Minoti Khaund: The evergreen violinist of 70's musical world of Assam, she is undoubtedly one of the most popular violinist today and can equally be placed among the best. With her disarming smile and charming manner, the bespectacled Minoti Khaund exudes a comfortable air: music, she says takes her closet to divinity and accords her peace and tranquility. It is an invigorating experience which exalts her spirits.
Born in a well to do Phukan paribar of Jorhat. Her father Manik Chandra Phukan and mother Nalini Debi. She was raised in a culturally rich atmosphere. Her maternal grandfather: Bisheswar Sharma, well-known Tea planter and a culturally gharana of Jorhat. Being a connoisseur of the fine arts himself encouraged Minoti and bought her a violin. So, she started to play at a tender age of 10.
Minoti had her early training in violin from Shri Indreswar Sarma of Jorhat, in the music school of late Darpanath Sarma. She performed in several concerts and festivals and the turning point in her life came when she was performing at the All Assam Music Conference in 1972 and violin maestro Pt. V.G.Jog heard her on stage and offered to impart his art to Minoti. Her husband Kabindra Ram Khaund and the daughter in law of Deputy Commissioner Rabindra Ram Khaund a traditional family of Assam supported her and started her apprenticeship under Pt .Jog. Thereafter started the traditional Gururshisya Parampara between Minoti and Padmavibhusahan Pt Jog.
The Rising Talent Conference at Kalamandir Calcutta in 1978 introduced Minoti as a talented artiste. There has been no looking back since then. The Amir Khan Music Conference at Rabindra Sadan Calcutta, Benaras, Burdwan, Cuttack, Bhubaneshwar, Tatanagar, Rabindra Natya Mandir mumbai, India International Center Delhi, Mehta Memorial Hall Allahabad, IIT Festival, Shankardev Kalakshetra Guwahati, National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai, India Habitat Centre Delhi, Women's International Forum Goa, Madhusudhan Manch Kolkatta etc were the platforms that Minoti performed in and enthralled the audience and press alike. She became the foremost violinist of Assam. She was conferred the title of Sangeet Jyoti.
Minoti started her parallel studies in the field of music and attained Sangeet Nipune from Prayag Sangeet Samitti, Allahabad, in 1986, bagging a gold medal for her Sangeet Visharad. During this period she also got associated with vocalist Pt. A.T, Kanan of the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkatta and imbibed the "gayaki ang" in her style. She also underwent music studies in the field of raga improvisations and rhythmic patterns of "tala" from sarod maestro and musicologist Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta.
Sunita Bhuyan is a violinist of the Hindustani style and has carved a niche for herself as an upcoming musician of India. Recepient of the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini award for Music. She was initiated into musicat a tender age by her mother Minoti Khaund. The mother daughter duo of Minoti and Sunita have performed duets all over the country and abroad, regaling the audience and the press alike with their "jugalbandi". What makes her great is: selection of her tune, her style of presentation and she stried to give a semi-classical touch which has a blend of folk western classical.
Sunita has attained a master's degree in Hindustani Music from Prayag Sangeet Samitte, with a distinction and has also studied advanced music under the apprenticeship of violin maestro Padmabibhushan Late Pt V.G. Jog.
Minoti Khaund, the award winning violin master whose musical career spanning 50 years. She has been awarded the prestigious Silpi Bata this year by Govt. of Assam.
A violin recital by Minoti Khaund and her daughter Sunita Bhuyan are on an exclusive UK tour at the prestigious Nehru Centre (the Cultural wing of Indian High Commission) on 26th June and other British cities: Manchester: Kalapremi mandal, Birmingham and Nottingham organized by Rini Kakati, NRI Co-ordinator for UK.
Also the Glasgow concert is organized by Mrs. Anima Sharma, an active member of Lancashire Hindu Association.
The UAE based expatriate community from Assam celebrated Rongali Bihu in Dubai on 06/04/2012. A grand and colourful function was held to mark the occasion. The Indian Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Mr. M.K Lokesh, graced the function as the chief guest and profusely admired the rich cultural heritage of Assam. He was treated to a visually delightful Husori by some talented members of the community. Earlier in the evening a souvenir titled “Probaxi Bihuwan” was released by the Ambasador.
Traditional savories and an entertaining cultural program were the highlights of the evening. Singing stars Dikshu Sharma and Priyanka Bharali flew down all the way from Assam to regale the...
The Cultural Function of the Ladies Club of North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh was organised last evening - April 20 in the Institute Auditorium. It consisted of various songs, dances, recitation and concluded with a short skit which highlighted some of the important and burning social issues. The talent of the members of NERIST ladies club (NLC) were appreciated by one and all present there.
Ms. Binni Yanga, the noted social worker of Arunachal Pradesh and Padmashree Awardee-2012 and Chairperson of Oju Welfare Association (OWA) attended the function as Chief Guest. During her speech Ms. Yanga was emotional and remembered...
The ceremonial lamp was lit by Mrs Gayatri Borthakur and Srimati Chapala Bhuyan and rich tribute was paid to late Dr Bhupen Hazarika. This was followed by a variety of cultural items which kept the audience enthralled for hours. (Chorus by the ladies of Goregaon, Children Group Bihu Dance, a Dance based on Bhupendra Sangeet performed by Puja Baruah, Group Bihu Dance by the students of IIT Mumbai, Husari performed by a team from Navi Mumbai led by Ritu Sensoa, Songs performed by Avijit Das,Nilavro Bora,Sarodi Bora,Sarmistha Chakravarty...
Come on April 17, 2013. Assam tea is all set to get status of national drink. Addressing a Platinum Jubilee celebrations of the Assam Tea Planters Association in Jorhat, Dr Ahluwaliah said that the drink would be accorded national drink status to coincide with the 212th birth anniversary of first Assamese tea planter and Sepoy Mutiny leader Maniram Dewan. He said that he would soon take up the matter with Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma. The meeting was presided by ATPA Chairman Atma Ram Kesera.
The Assam government on Friday urged the Centre to include seven districts in the Integrated Action Plan as soon as possible.
In a memorandum to prime minister on Friday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that seven districts were Maoist infested that that if these are included in the integrated action plan the Maoist menace would have hardly any chance to surface. Gogoi said that there has been a growing Maoists activities in Upper Assam only because of its strategic location.
He requested Dr Singh to send more para military forces saying that 97 companies of central paramilitary forces were inadequate for tackling the menace.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh thanked Assam for allowing peace to be restored. Addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the Assam Assembly on Friday in Dispur, Dr Singh said that only peace would ensure first track development in the state.
Dr Singh, who represents Assam in the Rajya Sabha said that the youths, of late, have realized the futility of violence and that the on going peace process with ULFA should be expedited to get the benefit at the earliest. Apart from Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, DoNER minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar, cabinet ministers and former MLAs and MPs, Assam governor JB Patnaik, his Meghalaya counter part and RS Mushahary, Bihar counterpart Devananda Konwar...
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday stressed trans border trade with Myanmar to ensure a speedy economic development in the north eastern region.
Addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the Assam Assembly on Friday in Dispur, the prime minister said that the government was looking forward to better trade relations with the neighbours such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, countries that share borders with the Northeast. He said that he would discuss with the leadership of Myanmar how the opportunities could be expansion of trade with India. According to him, Assam and other states of Northeast can and should play leading roles in looking eastwards.
During his 6 hour long visit to Guwahati on Friday, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan congratulated the Assam government for the economic growth it has achieved.
Addressing a gathering at Dispur parade ground he said in the last year of the 11th Plan, Assam was sure of a growth rate of 7.18 percent. He said that Bogibeel Bridge over the river Brahmaputra would be expedited and that the Gas cracker project would not be allowed to delayed further.
Amid simmering anti-big dam protest, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has asked the Assam government to ensure that the agitation do not turn into a law and order break problem.
Dr Singh’s suggestion came up when he convened the cabinet meeting at the Raj Bhawan on Friday evening just before leaving back to New Delhi.
The prime minister also took stock of a slew of burning issues when he met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and his cabinet colleagues where the Assam government submitted a memorandum to Dr Singh on certain issues in which it seeks the PMO to intervene directly. Dispur is understood to have requested the prime minister to solve the vexed issue of D-voters and also...
Altogether five hardcore KPLT militants were killed and two others were arrested during a fierce gunbattle in Karbi Anglong district on Friday.
The encounter took place in the wee hours at Borpung village under Chokihali police outpost in the district. A joint team police and para military forces cordoned off the area where the encounter took place. Five died on the spot while two others have been arrested. One of the slain militants was identified as the Karbi militant outfit’s general secretary Nirlip Inghy. Police have claimed it as the biggest successful operation against KPLT militants in recent past. The security forces have also recovered two AK-56 rifles, two carbines,...
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