My contact with Rajib Bora is one and half decades long. He organised Majuli Utsav in Majuli around ’97 and subsequently, we did a Majuli Festival in Dilli Haat in 2004. I was that time the General Secretary of Assam Association, Delhi. We introduced apong (rice beer of the Mising community) to Delhi people. Needless to say, there was a serpentine queue to have a cup of the brew.
Rajib Bora
Over time our relations grew. Rajib tried his hands in many things. A dreamer and creative guy; I could sense the restlessness in his mind. I used to tell him that his millions lie in food.
Last year around this time Suresh (Suresh Ranjan Goduka) of Jeevan Initiative, of which I happen to be the National Coordinator; took me to taste ethnic Assamese food. It was a restaurant at a basement floor. The food was fantastic and very very reasonable. I went to thank the proprietor cum Manager. It was a pleasant surprise to find Rajib in this new avatar. I suggested him to try to shift to a bigger place and if necessary take financial assistance from my corporation (NEDFi).
He promptly went ahead and applied for a loan from NEDFi. A month back he called up to say that the restaurant will be ready in mid-Feb and whenever I ‘m in Guwahati must drop by. Last week, I was in Guwahati to attend ‘Setubandha 2012’ and visited his joint ‘Majulir Asanj’ alongwith my friend Abhijit Bezbaruah and Suresh. It’s located near the Zoo main gate, opposite Spanish Garden Apartments. Entry to the place is a little adventurous, as one needs to climb stairs up to 2nd floor. I suggested naming the stairs ‘appetizer’.
We had a great time trying out various Assamese cuisines. Suresh told me that it’s the best place for traditional cuisine in Guwahati. Rajib also keeps oil paintings for sale which could cost as low as Rs. 5000/-. I took photographs of few customers, which are shown alongside. Sworgodeu Thali is the most popular assortment.
Best wishes to ‘Majulir Asanj’ and Rajib.
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