to launch a Rajasthan like an agitation in a day or two.Talking to a news agency on Saturday, a Gujjar representative Bhai Gujjar said the Rajasthan Government has betrayed the Gujjars adding that neither the state Government nor the Centre has been listening to them.The Gujjar leaders in the entire north eastern region hold a meeting in the city of Guwahati on Friday and chalked out a programme to join the protests.The Gujjars of the region have already sought permission from both the Assam Government and Meghalaya Government to allow them to sit in peaceful and democratic stir.
Army have picked up one Kamala Rajkonwar in upper Assam's Sivasagar district in the wee hours on Saturday. According to information, Rajkonwar, a 52 year old person is a MASS leader and a PCPIA activists, was picked up by Army's 316 Field Regiment from his house and was later handed over to Mathurapur police station. Investigation is going on.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's convoy passes the new flyover at Bhangagarh for public use after the inaugural ceremony in Guwahati on 30-05-08. The flyover which took more than 3 years is the one of the ambitious programme of the state government to build flyovers in the city for smooth commute. Pix by UB Photos.
A day after the unified command meeting, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi says talks with militant group is possible only within the framework of the Constitution.Talking to reporters in the city on Friday, the Chief Minister said, "we are ready for negotiation with any group provided they gave up violence and are willing to talk within the framework of the Constitution."According to the Chief Minister, the three tier unified command structure held a threadbare discussion on the issue of talks with the extremist groups.He said the state government will remain open for talks with extremist groups who are willing to surrender arms, live in designated camps, abjure violence and neither...
Tension is simmering in Langpih in Kamrup district along the Assam-Meghalaya border following the brisk preparation by the Assam Government to set up a primary health centre on Saturday while the Meghalaya Government is all set to prevent Assam from doing it saying it falls under Meghalaya territory.An angry Meghalaya Government was quick to call up union home secretary Madhukar Gupta seeking his intervention but the Assam government sticks to the gun. Health and family welfare minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and forest minister Rockybul Hussain are schedule to visit the area on Saturday to lay the foundation stone of the health centre.Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Secretary has sent a letter...
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