“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
Normal life in the state has come to a grinding halt across the state due to the 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday. Called by the United Liberation Front of Asom, the bandh is by and large peaceful. There is no report of any incidents during this period. Schools, colleges, offices, business, financial and establishments are remaining closed. All sorts vehicles are remaining off from the streets. The city is remaining closed and calm. The bandh began at 5-30 in the morning to end at 5-30 in the evening. However, train and flight services are operating normally during the bandh hours. The bandh however, had no impact in North Cachar and Karbi Anglong districts. The ULFA called the bandh...
A 12 hour statewide Assam bandh is disrupting normal life on Tuesday. Barring police army and vehicles, the streets are wearing a deserted look. Shops and other business establishments are also closing. The schools in the morning are also remaining closed. The proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom is calling the statewide Assam bandh demanding immediate release of PCG member and human rights activist Lachit Bordoloi and demanding killing of innocent youths in the name of encounter.
The Centre is all set to start oil exploration in the Brahmaputra river basin saying it could boost oil production. Addressing the golden jubilee function of Oil India Limited (OIL) here on Monday, DONER Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said the basin has huge potential of oil reserve which had to be exploited. He said the exploration work will start as soon as the required environmental clearance was received. According to Aiyar, oil exploration work would also start in Tirap and Changland districts of Arunachal Pradesh.
The Guwahati based journalist and a regular contributor to 'Assam Times', Nava Thakuria has been awarded with the first media fellowship on refugee issues sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES). The Fellowship with the theme, 'The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour', with a focus on Protection and Durable Solutions for the Chin ethnic group from Western Myanmar, which lives in challenging conditions in the Northeast as well as in New Delhi starts from 1 March to 31 May.The announcement was made by a Committee comprising Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES Managing Trustee, journalist...
With much fanfare and cultural extravaganza, the colourful Karbi Youth festival is going on atop the Karbi hills. The colourful cultural event of the Karbi youths was inaugurated by Assam Governor Lt general (retd) Ajoy Singh on Saturday. The event marked its beginning with a glowing tribute to the Karbi culture legend Rangsina Sarpo. In his address, the Governor said he was really mesmerized by the Karbi songs and dance adding that has turned 75 but never did he enjoy these cultural festival. In his address, veteran Karbi political leader Dr Jayanta Rongpi said only autonomous state could restore permanent peace and prosperity in the hills district.
Assam BJP leadership has come in for sharp criticism following the party’s poor performance in the recent panchayat polls. Several leaders within the party have openly criticized the state unit president Ramen Deka saying he failed to reach the grass root level. With this it has become clear that dissidence against Ramen Daka is resurfacing within the party. The recent panchayat polls have painted a dismal picture for the party where only 1600 have been elected out of more than 8000 candidates the party fielded across the state. It was quite deplorable compared to the performance in 2001.
The Assam BJP has demanded a specific set of policy from the Government on conversion saying it is mother of all social tension in the state. Addressing a press conference on Sunday in the city, state BJP president Ramen Deka said conversion has been the main reason behind the simmering social tensions in Assam. Saying it inadmissible, Mr Deka added that conversion is still going on in Assam adding that a clear cut policy should have to be there to regulate these. He further said infiltration has already disturbed the state’s demography and it will be more harmful if conversion continues.
The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad has staged a statewide silent protest on Saturday demanding immediate release of PCG member Lachit Bordoloi, stopping police harassment on lawyer Nekibur The AJYCP activists in Guwahati staged the silent protest with black clothes in their faces demanding an end to the autocratic rule of the Tarun Gogoi government. The agitating student leaders said the arrest of PCG member Lachit Bordoloi is nothing but a bid desperate bid to foil the peace process. They further threaten to intensify the agitation if the government fails to ignore these demands.
A microlite glider of the Indian Air Force nose landed in a tea estate near the IAF eastern aircommand base at Chabua in Dibrugarh district on Saturday at around 10-30. The pilot sustained minor injury in his hand while co-pilot escaped unhurt. The two-seater glider also did not suffer much damage,. The glider developed a technical snag, two minutes after taking off from Chabua.
United People's Front, Manipur Organized a Mega Marathon 2008 in Manipur with theme 'Run for your Nation' on 17-02-08 from Khuman Lampak Main Stadium. This is second time which is biggest ever in Manipur. Pix by UB Photos.
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