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.
North east Congress leaders and legislators are all set to hold a meeting in Guwahati in presence of Pranab Mukherjee who will be on a two days visit to the north east on Friday. Presidential candidate Mukherjee will address the north east Congress MLAs and MPs in the meeting being organized Machkhowa ITA in the evening. According to information, like minded party leaders are also set to attend the meeting. After spending in Guwahati for the night the veteran Congressman will leave for Agartala on July 7.
Flood situation improves gradually on Thursday. But army soldiers are still engaged in relief and rescue of the marooned people in Sonitpur district. According to information, at least 85 were killed and nearly 20 lakhs people have affected by heavy monsoon rains that caused floods in the state. The water levels of the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries have receded further after breaching embankments following heavy downpours last week. The villagers are still grappling with miseries as most of their belongings was washed away. Hundreds of soldiers and rescue workers from the NDRF have been deployed for rescue and relief efforts, while military helicopters have airlifted people and...
Despite the ravaging flood waves, poachers in the Kaziranga National Park along with other sanctuaries are still striking. Most of the animals in the sanctuary have fled to higher grounds to get rid of watery grave. An adult male rhino was killed by poachers inside the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district on Wednesday night. The poachers, who are believed to have come on a boat killed the rhino and managed to flee with the horn. The carcass was spotted on Thursday. Flood water since past one week and most of the animals in the sanctuary have fled to higher grounds.
People thronged in thousands at the Navagraha cremation ground on Thursday morning to get the last glimpse of famed poet Hiren Bhatta who breathed his last on Wednesday. His body was taken away from Snehtirtha at a procession of thousands of people. As soon as the body was placed at his residence, his fans cutting barriers of caste and creeds paid their last respect to the poet. Hundreds of his fans lined up even at night to pay homage to their Hiru-da. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Nilamoni Sen Deka, Pranati Phukan, Lakshminandan Bora, Rong Bong Terang, Hare Krishna Deka, Pradip Baruah and Kanak Sen Deka, educationists Prof Anil Goswami, Udayaditya Bharali were among those who visited the...
Continuing landslide in Dhemaji heavily disrupts surface communication between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday. A vital portion of the National Highway 52 eroded rapidly in Behbeli area from Wednesday night after around 20 villages came under the surging waters. The situation took a grim turn after the surging waters of the Ziadhal, Kumotia rivers washed away a culvert in between Murkokcheleng and Rongia railway lines. Thousands of vehicles on the national highway 52 remained stranded because of this landslide.
Devastating flood waters continue to show receding trend. But the blues of the displaced birds and animals in the Kaziranga National Park and other sanctuaries are still surging.
Carcasses are spotted floating in the famed national Kazirnga National park, Manah and Pobitora sanctuaries.The carcass of a full grown female rhino was found in the Agortoli range on Wednesday. The horn was missing. But the authorities claimed it a natural death and that the horn was found under flood waters. A section of the local residents have it called it an incident of poaching. The forest guards found two more rhino carcasses from the Kohora range.
According to information, bodies of 441 animals,...
Barak valley is still burning with violent protest even a week after the mob attack on MLA Rumi Nath. There are reports of violence in Kallain town in Cachar district forcing the district administration to impose under indefinite curfew after members of two communities clashed leaving 22 persons injured on Wednesday.Policemen deployed to rein in the situation used water canons to disperse the clashing groups during a 12-hour Barak Valley bandh following which the indefinite curfew was imposed.Reports of clashes are also coming from Nilambazaar in Karimganj district leaving three persons injured.Altogether 330 persons were arrested in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts.The bandh was...
The Assam Assembly is all set to hold its five day long session from July 16. According to an official statement, July 16, 18, 19 and 20 have been kept for Government business. The voting on supplementary demands for grants for the financial year 2012-2013 will be held on July 18. On that day, the Assam Appropriation Bill 2012 would be introduced, considered and passed on that day.
Famed Assamese poet Hiren Bhatta is no more. He passed away on Wednesday at Dispur Hospital where he was admitted last month following lungs infection. The end came at 11-30 in the morning in presence of his wife and daughter. Hiru-da penned at least 11 collections of poetry. Many of these poems turned into songs by Assamese singers. His famed Sugandhi Pokhila has been translated into English. Other anthologies of poems include Roudro Kamona Tumar Bahi, Moor Dekh, Bibhinno Dinor Kobita and Hoichor Pothar Manuh, Mur priyo Barnamala, Bhalpuwar Buka, Bhalpuwar Dikchou Batere. Bhattacharyya was honoured with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 and Assam Valley Literary Award in 2000. Recipient of...
The much awaited Career Handbook of Northeast got unveiled in the city today at the Guwahati Press Club, Ambari. The first issue of this one and only Yearbook got released in the august presence of Prof.Ramananda Das, Secretary of the Assam Employment Council. The renowned Eastern Book House(EBH) are the prestigious publisher of this handbook. This publication adds yet another feather in their long lists of quality books.
In the very first year of its launch, The Northeast Career Yearbook 2012 already got nominated in the India Education Awards 2012, Delhi. Its blue print version has been widely appreciated and acknowledged at the national level by the scholars and academicians alike in...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment