My mind towards Assamese Literature was literally like an Axanto Electron. (The electron is a subatomic particle carrying a negative electric charge. It has no known components or substructure. Therefore, the electron is generally thought to be an elementary particle.) Coming from an English medium school I hadn’t read anything Assamese apart from my course work all my life. SKC is responsible for turning it around. Quite late in life, I asked my friend Aporaj to suggest me an Assamese book to read. Prompt came the answer. Suran Medhi’s work. I was like... Who? And why would you suggest reading his books.
Now Aporaj being a calm and composed poet friend as well as an avid reader not to mention, a huge fan of SKC gave me a “prolonged summary” of his work and narrated some of SKC’s book scenes to me. I decided to give it a go. The first story I read was Gulam. My mum, my biggest critique and rock in life after Deuta, saw me reading SKC’s book. A sarcastic smile followed by her saying... Make sure you finish the book. Reading a signboard and completing a book are two different things. Yes it was hard in the beginning and it took me twice the time to read a page in Assamese but then... language is practice. The more you speak and read, the easier it becomes. Maa is also an avid reader of Assamese Literature and I often felt left out when she discussed about her books with her friends. I am still learning and enjoying the richness Assamese Literature has to offer.
I was hooked on SKC. I smuggled Aporaj to Panbazar and instructed him to get me the best SKC’s books and I dutifully carried them back home to London. Manoj Goswami once told me that he requested SKC to write a New Year peice for his then Axomia newspaper. SKC was reluctant and later Eta Bhaal Khobor was on the papers on one new year’s day. Altaf Da made a short film out of it , When I watched it, I was gobsmacked to see the impact, the subtleness and the beauty of narrating a story. A very well made film . I liked the angel Altafda chose for the film. I also liked the fact that SKC was subtle and was thrilled that he used a pseudo name. I write my blogs as Rukmini Boigari. Why? Well why not? It isn’t necessary for people to know you as long as they read what you wrote. A journalist once asked my=e why I chose the name. Rukmini gave from North East and I came from the same part of the world and Boiragi is a surname is secretly loved to have. It sounds like a song. Beautiful. In real life I cannot us it for that became my pseudo name. The fact that SKC writes under different name gave me a kick. Not that I am comparing him with me for that will be preposterous.
Every Time I visit Guwhaati, I am tempted to ask Altaf Da to introduce me to SKC but I shy off the idea and tell myself- Bublee Toi Jugyo Nohoi. You are not worth enough to meet such a persona. But deep in my mind I connected with him and had immense respect for his work. His passing away news came hit me like a bolt out of the blue through his Facebook SKC Fan Group. I was not prepared as I was not aware that he was ailing.
25th June is a very special and private day for me for its that day when my idol and The biggest inspiration in my life, Deuta passed away... four years ago. It is spooky that SKC passed away on the very day day. I felt as though somewhere in ether he connected with me and gave me his blessings which I couldn’t get in flesh and blood. People like him should not be mourned for he will live forever. Eti Londonor Duporiyat,bagisat rod loi moi Apunak shrodhanjali jonalu. Ehaat dobar khelor dore, hothaht apunar dehatu hera kintu apuniye hol Asomor Baputi Sahun.
At least 30 passengers had a narrow escape when in a country-made boat carrying them capsized in Aie river of Chirang district on Friday. The incident took place at around 2.30 in the afternoon at Ranisundari ghat when the boat was on its way from the west to the eastern bank of the river, which is a major tributary of the Manas river. According to police, all the passengers swam safely to the shore.
The Gauhati High Court on Thursday rejected journalist Gauravjyoti Neog’s plea he moved to procure anticipatory bail in connection with the molestation case in the city. A division bench of the court of rejected the petition but directed the police to file the case diary by the next week. Neog, a reporter with Newslive is allegedly involved in the entire incident and Bhangagarh police grilled him for five hours on Sunday to extract the truth.
Properties worth one crore have been reduced to ashes when a market caught fire in Moran on Thursday. The incident took place in the wee hours when the fire broke out at a shop because of electric short circuit. Immediately, the fire was spreading to the nearby shops. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot but by then the fire engulfed the entire daily market. Local residents blamed delay in the arrival of the fire tenders which was why, the fire spanned out of control.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Thursday claimed victory for Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential polls. Talking to reporters after casting his vote at the Central Hall of the Assam Assembly in the morning, Gogoi said that the Mukherjee, a veteran political leader deserves the coveted post. Gogoi said that Mukherjee is expected to get the support of more than 111 legislators in the state. He hoped that other opposition parties would also vote for the former finance minister.
Ananda Prakash Tiwary took over as senior superintendent of police replacing Apurba Jiban Baruah who was shunted following the police failure in the recent molestation case.The new senior police superintendent is understood to have taken stock of the law and order situation in the city rocked by a string of uneasy incidents of killings, kidnapping and the molestation incident.
Presidential poll begins in Assam with Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi casting his vote on Thursday. Gogoi, is among the 126 members of the legislative assembly along with member of parliament Bhubneswar Kalita who are expected to cast the vote at the Central Hall of the Assam Assembly.
As soon as the question hour ended at 10 in the morning, the legislators are lined up to cast their votes. Pranab Mukherjee is expected to get support from 112 legislators. Altogether 15 legislators are expected to go with PA Sangma. Parliamentary affairs minister Nilomoni Sendeka represents Pranab Mukherjee while PA Sangma is represented by AGP MLA Bhupen Ray. The ballot boxes are scheduled to be sealed...
General Officer Commanding-in- Chief of Eastern Command, Lieutenant General Dalbir Singh called on Assam Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik on Wednesday and apprised him of the flood relief and rescue operation in the state. Accompanied by Lieutenant General Shakti Gurung, General Officer Commanding, Gajraj Corps, he interacted with the troops and reviewed the progress of ongoing projects and the current internal security situation in Assam as well as on the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.
The chairperson of the National Commission for Women Mamata Sharma on Wednesday suggested a slew of measures to ensure safety and security of women in the state. During his hurricane visit to Guwahati on Wednesday, Sarma asked Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to provide government job for the molestation victim apart from proper counseling and rehabilitation.
Talking to reporters, she said that the Commission asked for better police surveillance with presence of women personnel in the entire state. She said that the Chief Minister has accepted her recommendation. She criticized the role of police in the entire incident saying that police needed 45 minutes to arrived in the spot.The NCW has...
Four persons were killed an ugly string of group clash in Barak Valley on Wednesday. Twenty others have been 20 injured in the clash. According to police, the clash took place over a five year long land dispute. The two groups used sharp weapons during the clash at Matijuri area of Hailakandi district. The deceased were identified as Mizanur Rahman Chaudhary, Nazimuddin Chaudhary, Nazrul Haq Barbhuiyan and Aziruddin Barbhuiyan.
Normal life in Sivasagar district remained paralyzed during the 12-hour bandh called on Wednesday demanding stern action against Army personnel involved in the molestation case in Demow. The bandh was total. Shops and business establishments remained closed in the entire district. Vehicular traffic off from the roads. No untoward incident was reported from anywhere in the district. The bandh was called jointly by Mising Students' Union, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, All Tai Ahom Students' Union and some other outfits demanding immediate action against Army personnel responsible for the alleged molestation of a girl at Demow in Sibsagar district on July 13.
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