“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
Altogether seven opposition parties led by Assam United Democratic Front are meeting Assam Govrnor Lt gn(Retd) Ajoy Singh to complaint against the state election commission’s failure to stop largscale rigging and booth capturing by the ruling party workers in the pachayat polls. They allege that the Congress has murdered democracy in the polls. They further demand repelling in Samoguri and Hailakandi.
The Assam United Democratic Front has demanded repolling in Samoguri and Hailakandi alleging largescale rigging by the ruling party in the third phase of panchayat polls. Addressing the media, party president Badaruddin Ajmal has accused the ruling Congress of rigging and booth capturing in the third phase of polling in Samoguri and Hailakandi.He said the Congress buried all democratic principles by forcibly stamping on the papers after capturing the booths. He maintained that ninety five percent voting in Samoguri and Hailakandi district were only because of rigging by Congress activists.
The Assam Pollution Control Board chairman has asked the Assam Medical College Hospital and a section of nursing homes to stick to the rules for drainage of waste materials within a week. During his recent visit to the upper Assam medical college, the Board chairman Jawarharlal Dutta alleged violation of rules laid down for clearing the waste materials. Notably, despite repeated instructions, the Assam medical College in Dibrugarh along with some other nursing home have yet to stick to the Bio medical Waste Management Act. These are only because of sheer lackadaisical attitude of the Assam Medical College Hospital and a section of private nursing homes.
The Army and police on Friday have recovered a huge amount of explosive materials in Baram chawk in Nalbari district. These include five exclusive devices and two hand grenades. All these were recovered from a book shop owned by Laba Sarma in the place.
Two country-made bombs have been recovered in the New Delhi-bound North East Express from Guwahati on Friday morning. This has forced delay in the train to halt at a railway station in Bihar.According to information, a passenger spotted the bombs at 6.30 in the morning and informed it to the driver of the train. These bombs were wrapped in a newspaper lying under the seat.The bombs were then put into a water-filled bucket for defusing at the platform.The train was allowed to resume its journey after being stopped for about two hours.
A hardocre ULFA leader has been arrested during a joint operation by police and Army in Sonari on Friday wee hours.According to information, 268th Field Regioment jawans conducted a joint operation with Sonari police at around 3 AM in Tingalibam area and apprehended ULFA corporal Raju Chetri with linkman Diganta Hazarika.Raju, now in police custody at the Sonari police station will be produced in Sivasagar court later on Friday.Notably, another corporal Puwali Duarah of 29th battalion was killed in Makum at an encounter on Thursday.
Altogether nine people have been injured while a van and an Alto car had a head on collision in Chariduwar under Rangapara police station on Thursday evening. The condition of four of them is said to be critical. The injured people have been rushed to the nearest hospital immediately after the incident.
ULFA’s corporal Puali Duwarah was killed in an encounter in the wee hours on Thursday in Makum. According to information, the encounter took place at Aahatguri village under makum police station in Tinsukia district between the 2nd Bihar regiment jawans and the ULFA leader.Army jawans further recovered one .32 pistol and one magazine from the slained militant. The militant is a resident of Hatijan village of Makum Tinsukia district.Top ranked army, police and civil officials have rushed to the spot and the situation is to be normal but an eerie silence is prevailing.
The ARTFED National Handloom Expo’08 began on Wednesday at the Karmashree Hiteswar Saikia College field, Panjabari. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was present as the chief guest while State Agriculture Minister Pramila Rani Brahma graced the occasion as guest of honour. Hemoprova Saikia, president of Assam Tourism and Development Council and MLA Bhuban Pegu were also present along with special guests cine actors Rati Agnihotri and Supriya Karnik. Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister Gogoi said “Muga has now become as popular as Assam tea.” A cultural function was also organised with Indira P P Bora and troupe, C S Thama and troupe performed Bharatnatyam. A Kortan Nritya was...
The Kamakhya Debutter Board is organising the Kameswari music and dance festival at the portals of Sri Sri Kamakhya temple on January 14 and 15 after the success of the maiden attempt last year. Padma Vibhusan Smti Sonal Mansingh, Pandit Sugato Bhaduri and Smt Indira P P Bora, Padmashri Sobhna Narayan and Pandit(s) Rajan and Sajan Mishra have consented to render their respective recitals.Prof Atul Sarma former Vice Chancellor, University of Arunachal Pradesh and member of the Finance Commission of India and Himanta Biswa Sarma, Minister of Assam will grace the occasion as the chief guest and the guest of honour respectively on the opening day.
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