Society / Assam

DIBRUGARH, February 11: Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta today called upon the state's apex literary body, the Asam Sahitya Sabha to take on the role of a coordinating body among the ethnic literary organisations of the Northeast, saying this would go a long way in achieving the Sabha's theme of unity in diversity. He said such a coordination move would not create any conflict, rather it would help in better understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses, and also help in arriving at lasting solutions. "Two persons may speak different languages, but feeling are the same, and this...

DIBRUGARH, February 10: His shaking hands hold a few copies of a novel as he moves around the Sahityarathi Kshetra, pleading with people to buy a copy. "You will enjoy reading this book, I can assure you that," he tells prospective buyers. Lakhi Mahanta has been visiting the Sahitya Sabha venue these days with copies of Chinaki Ghator Suryauday, a novel authored by him. Mahanta has two novels to his credit, apart from 18 plays and a few radio plays. His radio play, Juge Juge Dodhishi, fetched him the national award in 1987. The 60-year-old writer fell into bad times after retiring as a teacher...

GUWAHATI, February 10 : The second full-length Karbi language feature film, Rongbin, the shooting for which has been completed, is expected to be released in March next. Directed by the late Gautam Chatterjee, the film is based on a story depicting Karbi rituals and traditional beliefs. The film is produced by Ramsing Timung, an upcoming Karbi businessman, a press release informs.

GUWAHATI, February 10: The confusion over the mysterious absence of noted Indologist from Sweden William Smith from the 66th session of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, being held at Dibrugarh, cleared a bit today with the scholar attributing his absence to a throat infection that apparently forced him to return to Guwahati 'for rest'. There however, are still a few questions that remain unanswered. The Stockholm University Professor, who was supposed to be the chief guest at the open session yesterday, failed to turn up raising several questions. According to media reports, the members of the...

GUWAHATI, February 10: Nirod Choudhury, the journalist as well as writer, who dominated Assamese journalism and literature for about four decades between the 1960s and 1990s with his inimitable style and prolificity, is no more. According to family sources, the end came around 2.45 pm today at his wife Indira Choudhury's MMC Hospital doctor's quarter here. He was 65. The lone son of businessman late Chanaram Choudhury and late Sabitri Choudhury of Doomdooma Choudhury fell seriously ill in February last year due to prolonged illness caused by diabetes and kidney related ailments. He was...

DIBRUGARH, February 9: Homen Borgohain formally assumed charge of the Asam Sahitya Sabha today and spoke out his mind in issues staring at the premier literary organisation. To begin with, the noted journalist and writer said he believes that the State is in no dearth of talent to fetch out promising writers, and stressed that under his presidentship, the Sabha would strive to bring out as many new writers as possible. Addressing the first open session of the 66th session of the Sabha at the Sahityarathi Kshetra here this afternoon, Borgohain spoke at length on the strengths and weaknesses of...

NALBARI, February 7: The 27th session of the Bebak Rabha Khaurang Runchum (All Rabha Sahitya Sabha) held at Kalaguru Bishnu Rabha Pathar of Tamulpur concluded on Monday after a four-day-long programme. On the concluding day the Bishnu Rabha pathar, the venue of the Sabha session turned into a sea of humanity as more than 15,000 people attended the Sabha session. The second open session of the 27th All Rabha Sahitya Sabha was held in the afternoon which was presided over by Jagat Kama, president of All Rabha Sahitya Sabha. Addressing the meeting as chief guest, Rekha Rani Das Boro, Minister of...

GUWAHATI, February 7: The State Fire Service Organisation which will have to play a major role in rescue operation besides fire fighting in the event of a mega earthquake rocking the State located in seismically high sensitive Northeast India, is not adequately equipped to face such a challenge. However, it will not be prudent to blame the department for the shortcoming. With its limited resources, it is simply not possible for the department to equip itself with sophisticated equipment to remain prepared for exigency in the wake of an earthquake which is predicted to rock the state any day...

GUWAHATI, February 6: There is no point in being scared that the development of ethnic languages and literatures will rob the Assamese language and its literature of the vitality, but contrary to it Assamese language and literature will gain more from such developments. It is high time the Asam Sahitya Sabha should realise it and engage itself more in the development of languages and literatures of the State's ethnic groups, said president-elect of the Asam Sahitya Sabha Homen Borgohain here today. Borgohain, an eminent litterateur-cum-journalist, who was addressing a function at the Guwahati...

JORHAT, February 5: Ever cared to horse around on a saddle-less pony? More so, spurning it on to gallop at full speed? Out of this world and dangerous though it may seem for most, it is but child's play for the hardy and skilful Mishing jockeys in and around Jorhat, adept as they are at manoeuvring these 'biological running machines' as per their whims and fancies. Trained to obey their master command through lightning-fast reflexes in the form of toe and heel twitches which are 'invisible' for normal onlookers, these 'local rodeos' can be seen performing as the annual Jorhat Races 2001...