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.
One ULFA’s self style corporal Uttam Neog was killed in an encounter with Army on late Sunday night in upper Assam’s Kakopathar in Tinsukia district. According to information, he had an encounter the troops of Daha Regiment at Kakopathar. Later a point 3 pistol and three rounds of live ammunitions were recovered from his possession.
One Dilip Kalita, arrested after charging with duping a landowner has been remanded to judicial custody on Sunday by the Kamrup district session court. The accused has admitted that he has been selling plots to many powerful people in the city of Guwahati.The entire case came up when the dupped one Manna Hazarika who purchased a plot of land from one widow Chandra prabha Goswami in the Janakpur area in Jatia falling under Beltola mouza. The plot bearing Dag No 35/640 and Patta No 33/550 measuring one katha and 15 lecha belongs Goswami, a resident of Hatigaon purchased it in 1982.According to information, Dilip Kalita approached Chandraprabha in connection with the plot and as she told that...
Sir,It is sad to note that taking the advantage of the poverty of the Mishing community in Majuli, Dhemaji and Jonai, numerous Mishing families are been converted to Christianity by opportunistic Christian missionaries. I am an ordinary citizen and can do nothing. As such I thought of writing this letter to your newspaper so that I might create an awareness among the Mishing tribe of Assam.I would request my community members to learn from the mistake of our neighbouring states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram where inspite of having seperate states, the tribes have lost their identity.Our own traditions are no way inferior to the rich Vatican City or Pope. The poverty in Mishing councils...
Assam Governor Lt general (Retd.) Ajoy Singh on Saturday has visited Gauhati university campus and discussed the administrative matters with registrar in charge. Later talking to the journalists he said he will personally monitor these university functioning upto May 29 but will leave all these to the new Vice Chancellor. Notably, the governor has constituted a high level committee to study the resignation of Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury to enable him to finalise his decision on May 29.
It’s good news for people of Assam. Four candidates from the soil of Assam have cleared Civil Service Examination, 2007. The results of the examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission have been declared on Friday. The successful candidates from the state are namely Nabanita Chakrabarty of Guwahati, Rahul Kakati from Sivasagar, Nayanjyoti Nath from Jamuguri in Sonitpur district, Nilav Chandra Sen Gupta from Roha in Nagaon.
Journalists' Forum, Assam has congratulated two city based scribes for being selected to undergo a three weeks long training on journalism in USA. Nava Thakuria and Subhamoy Bhattacharjee are among six media and NGO persons from India and Sri Lanka, who had already arrived in Bloomington to participate in the programme at the Indiana University. During their stay in America, both Mr Thakuria, who is also the secretary of JFA and Bhattacharjee, who works for Indian Express, will have opportunities to work in local newspapers as well, stated in a statement by JFA.
A hardcore ULFA rebel, Montu Borgohain, was killed during an operation by army in upper Assam's Dibrugarh district on late Friday night. According to information, the incident took place at Nagajan Pathar under Duliajan police station when the jawans of Second Bihar Regiment launched an operation in the area acting on some specific information.
As many as 20 people have been injured in a bus accident in Monglodoi township early in the morning on Saturday. According to information, the bus from Koch Behar was bound for China and met the mishap in front of the Rajiv Bhawan. All the injured people have been rushed to the hospital. The people with minor injury has been released after primary treatment.
Bloods in the blue hills of North Cachar stops spilling as the DHD(J) militants have suspending their operations from Friday. Talking to a satellite TV channel on Friday its publicity secretary Faifrang Dimasa said there will not be any killing from today but made it clear that they will not allow work on National Highway and broad gauge conversion projects until the Government signs ceasefire pact with them.
Altogether 14 people, including 13 NSCN cadres were killed during a fierce fighting between two NSCN factions on Friday near Dimapur. According to information, the group clash took place in the morning at Seithekema village under Diphupar police station of Dimapur as a few NSCN(U) militants were on the way the NSCN(IM) camp in the village seeking a top leader of the.When they were returning, they were ambushed by the NSCN(IM) cadres and exchanged heavy firing. In the terrible gun fighting, 13 cadres of the NSCN(U) were killed on the spot. As the fighting ended, thousands of people of the area thronged outside the police station where the dead bodies were stored.Firstly, they paid homage to...
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