“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
A.K Absar Hazarika, President of Guwahati Cine Club, Aribam Shyam Sharma, noted Film director, Eminent Bollywood actress Seema Biswas, Eminent film director Girish Kasaravali and other dignitaries seen during the inaugural function of Guwahati Film Festival on 01-02-08 evening at Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati. Pix by UB Photos.
Union minister for DONER, panchayat, sports and youth welfare Mani Shankar Aiyar has lamented the lack of audience in the North East Games at Sarusajai on Friday while he was visiting the sports complex. During his visit, Mr Aiyer hoped that the north eastern region will produce more and more sports stars. During his visit, the Union minister enjoyed events of the North Easat Games and termed the North East as the birth place of sports stars. He observed that the fund from the Centre to uplift the front has not reached the sports talents. A set of policy should be there to bring the rural boys and girls to the field of sports, he said.
A devastating fire broke out the Bengali Girls’High School in city’s Pltanbazar area on Thursday in the afternoon. According to information, the authorities have yet to ascertain the cause behind the fire but has initially estimated that it has ravaged property worth one crore. Fire brigade was pressed into service to bring the situation under control. It took 2 hours to douse the fire. Details are awaited.
The ruling party which have majority in altogether 15 districts out of 19 which have gone to panchayat polls. Besides preparing to form zilla parishads in 15 districts, the Congress have majority in block level and gaon panchayats in these districts. The party has swept Darrang, Sonitpur, North Lakhimpur,Sivasagar, Jorhat, Tinsukia,Golaghat, Nagaon,Morogaon, Kamrup metro, Kamrup rural,Karimganj and Dhubri districts. The Asom Gana Parishad too is set to form zila parishads in Dhemaji and Bongaigaon But no single party has emerged to form zila parishads alone in Nalbari and Barpeta. On the other had, counting of votes are at a snail’s pace in Cachar district of Barak valley.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday has said Arunachal Pradesh is in the need of a set of strategies for overall development of the state. Addressing a mammoth gathering at the Indira Gandhi Park during his trip the Prime Minister announced some development projects for the state worth Rs 8000 crores including a new rail link, micro hydro projects and grid based power project to cover all border villages. He announced that the north eastern state will get a new greenfield airport in Itanagar besides airports at Passi Ghat, Along, Daporijo, Ziro and Tizu. Dr Singh said the Defence Ministry would also upgrade infrastructure at several areas including Pasi Ghat and Vijai Nagar. A trans-...
An accidental firing rattled Itanagar early in the morning on Tursday. That too before the prime Minister’s maiden visit to the land of rising sun. According to information, a policeman on duty to guard a road through which Prime Minister motorcade was to pass, accidentally fired a bullet injuring a labourer. The injured labourer was being taken to the Guwahati hospital by the Chief Minister's helicopter.The the bullet went off accidentally from the service revolver of an Indian Reserve Battalion constable while he was posted near the Indira Gandhi Park, the venue where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public meeting.
Assam observes Me-dam-me-fi on Thursday to offer puja the Ahom ancestors with much religious fervour. Several functions are being organised to mark the occasion across the state. In Guwahati, people are offering pujas to the Ahome ancestors with a series of cultural programmes.
Despite a mammoth security arrangement before the Prime Minister’s visit to Itanagar, a shoot out incident has rattled the state capital on Thursday morning. The firing incident that took place early in the morning near the venue for function to be attended by the Prime Minister left one injured who has been rushed to Guwahati by the Chief minister’s helicopter. Top ranked police and civil officials are on the spot to monitor the situation. Investigation is going on.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is arriving in Itanagar on a two day visit to Arunachal on Thursday. During his visit, Dr Singh is schedule to lay the cornerstone of a number of major projects. Of this, the major one will be the 3,000 MW Debang Multi Purpose Hydro Electricity Project. According to NHPC officials, it is the largest in the country to be executed by the power giant. Also Dr Singh is schedule to lay the foundation stone of the Harmoti-Itanagar railway line. He will also visit the Ramakrishna Mission Hospital besides formally inaugurating the Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan housing the ruling Congress headquarters and unveil a statue of Indira Gandhi before addressing a public meeting. D...
Hundreds of uncounted ballot papers are being found outside the Panchayat Election Counting centre at Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner's office premises at Dhemaji on 30-01-08 showing great concern over the Panchayat Election counting.Pix by UB Photos.
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