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.


Add new comment

Assamese Translator

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

Random Stories

Involve locals in resource extraction

23 May 2015 - 3:48pm | AT News
Noted environmentalists and civil societies at a conference in New Delhi strongly advocated the involvement of local people in exploration of natural resources calling it a crying need of the hour in...

Violence revisits: Vehicle set on fire

16 Aug 2012 - 10:43pm | editor
There is report of fresh violence in BTAD areas. The violence broke out in Baksa district when police opened fire at the mob on Thursday morning. Police opened fire to disperse mob which had...

North Lakhimpur - Elections Development

8 Jul 2007 - 11:29am | editor
North Lakhimpur: AGP President Brinaban Goswami and Sarbananda Sonowal are in North Lakhimpur to discuss poll strategies for the coming Municipality Elections. Arun Sharma is also a part of the...

Film award: Delhi HC issues notice to Govt

19 Apr 2012 - 11:45pm | editor
The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the government and chairperson of the 59th National Film Awards on a plea seeking quashing the decision of the jury for not accepting the nomination of an...

Other Contents by Author

FASS promotes Assam Tourism at House of Lords

Lord Adam Patel of Blackburn, patron of FASS ( Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters) along with Rini Kakati. NRI Co-ordinator for UK organised "Focus on Assam" seminar at House of Lords, Palace of Westmister on 13 June, 2011. It was a month long preparation by Rajen Barua, Chairman, FASS at Houston and Ankur Bora, Fass co-ordinator from Texas. FASS newsletter MITRO and a video presentation were also made for the occasion.For the first time since independence, the House of Lords today focused on the Assam Tourism, promising all help to put this beautiful state firmly in the world tourism meet. The Lords and MPs came out out of the way to help Assam event. Shri Tarun Gogoi. Hou'rble Chief...

Assam Heritage Culture will celebrate at Nehru Centre and House of Lords, London‏

Assam is not just a part of India's enigmatic Orient, it s a microcosm of the country. Assam means unparralleled - is heavenly, Kamakhya - the mother goddess of procreation couldn't have settled for anything less. The blue hills, red river, green valleys and sparkling wet lands allure one and all, and is now poised to be India's gateway to South-East Asia. On June 11 and 13 June - The High Commission of India's cultural wing and House of Lords are planning to held an illustrated talk with a book launch "ASSAM" by Nanda Talukdar Foundation, Secretary - Mrinal Talukdar, a reputed journalist and consulting editor of the news channel DY 365. Along with the member of the“Assam...

Diwali celebrations lit up Britain's House of Commons

In Britain, Diwali, the festival of lights, the main Hindu festival and second largest religious festival in the UK was celebrated on Wednesday, October 23, 2010, in the House of Commons. Followed by traditional lamp lighting before a bronze figure of Ram standing amidst traditional rangoli patterns. Lord Ram Chandra whose home coming is celebrated as Diwali, worshipped as the perfect monarch by Hindus wordwide. This tradition is still observed by Hindus on Diwali night to mark the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. His rule odf law is still held as an example of perfect social order and well being. The festive joy of Diwali its colourful exuberance and its universal...

Debojit Saha honoured in London

Nehru Centre, London (the cultural Wing of High Commission of India) presented Debojit Saha - (Voice of India, Zee SaReGaMaPa winner 2005) with a stunning confluence of modern and golden oldies of Bollywood which mirrored the age old timeless tradition of Indian music on August 20. Today he has become a youth icon. In the music world from Assam no other star has glittered so much within a small period of time. Debojit Saha brought the highest award to the state of Assam when he won (Voice of India, Zee SaReGaMaPa Challenge 2005) Debojit which proved to be a runaway success - breaks the linguistic and cultural divides in the North-East. He was born to a well to do Bengali family in...

Basundhara premiere at the Nehru Centre in London

On August 13 at Nehru Centre, the cultural Wing of High Commission of India, London, screened Basundhara: the earth as part of event 'Celebrate Assam' for the first time with a month long programme of film and music. The place was decorated with Asomiya japi, sarai, Bhagabat-Gita, dhoop, gamoscha - a real picturesque of Assamese tradition and culture. The story of Basundhara written by director Hiren Bora himself depicts man-elephant conflict and socio-economic development issues of the present society. The theme song O' Basundhara is the stunning voice of Tarali Sharma which echoed in and out of the auditorium. In her opening speech Monika Kopil Mohta (Director and Minister for...

Vrindavani Vastra: Interactive session with Richard Blurton

Richard Blurton is the Senior Curator for South Asian section in the Department of Asia at the British Museum. He has curatorial charge of the late medieval, early modern and modern collections from both South and South East Asia. He carries research on these collections and has a special knowledge of the department’s collection history. Richard has conducted active programmes of contemporary collecting, most notably in eastern and north-eastern India. During his stay at Guwahati, an interactive session on the topic "Vrindavani Vastra" with teachers, academicians, journalists and students at Sudmersen Hall, Cotton College on Tuesday 27 October, 2009 at 3:00pm. The meeting will...

Lily Saikia passed away

With a heavy heart I share the extremely sad news that Lily Saikia (Ilu mahi) expired suddenly on Tuesday evening 9:00pm, 6 October, 2009 at her residence in Walsall, Birmingham. She was 72, and retired as a senior social worker at Birmingham County Council Social Services. She left behind her husband Bap Saikia, son - Anjan Saikia & Jane and granddaughter: Hannah. May her soul rest in peace. Our condolence to the bereaved family. Rini Kakati

Padmanav mesmerized London's stage with golden oldie

On 25 August, 2009, Nehru Centre (the cultural wing of Indian High Commission) in London presented a stunning confluence of modern and classical music which mirrored the age-old timeless tradition of Indian music with Padmanav Bordoloi the top 12 contestant of Indian Idol 2007 who also took part in Real TV: Sitaron Ko Choona Hai 2009. He was invited by Mr. Syed Asif Ibrahim, Minister Culture to perform in the International Hindi conference at the Indian High Commission on 31 August, 2009. Radio 92FM invited him to perform on 7 September, 2009. SunRise Radio...

Padmanav Bordoloi concert in UK

An exclusive musical evening with Padmanav Bordoloi: Indian Idol & Icon of Assam 2007 will be held at the prestigious Nehru Centre (the Cultural wing of Indian High Commission) on Tuesday, 25 August, 2009 and various places in London. Organised by Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK. Padmanav Bordoloi is a student of civil engineer (Dwarka Das J Sanghvi college, Mumbai). Born in a culturally rich family in Guwahati. His father is Bipul Sharma Bordoloi and his mother Pranita Sharma Bordoloi. Padmanav learned classical music during his school days from ‘Guru’ Jiten Basumatary. First Assamese boy to represent India’s biggest musical reality show “ Indian Idol 3...

Cotton College: Our hopes and aspiration

During my visit to Guwahati each time I take a walk from my family home (Barpetia para) passing Harisava, Gauhati Dairy, Mahamaya to N3 Cotton College administrative building – to revive my cherished old memories. I remember the entire route to my college had a kind of spirit at 8:30am morning class marked by the eager faces of school and college going students and gentle yet brisk rhythm of the movement of some office goers. The noise and bustle of an unorganized shopping area has by now overwhelmed the elegance of the toad to my favourite almamater. Still then this is my favourite route which gives me a memory of my teenage days. As an Ex-Cottonian, still cherish with profound...