“My father Sir Keith Cantlie served in the Indian Civil Service from 1910 till his retirement in 1947. So, in a way I consider myself daughter of Assam, a land of outstanding natural beauty with distant views of the snow and Himalayas”
With her disarming smile simple down to earth and smiling manner the bespectacled Dr. Audrey Cantlie welcomes you with a big smile at her door at Oxford street as if somebody of her own. She has an emotional bond for Assam and the Assamese people.
I still remember the day I met her sometime in September, 1998 at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, London) I introduce myself as an Assamese I could see the sparkle in her eyes: said to me "How many Assamese people are in London? I love to meet them". Dr. Audrey Cantlie was born in Shillong in 1923. She spent her six years in Jorhat where her father was Deputy Commissioner. So, in some ways she consider herself a daughter of Assam.
After taking a degree in Sociology at the London School of Economics, she returned to Assam for fieldwork and carried out a study of a village near Jorhat, which was later published under the title of ‘The Assamese’. It is perhaps the only intensive work done in the plains of Assam and I like to think of it as a small contribution to understanding a unique way of life and, more particularly, the religion founded by Sankardeva.
After working on the staff at the London School of Economics. She moved to the School of Oriental and African Studies where I still teach part-time to the present day.
Few weeks after we have organized the 550th Sankar Jayanti at Wembley when we invited her as our chief guest. The speech she delivered about Sankardev was so informative. Since then Dr. Cantlie always shares every Assamese Community function in London. Her guidance and support is very valuable to me at my work in a women oriented matter.
From studying, Sociology at the London School of Economics and to teach at (School of Oriental and African Studies. Her beautiful past as an Assamese is still in her mind. She wrote “The Assamese” dedicated to the memory of her father Sir Keith Cantlie who served 40 years in the state of Assam. How beautifully she expressed the qualities of Assamese people in this book.
Call her a professor, teacher, academician for rest of our Assamese society in London she is just our “Cantlie baidew”
During her stay at Guwahati, we have organised an interactive session with teachers, academicians, journalists and students at Sudmersen Hall, Cotton College on Wednesday 13 February, 2008 at 4:00pm.
PermalinkSubmitted by Utpal Hazarika on Sun, 16/11/2008 - 01:32
I am from BANI MANDIR, a publication house from Assam since 1949. Many people want to buy this book, but due to the price 99% people cannot effort. If I get the publication right I can reprint the in Indian cheaper price and most of the people can buy and can preserve the book. I tried with the author but could not contact. Can anybody passon this message to the author of the this book.Thanks.
Utpal Hazarika
banimandir@gmail.com
14 Sep 2011 - 3:21am | DigantaTalukdar
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Assam defeated Tripura by 10 wickets in their opening group league match in Ronji trophy at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Monday.
The victory gave the host team a bonus point as they got seven points from the encounter. Ratra from Tripura gleaned 124 run before he was adjudged leg before wicket off pacer Arup Das and any hopes of saving the match was gone for Tripura. Ratra hit 18 boundaries during his 255-ball stay at the crease. He added 77 runs to his overnight score before becoming the ninth wicket to fall.
Encouraging news. A huge fund is in the pipeline to uplift the state’s roads and bridges. Courtesy World Bank. The Centre has signed the Loan and Project Agreements in New Delhi on Monday. The agreement was signed Prabodh Saxena, Joint Secretary with economic affairs department and Onno Ruhl, Country Director of World Bank. The Project Agreement was signed by Mohan Chandra Boro, Commissioner & Special Secretary, Public Works Road Department on behalf of the Government of Assam.
The objective of the project is to enhance the road connectivity in Assam by assisting the Public Works Road Department to improve and effectively manage its road network.
Bhupen Hazarika's song is out in English and Bengali translation. This was what the maestro’s younger brother Bolen Hazarika in Shillong on Monday.
Hazarika said that the last song of his life had been translated into English by his UK-based brother Probin Hazarika. The song is yet to be out in the market.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday said that Bhupen Hazarika's music will keep living as long as the mighty Brahmaputra flows. In a brief address at a function in Latasheel playground organize to remember the cultural doyen, Gogoi said that his works would inspire the youths to come through his rich legacy. Dr Amarjyoti Chaudhury recited a poem in presence of Dr Hazarika’s estrange wife Priyam and his son Tez.
Dr Bhupen Hazarika is still living in the hearts of millions of people across the north east if the rich tributes paid to the maestro on Monday is any indication.
The Asom Ratna was remembered in the state on his first death anniversary with all-religion prayers, cultural shows and processions.
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Dr Bhupen Hazarika Cultural and Literary Forum is organizing a human chain and pledge t mark the first death anniversary of the music maestro in presence of Tez Hazarika. Tez will lead the human chain with members of the forum and people on November 5. The mother will also accompany him. The event will be led by Amarjyoti Choudhury, who is the president of the forum. The human chain will commence at Latasil.
In a major relief for the tourists, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary opened on Friday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain flagged off the first batch of more than 100 tourists, including nine foreigners for the jeep and elephant safari.
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