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.
This social audit is being carried out by the citizens on the development work done under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS).The Miyaganj block development office had earlier provided documents related to NREGS after one and a half years struggle at UP State Information Commission under Right to Information Act. These documents are being verified by the citizens themselves in the ongoing social audit.The Gram Pradhans had spread the rumour that high court has granted a stay-order against the social audit. In many Gram Panchayats including Bhadua, Barha Kala, Kulha Ataura and Korari khurd, the social audit work remained suspended for few hours owing to the rumour. However...
The All Assam Students Union will continue the agitation unless the government stops the move to retain the Assam Oil Division's marketing branch in Assam. The AASU leaders have warned that they are not comfort with OIL's decision only to retain the red rhino symbol. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjee said they will stop any move to hurt the interest of Assam and its people. He criticized the Tarun Gogoi Government for remaining silent in this regard. Dr Bhattacharjee said its only because of stiff resistance by AASU and Asom Unnati Sabha the authorities have retained the red rhino symbol. General secretary of the student body Tapan Kumar Gogoi...
Bloomington: Two Guwahati based scribes have arrived at Bloomington for undertaking a sensitizing program at Indiana University on HIV/AIDS issues. More over they will be provided space for understanding the journalism education and practice in USA.Nava Thakuria, a freelance journalist from Assam and Subhamoy Bhattacharjee, a photo journalist working for The Indian Express are among six Asians including media person, NGO worker and journalism educator form India and Sri Lanka, who were invited for the three week long program. Sponsored by Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, the program also includes two Sri Lankan journalists namely Chaminda Wariyagoda, Udaya Wanniarachchi one...
Workers have been seen cleaning potatoes on 21-05-2008 that will be sent to the local market soon which were produced as a part of AASU and Assam Unnati Sabha initiative at Barpeta. Photo by UB Photos
Veteran freedom fighter Indreswar Phukan of Golahgat breathed his last on Thursday morning. He was 90. The end came early in the morning at his own residence. For the last couple of months he had been ailing. Mr Phukan was actively engaged in the freedom struggle and was known to be closed associate of Kushal Konwar. It may be noted that two years ago he got his burial place dug in the form of moidam for his last rites.
Two people have been arrested by police and seized some flash of fox from their possession in the city’s kamakhya Railway station on Wednesday night. According to information, acting on some specific top off that two persons were coming by the Bohagi Train with some flash from Kendukona area, leaders of the non governmental organisation People For Animal Sangita Goswami and others informed it to police and were waiting for the train to arrive in the station. At around 10 pm, the train arrived in the station and police caught these two people red handed with flash. These two poachers were later taken to the Maligaon based GRP post. Taking to reporters, these two accused poachers have...
On the second day of training of about hundred citizens who are preparing to go into the villages f Miyaganj Block of Unnao District to conduct social audit of the NREGS, the DM Rajshekhar addressed a gathering of citizens of this Block. He said that he would not tolerate any discrepancy in muster rolls as well as measurement books.A number of officials and people responsible for implementation of this scheme believe that only one of the two documents can be prepared honestly, the other will have to be manipulated to fit the first. He said that NREGS had tremendous potential to transform the rural landscape and standard of living of rural poor but equally there was enough possibility for...
The preparations are underway to conduct the social audit of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in Miyaganj development block of Unnao district in UP.The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 bestows the rights to citizens to conduct a social audit of the work carried out under the act.Before this Act came into place, the citizens had the only choice to lodge a complaint with concerned officer reporting the drawbacks or shortcomings. It was completely on the discretion of the officer whether to take that complaint forward and act upon it, or drop it. The citizens were mute spectators and the right to act upon a complaint or turn a blind's eye to it was the privileges...
The DHD Jewel group has withdrawn the ban it earlier imposed on the rail broadgauge and National Highway construction projects in North Cachar hills district. This was disclosed by publicity secretary of the banned insurgent outfit Faifring Dimasa while he was speaking to a private satellite TV news channel.Notably, altogether 25 people have lost their lives and four others injured during these incidents violence in the district. Twelve victims are workers with the railway broadgauge and National Highway construction projects. Moreover, the insurgent groups forced the halt of these projects saying they will not allow these works to continue. But the outfit declared its thirteen cadres as...
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