Borderline neglect lures residents to neighbour

Abdul Gani

Dimoria: For those residing near the Assam-Meghalaya border in Dimoria, some 50 odd km from the state capital, a tiny river called Ampri is no less than a curse, even though it does not blow up in the rainy seasons to devour their dwelling places and agricultural lands.

Village women collect firewood. Pic: Abdul Gani 

According to many here, it is the border between “hell” and “heaven”. And that’s why they want to shift their allegiance to the other side – “heaven”.

“Once you cross the river, you will find basic facilities required for a man – from pure drinking water to healthcare facilities. These amenities are available in Meghalaya, but on this side of the border we are suffering like hell,” any angry villager told Seven Sisters Post on the border line.

In yet another incident likely to bring embarrassment to the state government, residents of 14 more villages in the area under Dispur legislative assembly constituency (LAC) are planning to shift their loyalty to Meghalaya. Earlier, on February 19 this year, villagers of Garbhanga area too had decided to join Meghalaya after failing to get their basic facilities from the Assam government.

In a meeting held on March 16, village headmen of Upper Killing, Barkasharang, Bandorgog, Pesamhuru, Basorbong, Marlap, Markang and others decided to give the district administration 15 days time to take initiative for improving their living standards.

“Since our birth, we have been breathing the air of Assam and voting for the candidates of Dispur LAC, but no one bothered to develop our area. We are living in a very pathetic condition and feel saddened whenever we see our neighbours in Meghalaya enjoying the facilities provided by their government,” rued Ramesh Teron, a village headman.

Women of the village collect water from a well inside a school campus. Pic: Abdul Gani

“So, we thought it’s better to be with them, if our government has no time to look after us,” he added. These villages have around 15, 000 voters and about 22 km from the nearest pucca road. In case of any medical emergency, they have to travel over the hilly terrains. There are three primary health centres (PHCs) for 14 villages which do not have proper facilities.

“One rural health practitioner was appointed here, but he had to leave as we do not have the facility for delivering babies here due to non-availability of water and electricity,” said one of the nurses at Kalangpur subhealth centre. “We refer emergency cases to Sonapur,” she added.

But seeing the pathetic condition of the link road to Sonapur, it can be assumed that the patient would undergo a tough time till he finally lands at Sonapur. “The roads are not completed. Though funds were allotted for various schemes, their implementation ended with signboards. However, just on the other side of the Ampri river, people have smooth roads, water supply facilities to every households and health centres with medicines and doctors,” said Bishnu Nandan Teron, Amri Karbi Students’ Union (AKSU) general secretary.

A part of the Ampri river. Pic: Abdul Gani

However, such a decision has still not been able to force local representative Akon Bora to come and visit those who voted him for two consecutive times. “He only comes here before elections and make plenty of promises, but he forgets them soon,” alleged another villager. It may be mentioned here that Assam and Meghalaya have disputes along their border. (Seven Sisters Post)

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Assam Valley Literary award to Purobi Bormudoi

Abdul Gani

Purobi Bormudoi (pix: Bitopan Borborah)

Guwahati: Eminent author of the state Purabi Bormudoi was awarded prestigious Assam Valley Literary Award for the year 2011 for her immense contribution to the literature and society of the state in a gracious evening on Friday in the city.

The 62 year old Sahitya Akademi award winning author who was on wheel chair due to prolonged illness thanked the Williamson Magor Education Trust who has been giving this award in the field of literature for the last 21 years, for the award.

“I thank the Williamson Magor Education Trust and convey my regards to all those associated with the Assam Valley Literary Award and to the predecessors who have won this award,” Ananda Bormudoi, Purabi Bormudoi’s husband read out her feelings in a written statement.

Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay, a renowned named in Bengali literature formally handed over the award.

“I’m a worker in the field of literature and culture and I consider writing in Assamese my privilege. I remember with gratitude those who have built the foundation of Assamese literature and language. The language is today rich enough to express difficult thoughts in literature, philosophy and science,” her statement added.

Her talents as a writer was recognized when she won the second prize in All Assam short story compilation titled ‘Eta Xapor Palayan’ at the age of 19. Since then she kept on developing as a short story writer. Purobi Bormudoi was born in on May 8 in 1950 at Dewrigaon in Tezpur.

“We are fortunate to be honouring one of our literary icons, Purobi Bormudoi, a novelist without peer. The myth, legend and history of Tezpur had a profound influence on her and she carried this bond further. Though I’m not competent to give a learned discourse on her virtues as a writer, her deeds as a writer and as a human being have empowered us all to dream of a happy and peaceful co-existence of human and nature,” said R S Jhawar on behaf of the Williamson Magor Education Trust addressing the gathering.

Bormudoi’s original, introspective, intriguing and sublime novel, ‘Xantanukulananda’ written in 2005 brought her widespread admiration and the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award in 2007. So far, she has five novels, ten short novels and more than 100 short stories.

“She always feels the need for women’s education so that they can liberate themselves from their dependence on men and she makes this belief pertinent in some of her novels and stories with deft use of symbols and images,” Jhawar added.

In her novel Baghjal aru Manuh the trapped tigress is a metaphor of a discriminated and marginalized Assamese woman. Another novel ‘Rupuwali Noir Xunuwali Ghat is probably the longest ever Assamese novel with 101 characters set in the 19th century Assam.

The award comprises cash award, a scroll of honour and a specially designed golden trophy designed by renowned artist Sobha Brahma who recently passed away. 

(Published in Seven Sisters Post on March 24, 2012)

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Adil Hussain hopeful with ‘Agent Vinod’

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: Assam boy Adil Hussain who plays ‘Colonel’ in Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Agent Vinod’ has high hopes of his latest film which is scheduled to release on March 23. Talking to Seven Sisters Post, the actor who recently concluded shooting of Ang Lee’s ‘Life of Pi’ advocated for proper market for the survival of Assamese films.

Adil as Colonel (credit: Bollywoodlife)

Adil Hussain would be seen along with Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Gulshan Grover, Prem Chopra and others in ‘Agent Vinod’ which is being directed by Sriram Raghavan.

“I’m a bad guy in Vinod Agent. I’m international mercenary who can be hired.  I am working for someone who is an arms’ dealer in global market as I’m asked to fill up the requirements. That much I can tell u so far,” Hussain told Seven Sisters Post.

Though the film which is produced by Saif Ali Khan and Dinesh Vijan was to be released on January 25 but rescheduled to be released on March 23.

“Expectations are very high. Everybody has worked very hard and let’s hope people would like it. But I do not know till I saw the movie myself. I cannot say...,” Hussain said who was born and brought up in Goalpara district before he moved to National School of Drama (NSD).

Adil who has earned a name in theatre across the globe even before in stepped into films also expressed satisfaction working with Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor in this film.

“They are extreme co –workers and especially Saif coming from such a background – Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore, they know it very well what is mehmaan and hospitality. They took extreme care of me. And so is Kareena,” said the actor who is currently busy in shooting ‘Lutera’ of Vikramaditya Motwani which is scheduled to release in October this year.

Besides, his several films including ‘English Vinglish’, ‘Bombay’s Most Wanted’ and ‘Lessons in Forgetting’ are to be released within this year.

Ang Li’s ‘Life of Pi’ in which Adil would be seen in a major role is also scheduled to release in December 21 this year.

He, however, advocated for proper markets for the development of Assamese cinema.

“The scenario of regional cinema is Kerala is quite well. I was surprised to see the facility of film viewing there. It was never like in Assam,” said Adil who has won the best actor award for his performance in Italo Spinelli’s ‘Gangor’ at the New Jersey independent South Asian Film Festival.

“You have to have a market first of all to sell your product or to reach to the targets for whom you have made the thing,” he added.

Adil Hussain at Rome Film Festival in 2011

He said that the government of the private sector should take initiatives in setting up halls across the state so that people can come out and watch cinema.  

“People are willing to watch films. The VCDs are doing well. If there is good market the filmmakers in Assam would be encouraged to take new projects,” he said.

He also expressed his grief at the recent development in which an Assamese film ‘Ekhon Nedekha Nodir Xhipare’ was rejected for Best Assamese film by the jury members of the National Award for having too much Hindi and English dialogues in the film.

“It’s a sad incident. Such issues should be solved to prevent similar incidents,” he said.

After his days at NSD he did a brilliant job as Othello in ‘Othello: A play in Black and White’ which won laurels across the globe. Besides being a visiting faculty at the NSD in New Delhi, he also teaches acting at Drama School in Amsterdam, Royal Conservatory of Performing Arts in The Hague, and Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. 

(Published in Seven Sisters Post on March 21)

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Menaka PP Bora at Oxford Literary Festival

Abdul Gani

Guwahati, March 15: Renowned classical dancer and choreographer of the state Menaka PP Bora has been selected by University of Oxford to present a lecture-performance entitled ‘Dance, Gestures and Manuscripts’ at the prestigious The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival.

The Oxford ethnomusicologist and award-winning dance artist Menaka PP Bora will be presenting an innovative lecture-performance drawn from academic research on Bodleian Sanskrit manuscripts, including a rare 16th-century version of 'Srihastamuktavali' text and classical performance traditions of India on March 25.

Some examples of the Sanskrit manuscript collection will also be on display to accompany the lecture-performance.

While, reputed Indian author Vikram Seth will present the Oxford University Chancellor's lecture at the festival.

The annual festival takes place in some of the most historic colleges of Oxford University and reflects the great traditions of scholarship, research and discourse that have distinguished Oxford in so many fields over the centuries.

This year the festival has invited selected world class authors and public speakers from around the world to discuss literatures and cultures of the global community.

Menaka’s research paper, ‘Srihastamuktavali and Dance: A contemporary study of a 16^th century Sanskrit manuscript on gestures’ will be published by The Bodleian Library Record, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Oxford University Press.

Besides, she has been elected a Fellow of the highly prestigious Royal Asiatic Society in London. Bora is currently conducting ethnomusicological research of Assamese classical performance traditions as a Wingate Scholar-Artiste at Faculty of Music, University of Oxford after winning Wingate Scholarships in the UK and national Sangeet Natak Akademi Yuva Puraskar in Sattriya dance.

Menaka is one the very few artistes who have successfully combined academic research with practice based dance research to develop a contemporary global language of Indian classical performing arts.

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Sobha Brahma no more

Abdul Gani

Guwahati: The creator of ‘Virgin Forest’, ‘Swimmers’, ‘Women Eater’ and several others Sobha Brahma is no more. The magical painter and sculptor breathed his last at the age of 83 at the Hayat hospital in the city on Monday.

photo credit: odishatv.in

He was suffering from heart-related illness from a long time. He was rushed to the hospital after his deteriorated in the early hours on Monday but finally at around 3 pm he bid the final good bye.

Brahma left behind a son, two daughters and wife Bijoya Brahma besides a host of admirers and relatives.

Brahma who was born on October 19 in the year 1929 in Dumoka in Gosaigaon in Kokrajhar district went a long way to make a mark in the world of painting and sculpture. He also voiced against the social evils through his works.

From the day to day murders to rape to the Afghan wars his brush knew no limits to stand for a cause.

His ‘Virgin Forest’ and ‘Swimmers’ portrayed the childhood days which were spent in the midst of greenery. His observation to every human being was very close which could be seen in his works.

He felt that Women and Nature shares a common relation. “Like nature, women too continue their lives bearing the pain and agony in them,” he once said. ‘Release’, ‘Aftermath’, ‘Joan of the Arch’, ‘Women Eater’ etc are some of his well known paintings which reflect the life of women in our society. “We kill the things, we love,” he had said of his painting ‘Women Eater’.

His love for the people of his native land was immense and he always tried to serve in the best possible manner.

“He was more than just a painter or sculptor, he was a devotee of art and culture. He is an ideal for the generations to come. He loved the people of his community and always did his best to serve them,” noted painter and filmmaker Pulok Gogoi told Seven Sisters Post.

Besides, painting he also authored a number of books which includes ‘Shilpokolar Nabajanmo’ (Assamese), ‘Gwdan Uji’ (Bodo), ‘Bharatiya Chitrakola’ (Translation) and others. He also gave the taste of Ravindra Sangeet to the Bodo people by translating the songs of Ravindranath Tagore into Bodo.

“I have deep respect for him. May his soul rest in peace,” Gogoi added. He was the founder of the Art and Craft College in Guwahati which he established after his return from Shantiniketan in 1957.

He was well admired and respected by his contemporaries and juniors for his for-sightedness. During the 1960s, when no one tried to follow the western way of painting, he created several master pieces in oil painting. During his lifetime he had won numerous awards including Asom Shilpi Divas award, Kamal Kumari Barua award, Bishnu Rabha award, Ang Khong Trust Committee award, Promod Chandra Brahma literary award and several others.

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi expressed his condolences at Brahma’s demise saying that the state has lost a figure who dedicated his life to help the society moving forward.

“His works have been able to create a healthy environment for art-culture and its research in the state besides founding the government Art and Craft College in the state,” said Tarun Gogoi.

“It’s a great loss to the state,” he added.

Various Bodo organization and Political leaders including BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary too condoled over the demise Sobha Brahma. Mohilary has declared a local holiday on Tuesday in the council area to mourn his demise.

He also urged the government to preserve Brahma’s works for the generations to come. “It’s a great loss to the society. His works should be preserved so that the generations to come can see and understand the value. The cultural department should come forward in this regard. If they fail to do so, BTC would do the needful itself,” said Mohilary.

The BTC Chief also said that the Bodoland and Assam as a whole have lost a great artist. Bodo Sahitya Sabha General Secretary, Kamala Kanta Muchahary, Jiron Basumatary, General Secretary of All Bodo Students Union too mourned the demise of Brahma who was associated with various art institutions and society.

While, Brahma’s last rites were performed at Bhootnath cremation ground on Tuesday in Guwahati.

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Indian one horned Rhino at Pobitora

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