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.
NDFB(P) on Saturday alleged that arms are flooding BTAD areas which is why, trouble refuses to die down. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, NDFB(P) leader Govinda Basumatary held AIUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal for the entire string of group clash in the BTAD areas.
Education minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma’s resignation still mires in utter confusion. Dr Sarma, who has already put in his papers from the cabinet has not yet formally made any announcement. He further has sent resignation letter to Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Gogoi to quit as MLA. But Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has not so far confirmed the receipt of the resignation. When asked, Gogoi on Saturday refused to divulge anything.
Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar claimed on Saturday that normalcy is back to Bangalore. He expressed confidence that the north east people would soon be back in the city. He said that some rumours have forced the north east people to leave Banglore and that not one untoward incident has taken place in Bangalore. But five persons have been arrested by the police. The Karanataka chief minister also said ministers from northeastern states had inspected the steps taken by his government and had expressed satisfaction.
Unidentified swindler duped a 67-year-old woman drawing a huge amount of money through ATM in Jorhat on Satrday. According to police, Baharti Kalita asked a stranger at the counter on Friday night when the ATM near her failed to respond properly. After he came to know the secret code, the stranger handed her a fake ATM card and vanished from the ATM counter. Rs 1.54 lakh was missing from her account when the woman came draw the money with the fake card. An FIR was filed by her in the Jorhat police station against the stranger.
Fresh violence is reported from Kokrajkhar where one more person was killed on Friday. According to report, unidentified miscreants shot dead a person at Kokrajhar. The shoot out took place at around 7.30 in the evening where three assailants came on motorbikes.
Police in Bangaluru on Friday have arrested five persons charging them with spreading rumours of impending attack by miscreants. Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar intensified measures to instill confidence among the northeastern community that has been leaving the state following ethnic violence against them. The state government has also asked all agencies to scan all social media platforms to check for inflammatory and offensive content. Cellphone operators have been told to block all bulk SMS-es and videos.
Yet another cabinet team has reached Hyderabad on Friday in a bid to stop the exodus of the north east people from Andhara Pradesh. Ministers Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, and MLA Bikshapathi Yadav reviewed the situation in Anajaiahnagar and Siddiquenagar where a large number of Assamese people are fleeing to their home state fearing attack.
The Assam government on Friday rushed to cabinet teams to Bangalore and Hyderabad to help the states stop massive exodus of the north east people. Assam Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka and Transport Minister Chandan Brahma arrived at Bangalore Railway station. They would meet the state government in Karnataka to review the situation. Brahma met the students and other members of the Assamese community living in Karnataka. He said that he would remain in Bangalore for the next two days. Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar along with Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes, G Parameshwar and Dinesh Gundu Rao were also present on the...
The aftermath of BTAD violence has resulted in a string of violence in Lucknow in the form of arson under the garb of agitation to protest violence against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. Around 50 people created ruckus in the crowded Hazratganj area violence soon after Friday prayer. Soon after the namaz, a mob which reportedly came out of from a mosque in Wazirganj area marched in the form of procession till Buddha park before turning violent. The miscreants broke window panes of several vehicles and tried to set afire a few.
ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua on Friday said the internal conflict between a senior minister and the Chief Minister has resulted in the BTAD clash. In a statement, ULFA urged the people of Assam to support the ‘call of sovereignty’, failing which the cycle of violence in the region would continue.
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