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.
Altogether seven opposition parties led by Assam United Democratic Front are meeting Assam Govrnor Lt gn(Retd) Ajoy Singh to complaint against the state election commission’s failure to stop largscale rigging and booth capturing by the ruling party workers in the pachayat polls. They allege that the Congress has murdered democracy in the polls. They further demand repelling in Samoguri and Hailakandi.
The Assam United Democratic Front has demanded repolling in Samoguri and Hailakandi alleging largescale rigging by the ruling party in the third phase of panchayat polls. Addressing the media, party president Badaruddin Ajmal has accused the ruling Congress of rigging and booth capturing in the third phase of polling in Samoguri and Hailakandi.He said the Congress buried all democratic principles by forcibly stamping on the papers after capturing the booths. He maintained that ninety five percent voting in Samoguri and Hailakandi district were only because of rigging by Congress activists.
The Assam Pollution Control Board chairman has asked the Assam Medical College Hospital and a section of nursing homes to stick to the rules for drainage of waste materials within a week. During his recent visit to the upper Assam medical college, the Board chairman Jawarharlal Dutta alleged violation of rules laid down for clearing the waste materials. Notably, despite repeated instructions, the Assam medical College in Dibrugarh along with some other nursing home have yet to stick to the Bio medical Waste Management Act. These are only because of sheer lackadaisical attitude of the Assam Medical College Hospital and a section of private nursing homes.
The Army and police on Friday have recovered a huge amount of explosive materials in Baram chawk in Nalbari district. These include five exclusive devices and two hand grenades. All these were recovered from a book shop owned by Laba Sarma in the place.
Two country-made bombs have been recovered in the New Delhi-bound North East Express from Guwahati on Friday morning. This has forced delay in the train to halt at a railway station in Bihar.According to information, a passenger spotted the bombs at 6.30 in the morning and informed it to the driver of the train. These bombs were wrapped in a newspaper lying under the seat.The bombs were then put into a water-filled bucket for defusing at the platform.The train was allowed to resume its journey after being stopped for about two hours.
A hardocre ULFA leader has been arrested during a joint operation by police and Army in Sonari on Friday wee hours.According to information, 268th Field Regioment jawans conducted a joint operation with Sonari police at around 3 AM in Tingalibam area and apprehended ULFA corporal Raju Chetri with linkman Diganta Hazarika.Raju, now in police custody at the Sonari police station will be produced in Sivasagar court later on Friday.Notably, another corporal Puwali Duarah of 29th battalion was killed in Makum at an encounter on Thursday.
Altogether nine people have been injured while a van and an Alto car had a head on collision in Chariduwar under Rangapara police station on Thursday evening. The condition of four of them is said to be critical. The injured people have been rushed to the nearest hospital immediately after the incident.
ULFA’s corporal Puali Duwarah was killed in an encounter in the wee hours on Thursday in Makum. According to information, the encounter took place at Aahatguri village under makum police station in Tinsukia district between the 2nd Bihar regiment jawans and the ULFA leader.Army jawans further recovered one .32 pistol and one magazine from the slained militant. The militant is a resident of Hatijan village of Makum Tinsukia district.Top ranked army, police and civil officials have rushed to the spot and the situation is to be normal but an eerie silence is prevailing.
The ARTFED National Handloom Expo’08 began on Wednesday at the Karmashree Hiteswar Saikia College field, Panjabari. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was present as the chief guest while State Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma graced the occasion as guest of honour. Hemoprova Saikia, president of Assam Tourism and Development Council and MLA Bhuban Pegu were also present along with special guests cine actors Rati Agnihotri and Supriya Karnik. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Gogoi said “Muga has now become as popular as Assam tea.” A cultural function was also organised with Indira P P Bora and troupe, C S Thama and troupe performed Bharatnatyam. A Kortan Nritya was...
The Kamakhya Debutter Board is organising the Kameswari music and dance festival at the portals of Sri Sri Kamakhya temple on January 14 and 15 after the success of the maiden attempt last year. Padma Vibhusan Smti Sonal Mansingh, Pandit Sugato Bhaduri and Smt Indira P P Bora, Padmashri Sobhna Narayan and Pandit(s) Rajan and Sajan Mishra have consented to render their respective recitals.Prof Atul Sarma former Vice Chancellor, University of Arunachal Pradesh and member of the Finance Commission of India and Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Assam will grace the occasion as the chief guest and the guest of honour respectively on the opening day.
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