The North East India

Remembering Devdas

2015-10-24T09:33:00.003+05:30

Who does not know about the Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit starrer Bollywood blockbuster DEVDAS based on Sharat Chandra Chatterjee's Bengali Novel of same title where Shah Rukh Khan played the lead role of Devdas? But had it

been the first time that Devdas of Sharat Chandra was transformed into another form of captivance, from literary words to words of pictures, captured in the tiny frames of celluloid. If we look back into the history of Indian Cinema Devdas was first filmed in the year 1935 in Bengali. The lead role of Devdas was played by a newbie in the arena of Indian Film Industry who changed the face of Indian Cinema. This aficionado gentleman was no one else but Pramathesh Baruah who hailed from Gauripur of

Assam. A 1924 Bachelor of Science, graduated from Presidency College of Calcutta, had his schooling done at Hare School, Calcutta, was born on October 24, 1903 to Raja Prabhat Chandra Baruah of the Gauripur royal family, the Zamindar of Gauripur of Assam. After completion of graduation he went to Europe where he got his maiden exposure to film making. Returning home he served as legislator of Assam Legislative Assembly in1928. He was selected once again in 1930 and was offered a ministerial post which he refused to accept and joined the Swaraj Party of Chittaranjan Das. But this gentleman who already had the taste of the exotic world of film making left the field of politics and finally moved to Kolkata to begin a career in film industry. Pramathes Barua's father Raja Prabhat Chandra Baruah was much annoyed at this act of his son. By then Dhirendranath Ganguly, Dada Saheb Falke Award winner, popularly known as DG had to leave Hyderabad following order of Nizam who was enraged because of portrayal of a Muslim princess who fell in love with a Hindu in the film Razia Begum. DG was the distributor of this film. Returning to Kolkata DG formed his third film production company British Dominion Films. Pramathesh Barua invested some amount in this company. Pramathesh Barua went to London to learn more about movie making. Moved to Paris for procuring lighting equipments and then came back to Kolkata to start his film production company Barua Pictures Limited. Here DG also joined Pramathesh Barua. It's first major production was "Aparadhi" in 1931, followed by another film "Bhagyalakshmi",1932. Aparadhi, directed by Debaki Bose, starred Pramathesh Barua. In Bhagyalakshmi Pramathesh played the role of a villain. But before late both DG and Pramathesh joined B.N. Sircar's New Theatres.Devdas, a romantic film based on Saratchandra Chatterjee’s novel was a production of New Theatres in Bengali in 1935. It was directed by Pramathesh Baruah and he himself played the role of Devdas. His third wife Jamuna Baruah played the role of Parvati(Paro). It was a He then did a remake of the same film in Hindi with Kundanlal Saigal in the lead role in 1936.

This Hindi version of Devdas became incredibly successful throughout India and Pramathesh Baruah became one of the top notch Indian Cinema Directors. Devdas essentially brought revolution to Indian Cinema and changed the look of social melodrama in cinemas with his unique treatment towards it. In Devdas he did not follow the contemporarily prevalent style of presentation and kept off the trend of extreme theatricality in acting and dialogue delivery. Rather he opened up a new avenue of natural style of acting impervious of stereotype melodrama. Pramathesh Baruah had exposure to European naturalistic trends in cinemas and that perhaps had been influencing factor to adopt a style of dialogue which is somewhat like speaking in real life. Thus Pramathesh Baruah had been able to make Devdas a decent tragedy.Devdas was released on 26 April 1935 at Chitra Talkies. It was an instant all time Box Office Hit and it turned Pramathesh into a star overnight. Pramathesh created the climax of Devdas in a different way which was not present in Saratchandra's origin novel. Having seen Devdas Sarat Chandra said to Pramathesh -"It appears that I was born to write Devdas because you were born to recreate it in cinema."

This legendary film director and actor and one of successful great Assamese died in the year 1951 at the age of 48 making Devdas a folk hero. He said-"No one has the right to live beyond the age of 50".

When Speculations Deceive You

2015-10-02T16:08:00.000+05:30

The Visitors Story

Naranarayan Setu over river Brahmaputra at Jogighopa

Speculation has never been a new thing to human character. Be it about a situation or a person, a stranger or a place and anything else. About three years or more I had to pick up some young people from Mumbai at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati to my residence at Bongaigaon Refinery Township, Dhaligaon. On their way back to Mumbai they were routed to Guwahati, the state capital of Assam through NH37 on the south bank of mighty Brahmaputra. A trip via this rout offers eye catching lush green landscapes of the places and small towns by NH37 with distant views of blue hills of Meghalaya. The travellers were mesmerized and astounded looking at the serene locations that they passed by. Their immediate reaction was "Oh one can easily take food on the road just by cleaning with a simple air blow through one's mouth". Appreciably the people living by this NH37, belong to various tribes like Bodos, Rabhas and Garos, have good civic sense. One will not even see cow dung or animal droppings of anykind let alone human excreta. Contrary to this in many parts of Odisha, Northern and Southern India people defecating by the roadsides is a common sight.

During many tour across the length and breath of India by Bus and Train I had to battle with arguements during conversation with many co-passengers of other regions of my country regarding their misconception about Assam and North-East India at large and then convince them correcting their views about Assam and places in North-East India

A cultural rally

with facts and figures. But this time everything went wrong and the only young lady confessed honestly who came with the vanity of being Mumbaian during the farewell session. She broke down on the point of separation, it was only a three nights affair, and burst into tears and said-" Aunty I was wrong.I could not even imagine that you, people of Assam, could be so beautifully loving, caring and above all kindhearted." Another guy said- " We knew that Assam is famous only for Tea and Rhinos and full of jungles. But there are lot more.

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(To be continued in next episode.)

Glimpses of Gandhiji's Assam Visit

2015-10-01T20:32:00.000+05:30

Mahatma Gandhi visited Assam four times in his life. His first visit to this

state was in the year 1921. His subsequent visits to Assam were in 1926, 1934 and 1946. Till that Assam was in its regional cocoon. Gandhiji's visit helped it to pull itself out of the cocoon and its bonding with the national movement got strengthened. Gandhiji's second visit to Assam in the year 1926 bears a great significance. That year Congress session was scheduled at Pandu in Guwahati on the bank of river Brahmaputra. The entire pandal erected was to be covered by only khadi cloths. For this reason 10000 yards of Khadi cloth were necessary. Families of four neighbouring districts of Assam were assigned the job of producing the special quality of Khadi Cloth required for the pandal and that was achieved in time. This was the first time in the history of Congress that the main pandal was covered by Khadi cloths. This motivated the Congress workers to set a trend to construct pandals of all future Congress sessions out of Khadi.During his last visit to Assam in 1946 Gandhiji inaugurated the Assam branch of Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust and a Gram Sevikas Vidyalaya. This is the only branch in India that was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi himself.

While in Guwahati, Gandhiji was overwhelmed by the beauty of Brahmaputra. He compared Brahmaputra to Thames of London in superiority and said that he had seen the glittering scenes of Thames in London but he could not recall any scene like the one sitting on the bank of which he was writng the notes.
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২৬ ডিচেম্বৰ ২০১৪ৰ অনুভৱ

2015-01-01T16:36:00.000+05:30

বছৰটোৰ শেষত দুটা আকস্মিক ছুটী অব্যৱহৃত হৈ ৰৈ যাব বুলি ভাবি মনটো বেয়া লাগি আছিল ৷ পূর্বৰ স্থানতে কর্মৰত থকা অৱস্থাত বছৰৰ ছুটীকেইটাৰে প্ৰায় নোজোৰাৰ দৰে আছিল ৷ বছৰৰ শেষলৈ দুটা আকস্মিক ছুটী জমা ৰখা কথাটো মোৰ বাবে অলীক কল্পনা ৷পাৰাদীপলৈ স্থানান্তৰিত হোৱাৰ পাছৰ এইকেইমাহত এদিনীয়াকৈ ক’ৰবালৈ যাবলৈ কোনো অজুহাতো পোৱা নাছিলো ৷ শেষত যেনিবা নেদেখাজনে চকু মেলি চালে নেকি - ছোৱালীজনীয়ে এদিন খবৰ দিলে যে তাই ডিচেম্বৰ মাহৰ ২৭ তাৰিখে বান্ধৱী এজনীৰ বিয়াৰ খাবলৈ পুৰীলৈ আহি আছে ৷ মোক ক’লে – “তুমিও আহা পুৰীলৈ ৷ তাতে লগ হ’ম দুয়ো ৷” ময়ো ভালেই পালো ৷ ওপৰৱালাক কোৱাত তেৱোঁ আপত্তি নকৰিলে ৷ দুদিনৰ ছুটী মঞ্জুৰ হোৱাত মোৰ সহকর্মী ভাতৃপ্ৰতিম নিতাই চৌধুৰীক লগত লৈ ২৬/১২/২০১৪ তাৰিখে ১০-৪৫ বজাৰ ৰেলেৰে পাৰাদীপৰ পৰা পুৰীলৈ ৰাওনা হ’লো ৷ জীয়ৰীজনী পাছদিনাখনহে আহি পোৱাৰ কথা ৷ গতিকে হোটেলত কোঠা এটা বন্দোবস্ত কৰি তাতে টালি-টোপোলা থৈ দুয়ো ওলালো সাগৰৰ পাৰৰ “মেৰাইন দ্ৰাইভ”ত ফুৰিবলৈ ৷ সন্ধিয়া ৰঙ-বিৰঙী বিজুলী চাকিৰ পোহৰত উজলি উঠিছে পুৰী নগৰী ৷ পুৰী এতিয়া যেন তীর্থস্থান নহৈ এক সপোনপুৰীহে হৈছে ৷ বিৰ দি বাট পাবলৈ নোহোৱাকৈ পর্য্যটকৰ ভিৰ ৷ ফিৰফিৰীয়া ঠাণ্ডা বতাহজাক বৈ আহিছে সমুদ্ৰপৃষ্ঠৰ পৰা ৷ যোৱা বাৰতকৈ এইবাৰ পাৰাদীপ আৰু পুৰীত শীত বেছি ৷ সাগৰ তীৰৰ বালিৰ ওপৰেৰে দুয়ো খোজ কাঢ়ি ভাগৰ লগাত ফেৰীৱালা এটাৰ পৰা বহিবলৈ দুখন চকী খুজি দুকাপ কফিৰ অর্ডাৰ দিলো৷ কফি আৰু কথাৰ মাজতে মই ক’লো – নিতাই তুমি বাৰু মন কৰিছানে আমি ইমানবোৰ মানুহৰ মাজেৰে বা কাষেৰে খোজ কাঢ়ি আহিলো; কিন্তু ক’তো এষাৰ অসমীয়া মাত নুশুনিলো ৷ অথচ প্ৰতি বছৰে পুৰী ভ্ৰমন কৰিবলৈ অহা অসমীয়া মানুহৰ সংখ্যা কম নহয় ৷ অন্ততঃ এনেকুৱা পৰীক্ষা আদি নোহোৱা বতৰত ৷ নিতায়ে কথাটো সমর্থন কৰি যিটো কাৰণ দেখুৱালে সিয়ে মোৰ মনটো বৰ ব্যথিত কৰিলে ৷ তেওঁ ক’লে – “দাদা, অসমত বর্তমান অন্তৰ ভাগি যোৱাকৈ দুখ লগা পৰিস্থিতি ৷ কোন সতেনো মানুহে নিজৰ ঘৰখন এৰি থৈ আহিব ৷ শান্তিৰে ফুৰিব পাৰিব জানো?” শীতৰ প্ৰকোপ বাঢ়ি অহাত দুয়ো সমুদ্ৰতীৰৰ পৰা মূল পথলৈ ওভটাৰ সিন্ধান্তৰে খোজ ল’লো ৷ যোৱা দশককেইটাত অসম আৰু অসমবাসীসকল আন্দোলন আৰু সন্ত্ৰাসৰ নামত বহু ক্ষতিগ্ৰস্ত হ’ল ৷ মানসিকতাৰ পৰিবর্তন হ’ল ৷ অসমীয়াৰ অচিন বস্তু বর্বৰতা এতিয়া নিত্য লগৰী হ’ল ৷ দিন দুপৰতে ইতৰ প্ৰাণীতকৈও নৃশংসভাবে নৰহত্যা কৰিবলৈ কুণ্ঠিত নোহোৱা হ’ল ৷ অন্য ৰাজ্যৰ পৰা অহা সহকর্মীসকলে এই বিষয়ে সুধিলে উত্তৰ দিবলৈ ভাষা নাথাকে ৷ কথা পাতি আহি থাকোতে অন্য এটা দৃশ্যলৈ নিতায়ে আঙুলিয়ালে – “দাদা চাওক সেইফালে ৷ সেইখন স্বর্গদুৱাৰ ৷” তাৰ আঙুলিৰ নির্দেশনা মতে মই দৃষ্টি ঘুৰাই দেখিলো – এৰা, সচাই ৷ ফলকত লিখা আছে “স্বর্গদুৱাৰ” বুলি ৷ ভিতৰত অহৰহ দাউ দাউকৈ জ্বলি আছে বহুতো চিতা ৷ মনৰ চকুৰে দেখিলো এইকেইদিনত সন্ত্ৰাসবাদীৰ হাতত নিহত কিমান যে হতভগীয়া নিৰীহ পৰিয়ালৰ সদস্যৰ চিতাগ্নিয়ে দহি নিছে সেইসকলো পৰিয়ালৰ অন্তৰ ৷ বুকু ভগা কান্দোনে আকাশ-বতাহ গধুৰ কৰি তুলিছে ৷ নিজকে প্ৰশ্ন কৰিলোঁ – কি ভাবি মই এষাৰি মৌসনা অসমীয়া মাত পুৰীৰ এই ভ্ৰমনবিলাসী পর্য্যটকৰ মাজত বিচাৰি ফুৰিছোঁ ? যুক্তিযুক্ততা ক’ত? মাজতে নিতাইৰ মাতত তন্দ্ৰা ভাগিল – দাদা, চাওক, এফালে মৃতদেহবোৰ চিতাত জ্বলি আছে আৰু দুয়ো কাষে আৰু সম্মুখৰ পথটোৰ কাষৰ বিপনীবোৰত মানুহে খাদ্য খাইছে, বস্তু কিনিছে কেনেকৈ ৷ ময়ো নিজকে ক’লো – এৰা, এয়াই স্বর্গদুৱাৰ ৷ ইয়াত শোকৰ স্থান নাই ৷ পাথর্ক্য নাই কোন ক’ৰ বা কোন কি আছিল? মৃত্যুৱে কেতিয়াও শ্ৰেণীবিভাগ নকৰে ৷ দুখেৰে ভাৰাক্ৰান্ত হৃদয় এখন লৈ হোটেললৈ উভটিলোঁ ৷ ৰাস্তাত ভিৰ পাতলিছে ৷ সাগৰৰ তৰংগৰাশি ক্ৰমাৎ উত্তাল আৰু গর্জনমুখৰ হৈছে ৷ মাথোঁ মানুহক যেন ইতিকিং কৰি বিজুলী চাকিৰ জকমকীয়া পোহৰত সগৌৰৱে থিয় হৈ আছে হোটেলৰ প্ৰাসাদোপম অট্টালিকাবোৰ ৷

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The Man who put the Train on Brake

2013-08-13T20:56:00.000+05:30

A boy of Class VIII standard left the school for Calcutta (now Kolkata) and came to get in touch with of some persevering nonresident Assamese like Literate Lakshminath Bezbaruah, who is better known as Sahityarathi, passionate entrepreneurs Bholanath Baruah and Kameswar Das. This is an epoch-making episode of the British period in India. The boy for his assiduous character got a chance to work as mechanic helper in the Motor Garage, a workshop for Motor vehicle repairing, of Bholanath Baruah and passed metric there. While working in this garage he could draw the attention of a British gentleman who gave him a chance to work in famous “Warne and Company” of those days. The British gentleman seeing the technical expertise of this boy sent him England for higher training at Institute of Mechanical Engineering.

Dear readers,

I should now disclose who this truant boy was. He was no one other than GURUPRASAD DAS of Barpeta, Assam. During this training period Guruprasad made significant improvement in his technical skill and got the opportunity to do research for brakes. After a period of five years relentless work in this field Guruprasad Das invented the Vacuum Brake for Trains and thus made “Warne and Company” world famous. The brake he invented for trains was also known as GP Brakes. Recognizing this achievement he was nominated as Associate Member of Mechanical Engineers and also conferred IRS (Indian Railway Service) by the British Government. Guruprasad Das was the first IRS and joined the Indian Railway under British rule in 1931.

The Career line of Guruprasad Das in brief ---

Ø      Inventor of Vacuum Brake for trains. This later had nomenclature as “Seamless Coil Brake”

Ø      He was the first IRS (Indian Railway Service).

Ø      Left Indian Railway and joined Burma Oil Company.

Ø      Served Calcutta Municipality as Workshop Manager and also Mayor.

Ø      Was appointed as High Official at Department of Defense at Kanpur during World War II and retired as Colonel.

Ø      During his service period at Defense Guruprasad Das obtained the degrees EME, AMI, MECHE.

Ø      His two other important inventions are “Cut off Control Gauge” and “Boiler Safety Valve”.

This one of the lesser known great Assamese breathed his last in 1982.

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http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=feb2615/state050

AASU moves PM over Barpeta rail connectivity
Correspondent
BARPETA, Feb 25 – The people of Barpeta, irrespective of political affiliations, have demanded construction of the proposed rail route connecting Barpeta. They have expressed the hope that the upcoming Railway Budget would facilitate the commencement of the project.

It may be mentioned here that a rail line from Jogighopa to Amingaon via Barpeta was proposed in the Railway Budget way back in 1997-98. But the feasibility survey was conducted only a few years back. People here saw light at the end of the tunnel after the survey. But their hopes began to fade when the project was shelved again.

The All Barpeta District Students’ Union has demanded of the Prime Minister to connect Barpeta with both a rail line and the National Highway. In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister through the Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta a few days back, the district AASU unit rued the pathetic condition of roads in the district and the absence of a rail link to the town.

The memorandum, signed by Krishna Kanta Das and Samudra Patgiri, president and secretary respectively of the district AASU committee, stated that the Barpeta district, with a fascinating alluvial landscape of 2677.33 square kilometres, contains the divine footprints of Dakpurush, the first Assamese poet of the eighth century. Srimanta Sankaradeva, Madhabdeva, Damodardeva and Harideva, the neo-Vaishnavite religious preachers and social reformers, along with their disciples, established as many as 85 Satras (neo-Vaishnavite monasteries) in the district. Besides, there are 20 historical monuments and a number of naamghars, which make the district a hub of pilgrimage.

The Barpeta district has also produced a number of worthy personalities including the first Indian prose writer, Bhattadeva, the inventor of the vacuum brakes for trains and the first IRS colonel, Guru Prasad Das, political luminaries like the fifth president of India Fakharuddin Ali Ahmed and ex-Governor of Punjab Mahendra Mohan Choudhury.

The memorandum lamented that in spite of its rich heritage on the socio-cultural and intellectual fronts, Barpeta has been neglected by both the State and Central governments since Independence. As a result, the district is still lagging behind on all fronts of development including rail and road connectivity. Lack of development in terms of industry, infrastructure, rail, highway and air connectivity is a matter of concern.

Outlining the history of Barpeta, the memorandum mentioned that British rulers established Barpeta as a town in 1884, which was transformed into a subdivisional headquarters and subsequently, elevated to a district headquarters in 1983. It lamented that Guru Prasad Das, who invented the vacuum brakes for trains, was not accorded due honour by the Central Government and the Railway Department itself. Even the popular demand to connect Barpeta with the rail network of the country has been repeatedly turned down by the Government. It stated that there are only 47 kilometres of rail line in the entire district and the distance of the line from Barpeta is 25 kilometres.

The AASU leaders reminded the Prime Minister that the Railway Ministry had already conducted a survey for a proposed rail line in the district, connecting Barpeta, and an amount of Rs 70 lakh was spent on the survey. But it is a matter of regret that there has been no work to implement the proposal. As a result, the people of Barpeta fear that rail connectivity may be denied again. The leaders urged the Prime Minister to connect Barpeta with the rail line, which will fulfil a long-standing demand of the people.

The AASU leaders informed the Prime Minister that the road communication in the district is in a poor shape. They stated that there is an urgent need to connect Barpeta with a four-lane highway to make the town a centre of culture, religion and tourism.

Local leaders of the AGP, BJP, AIUDF and several prominent citizens of the district also echoed similar views.

Mislaying one’s ownership

2013-04-02T18:04:00.003+05:30

There has been an old humor about the Sindhris of India. It’s inspiring if we look at the bright side of the story shunning the tendency of looking at the dark side which makes people wet blanket.

The story says-

Once the Americans manufactured a thread which was almost invisible with naked human eyes, i.e. without help of any magnifier instrument, and sent it to different nations around the world with a putting up a challenge if anyone could done any modification to it. It moved around the world and passed through the science laboratories of the developed, developing and underdeveloped nations without any alteration until it reached Japan. The Japanese viewed it from different angles, rolled it over and over and finally brought about an alteration – a hole through the thread marking its superiority in technological advancement. Then again the thread was passed on and it arrived in India. Every part of the country touched it, felt it and raised brows in despair and astonishment and at last it fell on the hands of the Sindhri community. They then on a fine day packed it sent back to America with a request to find out the modification. The Americans looked for the evidence of the claim by the Sindhris of India. Being unsuccessful to reveal anything done to the thread the Americans then asked back the Sindhris. The Sindhris then replied that they have inscribed something on the body of the thread which they were to find out. The American had already seen it what ought to be usual but did not realize anything. It contained an inscription that read “MADE IN USA” and they considered it right because it was made in America (USA). But the Americans were not aware that what surprise was awaiting there in the lips of the Sindhris to make their jaws drop down. The Sindhris then clarified that it was not made in America (USA) rather it was made in United Sindhri Association (USA).

Dear readers, it is really praiseworthy, this wit of the community mentioned here above.But how is the case here in Xualkuchi, Assam? What sort of hell are we doing? Contrary to the Sindhris we are defaming ourselves; downgrading our craftsmanship. Grandiloquent we blow our trumpet that Xualkuchi is the Manchester of the East and we are proud of it's hand-loom products

Silk product (Handloom) of Xualkuchi

Shamefully and at the same time shamelessly we are not at all passionate to preserve its identity. Are only prestigious silk products of Xulakuchi handlooms and what not anything else of such kinds are facing the danger of extinction? Years back people of Assam had to brood over the fate of the “Gamocha”,

Gamosa of Assam

an Assamese hand woven towel which we treat as prestigious and customary because of the market flooded by fake “Gamocha”s from Madurai. So is the case is the Xarai

which is also a product of the state cottage industry is imported and marketed in its imitated and wrong form bringing the image of the product to down grade. None can except the native people can be blamed first for this unwanted situation in Xualkuchi. Surely some of the locals must have nasty nexus with businessmen of outside the state.State government is also not taking absolute interest in initiating proper steps to protect these industries from outsider demoralizing invasion.The State government cannot distance itself from its responsibility.

Walking down the memory lane - Memoir of Meghalaya

2011-09-23T09:34:00.000+05:30

EPISODE-2

LAITKSEH

(Across the Pines)

As I got off the bus with my two escorting students at Iew Markasa (meaning- Markasa Market, Iew means market), the bus stop nearest to village Laitkseh I took few deep breath. Oh what a sense of pure, fresh and cool air; I did not have it ever before! May be my feeling was more than natural as I got nearly smothered inside the bus which remarkable was crowded and was filled with smoke of cigars made of local tobacco called DUMA that other passengers were enjoying. “Duma” is a homemade cigar of locally produced Tobacco having a very strong taste that greenhorn smoker from plains is sure to get intoxicated with lightheaded feeling. However the sky above was bluer and clearer than in Guwahati or my own home town Barpeta. But the distant hills were partly covered with slow moving clouds and mists. The wind was smoothly blowing, like a cool breeze that waved out my long hairs, a fashion that was on the wane. “Ready?” One of my escorts asked. “We have to go for about an hour on foot”.

“Or should we refresh ourselves with a cup of tea each” the other suggested. “Not a bad idea” I replied.

But I wondered looking around for any tea stall. The escorting duo could guess the state of my mind and the smart looking one, yelled “Babu Das! There it is”; pointing at a hut with tin roof.

“Oh Ebanasher! How brightly you grin.

Heaven! Is it a tea stall?” My inner urban youth exclaimed silently.

“Paisa humein kis morpe le aya” I made and instant parody of “Pyaar Humein Kis Morpe Le Aya”

I trod towards the hut halfhearted. There was a lady stall keeper inside sitting aside on a stool near the fireplace. In Meghalaya and particularly the rural people prefer to sit by the fireplace and the room where the fireplace is made used to be a kitchen. Ordinarily the host invited the guest to this place to be seated on account of cold weather.

“Uioh” (means “who” in local Khasi dialect) making a gesture at me she asked the two boys in a non-standard Khasi dialect.

“Babu, hikai saian (Teacher, teaching science)- one replied.

She liked me and smiled at me.

Winking her eyes she offered me a cup of very sweet tea and again inquired of: “Thymmai ho” (New Ha!)

I nodded without having understood anything. Perhaps that made sense and the lady nearing her fifties smiled again with a pancake in her hand.

One more encounter- “Juh bam puh sep” (Like eating this PUH made with the help steam)

- PUH means any cake,

- SEP (pronounce- SSHH-ep) means steam.

All these were free at the cost of being a BABU- teacher that they needed most.

Walking down the memory lane

2011-09-17T13:32:00.000+05:30

Memoir of Meghalaya

Episode -1

(God Tussi Great Ho-1)

I did not see the sea until January 1992 when arrived at Mumbai (then Bombay). But the tremendous attraction towards wilderness, particularly of hills and mountains lured me to a great extent that my words fall short to express straightway. Having passed the Bachelor of Science degree examination I alike any other unemployed youth began my hunt for job. I joined as an off service trainee Opthalmic Assistant in Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, (now M.M. Choudhury Memorial Hospital) for a mere stipend of Rs 200.00(rupees two hundred) per month that I received from health department. It could not fulfill my innumerable needs. Obviously I was in pursuit of better opportunity and God did listen to me. Thank God because He helps those who help themselves. I got one offer as a science teacher in a Christian High School run by a Presbyterian Church of a village Laitkseh near Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills District Meghalaya for a much better payoff. I gulped the offer without delay like a thirty pedestrian in hot summer and set out for the job. The place was very new to me and in fact this was my first visit to a place outside my home state. As it ought to be, I was a bit tizzy about the traditions, social environment and communication problem as English had been the only lingua franca which too only a small fraction of people could speak well.

A Khasi gentleman, Mr Adual Dkhar from Riatsamthiah of Shillong, whom I met at Guwahati, knew him since 1979 as a businessman dealing in sales of quarry products, led me up to Nongstoin. Nongstoin, a town nearest to this village, is headquarter of West Khasi Hills district. On a shiny day of August 1982 I was accompanied from Nongstoin by two students deputed by the Headmaster of the school who happened to be Pastor of the Presbyterian Church too, up to this village. A short journey of half an hour or so by bus and then another for forty to forty five minutes on foot took me to my destination of life’s second phase of job hunt.

Encroachment in SATTRAS' land

2011-07-21T23:18:00.000+05:30

http://amarasom.glpublications.in/Details.aspx?id=5672&boxid=114947484

It is true for all that plots of land were allotted to the Sattras(Monasteries in a sense, though not correct to the full meaning), established by the great saint ,philosopher and philanthropic social reformer Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev and his disciples, by the government of Assam. Kings of different era who ruled the state from time to time also gifted some of these plots of lands to these Sattras during their reign.But in recent times there has been a growing inclination of some groups of different ethnicity or social organizations/ institution to forcibly occupy these lands for no good reasons. Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev preached for the egalitarianism and harmony while voting for worshipping one God. These Sattras are symbolic of a classlessness community or better against the unfair treatment because of social class. It differs in no matter of any of the famous religions of the world like Islam or Christianity. Janiya, a small quasi-urban place in the vicinity of Barpeta Town, Assam has occupied a place in the front page of the local dailies of Assam, not because of something that is praiseworthy but a most unwelcome deed of esteemed institution like Madrasa.Islam has the great teaching of Hazrat Mohammad and Islam means Peace and cohabitation with love and affection. Encroachment is considered as devils act in Islam.So in such cases the Managing Committee of Salekura Moktab Madrasa which is dedicated to the act of imparting education of Islam could have thought twice or inquired of the status of the land measuring 1 Bigha 2 Kathas and 10 lesas according to the local land measuring system before resorting to illegal occupations. Here I draw the attention of the learned men and the knowledgeable people of the Islamic community of the state and request to initiate a step towards peaceful solution of the conflict so that the institutions like Moktab Madrasa do not become tainted

A gift of love to my youngest Facebook friend-Gauranga

2011-07-15T23:36:00.000+05:30

মালৈ চিঠি

মা মনত পৰেনে তোমাৰ?

যেতিয়া প্রথম চকু মেলিছিলো

মই খুব কান্দিছিলো।

বৰ ভয় লাগিছিল মোৰ,

তুমিতো মোৰ কাষত নাছিলা!

আৰু সেই বজ্জাত পৰিচাৰিকাজনী?

ক’ৰ পৰা জানো আহি ওলাইছিল?

জোকাৰি জোকাৰি

মোক কিমান যে কন্দুৱাইছিল।

আৰু মোৰ কান্দোনত,

সিহঁতে বৰ আনন্দ পাইছিল।

তোমাক বাৰু কিয় সিহঁতে

মোৰ পৰা আঁতৰাই ৰাখিছিল মা?

তোমাৰ ওচৰ পালো যেতিয়া

মোৰযে কিমান ভাল লাগিছিল।

চকু ঘুৰাই ঘুৰাই চাই

মইযে একোকে ধৰিব পৰা নাছিলো।

মাথো গম পাইছিলো

তুমি মোৰ ফালে চাই মিচিকিয়াই হাঁহিছিলা।

দেউতা কিন্তু তেতিয়া নাছিল।

মোক অকলে শুৱাই থৈ

ঘৰত তুমি যেতিয়া কাম কৰিছিলা

তেতিয়া কোনোবা এজনে আহি

সপোনত জোকাই জোকাই

মোক কৈছিল- “তোমাৰ মা নাই”।

মই হাহিঁছিলো।

মই কৈছিলো মোৰ মা এই মাত্র গ’ল

মোক সুধামৃত খুৱাই।

তেতিয়া তেওঁ কৈছিল-

“নহয় নহয় তোমাৰ দেউতা গুচি গ’ল”।

জানা মা!

মই ফেকুৰি ফেকুৰি কান্দিছিলো।

আৰু তেতিয়া তেওঁ মোক তেওঁৰ

মিঠা আঙুলিটো চুপিবলৈ দিছিল।

আইতাই কৈছিল- “কৃষ্ণই জোকাইছে”।

কৃষ্ণই কিয় জোকায় বাৰু?

মা! মই এতিয়া লাহে লাহে ডাঙৰ হ’লো।

স্কুললৈ যাও,

অংক কৰো,

ইংৰাজী পঢ়ো

আৰু কম্পিউটাৰ চলাবও জানো।

তোমালোক নাথাকিলে

অকলে মোৰ বেয়া লাগে।

সেয়ে মই মাজে মাজে কম্পিউটাৰত

খেল খেলি সময় কটাও।

দেউতাক ক’বা মা!

দুষ্টালি কৰিলেও মই এদিন ডাঙৰ মানুহ হ’ম।

তোমালোকৰ নাম উজলাম।

তোমালোকৰ দুখৰ দিনত

এন্ধাৰত জ্বলি থকা

ম’মৰ শিখাৰ দৰে

তোমালোকৰ জীৱন উজলাম।

ইতি-

তোমাৰ সুপুত্র

গৌৰৱ

My Tribute to Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev

2011-07-02T23:14:00.000+05:30

তিমিৰ ফাড়িয়া বাজ

নটৰাজ দাস

বিপন্ন আছিল সেই সময়,

তমসাচ্ছন্ন জগত সুপ্ত নিমগ্ন।

সুপ্ত আছিল জনমানস,

আৰু বিবেক আছিল সুচিন্তাবর্জিত।

চৌদিশে হাহাকাৰ,

পীড়িত সমাজ

মাথো অনাচাৰ-ব্যভিচাৰ।

পোহৰৰ আশাত এদল মানুহ

কোনেনো দিব,

কতনো পাব,

শুদ্ধ পথৰ সন্ধান?

কেতিয়ানো হ’ব বাৰু-

তিমিৰ ফাড়িয়া বাজ

ৰবিৰ কিৰণ?

আন্ধাৰত এজাক মানুহ,

পথহাৰা,

দিশহাৰা,

পংকিল ক্ষণ অনুক্ষণ।

আকুল প্রতীক্ষা মাথো

সেই নায়ক,অধিনায়ক

কিম্বা মহানায়কৰ।

উদ্ধাৰিবলৈ এই মহাভুৱন

হ’ব যাৰ আগমন

আৰু হ’ব অমানিশাৰ শেষত

তিমিৰ ফাড়িয়া বাজ

ৰবিৰ কিৰণ।

বৰষি বৰষি মেঘে

পিন্ধিলে সাজ শুভ্র বৰণ,

আহিনৰ আকাশ হ’ল

উজ্জল বিতোপন।

নিশাৰ গর্ভ ভেদি

কিহে কৰে আগমন!

আন কোনো নহয় সেয়া

মোৰ গুৰু শ্রীমন্ত শঙ্কৰ,

জনম লভি পাপ খণ্ডিলা জগতৰ।

অনাচাৰ, কুসংস্কাৰ নাশি

বোৱালা ৰস হৰি ভকতিৰ।

“হৰি নাম ৰসে বৈকুণ্ঠ প্রকাশে

প্রেম অমৃতৰ নদী”

পাৰ ভাঙি দিলা তাক বৈ যাবলে

বিশ্ব-ব্রহ্মাণ্ডক ভেদি।

গুৰু মোৰ শঙ্কৰ

কৰুনা সাগৰ,

জগতৰ মাজে শোভে

অতি বিতোপন।

অজ্ঞান আন্ধাৰ নাশি

অসম আকাশত

বিৰাজিলা তুমি

হে ভকত পৰাণ!

যেন

তিমিৰ ফাড়িয়া বাজ

ৰবিৰ কিৰণ।।

**********************

Jana Gana Mana and our emotional response

2011-06-11T23:29:00.000+05:30

Every cinema lovers knows that CHOTA CHETAN is the first Indian 3D film made in 1984. It was originally a Tamil Movie named MY DEAR KUTTICHATTAN. The Unique thing about this film is the making of it. Unlike to day’s digitally converted 3D films CHOTA CHETAN was shot in real 3D using cameras with 3D lens and that’s why without the spectacles it was almost impossible to see the movie. Being a movie freak I could not afford to miss the opportunity of seeing this film for its technical features and traveled about 80 kilometers from a remote town of West Khasi Hills district in Mehgalaya to Shillong in 1985.My obsession for such kind of movies was not doused since the production of 3D films became very rare and more over living in a town like Bongaigaon one is not much privileged to have good theaters and to enjoy good movies. However my last visit to Mumbai opened the door of opportunity to see a 3D film. My Daughter Lipi Das who looks after this department in Reliance Media Works at Airoli, Navi Mumbai took me to FAME CINEMA OF AD-LAB at Andheri Mumbai where I got the opportunity to see the new age 3D film after 27 years of interval. While sitting inside the theater I was eagerly expecting the movie PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN to begin. My daughter teased me saying “Papa you are going to experience something new. Not the 3D but something else.” I could see her eyes wink to know my reaction. After some statutory display on the screen suddenly I beheld a sentence popped up on the screen. It read” JANA GANA MANA”. “PLEASE STAND UP” and all of us stood up along with other spectators in honour of our National Anthem. Playback of National Anthem in theaters in India particularly in Assam, since years, has come to a grunting halt following exhibition of disrespect to the sacred song by the cine goers. But this initiative of the Mumbai cinema theaters is praise worthy. What is new about this presentation of National Anthem except the musical ornamentation put on lips of the maestros? I wondered. The obscurity began to diminish slowly from my mind and I started growing anxious with my heart pounding up and down. The state of my mind became so weak or I may say fragile as if something unwanted was going to happen or if I was going to miss something very dear. It was Lata, it was Asha, and then it was Pandit Jashraj and so on…. Every one lent his or her voice for the National Anthem. Then shall we not see our very dear the evergreen, the ever young heartthrob, the living legend of Assam, the Northeast in this picturization? This was what that dwindled the spirit of my mind but finally I won. Yes he was there participating in the presentation….He is our BHUPEN DA. My joy knew no bound and out of ecstasy I kissed my daughter hugging her tight.

North-East Cuisine-The Dilli Way

2011-06-03T13:24:00.000+05:30

After spending about a week with my daughter and son in law in Airoli, Navi Mumbai, I with my wife flew back to Guwahati via Delhi. The sole intention of this detouring was nothing but to visit Shri Gautam Das, Manager Shipping in IOCL, New Delhi in response to his ardent invitation. Shri Gautam Das, hails from Barpeta. Accordingly we landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi and moved onward to IOCL apartments at Gautam Buddha Nagar, Noida. The first thing that caught my attention is that Noida has become much greener now. When I first visited Noida in 1997 to attend Trade Union related training at VV Giri National Labour Institute, Noida there was nothing other than the very good roads, the demarcated plots of land and sparse residences in some sectors. However, the intention of this write up is something different.

Mrs Leena Das, wife of Shri Gautam, an employee of LICI at New Delhi is much fond of traveling. She was vivacious at our arrival and rather hastily planned to take us for a short tour to DILLI HAT by Metro Rail. Thus the next evening we started from Noida City Centre to Rajiv Chowk and then to INA station. One coming from Noida City Cetnre has to change one’s train at Rajiv Chowk to go to INA to be in Dilli Hat. Thus on 27^th May 2011 we all three arrived at Dilli Hat. Just after completion of security check I heard a young couple discussing about visiting the Meghalaya Stall for some food items I cannot exactly recall. We then moved ahead slow paced towards stalls from different states with a variety of items right from craftworks to eatables. There we saw three stalls from Assam. Two stalls of cane and bamboo items from Nalbari and Tezpur and the third one a Food Stall by Assam Tourism Department. Food Stalls were set up by Meghalaya and Manipur also. After an hour or so when we intended to eat something I insisted on visiting North East States stalls. So I first chose the Meghalaya Stall. Leena did not encourage me in this matter. But I went ahead and asked the boy in the stall in Khasi about what they can offer us to eat. The boy though put on a tribal look of North East he could not reply to my query as he did not know Khasi dialect. It did not disappoint me much. I then inquired in Hindi about any Khasi dish and the reason why he could not speak Khasi. But this time it was my turn to find a land to stand on beneath my feet. They let me know that no one of the staff was a Khasi and rather they are all from North India and Nepal. Then I proposed to visit the Food Stall by Assam Tourism Department. Leena became more obdurate this time and advised me to give up my intention. I too grew pigheaded and persuaded her that things might not be the same again. She was not wrong that day too. My wife enquired about the menu of that day and the working staff there pointed to a long glow signed display of items of which nothing was special in an Assamese way. When my wife and Leena asked about some Assamese cuisines they humbly expressed their inability and here too we were entertained with the same story of Non-Assamese staff, at least a single one. This is too much negligence and gross violation of norms for a Tourism Department to represent its own state’s culture on a national platform. It’s very sad to see that all of the North East Stalls had only common menus and none of the ethnic North Eastern delicacies while stalls from other states particularly the South Indians had a variety of their own cuisines to serve the visitors. Is this not another of one in a hundred examples of how we present ourselves in a very poor way and depict a distorted picture of ourselves? Every conscious North Easterner should take note of this point.

The North East at Haridwar

2011-05-14T08:56:00.000+05:30

There is hardly any need to explain about Haridwar to any Indian, particularly followers of Hinduism. Hairdwar, the doorway to Hari, the almighty is an important place of pilgrimage in India. But Haridwar has in recent times has been news maker for another reason. It is another location about 10 kilometers from Haridwar that makes sense. It is Patanjali Yogpeeth the unique creation of Baba Ramdevji. Besides being pilgrim site this Patanjali Yogpeeth is the one cause that has inspired me to write this story. Baba Ramdevji very often organizes Yog Shibir (Yoga Camp) for people of different states and places and following this tradition a mega camp was organized at Patanjali Yogpeeth for people of entire North East Region for four days with effect from 14^th November 2009. I with my wife and many friends attended the camp as Primary Yoga Teacher and as member of Bharat Swabhiman movement. It was indeed captivating scene to see the members from seven states of North East assembling together for a noble cause that is HEALTHY INDIA-CORRUPTION FREE INDIA. Though the whole session was so interesting two things left an imprint in my mind that can not be obliterated and they were-

1) Baba Ramdev’s comment on SriManta Sankardev

2) The cultural programme depicting North East India

Regarding point one I had to be, surprised about, at first, is the picture of Mahapurush Srimatna Sankardeva. He was placed with due honor in along other “ADHYATMIK GURUS” of India that one can see to the right of main hall and secondly his showering of thousand word in praise of Srimanta Sankardev. It was an exception to the attitude of other part of India having lackadaisical attitude towards North East. But Baba Ramdevji honoured him as Mahayogi and great reformer. Spontaneously my eyes became moist out of joy. We still hesitate to give this great saint his due honor still today. How ungrateful we are!

And regarding point two I must say that it was a fantastic programme that can hardly be expressed in words. Satriya Dances (Mati Akhora etc) and the great performance of BHORTAAL NRITYA by the team enthralled the audience. Baba Ramdevji himself was mesmerized, he expressed in his speech. Let’s keep it up.

Fear I bought for Rs1.50

2011-05-09T22:55:00.001+05:30

It was a very hot summer of July1982 in Guwahati. I just cannot recall the exact date. I was a trainee Ophthalmic Assistant at then Guwahati Medical College and Hospital, Panbazar (Now MM Choudhury Memorial Hospital). Like every other youth I also started my hunt for a job after passing my B.Sc. Examination. By then one of my friends who worked in Office of the Director of Public Health Services, Hengerabari, Guwahati, informed me that recruitment of some Ophthalmic Assistant Trainees had been underway at that office. But all these will be only stipendiary of Rs. 200.00 per month. It did make sense for me as that sum of money was not a paltry sum though not a hefty one. However I was selected for the post and started attending classes at Ophthalmology Department of GMCH. The memories are still green in my heart about the classed taken by Chatterjee Sir, (I liked best his lecture on Occulomotors), Patowary Sir (Pharmacology) etc etc. This 200 made me such a frugal brained that every paisa was utilized to its absolute value. To & fro city bus fare between Ganeshguri & Panbazar every day and a cup of tea with a small sweet in the canteen of PWD Office near GMCH. But things did not go smooth and in July 1982 I was almost penniless due to non release of stipend. I approached the office clerk at Dispur Secretariat. The gentleman across the table promised me the early settlement of the file and to my astonishment the gentleman got the release order signed the competent authority the day itself. I dropped a sigh of relief and intended to leave. But suddenly I was unable to find the ground beneath my feet as the person asked me to accompany him for a cup of tea. I thought “Is this man asking me sort of bribe?” Sweat started flowing down my feet thinking about the impending embarrassing situation. I rummaged my pocked and took a firm hold of the One Rupee note and the only 50 Paisa coin and walked along up to the canteen without a single word uttered. That posed a question of prestige before me when the gentleman ordered for two cups of tea and two big sweets (RASGOLLA).My throat choked and I could hardly swallow the sweet and the cup of tea. Now we are in front of the cash counter of the canteen inquiring the manager of the bill. I once again rummaged my pocket and felt the note and the coin which got moistened with my sweat. “What are you doing?” Something echoed very loud in my ear and woke up surprised. “I am paying the bill and not you”. I just pretended that I had money to pay the bill. The gentleman smiled at me and held a green five rupee note towards the cash counter. It’s a miracle and this time I started shivering as I was badly wet because of excessive sweating. Innumerable sneezing only could provide me warmth.

Protecting the seeds of future

2011-04-28T18:27:00.000+05:30

14^th April 2011. It was a cool afternoon on Thursday after a drizzle in BGR Township, IOCL, Dhaligaon, Assam. Everyone was heading to Nehru Park near Refinery Club cum Community Centre here. The interest was common; to attune the body and mind with Mukali Bihu competition at Nehru Park. The sounds of Pepa (the wind instrument made of buffalo horn) with the rhythm of Dhols started mesmerizing the spectators in the ground. Everything went joyous with the residents of this beautiful township. But everything was not fine with Shri Lakshmikanta Das. The devil already had chalked out a plan. His only son Ridip was not back home. Seconds, then minutes and finally hours trickled down the clock. Anxiety engrossed L K Das and his family as he was not able to trace his only son’s whereabouts. Yes, Ridip had gone missing and the latter part of the story is well imaginable. No one could save the life of this innocent boy who left his mother’s lap for another home above we do not see. The next couple days Assam witnessed two more incidents of killing by teenagers putting their playmate to eternal peace very untimely.

My topic is not about the tragic death of Ridip. We lost Ridip, a life or a seed of the future generation for ever and this is irreversible. I pray - Almighty keeps the departed soul in peace. But let us stop here and ponder a while about the counterpart involved in the death of Ridip. Two teenagers; aren’t we losing two more seeds of the future generation which have been the yield of today’s damaging environment and are on the road to hell. They, I consider, might not even be able to count how many zeros are needed after five to make it fifty lakhs rupees, the ransom they planned to demand from Ridips parents. Doubt crops up about their being smart to such a level to kidnap a boy for a ransom of fifty lakhs rupees. Yes, these are the fruits of our laxity and rather uncontrolled cravings towards indulgence where we see a nauseating & distorted image of the future society we are shaping for our kids as safe heaven where morality would be stranger and mortality a cheap merchandise. Is not every one of us accountable for this? To day we are so self-centred that we live in a state of euphoria where there is nothing to worry about what is going on around us and just live our own life the very nuclear family way. There is every possibility that these boys when come out of the juvenile correction camp will fall in wrong hands. The judicial system, whatever stringent measure it has in its hand, is still weak to handle these problems. I am not for sentencing these boys for rigorous punishment of but certainly I will advocate for stringent social bindings to forestall conditions that give rise to such atmospheres capable of alluring the juvenile section to commit crime of this magnitude.

The stark reality is that out of total population in India, not less than 50% is below the age group of 25 years. Let’s preserve these seeds of our future in a secured way. Or we may have to bring back East India Company once more and a new Mahatma Gandhi will simply be an impossible episode.

An Assamese culinary off the main track

2011-04-25T22:40:00.000+05:30

Herbal Mutton / Chicken Curry

One may call it a wild idea or a nauseating recipe for some food lovers. But I dared to make it satisfy my hubby the connoisseur to every cuisine that I prepare out of my fantasy or fascination to cooking. Every non-vegetarian is fond of Chili mutton or chili chicken or chicken curry with gravy etc etc. But has any gourmet ever thought of cooking mutton or chicken with herbs that too of medicinal value? If yes then he or she is most welcome. Let’s try it-

Serving for two persons

Ingredients:

Assamese Name Botanical Name Quantity

1)Manimuni leaves Centella asiatica 3TSF in Paste Form

2) Narasimha Murraya koenigii 3TSF in Paste Form

3) Bhedailata Hedyotis scandens 3TSF in Paste Form

4) 1 Big Garlic Paste Form

5) 1Big Onion Paste Form

6) Ginger 1TSF in Paste Form

7) Jeera (Cumin seed) powder 1 TSF

8) Green Chili 3 medium sized

9) Mutton/Chicken 500 gram

10) Mustard Oil 25 ml

11) Salt to taste

Procedure:

Heat the mustard oil in a nonstick pan. Then add green chillies which are split open to the hot oil. Also add some black pepper powder. Now pour the paste of garlic and the chopped onion on to the pan. When the mixture is brown and the smell is emanating add the mutton or the chicken as the choice may be. Stir the mixture until it becomes brown. Then add the jeera powder and black pepper powder to the mutton / chicken on the pan. Bring the flame sim and cover the pan for a while to get the mutton / chicken fried well. Stir occasionally. Now add the paste of the three herbs to the fried mutton / chicken and add hot water as per desired quantity. Then add the ginger paste cover the pan till it boil. After the water level is reduced to the desired level and the mutton or the chicken become soft then turn off the flame and serve hot.

BIHU AND THE NEO – ASSAMESE CULTURE

2011-04-25T21:21:00.000+05:30

From the Desk of Bitopan Das

1962. Bihu, for the first time, makes its way to the stage. The place was none other than the Latasil field in Guwahati, where the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani first brought Bihu into the urban life. Since then, the beats of Bihu have never ceased to reverberate in the Assamese cityscape.Since then there has been no looking back for Bihu celebrations in Assam. Bihu hasn’t remained still as a “Laru - Pitha” – making, “Bihuwan” –taking ceremony, nor as a celebration done under trees and near rivers alone. It has diversified itself into media aplenty, with stage shows, dance contests, soundtracks, and even fashion. This is where the Neo- Assamese culture kicks into prominence. Assam has been that one state which is game enough to experiment with the culture and the tradition that has prevailed from time eternity. It’s even heartening to see that the change is being orchestrated by the youth, and not only but the elderly.

The typical Assamese youth has always been game for Bihu. And as evident from the lyrics and the dance, Bihu has always been special to the youth. The lyrics symbolizing the advent of spring and the youthfulness of the nature that is associated with it and the expression of feelings and sensuality by dancing with the beats of the “Dhol” and the rhythm of the “Pepa” and the “Gagana” has always been the forte of this festival. And the new generation has kept the momentum of this festival alive in the blood and mind of the people, in an era where traditions and cultures are dying a slow painful death in the hands of superficial human advancement.

Schopenhauer rightly said, and I quote,

“Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal. “

The advent of “Bihutolis” in the typical Assamese society was itself a big change in the post-independence era. At that time, Bihu was a sellout festival in the villages. However, towns were bereft of the happiness, and the joyful celebrations that surrounded this majestic festival. The coming of Bihu songs sung by eminent singers and musicians of that time in uplifted stages, aptly named “Bihutoli” brought the fervour and the feel-good effect to the city. Bihu was now mobilized, and slowly, more towns and urban neighborhoods succumbed to its majestic celebrations. Not much later, Bihu-themed songs came to be sung in films and plays. The mobile theatre soon caught up with the trend and introduced songs and dances based on Bihu. And by the 70s, the Bihu was everywhere, omnipresent, and appeared utterly intent to hold on to the hearts of the Assamese people for the times to come. Soon came to existence an advanced analog media – the cassette recorder. Bihu songs that were heard only sporadically during Bohag or during occasional performances, now received a permanent place in the form of cassettes. The Neo- Assamese of those times started a revolution of sorts by introducing this technology in line with those used only in Bollywood and down South. And this was to continue long into the coming decades.

Indeed, the development of Bihu and all the associated things continued on a more intrinsic level. However, there wasn’t anything revolutionary in the 80s and the 90s that could keep the fire of joy burning among the people for long. By the end of the millennium, it was certain for the majority of the Assamese that the vigor associated with this festival is dying out. However, a new bunch of youngsters arose who came up with newer ideas and a belief to make it BIG in the scene using nothing but indigenous culture. Music Directors like Manash Rabin, Diganta Kalita , and singers like Zubeen Garg and Krishnamoni Nath were the first to take the plunge. Fresh from the successes in Assamese Pop (something that was new for the Assamese people), they all teamed up to create new Bihu songs based on themes of love, passion, and heartbreak. What was amazing to see, though, was their departure from the older styles of singing and music direction. Now Bihu “huchori” wasn’t just a 5-Note based song, it encompassed the entire octaves into it. Bihu now suddenly seemed more vibrant, more dance-oriented, and started receiving more playlist-time than ever before. Krishnamoni Nath was instrumental in bringing live performances to cassettes , thus furthering the euphoria of the people , who could relive those moments once again by playing back the recording again. Panning across to the world of fashion, suave attires made from traditional cloth came into limelight. In what was probably used earlier for only making “gamochas” and “mekhelas” , handloom cloth with ethnic designs was now being used to make Shirts and Punjabis, and the “mekhela chador” was literally revamped to cater to the newer generation, that was heavily into styles based on traditional and western fusions.

This was also a time when more and more Assamese youths readied themselves to explore the world. The early years of the New Millennium saw an exodus of Assamese youth to different parts of the country and abroad in search of greener pastures, and with that began a new era where the typical Assamese youth was just not intent to sit at home and enjoy what has always remained his, but was eager to man up, toil, and see the best and worst of cultures and traditions that abounded outside. However, music and fashion seemed to be the major agenda once again, and our motherland gained from the newer generations in having western elements like Rock, and Folk getting implemented in the regional Bihu-influenced music. Also came in among the fashion – savvy people, western attires heavily based on traditional designs borrowed from the hills and the plains alike , embroidered in exquisite Muga and Riha and much to the designers delight, they were welcomed with open hands.

But, midway into the first decade and beyond, things again began looking grim for the Assamese culture. This time though, it wasn’t about lack of new development. Rather, it was related to an excess of all things possible. While creating newer trends based on Bihu, creators were found going out of bounds quite a few times on grounds of decency, aboriginality, and culture preservation. A number of times, the Bihu lyrics became too obscene, too offensive, and littered with abuse. Bihutolis started getting frenzied in a degrading manner with liquor abuse becoming pretty prevalent on the celebrations. An example worth citing was the recent controversy created by Zubeen Garg’s Bihu track named “Bati Bhorai Chira Khabi”, whose lyrics created a massive uproar, especially among the womenfolk of Assam, crying out against the dawn of obscenity and indecency into Bihu. Fashion trends started malfunctioning and the thin line between dressing sense and a wardrobe malfunction started fading fast. The Bihu was in dire need of cleansing. It needed saviors to pull it from the lows it was in.

And it was saved. And impressively enough, it was the youth itself , who took to the task of rejuvenation of the old times, going to great depths of research to bring back things” that we lost in the fire” . Recent endeavours by the likes of Angaraag Mahanta , and Mayukh Hazarika and a host of other youth have been promising in a way. They have tried to bring in the traditional instruments that have diminished in status in the age of electronic music without entirely eliminating the technological aspect in mind. In fact, they have succeeded to very good extent in fusing older aspects with current technologies. Angaraag Mahanta is the man who is credited in the whole world for being a pioneer of a new genre named

”Folktronica”, that is a hybrid of folk and electronica. Newer groups like the North East Breeze have also gained popularity among the young and the old alike by their unique style of combining Assamese Borgeet , Lokogeet and Bihu with western rock , and Hindi lyrics. In their newest productions, one can essentially hear the great fusions of the Bihudhol , Khol and the Rock Drums, in what can be called “ The Best Of Both Worlds”.

It is the year 2010, and the fervor of Bihu among the Assamese is stronger than ever. And going on to the future, we are bound to experience a plethora of changes, both in the demographic and social sector, in which the youth of today will have a major role to play. Indeed, the traditional Assamese approach to life needs to be maintained as it forms the very identity of our motherland. However, with changing views and opinions, it is also necessary that we keep pace with the world and adapt ourselves to the conditions of the present day. Therefore, it only makes sense that the task of preserving and developing the “Bihu” culture for the future be safely handed over to the Generation Next.

The flora and fauna of Assam:: Episode-2

2011-04-25T16:44:00.000+05:30

In my earlier episode I wrote about the Golden Langur of Kakoijana forest near Abhayapuri town of Assam. The Golden langur is declared an endangered species found only in this forest of Kaoijana. In this episode I shall show you some clips of Butterflies found in the forests of Assam. Most of them in this video clip are found in Ultapani and nearby areas of Assam. Also I am going to show you one of the endangered birds “The Adjutent Stork”. These are rapidly disappearing from the nature for want of tall trees favorable for their breeding. At the same time vanishing of sources of their food has also added another dimension to their being endangered. I would like to thank one of my colleagues, Mr N.K. Dey, for these clips.

The End of Bohag Bihu at Barpeta

2011-04-23T09:25:00.000+05:30

Every Bohag, the first month of Assamese Calendar, people of Assam discarding their feeling of caste and creed and religious belief, rejoice to the fullest magnitude to welcome the New Year and to fill the life with zeal forgetting all misfortune and brushing aside all misgiving. Starting 15^th April (1^st Bohag), the weeklong celebration of Bohag Bihu ends with great Palnaam Kirtan traditionally in front of Barpeta Naamghar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barpeta). Thousands of devotees throng the spot to offer Molasses and get blessings. This year too there is no exception and I could not afford to miss this opportunity as the day coincided with my weekly rest day after a week’s duty. So I took my HOVERCRAFT (Maruti 800 car) out of garage, my only son Bitopan, a student of 1^st year MBBS in Gauhati Medical College, has given the name to it, and drove straight to Barpeta with my wife Sailaja. By 5.30 PM, I discovered there, it was a sea of devotees and I made no delay to buy a packet of Molasses to offer at the designated place (A Big Sharai) and bowed my head before the almighty. Entering inside the premises I could recall my childhood days roaming in this Kirtanghar campus and moved around. This time I was a bit lucky that I almighty offered me this special chance to record an interview of Satradhikar Sri Bashishtha Sarma, simultaneously with NETV personnel about the significance of the Palnaam hold each year. Let’s see what he said in the following video clip.

The Taste of Conquest

2011-04-13T10:58:00.000+05:30

There is a saying that every good thing is surrounded by some bad things. Most like a nucleus in the atom as surrounded by the electrons because it contains as many positive charges (or positive power in other word) to combat the sum total negativity of the electrons (or the negative power in other word) and because it is the contrast that makes the GOOD glitter. Likely as we cannot define light if there is no darkness or we cannot feel the thrill of joy if there is no grief or sadness. Thus the taste of any good thing, call it a good lunch, a good movie or a good sport, cannot be enjoyed if we are not frenziedly desirous of that. Such is the experience of the people of India in the recent episodes of Cricket World Cup Final in Mumbai, Anna Hazare in Jantar Mantar, Delhi and Akhil Gogoi in Guwahati, Assam. It is needless to say that these are all victories of Indians in different arena. But to my opinion the later two have a different dimension added to. In World Cup Cricket we have gained victory over another country in a sporty manner where one is not considered to have enemy (In sport we do not see enemy, we see only sportsmanship). But the victory what the people of India has won under the captaincy of Anna Hazare and Akhil Gogoi is against the enemy within us. The magnitude of such a victory is sky-high. We cannot afford to miss it. The corruption in the country as went unabated like unleashed mad dogs started eating up from within like the offspring of a crab eating up their mother. Had there been no Anna Hazare or Akhil Gogoi to come up with the issue to protect the interest of the future generation we perhaps would’ve had to become the mother crab.

2011-04-12T10:33:00.000+05:30

The flower Naagchampa has an amazing shape and fragrance. If one looks closely at it will find a striking resemblance to the shape of a cobra (Naag in India) and the fragrance is mesmerizing.

2011-04-12T09:04:00.000+05:30

The Flora and Fauna of Assam

2011-04-11T20:58:00.000+05:30

This specie is declared as an endangered one. It is found in forests of Western part of Assam, mostly in Kakoijana forest. Kakoijana is situated in Bongaigaon District of Assam. The locals deserve the credit in preserving the Golden Langur with nature activists and NGOs.

Protecting nature with its inhabitants is like protecting the future of our next generation