Skip to content Skip to navigation

Dr. Audrey Cantlie: Her sweet memory of Assam and The Assamese

“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.

by Rini Kakati

Comments

Utpal Hazarika's picture

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

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

Pathsala Enthralled by Mesmerizing Voice of Kumar Sanu

10 Dec 2015 - 12:34pm | Shajid Khan
One of the most celebrated voices of Bollywood, Kumar Sanu on Wednesday night enthralled Assam’s Pathsala area. The event 'Pathsala Raas Mahotsab' is one of the most important and glamorous events in...

New Award constituted for artists

9 Jul 2013 - 11:47pm | Peter Alex Todd
Department of Cultural Affairs has constituted the District Level Silpi Award to honour senior artists who are socially and culturally recognized for their remarkable creations, dedication and...

Dony say vote bank politics: Gogoi

27 Oct 2012 - 3:55am | editor
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said that ruling Congress did not indulge in vote bank politics. Talking to reporters Gogoi said that there is simply no question of vote bank politics....

Bike lifters arrested

12 Feb 2016 - 9:15am | Hantigiri Narzary
Police arrested two gang of Bike lifter from Gutipara area under Bagribari police station in Kokrajhar district today. A police team of Bagribari police station able to arrest the bike lifter with...

Other Contents by Author

Dozens of people sustained injury when a passenger train jumped off the tracks in Jagiroad on Wednesday. The incident took place in the wee hours when ten coaches of the Dimapur-Kamakhya passenger train toppled from the rails leaving 50 injured. Of them, ten passengers have been critically wounded who are battling for life at GMCH. Details awaited.
Dinesh Prasad Goala is dead. The former minister and sitting MLA died at a hospital in Kolkata where he was admitted on April 10 following heart ailment. Details are awaited.
Eastern Panorama the news magazine of North East invites nominations for Achievers Award 2014 in different categories including Business, Industry, Banking, Music, Social Service, NGO, Education, Activist, Photography, North East Brand, Adventure, Rural Entrepreneurs, Fashion, Culture and North East Connectivity.The last date of submission of nominations is 10th of March 2014. Sent your details through email at contact@easternpanorama.in or by post to Eastern Panorama 2nd Floor, RPG Complex, Keating Road, Shillong - 793001 Meghalaya
 Be a Citizen Journalist!Report your local news and events.For details visit: http://assamtimes.org/node/8Email: editor@assamtimes.org 
PRESS COUNCIL - Sub-Committee Report: “Paid News”: How corruption in the Indian media undermines democracylnformation Technology (Electronic Service Delivery) Rules, 2011AFSPA - Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958Assam Accord 1985Treaty of YandaboAssam Preventive Detention Act, 1980Nagaland: Communitisation of Public Institutions and Services Act, 2001The State of Nagaland Act, 1962The Disaster Management Act, 2005Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 Acts of the Environment & Forest Department, Govt of Assam:The Assam Sale of Forest Produce Coupes and Mahals rules, 1977The Assam Forest Protection Force Act, 1986The Assam Forest Regulation,...
A five member team of officials of state agriculture department of Assam headed by Timothy Das Hanse, Director of Horticulture and Food Processing , Assam had visited Thailand recently (!-6 February, 2013) for initiating a bilateral relationship with Thailand Government for promotion of Agri-Horti Sector of Assam. This programme could be envisaged to bear special significance in view of opening of East-West Corridor that will link this part of the country with south-east Asia to fetch new scope and opportunities for expansion of agri-horti market and cold chain development near future. During the visit, the team attended the Flower Festival at Chiangmai and met the Director of...
I was in Class V at the Scindia School, Gwalior, it was a usual routine in School getting up at 6.30 am and to get ready for a half an hour prep followed by breakfast and then school. It was morning of 8 February 1982 after my bath I did a regular prayer, when suddenly a small framed photo of Goddess Kamakhya Ma that I had kept in my cupboard fell, at that time I though why this photo fell when no one had touched the cupboard. We had developed the habit of praying in the morning and evening at our home at Tangla (now under Udalguri distrct) as was being done by elders in our joint family. Later, I went to school as usual and came back at about 12.15 pm for lunch at the School mess, I could...
Security forces seized a huge cache of plastic explosives from three youths who were on their way to target a power station in Dhemaji district on Saturday.According to police, the three youths, sped away on their motorcycles, when signalled to stop during a routine check near the Panbari border outpost under Gerukamukh police station.They were caught and arrested following a chase after three packets of plastic explosives, five packets of fuse wire, six fuses and daggers were found in their possession.Identified as Pranendra Wari, Nakesh Narzari and Hemkanta Narzari, they were targeting the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation at the Gerukamukh dam site.
The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has organized a press meet on January 25 to brief the reporters about the 3rd EMFA Media Awards 2012 scheduled for next month. The press meet, which will be addressed by EMFA office bearers, will begin on 2 pm. Considering the business of television personalities due to the constant coverage of Panchayat polls preparations in the State, the EMFA may decide to extend the deadline for entries of 3rd EMFA Media Awards for few more days.
Over 50 people have been injured when an ATSC bus overturned in the outskirt if Guwahati on Friday. The accident took place when the Assam State Transport Corporation owned bus on its way to Guwahati from Barpeta, was trying to overtake a truck when it overturned and rolled down the road to a nearby field in Nayanpur area.The condition of five injured was stated to be critical. They were admitted to the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, while the others are being treated at the Hajo Primary Health Care centre.