“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
The main Opposition Asom Gana Parishad on Tuesday staged walk out while the Speaker turned down the adjournment motion the party moved in the House alleging government’s all round failure. The motion was brought by Opposition leader Chandra Mohan Patoway and the ruling party members also were caught in a controversy. After hearing the arguments, Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai refused to entertainment the motion. The unhappy AGP members walked out of the House.
The Archeological Survey of India is all set to take Oil and Natural Gas Corporation to the court for the cracks at the historic Rongghar. According to information, the legal the ASI will finalise its legal proceedings in a day or two saying it’s nothing but the seismic survey carried out by a company deployed by the oil giant that results in the cracks. In yet another development, the All Assam Tai Ahom Atudents Students Union has called for ONGC bandh on Wednesday demanding an immediate halt of the survey in the area and also for adequate compensation for the loss.
The day two of the Assam Assembly's Budget session began with a rocause as soon as it began. As the House started its proceedings, Palashbari independent legislator Pranab Kalita wanted to know if the Government can stop the liquor shops. In his reply, excise minister Gautom Roy informed the House that the it is impossible for the Government to stop the liquor shops saying the Government earns a good amount of revenue to the tune of R. 300 crore a year with these business. This has created a fresh controversy in the House. Meanwhile, the main Opposition is ready to bring an adjournment motion at any time citing the Government's failure on all fronts.
Two hardcore ULFA cadres were killed during a Police and Army join operation in Upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district early in the morning on Tuesday. According to information, the joint operation was launched at the Telpani Forest area under Lahowal area. Both the ULFAmen namely Parikshit Kalita and Tapan Baruah were ULFA’s 28 battalion. Army and para military troops are cordoning off the entire area. Details are awaited.
The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad is all set to move an adjournment motion as soon as the Assam Assembly session begins it’s second pay proceedings. According to information, the main opposition party has already submitted the notice on Monday to this effect. The regional party leaders here say this morning that AGP will be backed by BJP, AUDF, CPI and CPM. They observed that despite the Government’s talk claim the state’s law and order situation continues to be grim with the murder and murder cases refusing to halt. Further, they maintain that the state’s financial position is worsening day by day and the Government continues to run on loan. But the ruling party...
Activists of various Moran organization under the banner of All Assam Moran Students' Union seen in confrontation during the 4 hour long dharna demanding Scheduled tribe and Autonomy for the Moran Community in front Secretariat at Dipsur Lastgate on the first day of the Assembly Budget Session at Guwahati on 03-03-08. Pix by UB Photos.
The City police have apprehended one suspected NDFB ultra suspected to be involved in the firing incident in Rupnagar area, Guwahati this afternoon. Police have suspected that the militant was in the Rupnagar area beside the ASTC workshop to collect cash. Acting on tip off the police chased them. They started firing the police vehicle forcing the police to retaliate immediately. After the end of the half and hour firing, the two militants have been apprehending. Investigation is in progress.
A firing incident is being reported in the city's Rupnagar area at around 3-15 on Monday afternoon causing panic in the area. Details are awaited. Meanwhile, the Guwahati police have averted a major blast while it recovered a powerful bomb from a city bus at Azara. The one kilogram bomb recovered during a routine check by the police in the Saatmile area Monday morning. According to information, the bomb planted at a plastic pot and somebody sent it to the city. Later the police took the bomb to diffuse it. The entire case in under investigation and the police have yet to ascertain the miscreants involved in it.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will table the 2008-09 Budget of the State on March 10 in the Assam Assembly which began on Monday with the Governor's address. The Government is all set to place several Bills on the floor. These include The Assam Appropriation (No. 1) Bill, 2008; the Assam Appropriation (No. II) Bill, 2008; the Assam Agricultural Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Assam Tax on Luxuries (Hotels and Lodging Houses) (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Assam Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Assam Entry Tax Bill, 2008; the Assam Administrative Tribunal (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Mising Autonomous Council (Amendment) Bill, 2008; the Rabha-Hasong Autonomous Council (...
From Assam Assembly, Guwahati:The Opposition has come sown heavily on the Assam Government for its failure on all fronts. Reacting to the Assam Governor’s address on the floor of the House on Monday morning, the Opposition leaders have alleged that the Governor’s address failed to bring real picture. They say the vital issue confronting the state have been downplayed in the speech adding that the entire speech is a traditional ineffective one. Notably, the governor had to cut short his address due to the din following the trading of charges and counter charges among the members of both the ruling and Opposition sides.
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