Going to China? Take the ‘still well’ road

Abdul Gani Guwahati: Imagine a trip to China through an all-weather road winding its way through undulating hills and valleys of the Eastern Himalayas. The distance? Just 400 kms. That is, less the distance by road from Guwahati to Dibrugarh. A new documentary by a film-maker duo of Assam has documented a little-known road, which stretches from Tinsukia to Rima in China and can become the shortest link with the Communist giant. The most important part is that the road is ready to use, barring a few kms. Filmmaker Mrinal Talukdar and Suman Dev Choudhury have documented this route in a 26-minute documentary, Road to China, produced...

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Namaste London: Assam dancer set for Olympic show

Abdul Gani Guwahati: When the curtains go up on the ‘greatest show on earth’ in London on July 25, an Assam-born dancer is all but set for her grandest performance in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. The twinkle-toed Sonali Acharjee — a Guinness record-holder Odissi dancer born and brought up in Assam — revealed here on Thursday that the Olympic organisers have contacted her for a possible performance during the opening ceremony. Sonali’s name is written in the Guinness Book of World Records for dancing over 25 hours at a stretch. She was born in Hailakandi in Barak Valley but is a resident of Hyderabad now after her marriage....

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Orchids face extinction threat in Assam

Abdul Gani Guwahati: Orchids are found in large numbers in the entire Indo-Burma Bio diversity hotspot that includes the northeastern region, including Assam. But, unfortunately, due to lack of proper preservation and documentation, the precious species are facing the threat of extinction. According to official records, altogether 200 species of orchids are found in Assam, while 800 to 1000 species are found in the entire Northeast. “Among others, the fast destruction of habitat areas and indiscriminate collection are the prime reasons why it is facing the threat. If necessary actions are not taken by the government, may be in the next...

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Dispur snubs Olympian pugilist Shiva Thapa

Abdul GaniGuwahati: Fresh from earning an Olympic berth, Assam’s young hero with a golden punch Shiva Thapa returned home to a hero’s welcome on Sunday, but an insensitive Dispur did not even have the courtesy of sending a representative to receive the pugilist. But that’s not all.  Ever since, Thapa started flooring his opponents and making headlines, the state government has announced a series of cash awards for the boxer but has forgot to release a single penny till now. Till date, the government owes around Rs 20 lakh to the youngster, who has become the toast of the state. Not that Thapa has any complaints. Like a true sportsman, Shiva...

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Shiva Thapa returns home

Abdul GaniGuwahati: It was not just another day on Sunday as country’s boxing sensation Shiva Thapa landed at the Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport after booking a berth for the 2012 London Summer Olympics in style. Later, the moment became emotional as he along with his first coach Amar Deka, went to the place from where the journey had began a decade ago at the Ulubari Boxing Club on Sunday. Shiva Thapa dances during a felicitation programme at Ulubari Boxing Club in Ghy. Pic: Bitopan Borbora “I am so happy to be here. It’s a feeling like returning home after so many days,” said an emotional Shiva as he paid tributes...

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Hollywood sound affair for Assam lad

Abdul Gani Guwahati: After young pugilist Shiva Thapa confirmed his space at the London Summer Olympics, another Assam guy Debajit Changmai has signed for a Hollywood flick to be directed by Meera Nair on Wednesday, April 11. Debajit Changmai, a national award winning sound mixer from Sivasagar of Assam was signed by Mira Nair for her latest venture ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ based on an award winning novel by Mohsin Hamid by the same name which features several big names of Hollywood. “It’s a major break for me. I think it came at the right time. My hard work is paid off,” an elated Debajit told Seven Sisters Post from Mumbai after he...

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Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy enthralls Guwahati

Abdul Gani Guwahati: It was a night meant for peace and harmony and the medium to attain it was music. The ‘messengers of peace’ for the night had come all the way from Mumbai to Sarusajai Stadium in the city. Har ghadi badal rahi hai roop zindagi, Chaav hai kahhi hai dhoop zindagi, Har pal yahan jee bhar jiyo, Jo hai sama, kal ho na ho…… this is how it began as Shankar Mahadevan of the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio paid tribute to departed Assam musician Charu Gohain on stage in front of a 10,000-strong crowd. “He made people happy by writing and composing music. We salute his efforts. May his soul rest in peace,” Mahadevan said. The...

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Men always afraid of the strength of women: Waris Dirie

Abdul GaniWARIS MEANS Desert Flower, a flower that can bloom even in the roughest climate. Waris Dirie is a nomadic child from Somalia and a mother of two beautiful sons. She is a human rights activist, a supermodel, and a best-selling author who has received numerous prestigious awards for her work and her commitment in the fight against female genital mutilation. Waris Dirie was born in 1965 into a nomad family living in the region of Gallcaio, in the Somali desert near the border to Ethiopia. At the tender age of five, she underwent the inhuman procedure of genital mutilation (FMG- Female Genital Mutilation). This horrible tradition is still...

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Charu Gohain no more

Abdul GaniGuwahati: Even as Bohag is on its arrival, the romantic man is no more to invite his beloved ‘Bohagote Aahibi Senai Oi’ during the spring. Charu Gohain, the man who created a weave of Romanticism with his songs and lyrics breathed his last at around 10.45 am at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) at the age of 61 on Saturday (March 7, 2012) leaving thousands of his fans shattered. He was suffering from liver infection for a long time. GMCH superintendent Ramen Talukdar told Seven Sisters Post that the singer was admitted on February 24. “On April 5 he was shifted to ICU as his health deteriorated,” he said. Charu Gohain...

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May not be in assets, but rich in currency

Abdul Gani Guwahati: He is neither Tata nor Ambani but this gentleman probably has more currencies than the billionaires. Meet Anuj Kumar Barua who has as many as 250 currency notes and 300 coins from across the globe under his grasp, if not in his wallet but certainly in his albums. Anuj Kumar Barua with one of his collections. Pic: Abdul Gani Starting from the centuries old coins of the Arabian countries to Europe to Latin America, Africa and to our very own pre-Ahom era, he has the rarest of coins in his tally. “I had no idea that I would end up collecting so much when I started sometimes around in late 1960s. I did it as a hobby,” Anuj...

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Men always afraid of the strength of women: Waris Dirie

Men always afraid of the strength of women: Waris Di...

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Samiran Barua finally arrives

Abdul GaniGuwahati: Finally the much hyped Samiran Barua arrived in the state. Young director Praduyt Kumar Deka’s ‘Samiran Barua Ahi Aase’ based on Manoj Kumar Goswami’s story which is released state-wide on Friday, March 30, with mixed reactions of the viewers. Poster of the film “To give some other’s story visual effect is really tough. I have found his attempt towards the film is good and refreshing. But the execution is not mature enough,” said noted film critic Chandan Sharma. “I think the story is not 100 per cent justified in the reel version. He is still a young director and he will learn the craft with his experience in the days...

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