Jumbo film to be screened on Aug 24
It was a national news when 7 elephants were mowed down by a high speed goods train on the 23rd of September 2010 in the 'Elephant Corridors' of North Bengal. Three female, three calves and one tusker was killed. A lactating mother was dragged on the tracks for more than three hundred meters before the train finally came to a halt !! This was the foundation of a voice which was determined to shout back at the system to stop and listen. But this was easier said than done. Film making is an expensive art form and finding funds was a huge task specially for an untrained film maker like me. Hence, no funds. I pestered my dad to get me a camera. I'm thankful to him that he trusted my abilities and got me one. Armed with the device I began shaping up the voice of 'God On The Edge'. The pre-production work had to be very strong as we had limited resources for permissions to shoot in Wildlife Sanctuaries. It was a short two schedule shoot with lot of challenges thrown in. But it provided a huge learning experience for a first time film maker like me. Today the film having won an award, 'Best Film On Environment' at the 10th IDPA Excellence Award, Mumbai; and officially being selected in Wildlife Conservation Film Festival, New York, it seems the effort was worthwhile. The response the film has got from various Nature & Environment Organizations is really very encouraging. Hope the voice reaches to as many elephant lovers as possible. GOD ON THE EDGE - DIRECTOR'S PROFILE Born in 1978 Ashok Patel was brought up in the proximity of nature by his forester father and housewife mother. He did his schooling from St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, The Queen of hill stations. He had to move to Bangalore for his college, but nature always stayed with him. Given a chance I would set off on wild trek and travel choosing over pubs and parties. Moving to Mumbai was a tough decision his family had to deal with. They wanted the safety net of a regular job while he wanted to explore the world, dream for a living and tell stories through his camera lens. Eventually he won and moved to Mumbai only to be hugely disillusioned. It wasn't easy there. With a lot of odd jobs and acting in theaters he finally ended up as an associate Film Editor with Mr. Mahesh Bhatt's production house, Vishesh Films. Things looked brighter from there. But it was short lived as his editor boss had to leave Mumbai to be with his family to attend some important matters. He was unemployed again. This was the time when this accident took place in 2010 where 7 wild elephants were mowed down by a goods train. His love for nature and adventure inspired him to go ahead and make this film even with practically zero experience in film making. Working on 'God On The Edge' has been a tough but learning and satisfying journey so far for him. Guwahati Cine Club has arranged special screening of the film on August 24 in Guwahati where Ashok Patel will be present.
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Puneet Agarwal, Election Observer (Expenditure) appointed by Election Commission of India (ECI) met top poll officials of Udalguri district on March 14. The Observer had a discussion with the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) and Media Cell of the district at 11 am at Udalguri Circuit House. On the occasion he stressed the need for holding free and fair Assembly Poll in the district so that citizens could exercise their constitutional right without the influence of money or false promises. He also directed Media Cell and MCMC officials to take tough actions against news or advertizement if not approved in advance. He specially asked the MCMC to monitor paid news. The...
Freedom Fighter Pani Ram Das memorial limited over cricket tournament concluded at Kalaigaon on March 9.The tournament was organized at Freedom Fighter Pani Ram Das play ground, Kalaigaon by Lucky Eleven Cricket Club. Kamal Prasad Sarma,Mouzadar,Kalaigaon inaugurated the final match at 4.30 pm in presence of hundreds of people including woman.Lucky Eleven Cricket Club,Kalaigaon won the trophy and an amount of rupees twenty thousand in the final.Social worker Bijuli Deka Das gave away the champions trophy to the winning team. Several distinguished people attended the final match namely- Bakul Sarkar,Hanif Ali,Thaneswar Boro etc.
International Women's Day was celebrated at several place in and around Kalaigaon town with gaiety.Kalaigaon Lekhika Samiti centrally organized the IWD ceremony at Lokapriya Bordoloi Public School Hall at 3 pm which was presided over by social worker Bijuli Deka Das.Veteran lady of Kalaigaon Rupali Deka attended and addressed it.Other ladies including Khira Deka,Mili Barua spoke on the role of present day woman and girls for better future of our society keeping view of the UNO theme of the year 2016 “Planet 50-50 by 2030: step it up for Gender Equality”.Binu Deka Saikia,Headmistress of Kalaigaon Girls HS recited a commentary on evolution of women's liberation movement in the...
With the announcement of Assembly Poll dates in Assam by Election Commission,Udalguri district administration has been gearing up for smooth conduct of Assembly polls on April 4. As per EC announcement Assembly poll will be held in all three LACs namely-64 Paneri,69 Udalguri (ST) and 70 Mazbat on April 4.A high level election meeting was held at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner,Udalguri on March 5 at 12 noon which was attended by all top civil and police officials,political leaders and media personnel. Mrs.Sadhana Hojai, DC, Udalguri presided over the meeting.On the occasion the DC explained about schedule of Election 2016 in the district,Model Code of Conduct instructions,...
Non payment of ex-gratia to 42 families whose relatives had been killed by wild elephants during last three years ie 2013,2014 and 2015 has posed serious setback to conservation activities of forest department in Udalguri district.It needs mention that man-elephant conflict in remote villages of Udalguri district bordering Bhutan-Arunachal has already been recognized as the highest man-elephant conflict zone in India by international conservation organizations like USFWS,Asian Elephant Support etc.Man-elephant conflict casualities in Udalguri district have been 13 man and 8 wild elephants in 2012,19 man and 10 wild elephants in 2013,24 man and 7 wild elephants in 2014,21 man and 6 wild...
The new school premise building of Arunodoi Academy, one of the leading private sector school of Udalguri district was formally inaugurated at Tangla town on March 2 .Jagadish Sarkar, EM,BTC formally inaugurated the new school complex building at 11 am in presence of more than a thousand students,teachers and guardians.On the occasion BTC EM Sarkar thanked students of Arunodoi Academy and Arunodoi Junior College for showing hundred percent pass results in both HSLC and HSSLC examinations for last couple of years. He also thanked teachers and students of both the schools for taking keen interest in promoting science and technological activities in the district for last decade. He also...
“Parents must stop pressurizing children in choosing their favourite subject. They must not be encouraged for shared memorizing for good marks”. So said Dimple Baruah, Asstt. Commissioner, Udalguri at Kalaigaon on February 20. She was addressing parents, teachers and students on the occasion of Parents Day and completion of 15 years of Lokapriya Bordoloi Public School, Kalaigaon, as the chief guest. On the occasion she remarked that present day parents are concerned more of children getting good marks rather than understanding basic concepts of any subjects. Parents must try to understand inner talents of children so as to support them in choosing their subject of interest. Earlier,...
Five meritorious students were awarded with felicitation at Tangla recently on January 30 at a function organized by Arunodoi Academy school and Arunodoi Junior Scxience College,Tangla.The programme was held at Arunodoi Academy School premises on the occasion of farewell ceremony given to 51 outgoing students of class ten. Himanta Biswa Deka and Subham Patar were awarded with Late Sadananda Hazarika Memorial Award for overall excellence and good performance in school.The award was sponsored by Anjali Debi Hazarika in memory of her father-in-law Late Sadananda Hazarika of Guwahati.On the otherhand Sansri Narzary,Peeyus K Madhanan and Driti Devi were felicitated and awarded with Late Daya Ram...
The 47th Akhonda Nam Yagna and district level Dihanam competition concludes at Kalaigaon on January 26. The event was organized by Sankari Kolakristi Bikash Kendra,Kalaigaon at Sri Sri Bhagawat Mandir premises during January 23 to 26. The programme had started on January 23 with the wecome ceremony of the Baishnabs of Udalguri and Darrang districts at 5 pm followed by a huge Bhagawat cultural rally on January 24 which was inaugurated by DN Hazarika,SDO(S),Udalguri.District level Dihanam competition was organized on January 25 from 9 am.All together 21 groups from Udalguri and Darrang participated in the competition. On the concluding day on January 26, quiz and extempore speech competition...
The new building of Bright Star School,situated in remote Hatigarh in Udalguri district was inaugurated recently on January 25 with day long programme.It needs mention that Hatigarh has been famous for tea garden and “Human-elephant conflict” for long years. The new building and school premise was formally inaugurated by J.K.Das,president,Udalguri District Journalists' Union at 11-30 am in presence of hundreds of students,teachers,guardians and distinguished people. Ranjit Tanti,Principal of the school ( who had been working as the president of ATTSA,Udalguri) introduced and welcomed distinguished people with gamochas.On the occasion, principal Ranjit Tanti spoke on the activities of the...
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