Skip to content Skip to navigation

Celebrating Assam at Nehru Centre

By Rini Kakati |

As a part of "Celebrating Assam" in collaboration with Assamese community, Rini NRI Co-ordinator for UK, the Nehru Centre (the cultural wing of Indian High Commission) on June 11 invited Lord Dholakia & Lady Ann, Dr. Christopher Young, Head of World Heritage and International Policy, Elizabeth Darcy. Britain's Tea Poet, Jitendra Kumar, First Secretary (Consular & Community Affairs) Indian High Commission , Amit Roy, well-known journalist, The Daily Telegrah & Eastern Eye, Ravi Sharma Executive director of Sunrise radio and television - (the biggest Asian Radio station in the world) Jasminder Kasturia. (Counsellor & Political) Indian High Commission, Mrinal Talukdar, Foundation secretary to kaunch his coffee table book Assam along with Ranjit Gogoi's Bihu troupe.


Jasminder Kasturia and Rini Kakati welcomed the audience. The meeting started with lighting of the lamp by Dr. Christopher Young, Mrinal Talukdar, Lord Dholakia, Amit Roy, Ravi Sharma and Bhuban Baruah.



The seminar was chaired by well-known journalist, Amit Roy, The Daily Telegrah shared the illustrated talk on Assam. The coffee table book was launched by Dr. Christopher Young. Amit Roy invited the speakers to the floor starting with Lord Dholakia who spoke highly about his trip to Assam in 2005. Shri Tarun Gogoi. Hou'rble Chief Minister of Assam send a good will message both to House of Lords and Nehru Centre.


Dr. Christopher Young praised Assam and his experience by looking at the book. Although he has not been to Assam like Lord Dholakia. Now he is prepared to visit Majuli to finish his project.


Jitendra Kumar, First Secretary (Consular & Community Affairs) Indian High Commission, who spend his time in Assam as a 9 year old mention how beautiful Kaziranga and Assam. And promised to bring Assam Tourism to the world stage.


Amit Roy took the panel by discussing present situation in Assam. The seminar discussed how Assam can be promoted in the west. Exchange of questions were put to the panel by Bhuban Baruah, Dr. Nilomoni Sikdar and Premjit Marwah. As Mr. Amit Roy and Mr. Mrinal Talukdar tried to ally the apprehension and misconception about Assam in the western world.


The highlight of the evening was Bihu dance by Ranjit Gogoi, Seetarani Hazarika, Jahnabi Goswami and Bonnya Duarah enthall the audience as a grand finale.


Author info

Rini Kakati's picture

London, UK

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Policemen foundation day

23 Sep 2015 - 5:47pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The All Assam Police Department Ministerial Officers Association observed it's 16th foundation day with a daylong programme at Bodoland Guest House in Kokrajhar on Wednesday. Association president...

Terror shadow falls in Arunachal

7 Jun 2015 - 2:08pm | AT News
Terror tentacle spreading in the north eastern region when suspected NSCN(K) backed by other insurgent outfits of the region unleashed a reign of terror by tagetting security forces in Arunachal...

AJYCP burns Pema Khandu's effigy

29 Mar 2022 - 6:22pm | Mithun Baruah
Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) Tinsukia district committee on Tuesday burnt the effigy of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu near AJYCP Tinsukia district committee office in...

A Nation Betrays!

27 Aug 2008 - 4:11pm | alankar
“To understand nationalism as an historical reality it its essential to step outside the history that nationalism gives to itself. Undoubtedly, this historical description is not entirely...

Other Contents by Author

Indian High Commission pays tribute to Dr Bhupen Hazarika on his 7th death anniversary at London

The Indian High Commission in collaboration with Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) paid tribute to Bhupen Hazarika, Shrandhanjali event at Gandhi Hall, India House on  November 16, 2018. Syed Iftikar Ahmed, medical specialist, actor and a singer was invited from Assam to deliver a power-point presentation on Dr. Bhupen Hazarika - his life, works and achievements. Among the dignitaries present were Lord Dholakia, Navin Shah, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, Mr. A.S. Rajan Minister Co-ordination, High Commission of India , Richard Blurton, curator of British Museum, Lalit Mohan Joshi, Editor / Director, South Asian Cinema Foundation,  Kailash Budhwar, Former...

Saeed Jaffrey: Actor who straddled disparate worlds

Saeed Jaffrey, was an Indian-born British actor whose versatility and fluency in multiple languages allowed him to straddle radio, stage, television and film in a career that spanned over six decades and more than a hundred and fifty British, American and Indian movies. He is one of the few actors who found fame and success in both India and the West. Saeed Jaffrey - who has died at the age of 86 - was a versatile, charismatic and hugely popular star. The pleasure of knowing Saeed Jaffrey was that he was at least as great an entertainer in real life as he was on radio, television, stage and film.  I remember meeting Saeed for the first time few years back in London. When my mother...

Marshall Plan model suggested for NE

A master-plan to boost trade and improve highway and rail access to seaports is vital to bring new hope to the impoverished and strife-torn north-eastern region of India, a meeting in London has been told.The call came during an impassioned panel and audience discussion at the Nehru Centre in London, on the problems of Assam, the largest of the northeast states, which have a total population of 40m. Assam is a microcosm of multi-ethnic India and is the country’s main tribal area. There are 220 ethnic groups living in the northeast, which is narrowly connected to the rest of India by the narrow Siliguri Corridor between Bhutan and Bangladesh. Famed for its extensive cultivation of...

Anwesa Mahanta to perform at Nehru Center, London on Aug 14

You are cordially invited to an evening of Sattriya dance performance by Anwesa Mahanta - “Dancing the Divinity” from Assam. On Wednesday 14, August 2013 at 6:30pm - 8:30pm at The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF (Nearest Tube Station: Green Park)A dedicated and promising young exponent of Sattriya Dance, Anwesa Mahanta has received accolades from the art connoisseurs and scholars for the grace and liveliness of her dance and the expressiveness of her abhinaya. Belonging to the Vaisnava monastery of Assam, Sattra, Anwesa started her formal lessons in Sattriya from her early childhood under the guidance of the eminent maestro and a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee...

Journalist meet to 'Focus on Assam' on June 14 at London

The High Commission of India partnering Tea Board of India is organising a flagship event on Assam  -  "The Gateway of India's North - East" on June 14 at Mayfair, London. The summit will address key issues related to the overall socio-economic development of the North East.The topic for the panel discussion is "The role of India's North - East in Global development" - will witness the coming together of a number of top UK & India journalists. The highlights of this panel discussion featuring diverse themes with eminent speakers, emphasising infrastructure, investment, economy and ethnicity connected with the state which would open up international connectivity leading to an...

Laaj premier at the London Film Festival

London Film Festival in March 2013 has selected award winning Assamese film - Laaj (Shame) directed by Manju Borah. Manju Borah is also been invited to attend this event. This initiative has been taken by Rini Kakati. Rini Kakati is very excited that an Assamese film will be shown at this prestigious event.There are a number of great films lined up and some talent from Bollywood and beyond will be attending, including the reknowned actress and woman activist Shabana Azmi and historian Bhawana Somaya amongst others. Including the award winning documentary Saving Face followed by a panel discussion with the amazing Dr Mohammad Jawad and other Pakistani talents.This year LFF will continue...

Comparative Vocabularies: 200-yr-old linguistic treasure at British Library

Dr. Raktim Ranjan Saikia - is a convener of proposed "Asamiya Jatiya Itihas". This is to compile a compete chronicle of Assam from Ancient to modern times using all possible scientific means and ways. He has done his M.Sc and Ph.D from Gauhati University and have published several research paper in different international science journals. He has started his professional career as an Engineering Geologist, joined in petroleum sector for different oil companies. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Department Geology of JB College, Jorhat.  Asomiya Jatiya Prakash, the publishers of the encyclopedic dictionary, Asomiya Jatiya Abhidhan (Assamese National Dictionary)  - he is an...

Sharodi Saikia draw accolades in London

Nehru Centre at Mayfair London presented a stunning confluence of Sattriya performance by Sharodi Saikia - as a leading exponent of Sattriya tradition on Monday, October 1. Sharodi Saikia has a rare combination of dancer, choreographer, teacher and music composer, has been pursuing this dance form for more than three decades with untiring devotion and exemplary zeal. It was her Guru, the legendary Rokhkeswar Saikia Borbayan of Kamalabari Sattra, who was the moving spirit and main protagonist instrumental in transplanting this rich cultural treasure trove from the religious-ritualistic moorings of the Sattras to the secular stage enabling the common people to enjoy it as a cultural...

An illustrated talk and seminar on Srimanta Sankaradeva at London‏

Sankaradeva inspired an artistic and cultural Renaissance in the state of Assam. As a religious leader and social reformer Sankaradeva deserve to be mentioned with Sankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, Guru Nanak and Tulsi Das.Assam is a part of India which in somewhere is little know even in India itself because of its remote location. More importantly the relative neglect absence of Sankaradeva in the history of the Neo-Vaishnavite movement in India, has long been a gap in knowledge waiting recognition.It is highly imperative that this great saint receives world attention. And also imperative that the life and philosophy and artistic creations of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva and the exposure...

Dr. Bhupen Hazarika portrait placed at Nehru Centre, London

Assam has been fortunate in giving birth to a great musical genius in Bhupen Hazarika. "He was an ardent supporter of Assamese nationalism and wrote many stirring compositions about the cultural heritage of his native State, but his work transcended regional boundaries and the values he espoused were universal. Now that mighty voice has fallen silent. Assam is poorer for it. The world is poorer for it". It is a significant step towards our endeavour to take Dr. Bhupen Hazarika to the international platform.His artistic excellence and qualities of head and heart set the perfect example of an artist in the truest sense of the term. 5 crowded years of meaningful existence having added...