Lethal games of hide and seek

Abdul Gani Photojournalist Altaf Qadri recounts his tale of survival amidst military strikes of Gaddafi loyalists, defensive rebel gun-showers and unfeeling NATO airstrikes Altaf Qadri during one of his assignments abroad. The infighting in Libya between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government has seen several journalists being kidnapped and killed since 2011. One of the luckiest survivors was award-winning Associated Press photo journalist Altaf Qadri of Jammu & Kashmir who was reported missing on April 9 in 2011 while covering the civil war leaving all his fellow journalists and...

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Saraighat completes 50 glorious years

Abdul Gani Guwahati: It was an emotional yet proud evening for these gentlemen who cherished the hard labour they put into creating a milestone in the history of the country. Meet Swarn Singh and his colleagues as they stood on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra with the gorgeous Saraighat bridge in front of them which completed 50 glorious years of its service to the people of India, on Tuesday. Assam Chief minister deliver lecture near the bridge. Pic: Subhamoy Bhattacharjee “It is a lifetime achievement. We are proud of what we have done. We can confidently say that it will serve another 100 and more years without any trouble,”...

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Bard has bigger fan-following in Bengal: Lyricist

Abdul Gani Guwahati: Legendary singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika never had a dearth of listeners but his image surpassed popular imagination in neighbouring West Bengal, claimed noted Bengali lyricist Mintu Mukherjee. The veteran musician, who is credited with translating the bard’s songs in Bengali, was in Guwahati to pay tribute to Bhupenda on his first death anniversary on Monday. “Jekhane phul phute/ seikhane baroder gondhoke ghrina kora ek mon/ sei bidrohi mon take jatio smoron/dite hobe tar dam/ shardha bhalobasai dilam pronam,” the lines came out spontaneously, as Mukherjee sat on the courtyard of the balladeer’s residence in Nizarapar...

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Dekas of Sonapur grow money on trees, encourage others to follow suit

Abdul Gani Sonapur : If somebody had said that money doesn’t grow on trees, you will say he must be lying – after you meet Hareswar Deka of Upper Tepesia village in Sonapur area, some 35 km from Guwahati, in Kamrup district. A retired state government official, Deka has proved by dint of his intelligence and hard work that money indeed grows on trees. And his money now grows on his rubber trees. Hareswar Deka at his plantation. Pic: Abdul Gani Deka has set an example how economic progress can be achieved in rural areas of the state through rubber plantations in a systematic way. “I’m quite satisfied now with the money I’m...

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