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.
Barring a few districts, the ruling party is finding it quite difficult to edge the Opposition Asom Gana Parishad in the early trends of Panchayat polls available here. Congress is showing expected performance in Kamrup both rural and metro along with Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Sonitpur, Nagaon and Dhubri districts while the it is trailing behind AGP in Golaghat, Darrang and Dibrugarh districts. Earlier, the counting began this morning amidst tight security measures in the headquarters in altogether 19 districts. The counting was delayed in Nalbari and Barpeta. There is an incident of lathi charge at the vote counting centre in Nalbari. The Assam United Democratic Front performance is...
Congress is moving neck and neck with the opposition Asom Gana Parishad in the initial trend of the counting of votes that has begun in the morning on Monday. In Guwahati rural, Congress is taking an early lead over the ruling party while the ruling party and AGP are trailing behind BJP. In Jorhat also the ruling party is having a tough battle with AGP. In Sivsagar, the ruling party is taking an early lead. The ruling party is showing a shining results in Dhubri district while it is trailing behind AGP in Golaghat district..Counting of votes has been delayed in Darrang district by three hours. Nalbari too delayed the counting of votes followed by police lathicharge outside the counting...
The city police have recovered a huge cache of foreign made arms and explosives from Jalukbari area in Guwahati on Monday morning while the district administration was remaining busy in vote counting. According to information, the explosive materials were ercovered by the patrolling personnel of 65 Battalion from a polythene packet kept under a boat moored on the banks of the Brahmaputra near the office of Government Railway Police Superintendent at Pandua. The seizure included grenades, RDX, gunpowder and detonators. Investigation is going on.
Amidst tight security ring, the counting of votes in the panchayat poll has begun on Monday morning to decided on the fate of altogether 89,272 candidates from 19 districts across the rural Assam. According to information, all these candidates are in the fray for 25,089 panchayat posts. Of them, 1,877 candidates for 487 posts of zilla parishads, 2,053 candidates for 8,955 block level panchayat posts. These are in addition to those 9,802 candidates for 2,053 posts for presidentships. Moreover, 68,638 candidates are in the fray for altogether 20,496 posts of memberships. The counting process has started in the headquarters in all these districts at around 8-30 in the morning. The initial...
The opposition parties will closely monitor the vote counting on Monday throughout the state apprehending large scale rigging by the ruling Congress. Led by AUDF, the these opposition parties held a meeting on Sunday at the Circuit House and discussed the situation.The meeting was attended by the leaders of AGP(P), CPI(ML),RCPI,RSP, Samajwadi Party. They alleged that the ruling party utilized the state administrative machinery in the polls. These parties will remain alert in view of the situation. They unanimously resolved to protest if any ragging bid is noticed on Monday.
Despite a chilly Sunday morning, the atmosphere atop the Borail hill became agog with festivity as it was throbbing with the dance of Dimasa as Busu Dima gets underway. The people in large numbers joined the Baidima, the name of the dazzling Dimasa dance on the day of their much-vaunted Bihu. For these colourful people, it’s the harvest festival. Busu Dima means -Busu means Bihu while Dima means the tribe Dimasa. The Dimasas have Busus: Hangseo Busu, Surem Busu and Zidao Busu. Hangseo is Zudima along with pork, mutton and chicken. Zudima is a traditional liquor. Busu is enjoyed with a cup of zudima full to the brim.
The All Assam Students Union will observe a statewide dharna on 2nd February demanding immediate steps to save the wildlife at the Kaziranga National Park. This was decided at a dharna staged at the Latashil Playground on Sunday. Led by AASU and Asom Unnati Sabha, several city based intellectuals, artists and litterateurs and prominent citizens participated in the dharna demanding immediate steps to check poaching in the sanctuaries.The speakers at the Dharna site were vocal against forest minister Rockybul Hussain for his silent role despite killing of 312 rhinos during his term. The AASU leaders further have threaten an intensified strike if the sanctuaries are allowed to be the safe...
Two ULFA cadres and an Army captain died at a fierce encounter at the Meshakhi forest area in upper Assam’s Tinsukia district on Sunday. According to information, the encounter is still going on and the Army is cordoning off the entire area. The two dread ULFA leaders have been identified as Chandan Dohutia, a major sergeant and corporal Tutu Moran. The army captain who also died at the encounter is H Chaudhory who received the President’s medal for his outstanding service on Saturday’s Republic Day. The crackdown began in the morning. Details are awaited.
Nilambar Buragohain, Area Organiser, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), posted at Force Head Quarter Delhi as Additional Director (Administration), has been awarded Police Medal for Meritorious Service 2008. Buragohain has been working with the paramilitary service since 1976. He hails from Napam Gaon, Dhemaji.This Medal is awarded every year on the occasion of Independence and Republic Day in recognition of the meritorious record in Police service or in the Central Police/ Security Organistaion. All Police personnel in the country with at least 15 years of service are eligible for this award. The recipients of the award are presented Medals in Ceremonies arranged by the State Government/ Central...
Assam Governor Lt General (Retd) Ajoy Kumar Singh has reiterated his clarion call to the militant outfits to come forward for talks for a peaceful and prosperous Assam saying doors for talks are still remaining open. Hoisting the national tri-colour at the Judges’ Field on Saturday morning, the governor said the anti insurgency operations have been successful adding the state will get a India Reserve battalion by March.Terming the Beltola incident a serious incident to be dealth with, he said the Justice Manisana Commssion has begun its probe to unearth the truth.The governor has claimed that his government is fully committed to implement the Assam Accord in letter and spirit adding...
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