GPlus Vol 4 Issue 34

Climatic conditions of Guwahati alarming; rising trends in temperature

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World Day Against Child Labour only on calendar as menace still exists PG 09

Centre’s beef ban notification not to affect Guwahati

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VOLUME 04 | ISSUE 34 JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017 PRICE `10

City floods wash away tall govt claims Kalyan Deb kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

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onsoon showers lashed Guwahati on Tuesday last with a prolonged cloud burst that submerged the entire city throwing its life out of gear. Along with it came a panic wave that swept the city’s denizens following the Assam State Disaster Management Authority’s (ASDMA) warning; chances of more artificial floods in several localities of Guwahati would remain with heavy rains predicted in the region. With heavy showers pouring since Monday evening, denizens residing in flood-prone areas of the city continue to spend sleepless nights as the possibility of artificial floods looms large in the city. Guwahati city faced an unprecedented rainfall of 80-100 mm in just about 10 hours only during the day-time causing

widespread inundation of the entire city on 13th June.

The swirling flood waters submerged homes in areas such as Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Lachit Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP Road, RGB Road, Rajgarh Road, Jorabat, Lamb Road, Chatribari etc.

The effect of the floods was also reflected in the snarled up traffic movement where vehicles could be seen negotiating mile-long bumper-to-bumper queues on the arterial and connecting roads of the city following heavy water-logging.

Among the worst affected were office-goers, students, daily wage earners and others who had to wade through streets which resembled massive water bodies. Many vehicles had engine failure while trying to navigate through flooded stretches.

The arrival of monsoon severely affected around Continued on page 03

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Lead Story

City teachers not yet sensitised on corporal punishment consequences

With the education department not yet taking any steps to train teachers on the effects of corporal punishment, the sensitisation of teachers on the issue is a must and a child rights committee in every school is the need of the hour Rahul Chanda

child rights, corporal punishment and its consequences? She said that it is the government which should educate the teachers about it, but it has failed to. G Plus tried to talk to the authorities to know if they are doing anything.

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

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city based private school teacher, talking to G Plus in anonymity, said that while corporal punishment is banned in schools there are still teachers who mete out physical punishment to students. The teacher also asserted that at times it becomes difficult to control the students. Hence, a certain amount of pressure has to be applied so that discipline is maintained. The teacher also added that in schools teachers don’t want to simply beat up students but at times they are compelled to do so.

With all the recent laws, the teachers these days are rather apprehensive about handling their students.

It is obvious that some kind of discipline has to be maintained but other than corporal punishment which is considered a crime as per the law and this fact stressed on by NGOs, what are the options? Are the city teachers trained to deal with the students without indulging in corporal punishments? Is the government doing something to create any kind of awareness among the teachers to avoid corporal punishments? Why do the incidents of corporal punishments not get reported? G Plus tries to analyse the scenario.

The concern Miguel Das Queah, founder of the NGO, UTSAH, talking to G Plus said, “I have been working in slums for many years. It was an uphill task for us to rescue working children, mainstreaming them into formal education and ensuring retention. On several occasions, these children would come up to me to express their desire of dropping out. Upon probing, I found that corporal punishment and various forms of psychological aggression were rife in these government schools. Narratives of a teacher hitting a child till the ruler broke are common amongst these children. Indiscriminate hollering, pulling of ears, public ridiculing for not being able to purchase a school uniform and shoes etc. are forms of harassment children often faced in school.”

Talking to G Plus further, he said that even in many private schools of the city such punishment exists.

He said that teachers do not know

The authorities

Representative photo of corporal punishment

the medical condition of any child.

They are also not aware of the domestic background of the child and when the teachers behave in such manner, the child’s mental health gets affected tremendously. He also said that in this day and age, when the discourse around the human rights of children are on the frontline of national and international affairs, it is surprising that teachers should resort to

Corporal punishment and various forms of psychological aggression are rife in government schools Miguel Das Queah, founder, UTSAH violations. According to him the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015, Guidelines of the Ministry of Woman and Child Development, the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights and the Indian Penal Code, on principle and otherwise, prohibit any form of physical or psychological punishment to children. He said that even in reputed schools of Guwahati like Don

Bosco, Panbazar teachers resort to corporal punishments and the parents who come to know about it are not willing to confront the issue for fear of their children’s education being affected. He asserted that the government should do something so that corporal punishment is completely eradicated from the schools. G Plus then thought of talking to the principal of Don Bosco School.

The principal’s view The Principal of Don Bosco, Panbazar, Fr. Sebastian Mathews, talking to G plus said that there might be corporal punishment existing in schools but it is not what the schools necessarily follow. There may be certain situations which force the teachers or the management to inculcate a certain amount of discipline as well as a certain amount of fear in the minds of the young generation, but it is noticed that nowadays that the young generation is growing up without any sense of fear and lawlessness seeps in. In order to instil certain values, a certain amount of fear is also required in the early growing stage. He said that unless the students or the young generation are guided in a proper way the respect for the society does not come. He said, “At the same time I don’t advocate physical punishment at all.” He said that there are ways to inculcate certain fears in the mind of the young generation. Certain amount of warnings can be given to the students on

not permitting them to do certain things. According to him there are ways and means by which a certain amount of discipline can be inculcated and the values system of the young generation could be improved but the same should not be by physical punishments. He said that nowadays there are parents who fulfil all the demands of the children. He said that it doesn’t matter if one can afford to fulfil all such demands but all demands should not be fulfilled. He said that parents should be able to say no at times which will only help the students to learn and imbibe.

He said that the young generation are the future of the society and they have to be guided and taught.

Regarding the allegations by the NGO against the school regarding corporal punishments, he said that there might be individual, isolated cases which are over amplified by certain organisations.

He also said whatever happens in the school is just for the good of the students. He said that in his school all the teachers know that corporal punishment is not allowed. He said that if any teacher has only one way of punishing the children which is by physical beating, that teacher cannot be a teacher at all.

If any teacher keeps indulging in corporal punishment, that teacher ought to discontinue his or her services.

Similarly, another private school teacher, talking to G Plus in anonymity, said that many teachers and parents are unaware of

G Plus tried to talk to the authorities in the DC office but the officials said that the education department is responsible for the issue and we should talk to the Inspector of Schools. Sources in the office of the Inspector of Schools said that nothing has been done to sensitise the teachers regarding the consequences of corporal punishment. The source said that a notice was sent to all schools long back after it was known that corporal punishment is banned.

The source also said that at present nothing much is happening regarding corporal punishment.

Well, if nothing is happening what is the solution?

The solution Miguel Das Queah said that a child protection committee should be there in schools with an external organisation as a member which will investigate and initiate necessary action related to corporal punishment and other child protection related issues. He said that child abuse is basically reported in schools because no teacher undergoes child rights training.

Necessary child protection measures are not put in place in these institutions. He also said that these incidents do not get reported because of a fear factor. Another child councillor, Rajkamal Pandey, talking to G Plus said that instead of corporal punishment there should be children councillors in all the schools who can guide and provide counselling to the children whenever required. He also said that there should be a child rights committee in every school and there should be an external organisation as a member. Pandey said that in private schools of the city the scenario is still better but the government schools require immediate attention of the government and every teacher should be sensitised as the sensitisation process is not there.

So basically, sensitisation of teachers on corporal punishment needs to start as soon as possible.

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

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City

Centre’s beef ban notification not to affect Guwahati Centre’s new notification. The youth wing leader, Wilver Greham Danggo, had claimed that the party was trying to suppress tribal groups and other beef-eating communities. So what was the exact notification?

Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

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he central government told the Supreme Court recently that the new rules tightening trade in livestock and transport of cattle is to create a regulatory regime and is not aimed at banning sale of cattle. The submission was made during a hearing of the case challenging the legality of the new central government notification by a Hyderabad resident.

Meghalaya government recently passed a resolution in the assembly against the centre’s notification. Will Assam follow suit?

Will the city of Guwahati get affected in any way? What was the notification? G Plus looks into the scenario.

Meghalaya resolution The Meghalaya Assembly recently passed a resolution against a central government notification that had imposed restrictions on sale of cattle at

The notification

File photo of a cattle market

animal markets for slaughter.

Discussing the Centre’s notification, the state Assembly said that the order will infringe upon the rights of the people and that, laws are already in place for cattle trade. Meanwhile, hundreds

of people had participated in a beef festival organised by two former Bharatiya Janata Party leaders in Meghalaya recently and more than 5,000 BJP youth workers in Meghalaya had quit the party in protest against the

The central government has banned the sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter through animal markets; rules that will hurt millions of poor farmers and squeeze supplies to the country’s meat industry. The new rules do not amount to a blanket ban on cattle trade or their slaughter, and licensed breeding remains legal. But the move will crimp supplies to the country’s Rs One lakh crore meat and allied industries that source about 90% of their requirements from animal markets. In May, the ministry of environment notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, tightening trade in livestock and transport of cattle to ensure

their welfare at animal markets and also to prevent smuggling.

As for Guwahati, will it affect the city?

Guwahati The state’s Congress chief spokesperson, Apurba Bhattacharya, talking to G Plus, said that the party is waiting to see what the BJP-run government will do in Guwahati and Assam and accordingly they will plan their strategy. He said that the centre’s notification is totally against the people of this country as it will hurt the religious beliefs of many religions.

Meanwhile sources in BJP said that till date the state BJP and the government have not yet decided on the issue. The district administration also is unaware about the notification as many officials said that they had not received any such intimation. Sources also said that beef is sold in only a few places in Guwahati and such sale is also not openly done. So the notification will hardly affect the city. n

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

City

City floods wash away tall govt claims

The prolonged cloud burst drowning Guwahati on Tuesday last resulted in four deaths – two from live wire electrocution – untold miseries and the chief minister missing a helicopter ride for his election campaign

A view of flooded R G Baruah Road on Tuesday | G Plus Photo

Continued from page 01 2,000 people following which a relief camp was set up at Rajgarh in the Rastrabhasa Hindi LP School.

The Stare Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) had also deployed seven inflatable boats in different flood affected places and evacuated about 500 people. Essential food items, drinking water, health care, child care was provided by the district administration.

Such was the impact of the rainfall that three lives were lost during that period from electrocution and drowning. The two who lost their lives due to electrocution have been identified the Pushan Kalita, an 8th grader of Maria Public School and Anowar Hussain, a rickshaw puller.

The incident took place near the Assam State Zoo in the evening where Pushan was suddenly electrocuted as he was wading through the rainwater.

Hussain, who rushed to the spot to save the teenager, also became an unfortunate victim. Meanwhile, a youth from Dibrugarh was washed away by flash flood waters at Jonali after he slipped into the Bharalu River. The youth, identified as Pintu Das, was washed away by raging flood waters despite the frantic attempts of the locals to rescue him. Das’s body was recovered by SDRF on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, another body of one Deben Nath was recovered from the Silsako Beel on the same day. Nath, who hailed from Satgaon locality and was an employee of the Assam Secretariat, was missing since Tuesday.

The district administration has ordered an enquiry into the death of Pintu Das and has declared compensation of Rs 4 lakhs each to the families of the deceased. An enquiry has also been

city resulting from such incidents.

Urban growth in the city of Guwahati has been rapid, haphazard and virtually unmonitored. These activities have had a detrimental impact on the ecology and environment of the city that was once surrounded by wetlands. The city now faces threat from encroachments and unplanned urban “development” that now makes it prone to floods and landslides. In addition to be-

It was mentioned by Akhil Gogoi, while addressing media persons, that a sum of Rs 216.30 crores has been spent by the government since 2001 till date in the name of mitigating the problems of flood and water-logging of the city ordered by the district magistrate on the death of Das. There were also reports of minor landslides from many places as well as incidents of guard walls collapsing.

Officials said that minor landslides took place at Bonda, Nizarapar, Kamakhya, Hengrabari and Maligaon. However, officials in the district administration and the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) said that there have been no reports so far of any casualties from anywhere in the

ing vulnerable to these natural hazards, the city of Guwahati is frequently affected by seasonal flash floods, which are not entirely caused by natural factors alone.

While flash flood has been a never-ending problem, the loss of life amidst the hustle is certainly a matter of concern. Such deaths expose the hollowness of the tall claims of the government and local authorities of having undertaken steps to prevent such catastrophes. Such disasters have

walked hand-in-hand for a long time now while the government chooses to remain inert. All criticisms and angry questions are sought to be quelled with announcements of various compensations. Live wires lying on the road, missing manhole covers, open drains add to the dangers in this never-ending saga of floods and water-logging. While the very first incidents should have been eye-openers no legit action has been taken by the concerned departments even after these floods have claimed several lives. What remains unanswered is whether such disasters will ever come to an end and people will be able to traverse the footpaths without the fear of suddenly dying.

“This is only the beginning of the monsoons and the city has already come under threat. Leave aside the properties of people even people’s lives are at stake due to the incompetence of the government and the so-called administration. Most of the city had submerged under water including the numerous lanes which proves that all the recent claims about measures being taken to prevent artificial flooding in Guwahati can be simply ridiculed,” said Basanta Mazumdar, a resident of Anil Nagar adding that people were forced to keep indoors and had to skip their important work for the entire day.

“I am putting the valuables in a safer place and vacating my residence by tonight. I and my wife have to go to office and the kids to their classes tomorrow. So, I am not taking any risk. Moreover, this is not the first time this has happened but we are now used to the same as the problem of floods remains unaddressed,” said Mridul Paul, a resident of Srinagar.

It was also reported that even the chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal failed to reach his office at Janata Bhavan in Dispur due to water logging. Sonowal was to go to Karbi Anglong to address two public rallies regarding the forthcoming elections in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council but the programme had to be cancelled as the chopper he was supposed to travel in failed to take off due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the floods turned out to be an opportunity for cabs, auto-rickshaws and rickshaws to charge exorbitant rates from com-

muters. People were charged fares from Rs 500 to Rs 800 by rickshaw pullers to get the commuters to their desired destination. n

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Concern

Racketeering flourishes in GMCH due to inadequate blood donors Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

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ack of voluntary blood donation in Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) has led to a nexus of blood racketeers. People observe world blood donor day annually but there are not enough blood donors in the city due to which such rackets have come into existence within the hospital premises itself.

Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) and Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) observed World Blood Donor Day at GMCH Auditorium, Bhangagarh, on 14th June, 2017. The theme of World Blood Donor Day was: “What can you do? Give blood, Give now, Give often.”

Stressing on the importance of World Blood Donor Day, Project Director of Assam State AIDS Control Society (ASACS) and Director of Assam State Blood Transfusion Council (ASBTC) Manvendra Pratap Singh, IAS said, “Compared to other states of the country, voluntary blood donation in our state is low. In order to increase voluntary

blood donation in our state, ASBTC has been strengthened and is playing a vital role for promotion of voluntary blood donation and mass awareness campaign.” He further said that 30% of the world’s population is in developed countries out of which 80% are voluntary blood donors. And in developing countries, it is merely 20%. In rural areas, the voluntary blood donation is 15-16%.”

Speaking on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day, Principal Secretary to the Govt of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, Samir Kumar Sinha, IAS said, “Voluntary blood donation must be a mass movement. We have a long way to go. We must reach out to every inhabitant and for this we need to build a good partnership with all other government and non-government agencies. Safe blood is an important ingredient for saving lives and thus non-remunerative blood donation is the need of the hour.”

Giving an overview of the present blood transfusion scenario in Assam, Asstt. Director, Blood Transfusion Services (BTS), ASACS, Fokhrul Alam Choudhury, said that

68 licensed blood banks are functioning in Assam out of which 26 are NACO-supported. In the year 201617, Assam was able to collect 2,12,256 units of blood against the target of 2,20,000 units of which 1,17,261 units were collected through voluntary blood donation. He also urged the youths to come forward and donate blood voluntarily.

Mission Director NHM, JVN Subramanium, IAS, while narrating his experiences as Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara District, said that most of the maternal deaths are due to lack of availability of blood in hospitals.

The three best voluntary blood donor organizations in the city - IIT Guwahati, Marwari Yuva Manch (Greater Guwahati) and Marwari Yuva Mancha (Kamrup) - were felicitated during the event. A blood donation camp was also organized in the blood mobile bus at the venue where more than 30 donors donated blood.

An inside source of GMCH has informed G Plus that rackets involving arrangement of blood frequently take place in the hospital but the staffs, for fear of harassment, do not

want to take the matter to the police.

Or rather they don’t want to fall in the middle of the police and the patient and so, settle the incident on the spot thereby sparing the racketeers. “The racketeers deal with the patient or their attendants outside without taking any consent from the authorities. The trend is increasing as the youth, especially in the urban areas, whether from the middle class or the elite class, want to party at night for which they need money.

People will not believe that youths from well-to-do families come here to give blood in exchange of money,” the source informed.

“The suffering patient or their attendants do not think of the money; they only want the patient to be cured and therefore agree to pay in return for blood. And they are compelled to do so as there is scarcity of blood in the blood bank - especially the negative bloods that are not available. There is also a fault in the patient as whenever one is in need of blood, they have to consult the concerned department rather than directly consult the middleman for blood. Resultantly, they have to face difficulties later,” the source reiter-

ated.

According to the source, a person having Haemoglobin of 12.5%, who weighs 45 kg and is in the age group of 18-60 years, can donate blood every 3 months. “People who donate blood regain it within 90 days and therefore they can give blood after 90 days. If the people were eager to donate blood the crisis wouldn’t have been there in the hospital. A patient of Thalassemia needs 3-4 packets of blood in a month and if the blood is not available, we have to ask the family members to arrange for the blood. The problem wouldn’t have arisen had the voluntary organisations provided blood to the hospital,” the source informed.

He further informed that the system of the hospital is not up to the mark and therefore such incidents take place frequently. It has also been informed that there are some categories of people who do not want to donate blood. They will buy blood but would rather not donate. The people should be aware that blood donation does not affect the health of the people; rather it is good for health. n

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Concern

Climatic conditions of Guwahati alarming; rising trends in temperature

For all the gloriously clichĂŠd reasons like deforestation etc the temperature of Guwahati is showing a rising trend making the city vulnerable to natural calamities mean maximum temperature derived by the climatological study. Whereas according to the climatological study the maximum daily in January should have been 23.6 degrees

TABLE

Month-wise hottest (maximum temperature) days in last 20 years (1996 to 2016)

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Children jump into the Brahmaputra river on a hot and humid day in Guwahati | G Plus Photo

Rahul Chanda rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

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he rains of 13th June and the heat wave that the city witnessed prior to that have cast doubts in the minds of Guwahatians with many feeling that the climate of the city is changing for the worse. A construction labourer, recently talking to G Plus, said that it is very difficult to work during the summers nowadays with the uncertainty of rains as well the distinctly rising temperatures as against the previous years. G Plus talked to an architect to understand if he also felt that there is a change in the city’s climatic conditions and if the construcTABLE tion business is getting

1 Month January February March April May June July August September October November December

affected because of the same.

The architect and a construction consultant, talking to G Plus, said that it is actually the opposite as it is because of the massive construction activities that the climatic condition has changed in the city. So, is there a change in the climatic conditions of Guwahati? What are the factors? How can we know that the climate has changed or not? G Plus tries to analyse all the factors.

Climatology Climatology or climate science is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time. The Indian metrological department conducts this study and creates a table of a particular place studying the

Average mean maximum and minimum temperature month-wise according to climatology (1981-2010) Daily maximum 23.6 26.3 29.8 30.6 31.4 32.2 32.1 32.6 31.8 30.6 28 24.9

Daily minimum 11 12.8 16.4 20.3 22.9 25.2 25.8 25.8 24.9 22.3 17.3 12.5

trends of the weather and thus, the mean temperature of that area is derived. G Plus extracted the climatological table prepared by the department after studying the climatic trends of the place from 1981 to 2010. It needs mention here that the climatological table is prepared once in 30 years. So the table prepared in 2010 is the latest climate study of the city. The table extracts the average temperature of the area month-wise and the daily maximum and minimum mean temperature of the area is decided.

According to the climatology, the table below shows what the daily maximum and daily minimum temperatures of the city should be in a month: (see table 1) According to the climatological table the average maximum temperature in the month of January should be 23.6 degrees Celsius. Similarly, for the other months the climatological study derived the maximum and minimum average temperatures. G Plus extracted the hottest and coldest day record of the last 20 years to find out whether the maximum and minimum temperatures of the city were equal to the climatoligical study or were exceeding the climatological forecast.

Looking at the hottest days in the last 20 years it is observed that the maximum temperature of these days as recorded has a huge variation with the average

the average mean minimum of the climatology. The minimum temperature is not dipping so low which shows that the temperature of Guwahati city is increasing and that is why people feel

Month

Date

Maximum temperature

January

29 January 2010

29.6

February

28 February 2006

35.7

March

28 March 2004

38.0

April

24 April 2014

40.6

May

15 May 2014

38.2

June

12 June 2013

38.8

July

29 July 2015

37.6

August

25 August 2016

38.4

September

28 September 2009

37.8

October

01 October 2009

37.0

November

03 November 2016

33.4

December

01 December 2015

29.7

Celsius, on 29th January 2010 the temperature recorded was 29.6 degrees Celsius. Similarly, in all other months there is a huge variation of the temperatures of the hottest days in comparison to the average mean maximum derived by the climatology.

Climatology provides an average mean and if the temperature of the month tends to remain around that particular average, it is assumed that the climatic condition is normal. But the 20 years’ data proves that the hottest days of every month in the last 20 years has crossed the average mean and the situation today is alarming. It can be also seen that most of the hottest days in the last 20 years are after 2010, which implies that in recent years the temperature of the city has increased drastically. G Plus also derived the records of the coldest days in the last 20 years.

In the minimum temperature scenario also there are some variations in the month-wise coldest days of last 20 years with

much hotter nowadays. Because of the rise in heat and as the city has its own large water bodies including the Brahmaputra River, the water cycle also increases and causes rainfall. The city randomly faces urban floods these days and the suffering people keep praying for the rain to stop. G Plus also extracted month-wise the days of heaviest rainfall in the last 20 years.

Six days after 2010 till 2016 received heaviest rainfalls monthwise in the last 20 years. On 13th June 2017 the city received 105.8 mm rainfall and while the city was submerged, it is lesser than what the city received in July last year. The authorities have failed to solve the urban floods issue in the city and there is already a climatic change which the city is witnessing.

It can be also seen that most of the hottest days in the last 20 years are after 2010, which implies that in recent years the temperature of the city has increased drastically.

The reasons The Deputy General Manager of Regional Metrological Centre, talking to G Plus, said that the temperature of the city is

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

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Concern showing a rising trend and there are various reasons for this. He said that firstly, the north eastern states of India are becoming vulnerable to rise in

TABLE

there shall be a rise in the annual mean surface temperature by about 0.64 degree Celsius in the 30 years from 2011 to 2040 and by 5.15 degrees Celsius at the end of

Month-wise coldest (minimum temperature) days in last 20 years (1996 to 2016)

3 Month

Date

Minimum temperature

January February March April May June

7 January 2009 6 February 2009 14 March 2005 02 April 1996 01 May 1998 24 June 2005

9.9 12.5 15.7 15.3 21.4 24.2

July

24 July 2010/ 27 July 2006

25.3

August September October November December

10 August 2004 22 September 2010 27 October 2003 20 November 1999 31 December 2008

25.5 24.5 26.4 21.6 11.8

temperatures which bears a significant brunt of the global climate change phenomenon and has finally grabbed some serious attention from climate scientists.

He said that the eight states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Sikkim were studied for the two most important climatic parameters - temperature and rainfall. He said that the studies reveal that

the century (2071 to 2100). It also projects increase in annual mean precipitation by about 0.09 mm/ day in the near future and by 0.48 mm/day at the end of the century. He said that global warming is accelerating the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas; they are melting faster than the global average, which means less rainfall will affect the zone with high risk of floods. He said that deforestation is one of the important con-

tributors to global warming. He said that there are two main effects of deforestation – firstly, the slash and burn technique used to clear forest releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and destruction of living trees reduces the amount of photosynthesis - a process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores it in the plants as carbon. Carbon dioxide is one of the major gases contributing to global warming and increasing its concentration will affect the amount of warming that occurs.

He also said similarly there are other reasons too like

A water logged city road after a heavy shower | G Plus Photo

TABLE

Month-wise heaviest rainy days in last 20 years (1996 to 2016)

4 Month

Date

Rainfall

January

24 January 2008

28 mm

February

8 February 2007

26.6 mm

March

20 March 2005

60.4 mm

April

27 April 1997

88.8mm

May

2 May 2010

81.9 mm

June

23 June 2013

121.3 mm

July

17 July 2016

113.5mm

August

5 August 2011

169.4 mm

September

23 September 2014

155.3 mm

October

07 October 2004

141.0 mm

November

13 November 2002

52.2 mm

December

04 December 2015

20.0 mm

over population and increase of carbon monoxide due to increase in automobile usage etc. Finally, he said that as the temperature of Guwahati is increasing there is always the threat of natural calamities and people should unite to try and solve the situation by saving the forest cover and also by planting as many trees as they can.

As for the solution, the authorities were seen symbolically planting a few trees during World Environment Day. Other than that the encroachment of forests is decreasing the city’s green cover. It is an alarming situation as the climate of the city is changing and the trend shows clearly that the city’s temperature is increasing at a rapid rate. n

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

City

Private hostels complement city’s booming higher education business The increasing number of students and working people in the city has led to the mushrooming of hostels and paying guest facilities making it a worthwhile avenue of business suing a trade license. Nowhere in this form is mentioned what documents are to be submitted along with it. This information is given verbally. There are around 750 private hostels in the city but only 250 are registered as most of the owners do not come for registration because the criteria laid down by the department are not agreeable to them. The registered hostel should pay a fee of Rs. 200 monthly and Rs. 2,000 annually to the GMC,” informed the Association.

Moreover, the hostels at Rajgarh Road, Lachit Nagar, Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar, which are the severely flood affected areas of the city also run successfully although their rates are lower. “Although these areas are flood affected students still prefer to stay in these places as some

A private hostel in the city | G Plus Photo

Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

W

ith Guwahati booming as a destination for higher education in the northeast region, more and more students are coming to the city every year. These students have to stay in private hostels or as paying guests turning the situation into a smart business proposition for the hostel owners.

The students mostly prefer to stay near the colleges where they are enrolled and as the city’s top colleges are in an around the city centre, i.e. Panbazar, Dighalipukhuri, Ulubari, etc., hostels in the adjacent areas and localities are in high demand. “On today’s date hostels are in demand depending on the place and environment. Students prefer to stay near their colleges for easier commutation and communication. Uzanbazar being central to Guwahati city, maximum number of students opt to stay here. It is a convenient locality and the water crises is less in the area compared to other areas of the city and especially in hostels, water is the major requirement.

There are 8-10 hostels within a 100-metre radius in Uzanbazar. Running a hostel is not an easy task. We can’t charge the

students too much and have to manage within the reasonably stipulated fees. The girls use laptops, hair dryers, irons, etc. inflating our electricity bills but we can’t charge extra for that,” said Arunjyoti Das, owner of Asheeyana Girls’ Paying Guest at Uzanbazar, while speaking to G Plus.

Das said, “We have to renew the license every year and by way of licence renewal fees we have to remit Rs. 4,400 for the 16 seats that we have. Starting the hostel cost us Rs. 10, 400 by way of fees which had to be paid for the license. Other than these, I have to buy LPG cylinders from the black market as I need more than one cylinder in a month. We provide quality food and food is prepared according to the preference of the girls. The entry time is 7 pm and I have also installed CCTV cameras for security reasons so that the girls do not indulge in any undesirable activities.”

Das said that his rate per seat is Rs. 4,000 and he has to manage everything within that money.

He doesn’t make much profit as his quality of food is better than the other hostels and he doesn’t compromise on the same. He also does not prefer any working ladies as the timings become uncertain and does not match the exit and entry timings of the students.

Nilamoni Gogoi, owner of

Aunty Paying Guest, said that the girls in her hostel stay in a homely environment and as she has been running the business for more than five years she knows how to deal with the girls. She has both students and working ladies. “Being a single woman I cook myself for the girls and therefore they don’t complain about the food quality. The rate is between Rs. 3,500 – Rs. 4000 and I can’t increase the same as most of them are students,” said Gogoi.

Moreover, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has given some guidelines to the hostel owners which need to be followed without any lapses. If any of the mandatory documents are not provided the license is liable to be cancelled.

Meanwhile, the Greater Guwahati Hostel and Paying Guest Owners’ Association alleged that the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Labour Department, which is one of the documents that needs to be provided, becomes mandatory only when there are more than two employees and the hostels with the single or two employees need not provide the same. “The GMC officials themselves do not have any idea of the Trade License form available in the website and they provide a different form to the hostel owner for is-

of the colleges like Swadeshi Academy and Icon Academy are nearby. Also the medical students who do not get the institution hostels in the first year stay in these private hostels. The rates are comparatively lower than some of the other areas and students find them suitable and convenient,” said one of the residents of Rajgarh Road who runs her own hostel.

Guidelines for issuing trade license: yy Commercial Permission of the building yy No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Fire yy NOC from Health yy NOC from Labour Department yy Garbage Disposal Agreement yy Police Verification yy Commercial Tax n

Studying with a new direction

T

he very essence of education today has changed with a shift in emphasis from mere percentage score in examinations to content knowledge essential for cracking tough entrance tests. Parents now have a plethora of educational boards from which to choose for their children, ranging from the State Boards to CBSE and ICSE. A newer option, hitherto sparsely known in this region of India, is the Cambridge University qualification- the IGCSE [International General Certificate of Secondary examination] ‘AS’ [Class XI] and ‘A’ [Class XII] levels. What is significant about these qualifications is that they are meant for helping students gain entry to colleges and universities not just outside the country but within India as well.

A two-year programme, spread over Class 9 and 10, IGCSE is one of the most sought-after and recognised qualifications in the world. A student who passes IGCSE is eligible for any +2 level qualification of CBSE, ICSE, State Board, or for any international Pre-university programme.

Cambridge International ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Levels:

Good Cambridge International ‘AS’ and ‘A’ Level grades can be a key to admission to the world’s major English-speaking universities. In India, the ‘AS’ / ’A’ level courses offer a solid ground work for the much coveted entrance tests like the IIT-JEE/ CPMT etc.

In India alone, the IGCSE, ‘AS’/ ‘A’ level Cambridge courses are delivered in over 340 schools.

Worldwide, it is delivered in over 140 countries and is universally recognised. Cambridge students are widely accepted in top study destinations, for example in the USA, UK, Australia, South Africa and Germany amongst others.

This is probably the reason that more and more schools across the country have now started opting for Cambridge qualifications. Cambridge Primary is taught in more than 1200 schools in over 100 countries. Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds. It is taken in over 145 countries and in more than 6100 schools around the world.

Dr. Pulak Bhattacharyya Principal, International School, Guwahati

9

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Concern

World Day Against Child Labour only on calendar as menace still exists Four child labourers rescued from Hatigaon on 14th June just two days after city observed World Day Against Child Labour

People taking part in a procession on the occasion of World Day against Child Labour, organized by District Administration, Kamrup (M) in Guwahati on Monday | G Plus Photo

Juthika Baruah juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

J

ust two days after the World Day Against Child Labour was observed on 12th June, 2017, Childline rescued four child labourers from Hatigaon. The kids were working in a hotel and a blacksmith’s workshop. The district administration has taken various measures to eradicate the menace of child labour but the practice still exists.

“Childline Guwahati, in collaboration with UTSAH Child Rights Agency Assam, started a 10-day social media awareness campaign titled, “Stop Child Labour; Call 1098.” The Governor of Assam, Banwarilal Purohit, launched the campaign on World Day Against Child Labour. ‘World Day Against Child Labour’ is observed every year on 12th June to focus attention on the global extent of child labour and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it.

This day brings together governments, employers and workers’ organizations, civil society, as well as millions of people from around the world to highlight the plight of child labourers and what can be done to eradicate the menace.

This campaign is an effort to raise awareness about 1098 Childline services. This 10-day campaign will bring prominent personalities of Assam together to take a stand against child labour. TopCem Cement, Assam has also supported the programme. The campaign stated that if anyone notices child

labour they shouldn’t withhold from calling 1098.

Talking to G Plus, Founder of UTSAH Child Rights Agency, Miguel Das Queah, said that the first step towards eradicating child labour is to build the culture wherein we should collectively reject the idea of employing a child.

Another factor is that rescue and rehabilitation is very important and they should initiate the rehabilitation immediately after rescue. “The Child Welfare Committee (CWC), District Child Labour Task Force Committee and the district child protection unit

in convergence with the national child labour project mission can take measures towards effective rehabilitation and restoration of child labourers. One also needs to understand the extensive understanding and studies should go on into the region as to why children are getting into child labour,” said Queah.

He said that in Guwahati most of the child labourers come from slum areas and work in hotels, restaurants or in other commercial establishments. The child labourers are mostly runaway children or children belonging to migrant

families. The runaway children are mostly from rural areas and also from conflict, disaster prone areas and they run away mostly due to poor economic conditions or due to political marginalization or any such reasons. “Most of the child labourers consist of people from tea gardens, slums etc. and therefore the source needs to be identified and adequate study needs to be done as to what is the issue that drives these people into child labour. A committee level intervention should be established by the society and the state,” said Queah.

There are many factors for which children are employed as child labour and until and unless the poverty, migration issue, conflicts, disaster etc. can be solved the problem of child labour will not be solved. Queah said that the main reasons are rural-urban migration, political and conflict disasters and economic backwardness. People lose their livelihood in such situations and therefore immediate rehabilitation is important. The Right to Education Act needs to be implemented as the quality of education in the public sector schools is very poor.

In private schools there are lots of opportunities like extra-curricular activities, counselling support etc. which are not there in government schools. Corporal punishments in schools should also be stopped as the government

schools mostly have children from poor economic conditions and if they are punished brutally, they just leave school and start working in domestic households, hotels, restaurants etc.

The Sarba Siksha Abhiyan also provides education to the destitute children from Class VI to VIII under the SSA school. In Assam, there are only two schools under SSA - Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Residential Boys’ School in Hatigaon and another in Cachar. In Guwahati, the seat capacity is 100 and at present there are 83 boys. The children who are rescued from child labour, drugs etc. are provided education and from Class IX to XII they are being admitted in the government higher secondary schools. n

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Case Statistics of Childline: (April 2016 to March 2017) Category

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Total

Restoration

45

43

06

11

13

21

15

11

09

09

04

12

199

Repartition

Nil

02

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

02

Missing

12

08

04

01

02

07

03

02

01

06

03

05

54

Shelter

10

08

14

08

04

04

05

07

07

08

01

05

81

Rescue/PFA

27

29

33

13

31

34

29

36

19

19

43

38

351

Medical

Nil

01

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

01

01

Nil

Nil

Nil

04

CCL

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

Nil

02

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

Nil

Nil

04

ESG

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

ROCL

01

Nil

01

Nil

01

Nil

01

01

Nil

01

Nil

01

07

Sponsorship

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Unclassified

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Other Intervention

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

01

02

Nil

03

DNF

Nil

01

02

Nil

Nil

01

Nil

01

01

Nil

01

03

10

Grand Total

95

92

60

34

51

69

54

60

38

45

54

64

716

10

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Snippet

IIT Guwahati gives a chance to win guided tour to NASA

G Plus News

䨀愀渀愀猀愀渀礀漀最⼀㌀㜀㔀⼀㄀㜀

R

ecognizing the dire need of technical exposure and true inspiration for the present day school students, the student fraternity of IIT Guwahati organize TECHNOTHLON - the International School Championship as a part of their Annual Techno-Management Festival “Techniche.”

Like the previous year, the champions of the event this year will win the mega prize of a guided tour to NASA’s AMES Research Centre in California, USA. The competition would be held in two phases - Prelims and Mains. The prelims phase would be conducted over 400 centers all over India and is scheduled for 16th July wherein the students will be divided into Junior Squad (Classes 9-10) and the Hauts Squad (Classes 11-12).

Being based on logic, analytical ability and practical observations, the prelims will be totally different from that of any other competitive examination. It will be attempted jointly by teams of two students each where sheer spontaneity and out-of-the-box thinking capability of the candidates will be tested. The top 50 teams from each squad will be invited for the final round – Mains, to be held at IIT Guwahati campus during “Techniche” from 31st August - 3rd September, 2017. n

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

11

In The News

City’s all set for its biggest festival While it cannot be termed as the regular variety of tourism where families go for holidays, the annual Ambubachi Mela does qualify as the city’s biggest tourism activity providing ample photo and brisk business opportunities besides converting the city into a place of gaiety

Pilgrims seen at Kamakhya Temple during Ambubachi mela | File photo

Kalyan Deb kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

W

ith the monsoon showers being a bit too liberal on the city, the rains might just become part of the biggest festival of the city - Ambubachi.

Soon the roads will be swarming with sadhus and tantriks draped in saffron, red and black robes flaunting their long dreadlocks and beards as the city gears up for Ambubachi Mela. The festival which is to take place from the 22nd to 26th June receives a footfall of over 10 lakhs every year. Even this year it is expected that over 20-25 lakh devotees from different parts of the country will be heading to the Kamakhya Temple to be part of the mela.

The Kamakhya Temple, which is considered the centre for Tantra forms of worship, attract thousands of tantriks and devotees to the annual festival. Many are also seen decked out like Lord Shiva and Goddess Kaali and the devotees flock to seek their blessings and make offerings. Some of the sadhus

and tantriks claim to be ‘seers’ while many sell medicines in the form of shoots, stems, animal bones and many more. Thus, the district administration, hand-in-hand with police, several other departments and Kamakhya Devalaya, extend a pro-active support for smooth functioning of the mela.

The temple premises, one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Pithas on the earth which will be lit with decorative lights, will be teeming with pilgrims who will converge here from across the country. The district administration, Kamrup (Metro), has come up with several initiatives for smooth conduct of the mela. Accommodation will be provided at five locations namely Kamakhya railway station, Pandunath Devalaya, Naharbari, Bangshi Bagan and Sonaram High School playground for the visitors during the mela. The district administration has also instructed that the camps be ready by 18th June. The Ambubachi Mela Parichalana Committe of the Kamakhya Devalaya will also hold equal responsibilities for better management of crowds in

Nilachal Hills by providing camps at different locations around the temple premises.

Along with the provision of basic amnesties such as toilets, electricity, food and water supply, several security and traffic officials will be deployed within and around the temple and camps for smooth functioning during the mela. Departments such as GMC, PHE, PWD, APDCL, SDRF, NDRF, Transport, Tourism, Traffic and Police will be working hand-in-hand for smooth conduct of Ambubachi Mela. From basic amenities such as drinking water with reservoir facilities, flood lighting covering strategic areas, temporary lavatories, additional cleaning staff and garbage disposal trucks will be put in place.

The city will have additional 100 buses in order to ease public transport facility, considering the large number of visitors expected at the temple. The district administration has also entrusted responsibilities to ACS officers so as to ensure smooth holding of the mela.

Along with the administration, the Northeast Frontier Railway has also geared up for smooth and safe handling of the extra rush of passengers expected at Guwahati and Kamakhya stations during the mela. Since the Kamakhya station will witness huge congregation of passengers during these days several measures will be taken to ensure adequate arrangements for the large number of pilgrims. Adequate security staff at platforms and entry gates, medical staff, sanitation and drinking water facilities will be provided for the pilgrims. Moreover, additional coaches are being added to several trains plying through Guwahati, Silchar, Agartala, Alipurduar, Lumding, Silghat, and New Jalpaiguri in view of the festival.

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Meanwhile, the temple will be closed after the performance of the traditional snan, puja and other rituals. No darshan will be allowed to devotees from 22nd to 25th June. The Nribritti is scheduled at 1:39:09 am on Monday, 26th June and the temple door will be opened for devotees 7 am on the same day.

It is believed that the deity residing there, Devi Kamakhya, goes through her menstrual cycle for

the first three days. No farming, or auspicious activity takes place and even the temple remains shut.

On the fourth day, the goddess is bathed and decorated and worshipping this ‘pure’ form is said to bring good luck. Sanyasins and Pandas from around the country assemble at the temple during this period and wait outside until the fourth day when the temple will open. n

Sonowal oversees preparations for Ambubachi Mela

C

hief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, on Saturday, visited the Kamakhya Temple to oversee the preparations for the forthcoming Ambubachi Mela starting on 22nd June.

The chief minister inspected the arrangements made for the pilgrims coming from different parts of India and abroad for the famous mela at the holy Shakti Shrine. Sonowal asked the senior officials to ensure all sorts of ar-

rangements in respect of accommodation, drinking water and sanitation for the pilgrims.

The Chief Minister appealed to the people as well as the pilgrims flocking to the temple and its peripheral areas to maintain cleanliness in the true spirit of ‘Swacch Bharat Mission.’ He directed the top functionaries of Chief Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department and Guwahati Municipal Corpora-

tion to make arrangements of pure drinking water and adequate number of toilets and bathrooms for the pilgrims who will be putting up at eight camps being erected at different areas of the city. He also stressed on the services of maximum number of safaikarmisto to ensure total cleanliness during and after Ambubachi Mela.

Sonowal also asked Commissioner of Police, Guwahati city,

Hiren Nath to ensure a foolproof security apparatus in and around the Shakti Shrine. The Police Commissioner, while apprising the Chief Minister of the security apparatus that would be put in place, said that there would be control rooms, sub-control rooms, fixed police pickets to maintain constant vigil on the areas in and around the Shakti Shrine and help the pilgrims. He also mentioned that there would

be closed circuit cameras at strategic locations and fire and emergency services have been asked to keep their fleet ready to meet any exigencies.

Chief Minister Sonowal also asked the Health Department to ensure medical facilities on 24X7 basis. He also directed Managing Director of ASTC, Anand Prakash Tiwari, to press into services the fleet of ASTC buses for the convenience of the devotees. n

12

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Centre Spread ⌀倀爀愀猀愀搀

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⌀吀愀渀琀

琀爀椀挀 漀昀 吀愀渀 漀 最 渀 椀 琀 栀 匀椀最 眀栀 䈀愀戀愀猀 洀 甀 栀 搀 愀 匀 椀琀栀 琀栀攀 戀爀椀渀最 眀 漀漀琀椀猀 愀猀 搀椀戀 氀漀挀愀氀 樀愀 椀挀椀渀攀猀 洀攀搀

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匀栀愀欀琀椀

吀礀瀀攀猀 漀昀 倀椀氀最爀椀洀猀

Sadhus to householders all over India, come to Guwahati for the festival including Sanyasins, black clad Aghoras, Khade-babas, Baul or singing minstrels of West Bengal with long matted hair . Even foreigners from abroad come to seek blessings of Mother Kamakhya

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吀爀甀挀欀猀 礀攀搀

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

13

Centre Spread

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⌀䠀漀氀礀

氀 漀昀 漀 搀 椀

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14

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Snippets

City university observes World Blood Donor Day

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oyal Global University organized World Blood Donor Day (WBDD) on the theme “Give Blood, Give Now, Give Often.” which is observed around the world every year on 14th June.

The event, established in 2004, serves to raise awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products and to thank blood donors for their voluntary, life-saving gifts of blood.

Mr. Priyanjit Purkayasta, Asstt. Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, gave a presentation on the history and importance of World Blood Donor Day which is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Karl Landsteiner on 14 June 1868, a great scientist who won the Nobel Prize for his great discovery of the ABO blood

I group system. Transfusion of blood and blood products helps save millions of lives every year.

It can help patients suffering from life-threatening conditions live longer and with higher quality of life, and supports complex medical and surgical procedures. One

unit of blood can save three people as blood components separated into RBC, platelets, plasma save lives that are suffering from various ailments. Assam has an average of 57% blood donation compared to Maharashtra with 97% blood donations. n

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for Naga sadhus in Abhayananda ashram in the western part of the temple.

“This type of spiritualism will not be allowed at the main venue of the fair from this year. Many

n most of the inner lanes at Garigaon area along the NH-37 severe water-logging has been observed in recent times due to the blockages of natural channels and several illegal encroachments of secondary drains by some residents residing along the NH-37.

It has also been reflected in the report submitted by the Circle Officer, Guwahati Revenue Circle due to which the residents of that area are facing great inconvenience and hardship.

In view of the above, Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup Metropolitan District hereby directed the Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Executive Engineer, PWD Guwahati NH

Division to take necessary exercise for clearing the blockages and encroachment within 20th June.

Also, the Executive Engineer, PWD (R) NH Division is directed to provide all necessary logistical arrangements for smooth execution of the said work. Moreover, the Commissioner of Police, Guwahati City shall provide adequate police force to maintain law and order during the execution of the work.

Damodar Barman, Circle Officer, Guwahati Revenue Circle, Karmup Metropolitan District will take necessary steps to evict all kinds of obstructions and encroachments along the NH-37 in the Gargaon area. n

Bike and car rental service launched in Guwahati

No Naga (naked) sadhus this year at Ambubachi Mela

he Kamakhya temple authorities have decided not to allow Naga (naked) sadhus at Ambubachi Mela this year beginning June 22 to June 26. A separate zone will be arranged

DA to take action against illegal encroachers on NH 37

people visit the temple premises during the fair with their families and they feel uncomfortable at the sight of these sadhus at the main venue. So from this year we have decided not to allow them to move around in the main venue.

Instead, we will arrange a separate place for them,” the head priest of the Kamakhya temple, Pabindra Prasad Sarma Doloi, said.

Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad visit the temple during Ambubachi Mela.

It attracts researchers from the UK, Canada, France, Nepal and Bangladesh, among others. More than 10 lakh devotees visited the temple premises during the mela last year. n

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azzle Rides, a bike and car rental company has launched its rental service in Guwahati. The company offers a range of two and four wheelers that can be availed for trips up to unlimited kilo-

metres. The company offers a 24X7 service along with doorstep delivery of the vehicle for the riders.

With Razzle Rides on board, a rider can go anywhere from Guwahati, without paying any security deposits. The rider can choose their vehicle from a range of two-wheelers that include Yamaha Fascino, Activa, KTM Duke, Royal Enfield besides WagonR, Duster and Swift from the range of four-wheelers.

With Razzale Rides, one can avail a scooty service at Rs 600 per 24 hours, while KTM Dukes and Royal Enfields are available at a range of Rs 1,100 and Rs 1,000 per 24 hours. n

Oxford English-Assamese dictionary launched

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he department of the University of Oxford has formally launched the Oxford Compact English-Assamese Dictionary at Vivekananda Kendra Auditorium, on Thursday evening. The first of its kind dictionary has been pub-

lished by Oxford University Press.

The release function was followed by a panel discussion on the subject ‘Bilingual Learning Materials - An Effective Medium to Develop English Proficiency Skills featuring journalist and linguist DN

Bezboruah; litterateur and former DGP, Assam, Harekrishna Deka; Dr Dayananda Borgohain, Chairman, Assam Higher Secondary Education Council; Dr Jyotiprakash Tamuli, HoD, Department of Linguistics, Gauhati University and

Mousumi Handique. Dr Tamuly and Handique compiled and edited the dictionary.

Bezboruah, in his speech, stressed the fact that the dictionary fulfilled a long-felt gap and would go a long way in empowering

young learners. “In all urban societies, there is a growing compulsion to be bilingual and possibly even multi-lingual, and for being bilingual, English is the obvious choice.

This trend to become multi-lingual should be encouraged.,” he said n

Weather report for the week Guwahati

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

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In The News

NFR faces daunting cleanliness challenge during Ambubachi open circulating areas; one at Kamakhya station, probably on Platform No 4 towards Maligaon Chariali side and another at Pandu. Besides, platform shelter will be put up at Kamakhya station for the devotees and pilgrims. Like every year, sanitary cleaners will be there on duty all day in proper uniform to cut possibilities of confusion and disorder. Public Health Engineering has taken over the responsibility for setting up temporary toilets and bathrooms for the devotees.

Like every year, a large number of toilets will be constructed to avoid germ-infestation due to open defecation by people.

These toilets will eventually be demolished and the places will be cleaned after the departure of the devotees. The PRO, Mr. Bhattacharyya, also asserted that railway authorities try their best

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ith the four-day annual Ambubachi Mela starting from 22nd June at Kamakhya temple, the city is gearing up to welcome hordes of pilgrims and tourists, some of whom have already turned up in the capital city and some who are arriving shortly. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has arranged for smooth and safe handling of the extra rush expected here.

The Kamakhya station of NFR is expected to witness a huge transit of passengers during the period of the mela. Like every Platform no. 1 at Guwahati Railway Station | G Plus Photo year, this year also NFR is going to share the responsibilities of to overlook those defaulters on back. Guwahati has improved the same with the city admin- humanitarian grounds as pas- maximum on the cleanliness inistration. Voluntary water sup- sengers mostly include aged peo- dex though.

Railway authorities have ply will be provided along with ple.”

With sanitation and cleanli- said that they are providing two round-the-clock electricity in the pilgrim camps set up by the Rail- ness given the topmost priority, way. Adequate lights and fans will NFR has also taken joint responbe provided to ensure comfort of sibility with Guwahati Municipal the guest devotees. Shamiyanas Corporation to maintain cleanliwill be provided by the state gov- ness in the station areas. It is to be ernment and in this connection, noted that every year, cleanliness work has already been completed. becomes the biggest issue despite Desire and Destiny: An inspiring story of For further ease and convenience sincere efforts of the railway aua student, who fought against all odds of the devotees, NFR scout guide thorities. “I am a frequent railway to achieve his dream teams will dedicate their services passenger. I travel from New Jalpaiguri to Kamduring the mela akhya station at the camps gem under construc- celled with flying colours in the every now and set up at Pantion, this story is of a boy JEE Mains & Board exam, therethen for official du, Kamakhya named Mayank Prasad by proving that where there is a purposes. I sadstation and the who lives in Doomdooma, As- will, there is a way. Mayank Prasly admit that we Kamakhya temsam. With the help of a support- ad secured 7th position in AHSEC have the dirtiple campus. ive father who works in a private 2017 and cleared the JEE main est stations in While earschool under contract basis and examination with AIR 94 (GenGuwahati. And lier, NFR used a mother who is a home maker, eral category with sub category I personally get to provide two he struggled through every ad- PWD rank). He is expected to more exasperator three special versity in life to reach where he clear the JEE advance examinaed during Amtrains for Amis at present. After passing the tion with AIR of less than 100 and bubachi. Despite bubachi Mela, HSLC examinations, he came definitely obtain a seat in one of provision of toithis time no to Dibrugarh for further studies the IITs. lets during the special train and took admission in the Salt “I have finally achieved my fair, people end has been proBrook Academy. His only dream dream. I am very happy. How up defecating in vided so far. In then was to clear the IIT en- can I thank Ashwani Sir for the open which this connectrance exam (the toughest engi- everything he has done? I am Nripen Bhattacharyya, leads to unbeartion, Mr. Nripen neering test in India). His finan- blessed to have the support of Public Relations able odour. It Bhattacharyya, cial condition was poor and thus CPMB team,” Mayank said, addOfficer, NFR becomes imPublic Relations he experienced impediments in ing that, akin to CPMB founder possible even to Officer, NFR the way towards realizing his director Ashwani Kr Singh, he breathe,” said a said, “There are dreams. would also want to work for the plenty of normal trains already resident of Guwahati.

However, one day he ap- deprived students after completThe Guwahati station, the rerunning. Even if we don’t provide proached CPMB (IIT & Medical) ing his studies. special trains, Maa Kamakhya’s gion’s biggest A1 category station Coaching Institute, Dibrugarh It is a Social Responsibility divine power is so great that every has been declared as one of the and took all the information Initiative of CPMB to provide year her power astonishingly dirtiest railway stations of Innecessary regarding the en- high-quality 10 months’ subsipulls devotees from every possi- dia in an audit report on station trance test. He expressed his dized residential coaching and ble corner of the country.” He fur- cleanliness by Quality Council of financial situation along with mentoring (under academic ther added that many devotees India (QCI). The report was based all his dreams to the CPMB mentorship of Mr. Ashwani Kr board the trains without tickets. on surveys having parameters management. CPMB took up his Singh and the management of “We do request everyone to board like cleanliness in parking, main responsibility, with a nominal CPMB) for the underprivileged the trains with proper tickets but entry area, main platform, waittuition fee and now, he has ex- students in order to acquire adduring Ambubachi time, we have ing rooms and passengers’ feed-

to maintain hygiene within the station premises. But the food counters that are set up in large numbers by the city people are one of the reasons for filth generation. City people donate cooked food, sweets, etc. People staying in the station camps waste food and this leads to dumping of solid wastes.

While the Assam tourism department is leaving no stone unturned to attract tourists to Assam, NFR needs to enhance, develop and beautify the railway stations. Also there is a burning need for an orientation programme during Ambubachi towards maintaining a clean and healthy environment in the stations. But as mentioned by the railway authorities, the same cannot be organised by them until government passes an order to do so. n

Transforming the lives of underprivileged NE students

“Maa Kamakhya’s divine power is so great that every year she astonishingly pulls devotees from every corner of the country.”

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Advertorial

Sushmita Dey

mission in premier engineering institutions like IIT/NIT etc. so that after 4 years when they leave the institution, in one single stroke, the life of three generations get radically transformed: the parents, the students and their future generation.

Today, IIT Guwahati and IIM Shillong have been established but people of this region have a negligible presence in these two institutes; the actual number is not even worth recording. The overall low result of admissions in IIT and other premier institutes from this part of the nation made CPMB authorities wonder about the fate of underprivileged students when such is the condition of the general students. In interaction with the less blessed students of this area, one can easily realize that lack of knowledge is only one part of the problem. CPMB has done a marvellous job in supporting Mayank.

It is hoped that they continue this selfless act of helping worthy students, with all their support so that their financial condition does not pose a barrier in the path of their dreams.

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Fun Horoscope of the week

This week, Neptune, your planet of relating, turns retrograde for some months, and this could make you a lot more sensitive and aware of the influences around you. If you’ve been in denial about any issues, this can be your opportunity to notice that and do something about it. It won’t happen overnight, but gradually you’ll notice a pattern or get insights that prove useful to you in a number of ways.

Make time for work and family in equal measure.

If you’re eager to make headway on a deal or key matter, it helps to be as flexible and adaptable as possible. In addition, make sure that you understand the gist of any leading conversations, as with Mercury angling toward Neptune, things that ought to be clear may not be. Also, any misunderstandings could be the reason you don’t feel inclined to cooperate. Many things can begin to shift and change the better once you can see more clearly.

With Mars moving farther into your sector of travel and adventure, this can be an exciting time for you. The urge to explore new options could be very powerful. You may be proactive in making travel plans, signing up for classes, and stepping outside your comfort zone. But you might need to be a bit more careful about financial matters, as delays could snarl up your cash flow. On the other hand, you could be too careful, and some leeway might help.

A lovely lineup on Tuesday could encourage you to take the plunge with a group or community project. If you do, it could be a lot of fun. Meanwhile, Mercury makes other aspects that could cause misunderstandings and encourage you to take a stubborn approach to someone’s suggestion. Whatever occurs over coming days, try not to take any of it too personally. There is a strong likelihood that it will all blow over by next week.

As Mars continues to move through your health and lifestyle sector, you may feel motivated to make changes to your daily routines. This might involve revamping your diet or exercise routine or rescheduling activities so you have more time to relax and have fun. You could find that your ideas clash with a friend’s, which could put a bit of distance between you. Try not to be anxious, though, as all of this will likely blow over by next week.

Your schedule could be a little bit top heavy, with work taking precedence.

However, with a strong focus on home and family affairs, you might feel better if you could strike a balance. Do you really need to attend to all those responsibilities right now?

If some of them can wait, put them in your schedule for next week or another time. The chance to be with close ones and enjoy some downtime is important to your happiness this week.

There could be some aspects of your everyday life in which you’re trying too hard to accomplish something. This tendency could cause you to feel a little bit exasperated with a plan or project that seems to be stalling. The trick to getting it right may be to stand back and go with the flow for a while. If you can do this, you may find that new and creative ideas come to you that allow your work to proceed more satisfactorily.

curio-city

1

----is a mouthwatering Indian traditional snack made out of Bengal black grams. In India the snack is sold in a conical shaped paper sheets with lemon juice squeezed on the top of chat. Name this stuff that also shares its name with a super hit Lata Mangeshkar song composed by Laxmi-Pyarelal from a 1981 Manoj Kumar movie

1. Chana Jor Garam and the movie is Kranti.

2. Maxim Gorky, well known Russian author.

3. The logo of Malaysian Airlines.

4. Shimla 5. Pacific Ocean

curio-city

2 The pseudonym of which well known figure reflected his simmering anger about life in Russia and a determination to speak the bitter truth?

4

Which popular tourist place’s name has been derived from the goddess Shyamala Devi, an incarnation of the Hindu Goddess Kali?

5

Which ocean was named by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan after the Spanish word for ‘Peaceful’?

Abhra Das; Ace Quizmaster of Assam This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Dilbert Classics by Scott Adams

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5 9 1 8 5

1 2 9 23

2 9

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3 44 3

7 1 5 6 4 7 1 9

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7 9 6 7 54 9 8

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Daily Sudoku: Fri 9-Jun-2017

Daily Sudoku: Fri 16-Jun-2017

6 2 5 2 9 48 83 74 11 97

8 3 7 9 1 6 6 43 95 54 22

4 9 1 7 7 5 5 21 39 83 68

5 3 7 1 4 2 3 8 6 8 2 7 92 5 14 8 66 4 31 9

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2 5 9 8 4 13 48 36 57 61

7 4 3 5 5 31 96 82 29 78

1 6 8 6 2 2 9 77 51 39 44

1 7 5 6 8 3 Daily Sudoku: Fri 9-Jun-2017 very hard 9 5 8 6 7 1 2 4 3 2 6 7 4 5 3 9 http://www.dailysudoku.com Word of the week1 8 4 3 1 2 9 8 7 6 5

Sibylline

Daily Sudoku: Fri 16-Jun-2017

medium

adjective [sib-uh-leen, -lahyn, -lin]

Mysterious; Cryptic. http://www.dailysudoku.c

Crossword

3

These are the Wau kites. There are various types of kites such as wau kuching (cat kite), wau merak (peacock kite), and wau bulan (moon kite). Each kite also comes with a different design and size. It’s an intricately designed moon-kite (normally with floral motifs) that is traditionally flown by men. Where would you expect to see the best use of it?

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3 1 8 96

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

If your confidence dips, it’s only temporary. This influence could leave you feeling like it isn’t worth socializing or hanging out with your best friends, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The people you know will love to see you. You just need to give them a call or show up. This passing phase is nothing to be anxious about, as some good company will quickly boost your spirits. Reflection can help if a deep-seated issue needs a solution.

8 3

1

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Responsibilities and tasks could be piling up and you could be feeling overwhelmed. If this is the case, the stars encourage you to take a step back and carefully review your situation. If it’s possible to delegate any of your tasks, consider doing so.

This could be the easiest way to take the pressure off.

And letting go of those tasks that really don’t achieve anything can also help you feel more relaxed and at peace.

Sudoku

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Mercury in Gemini makes an awkward angle to Neptune in your professional sector, so a mixed message or slip of the tongue could cause problems unless it’s nipped in the bud. It would be smart to check that others understand what you’re saying, particularly those in positions of authority. At the same time, you might need to be very adaptable if you need to handle someone who resists your ideas. But with gentle persuasion, next week could be a different story.

Across

Down

7 Suitable (11) 8 Removal of abuses (6) 9 Indian tent (6) 10 Sea between Greece and Turkey (6) 12 Spanish rice dish (6) 13 Fuss (3) 14 Science of plant life (6) 16 Kidnapper’s demand (6) 18 Sauntered (6) 20 Exaggerate (6) 22 Futility (11)

1 Female horse (4) 2 Resist (6) 3 Scottish New Year celebration (8) 4 Black bird (4) 5 Hang loosely (6) 6 Harem (8) 11 Huge (8) 12 Marine mammal (8) 15 Slumbering (6) 17 Required (6) 19 Profound (4) 21 Twilight (4)

(c) Daily Sudoku Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Finances may need careful handling in the days ahead. While you could get lucky and find a bargain, it would be wise to check that you’re getting as good a deal as you think you are. Whatever you buy, it would be smart to keep receipts in case you need to return it. This might not be the best time to apply for a loan or more credit, as you could encounter difficulties. However, the situation seems a little more flexible next week.

last week solution

This could be one of those weeks when you may not be able to get as much done as you’d like, so it would help to pace yourself. Some of the key issues could involve mixed messages or somebody stubbornly refusing to grant a request or help you out. While this can seem very frustrating over the days ahead, it’s a temporary situation. You may find that many things will sort themselves out if you can be patient until next week.

Last week’s solution

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

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Trotter

Researchers may have rediscovered the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’

Robot to handle a conversation & sense emotion

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esearchers in New Zealand believe that an ‘eighth wonder of the world’ may have been rediscovered after 131 years of being buried in a volcanic eruption.

The beautiful Pink and White Terraces of Lake Rotomahana was a favourite tourist spot in the mid-1800s, for visitors around the world who visited New Zealand’s North Island especially to see the

terraces.

But in 1886, Mount Tarawera erupted killing 120 people and leaving a 17-kilometre laceration across the face of the mountain.

Everyone thought that the terraces had vanished for good until now.

According to The Guardian, researchers Dr. Rex Bunn and Dr. Sascha Nolden said that they might have found a location where the terraces lay preserved. If this

is the case, they will call for a full archaeological survey and an excavation of the site that may be buried 10 to 15 metres beneath all the ash and the mud.

A complete survey looks likely on the cards including site investigation, imaging, and core drilling.

All this is to determine whether the terraces still exist and if so, may become the world’s eighth wonder.

(Source: Indiatimes)

Man kicks and assaults female colleague for showing up late to work

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t’s not exactly easy to break off from your sleep at 4 am, get up, make something to eat, offer Namaz, go back to sleep and wake up after another few hours to go to work, daily, during Ramzan. This is from the personal experience of many people who tend to oversleep and get late for work every day.

But thankfully, most people are quite cool and compliant unlike a certain shameless government employee of Karnataka.

Working as a Second Division Assistant at Raichur’s Sindhanur city corporation in Karnataka, Nasreen showed up late for work on 10th June 2017. She’s been observing fasts during the ongoing Ramzan, states a Huffington Post report.

It could probably be the whole before dawn ritual that could have caused her to get late. Actually, it doesn’t matter why she got late. What matters is what her colleague, Sharanappa, a computer operator, did to her for getting late.

Sharanappa’s ill-treatment of Nasreen was filmed on the CCTV camera. He first interro-

lot of sex robots have already been made but this robot which can sense emotion is the first of its kind. All the couples are sexually active but sometimes they may have their individual taste and need some private time alone. A recent study proves that people have given thumbs up to sex dolls and robots. They are happy to make out with them as it’s the pleasure that matters. But there was one thing that was missing in sex robots, and it was the emotion and feelings which they can’t sense.

Well, you don’t have to worry about this thing anymore as world’s first talking sex robot is all built up and will soon be ready for people to purchase. She can talk, sense emotion and also responds in a very polite manner.

The Harmony 2.0 is set to be re-

leased at the end of 2017. She looks so real that it is hard to tell whether she is a robot or a human. She has nine more months in the development phase but was revealed on Instagram last week by Real Doll CEO Matt McCullen. The silicon life-size doll has been created with ‘AI’.

In her internet debut, the robot was asked: “How do you feel about sex?” to which she replied, “Sex is one of the fascinating things in the world. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it.” She has been designed in such a way that she has a persistent memory and it allows her to build up relationships with the owners and remember unique things about them. This is Harmony that will be available for Android users with $20 subscription for a year. It’s like Siri for phone sex.

(Source: Sarcasm)

Man has sex with stranger on flight

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gated her about her delay and then approached her desk. From the looks of it (because nothing could be heard), he had said something rude or bossy prior to approaching Nasreen’s desk.

She was seen shifting uneasily and moving away from him. Thereafter, Sharanappa got closer to her and kicked her. The Huffington Post reports stated that when Nasreen left the of-

fice later, which they report to have been ‘seen’, Sharanappa followed her and assaulted her again. That was also, according to the report, captured on camera.

Nasreen subsequently lodged a complaint against her goon of a colleague. The corporation gave him the boot and he was arrested by the local police.

(Source: Being Indian)

man was filmed having sex with a woman on a Ryanair flight and was reportedly on his stag trip while his pregnant fiancee was at home.

Initially, the pair appeared to be just a boozy couple up to no good on a plane but it has now emerged that the man is 31-yearold Shaun Edmonson, from Cumbria, who had never actually met the woman before the plane journey. According to a friend of the 31-year-old, who is known as a ladies’ man, he was on his own stag do while his pregnant fiancee Jenna Ross, 25, waited for him at home.

They told The Sun: “That’s just a random woman he’s with. They didn’t know each other before the day. He doesn’t seem to be too bothered he has left his six-months pregnant wife-to-be at home while he cavorts with random strangers.”

A 21-year-old who filmed the encounter described the shock at watching the couple get it on.

Kieran Williams, from Preston,

Lancashire, said: “I heard them talking about it but I thought they were joking. The guy was shouting, ‘Anyone got a jelly?’ meaning condom.”

“We all laughed but then ten minutes later they actually did it. They seemed so drunk, they brought a lot of attention to themselves. You could see the girl taking off her pants and he pulled his trousers off. I had to get my phone out. I have never seen anything like that,” added Williams.

The 21-year-old, who had had been flying to Ibiza to work as a barman over the summer, added that a female passenger who was trapped next to the couple asked to be moved but the crew did nothing to stop the pair. A Ryanair spokesman said: “We are looking into this matter. We will not tolerate unruly, disruptive or inappropriate behaviour at any time and any passengers who appear to behave in an unacceptable manner may be liable for further sanctions.”

(Source: Metro)

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

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La Desh ‘Bang’ed

have been sporting this silly grin since Thursday night last.

And I cannot seem to wipe it off.

I believe the smile has got something to do with the childish petulance of my neighbour. Look folks, I basically admire the passion that Bangladesh has for its cricket. Also, I like the way the country backs its players, the Rubels and the Tamims, and consider them to be world beaters. Why on earth they behave like that how they have arrived at such a bizarre conclusion beats my mind though.

A few freaky wins here and there with hardly any persistent success does not make a champion.

Let us take the context of the currently ensuing Champions’ Trophy, where la desh was banged up blue by the defending champions in the supposed semi-finals.

Bangladeshi fans quickly forgot how it had managed to reach the semi-finals in the first place. The rescue act of the rain gods in their match against Australia allowed them to share points; else, Australia was well on cruise control.

And then, their cricketers lifted their game just enough to beat the currently patchy game of New Zealand. Thereafter, Australia unfortunately lost to England and Bangladesh was through to the semi-finals. Now that should hardly be reason enough for its cricket fans back home to show the tremendous disrespect to the reigning champions that they did.

Ahead of the semi-finals against India, fans in Bangladesh came

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up with an image of a Royal Bengal Tiger draped in the country’s national flag pouncing on some weird animal that was draped in the Indian flag. As if that wasn’t enough, another image showed a current Bangladeshi cricketer wielding a paper cutter and a number of India’s top and respected cricketers with their heads half shaved. In an earlier instance, pertaining to a previous tournament, there was another photoshopped image of an erstwhile Bangladeshi captain holding the cut and bleeding head of the then Indian captain MS Dhoni.

All this petulance and tantrums hardly justify the cricketing prowess of Bangladesh. The cricketers themselves are terribly short on talent and cricketing stamina and as a team they hardly function as world beaters getting hammered and busted on almost all occasions by the better teams of the world. The few sporadic wins can always be termed as upsets and nothing else. Upsets occur in all sports.

I guess Bangladesh, the country, needs to understand that such behaviour only throws up a very poor image of itself in front of the whole world while doing absolutely nothing in boosting the morale of their cricketers ahead of an important game. What such behaviour also does is make people like us sport silly grins when we see the final score card at the end of the match.

Swapnil Bharali Editor

Floodgates of Introspection

he headlining act – Guwahati drowned this week. I would’ve talked about how celebrating Yoga Day on 21st June would be an unnecessarily politicized event. But it turns out that nationalising and politicising events has become our forte. The World Yoga Day celebrations at Delhi in 2015 cost a massive 300 million rupees.

With the participation of 650 of India’s 676 districts, it is amazing to see how the government can galvanize resources and support if they get their act together.

However, where are we on spending the right amount on flood control for the state and the region? The entire region was inundated and flooding continues to be a perennial problem here. Flash floods in Mizoram, landslides in Arunachal Pradesh, paralysed city life in Guwahati; all of this happened in just 2 days. However, instead of cribbing about the ill-preparedness of the government, this flooding brought out a lot of reactions from the public that citizens were themselves to blame because of the excessive usage of plastic and lack of garbage management skills.

This certainly does not address the troubles of those affected by the flood, but goes to show that yes, maybe there is a renewed sense of responsibility among the people to improve their own habits. A lot of people on social media criticized themselves for having played a part in clogging the city drains. Maybe the admin can do one last genuine clean up and then put the onus on the public to better themselves. It would be interesting if the admin piles up all of the garbage collected and circulates a picture to show how much filth Guwahati dumps. Might help introspect...

SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

Of Efficiency And Negligence

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n 1998, we decided to go for a family holiday to Bangkok.

Since we had no hotel reservations we booked into the Rose Hotel at the airport itself. When we reached the hotel we were perturbed to see that the hotel was bang in the middle of Patpong - an entertainment district where all conceivable and inconceivable ‘activities’ go on from dusk to dawn. Our hotel overlooked the two streets that were active by night. At first I was unnerved at the prospect of checking into this place with one very impressionable and another very young son. However, we decided to stay put for the night and check out first thing in the morning.

The night was eventful, interesting and a happy one. We had received the news that our elder son had passed his class ten boards with flying colours.

The food was awesome, music played from all corners of the street, the street walkers were busy, busy, busy with their clients, the place was choc-abloc with locals and foreigners doing brisk business! I woke up at around seven the next morning wanting to check out of this hotel as soon as possible. Having poured myself a cup of tea, I chanced to look out of the window and was stunned at what I saw or rather what I didn’t see - it was as if the night before at Patpong nev-

er existed! There was not a soul to be seen! What I saw, however, were these two huge street cleaners/sweepers. These were basically sweeping machines which consisted of a motorised chassis mounted with brushes, conveyers, sprinklers, storage bin and a large hose pipe. These vehicles are generally used late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. The two that I saw had nearly finished what they had come to do. The streets were absolutely clean and huge jets of water were now being used to give finishing touches to a job well done. A new day had dawned, a busy night was approaching and Patpong was ready for business once more!

Now let’s talk of our supposedly ‘beautiful’ city of GUWAHATI. Tuesday’s horrendous, hopeless and hapless situation has left all Guwahatians shaken. Eighty five

percent of the populace was affected by the torrential downpour and the flooding which followed. Why can’t the government stop hill cutting? Why can’t they stop the illegal settlers? Why can’t they clean the drains and gutters at night?

Why can’t they have an efficient garbage disposal system? Why

Opinion

Kulkul Rahman hasn’t the Bharalu been dredged even once? Why? Why? Why? The answer is simple; there is no coordination between the civic bodies.

Funds are misappropriated, governments are inefficient. So Guwahati groans and moans under sheer negligence and apathy.

Enough of government bashing! What about us? Those of us who live in our own houses, do we have a garbage pit? Or do we very conveniently go and chuck the garbage onto the street or better still into the drains or the Bharalu? Have we stopped using plastic bags? Have we protested when hordes of settlers descended on the surrounding hills and cut and uprooted trees and vegetation to set up their temporary homes?

They are living dangerously and paying the price every time the skies open up. Their actions have led to the hills bleeding. The blood clogs our drains, clogs the Bharalu, clogs other exit points and Guwahati stoically and silently suffers.

So what is the solution? On a more ambitious note the Brahmaputra needs to be dredged.

When the level of the Brahmaputra is higher than the city, what hope is there for the drainage system? None I say!! Stop hill cutting and stop the vested interests from selling land pattas.

Buy state of the art machinery and clean the streets every night.

Take help from foreign firms on garbage disposal. Start a people’s movement on a war footing to not litter. If these tasks are successful, then and only then is there any hope for the city.

I am venting my anger and frustration at the present hopeless situation. Today what I have written may be relevant, but tomorrow when the sun comes out and shines brightly, I know for a fact that we would forget all about it.

On a more flippant note Guwahatians have been shaken, but have not stirred as yet!!

Letter to the Editor r Clarification by Dr Ghanashyam Nath

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want to clarify that in the interview which was taken by G Plus after the AHSEC Class 12 results and published in their Vol. 4 Issue 32 dated Jun 03 to Jun 09, I had said a few things about the teaching scenario of the state. I had also mentioned about the lack of sincerity by teachers towards their students and classes. In the process I had said certain things about the Vice Principal of our college (KC Das Commerce College, Guwahati) but the context in which I said it might have been misunderstood. I want to mention that the Vice Principal of our college is a very sincere teacher and I should not have said what I did. He has good connectivity with the students and guardians for which I find it easy to solve the conflicts within the student community. As a principal I want to mention that the Vice Principal is very dedicated towards his work and does not miss any classes in the college for any personal reason. If my previous statement had done any wrong to him I am extremely apologetic as I did not want to hurt his sentiments.

Ghanashyam Nath

Principal, KC Das College

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

19

In Focus

Purnima Barman Wildlife Conservationist

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nce found in large numbers across Asia, it is an imposing bird that stands tall at a stunning five feet, has an eight-foot wingspan and a massive wedgeshaped bill. Its call has been described as a grunting croak and it walks rather ungracefully. Indeed, from its stiff, awkward gait, this stork’s name refers to a military officer. Due to its odd looks and scavenging habits, the Greater Adjutant Stork was not always welcomed by local communities. Yet, one would not have wished the huge population crash of this bird. The global population of the stork reduced to 1,200; 75% of this population is found in Assam.

Here is where Purnima Barman came into the scenario with the singular motive to save the bird from the verge of extinction. Born in Palashbari to army man Bhabani Kanta Sarma and housewife Monomoti Debi, the wildlife biologist has been working towards the conservation of the Greater Adjutant Stork since her days in Gauhati University from where she attained a Master’s degree in Zoology. Over the years, Purnima has been feted with several awards. Among them, Purnima recently won the annual Whitley Awards, dubbed as the ‘Green Oscars’, for her conservation

work.

She was among six global and one of two Indian winners of the award shortlisted from 166 entries.

Purnima won the award for creating an all-female network to save the Greater Adjutant Stork, commonly known as Hargilla in Assam, and its wetland habitat in the state. Her passion stems from her childhood when she spent hours curiously looking at the various breeds of birds that she found fascinating.

Purnima recalls spending a lonely childhood. From the age of 7 she had to stay with her grandmother; her father being in the army was posted to different parts of the country. Staying in Palasbari, she connected to nature and her grandmother Late Poudomi Debi acquainted her with the different birds in the sky.

“I remember during my child-

hood, whenever I was upset and missed my parents I used to sit in the open fields gazing at the birds.

I would see King Vultures and Adjutant Storks. Since I was not acquainted with their names I would curiously ask my grandmother and she identified the Bortokola, Sagun, Samukkhola for me. That is when the seeds were sown.

She made me plant saplings and take care of them until they grew.

I believe all those things drew me closer to nature and gave me the perspective of giving back,” Purnima recollected.

It was while pursuing her Masters in Zoology that she got better enlightenment about how to approach conservation. Her guiding lights were Dr. Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee and Prasanta Saikia who showed her the path to pursue her passion. “It was Dr. Parimal Chandra Bhattacharjee who said that there were very few women working for conservation of wildlife. It was he who introduced me to Aranyak. Eventually I met Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar and got to travel to several places and work with

different communities,” Purnima mentioned.

However, being a female wildlife researcher, Purnima faced several hurdles. Purnima’s parents wished a conventional job for her. However, the wildlife biologist could not help but follow her passion despite the obstacles raised by the society.

Purnima even underwent training in a conservation leadership program held in China through which she claimed the award “Future Conservationist” in 2009. The program not only worked as a stepping stone but provided her ample exposure. Purnima never looked back.

Today, Purnima’s work has been welcomed not just by the birds, but the local villagers who have become her partners in conservation. While working with Aaranyak, Purnima mobilised her all- female local network towards sustainable livelihoods through weaving traditional Assamese scarves and saris that are then sold to raise funds for the conservation project. The wildlife researcher is also helping village women get trained in handloom weaving using bird motifs in the shape of the Adjutant Storks. She hopes that the traditional weaves will not only generate income but also add to the collective pride of the village in hosting the birds.

Being a wildlife conservationist, a wife and mother of two, Purnima has been simultaneously juggling her responsibilities and passion.

She remains determined and says that being a mother is no deterrent to work. Married to Rathin Barman,

who is also a wildlife biologist and running a rescue centre for injured wildlife in Kaziranga National Park, Purnima gets immense support.

Talking about the Green Oscars, Purnima said, “It is a dream of every conservationist to win this award and I was spellbound. At that moment I realised that I could do something for Assam and repay those who were hurt while I was travelling across jungles and climbing trees,” said Purnima, who got attracted to the project while she worked on her Ph.D. The Whitley Fund for Nature is a UK-based charity that works

Edward Whitley, wife Araminta displaying a Greater Adjutant motif Mekhela Chador

to highlight grassroots leaders in nature conservation across the developing world. Purnima was felicitated at a special ceremony at the Royal Geographic Society in London and received the award from Princess Anne, the royal princess who is a patron of the charity.

City inundated after by 24+ hour long rainfall – Guwahati reacts

The 13th June rain lashing of the city brought forth an avalanche of self introspection in which Guwahatians expressed dismay at their own bad habits of using the city’s sewerage system for garbage disposal and then blaming the administration and government for the flooding mess. Further, the preference for using plastic was termed as enemy no. 1 for Guwahati’s environment Raju Prasad All because of me, you and administration. Keep throwing garbage in those gutters, keep throwing water bottles without crushing. Keep using polythene and say no to shopping bags. Tea stalls, sugar cane stalls, milkshake stalls, everybody is using plastic glass.

All citizens please remember that plastic is main enemy of environment. We can’t live without it but at least we can reduce its quantity.

Pawan Yadhav This is acche din (good days) as per new government. All are talking about big things like bullet trains, smarts cities while a normal train does not run properly. All politicians are the same. They only increase their incomes through malpractice. This road side water should be directly supplied to the ministers’ house for their bathing and drinking.

DrRupak Kumar Sarma Yes, infrastructure of Guwahati is poor. But at the same time, the acclaimed educated people of the city are equally responsible for it. People are used to throwing plastic material and garbage into the drains. I have seen only a few people dispose their household garbage in a wise manner. We are equally responsible for this kind of situation. Infrastructure cannot solve anything like a magic wand unless and until we change ourselves.

Sanjib Sangma We all are responsible for it. When you don’t respect nature, nature will punish you in its own way. Everyone just blames each other, but what have we done to prevent it? When you throw garbage and plastic in the drains and think that no one is watching, think again! The same garbage can reach your compound, home or even living room. And still we don’t learn. After the floods are gone, we will repeat the same and will complain again next year.

Jintu Kr Swargiary Even funding crores of rupees for the development of urban cities rather than rural areas, there is no adequate sewerage to let the water flow away water. Guwahati suffers badly even from short spells of rainfall. If there is concretisation of walls and roads there must be a proper sewerage system.

it. Wake up!

Manoj Bhuyan I am not sure I understand the government’s reluctance here.

There are states in India where farmers are committing suicide because of no rainfall and here we are struggling with excess water.

Why can’t the government start rain water harvesting and channelize the water to the other states? They can also make money out of

20

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Reviews Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Russell Brand, Jenny Slate, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier Director: Kyle Balda and Pierre Coffin

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he third chapter in the life of Gru (Steve Carell), his adorable wide-eyed little girls and the minions, sees them embarking on a new adventure that involves a dancing villain Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker), Gru’s blonde twin brother Dru (Carell) and a unicorn. Also, having given up his ‘villainy’, will Gru partake in a heist to keep his family tradition alive? It has truckloads of action to keep you entertained and a bit of drama to evoke emotions. Fast-paced and loaded with adventure, this one rarely has a dull moment.

On the f lip side, you miss the heart to heart conversation between Gru and the girls that caught your fancy in the first film.

To sum it up, this one’s an outlandish and overstuffed sequel that has too many things going on all at once. It comprises a heist, Gru’s discovery of his long lost twin brother Dru, bubble gum firing bad guy, minions displaying their singing skills etc. What it lacks

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emotionally, it tries to make up in the form of constant action sequences.

Yes, “Despicable Me 3” is unwieldy, but it mostly works, as co-directors Pierre Coffin (who also voices the Minions) and Kyle Balda never lose sight of the film’s emotional center, packing the rest with as much humor as they can manage. The jokes comes so fast and furious, the movie can hardly find room for Heitor Pereira’s funky score, and though Pharrell Williams has contributed five new songs to sell soundtracks (including the sweet “There’s Something Special”), the movie hardly needs them. While the movie ends with an enticing teaser for “Spy vs.

Spy”-like action to come (for those who remember Mad magazine’s constantly feuding rivals), its biggest laughs come from the retro dance-fights between Gru and Evil Bratt — and for that, it’s hard to beat Madonna’s “Into the Groove.”

Cast: Owen Wilson, Armie Hammer, Cristela Alonzo, Nathan Fillion, Chris Cooper, Bonnie Hunt Director: Brian Fee

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new breed of racers gives Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) stiff competition on the track. Now one of the oldest race cars, Lightning needs to prove that he is still a top racer with help from an eager young female car named Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo). Pixar films have redefined the scope of animated movies with pathbreaking stories in the ‘Toy Story’ trilogy, ‘Wall-E’, ‘Inside Out’, ‘The Incredibles’ and ‘Up’, just to name a few. But few of their missteps have been as prominent as the ‘Cars’ franchise. With the novelty of the first entry wearing thin in the sequel, ‘Cars 2’ seemed like a blatant cash grab for the studio. That movie focused on a secondary character – Mater – for no reason, other than to ensure there was enough merchandise for kids to buy in stores.

It took Pixar the third attempt to realize that great animation isn’t enough to make a good picture - you need characters with a heart and

soul. Safe to say that Mater was not that character, so Pixar shifts focus back to Lightning McQueen. It’s been over 10 years since ‘Cars’ first came out, so it’s not out of place to see him struggling to be relevant again, and being edged out by newer, faster models. But the journey of trying to find himself while retracing the steps of his mentor Doc Hudson (played by the late, great Paul Newman) is long drawn and filled with uneven moments of drama and humor.

This dull and dreary extended middle act will probably be difficult for both kids and adults to sit through, as there’s not much in it for either demographic. Although the story picks up towards the end, with a somewhat unexpected and welcome twist to Lightning McQueen’s tale.

Owen Wilson is cheerful as Lightning McQueen, enough to watch him running around in circles on and off a race track. The rest of the actors voicing these characters are well-suited for the roles

Anuradha Cineplex Noonmati 03612656968 Gold Mine 10:30 AM Cars 3 11:00 AM Haunted House 01:00 PM 04:00 PM

Despicable Me 3 02:00 PM Forest Adventure & Aero Bike 03:00 PM07:30 PM Bank Chor 05:00 PM Sesh Angikar 08:00 PM

PVR Cinemas

vie Mo view Re

Dona Planet 08800900009 All Eyez On Me 01:00 PM Despicable Me 3 01:30 PM 08:50 PM

Cars 3 03:30 PM Bank Chor 03:50 PM 09:25 PM Wonder Woman 05:50 PM Raabta 06:25 PM

Galleria Cinemas HUB 097069 89143 Despicable Me 3 04:40 PM Cars 3 06:30 PM Bank Chor 09:00 PM

Album The Nashville Sound By Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit

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he sixth full-length solo studio release (and third credited with the 400 Unit) for the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was produced by Dave Cobb. The Nashville Sound is another triumph in his incredible hot streak The Nashville Sound sees Isbell swaggering confidently along the rockier edge of his range--as usual--he’s at his best on the reflective ballads.

The album is more eclectic and energetic than his other recent efforts, which have seen Isbell’s voice and vitality as a songwriter crystallize just as his sound, for better or worse, has become slicker and more uniform. His strength is his honesty. He couches his anxieties in simple but poetic language as his band find the

Game Arms Platform Nintendo Switch

u Yo LD OUAY H S PL

sweet spot between country and rock. There’s nothing particularly Nashville about Jason Isbell’s new album--no cowboy hats or keening steel guitars--but it does possess, in spades, the kind of blue-collar concerns that have traditionally furnished country music’s backbone.

On moments like the Elliott Smith-inspired meandering melody on “Chaos and Clothes,” or the slow-building, orchestral guitar freakout on “Anxiety,” Isbell points to a more expansive musical future, one where he’s free to indulge his whims, fully unburdened by the notion that he’s the last of a dying breed. The Nashville Sound isn’t a bad record by any estimation, but there are flat moments.

u Yo LD OU SH Play

Grande Cines Paltan Bazar 09854017771 Sesh Angikar 12:30 PM

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he first fighting game of its kind. Choose a fighting champion from around the world, equip your own combination of extendable arms, and then use a mix of button presses and quick hand motions to really take the fight to your opponent. Throw punches and guide them midflight to hit agile fighters, avoid incoming attacks with dashes, or trampoline high into the air to rain down fists from above.

Power-up your punches to deal extra damage or curve your fists around obstacles to hit skittish opponents.

Fill up your special gauge to dish out devastating combinations and finish them off. Unleash your inner fighter in this unbelievable sporting event. Fight via simple motion and

button controls Grab onto your JoyCon with a unique “thumbs-up” grip and use simple motions and button presses to outthink your opponent.

Toss and curve punches when you find an opening, and dodge a flurry of incoming attacks. It’s fast-paced fun for everyone! Select from a variety of fighters like Ribbon Girl, Master Mummy, and more! Each fighter has their own special attributes to learn and master. Fight in arenas with unique obstacles. Choose your arms carefully. Each weapon has its own strength. Some are slow and do tons of damage, while others are fast as lighting, but will only serve to set up larger combinations. It’s up to you to mix and match your arms to fit your play style.

The Mummy 08:00 PM The Mummy 01:00 PM Bank Chor 03:00 PM 08:15 PM Wonder Woman 03:15 PM Hindi Medium05:30 PM Despicable Me 3 06:00 PM

Apsara Cinema Paltan Bazaar 0361 254 1335 Sesh Angikar 11:00 AM Bank Chor02:00 PM 05:00 PM 08:00 PM

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

21

Lifestyle

VAASTU SHASTRA

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Effects Of Vaastu On Us

aastu Shastra explains how to live harmoniously with the energies of Mother Nature. These energies will act upon everyone living in a house or working in an office, business establishment or factory.

The following energies will have effect on all the people living in a house or building: 1. Biological energy of the environment around the building. This will have a lot to do with the placement of the five basic elements, i.e. air, water, fire, earth and space.

2. Cosmic energy obtained from the cosmos.

3. Geomagnetic energy obtained from the North and the South pole.

4. Solar energy obtained from the east and west directions.

5. Gravitational energy obtained from the earth.

6. Water and wind energy obtained from nature.

Effects on health: Faulty Vaastu can have adverse effect on our health too. The natural energies are acting constantly on a building which has effects on human bodies. The parts of the Vaastupurush fall in these areas.

1. It is very good to leave the northeast corner of a plot/house vacant for all

round health.

2. A toilet, septic tank or garbage bin in the northeast corner will lead to bad health for men and children.

3. If there is a septic tank, toilet, well, boring or water tank in the southeast corner it leads to bad health for women and girls.

4. Defective construction in the northeast direction may lead to chest cancer, brain cancer, headache, ENT and dental problems.

5. If there is faulty construction in the east, it leads to pain in the left hand and shoulder, rheumatism, sprain in the right hand etc.

6. A faulty construction in the north will lead to pain in left hand and shoulder, rheumatism.

7. A faulty construction in the south will lead to pain in the waist and thighs, rheumatism, paralysis and problems in the left leg.

8. Kidney troubles, corner of the uterus, stomach trouble, indigestion, intestinal problems, diabetes etc. are encountered due to faulty constructions in the southwest.

estaurants in Guwahati are bending backwards to offer their guests new tastes, experiences and cuisines. The new kid on the block is “The Socialite.” It is the latest pub in Guwahati which offers a cool and hip ambience with great food.

The interior is done in a minimalistic industrial style with warm glows of lights and a deep shade of green on the wall.

It is quite spacious, interspersed with comfortable seating and bar stools.

I started with a fabulous drink called Cranberry Twist; it had a hint of chat masala and kaffir lime. Young Arminder Oberoi is hands-on and keeps everything under control with the help of an ef-

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ri Sri Ravishankar: How do you develop respect? Let us think (Laughter). We can say like this: Respect is an appreciation from the head. Love is that appreciation from the heart. Respect is, you look at something, you adore it, but from the head level. So, there is a little distance and respect needs that distance. Love is from the level of heart. Respect needs a logic. Love doesn’t need a logic. Respect comes with understanding.

Love does not come with any understanding. Love is blind (Laughter). Isn’t it? Does it make sense?

You respect something, somebody, why? Because you know something. Knowledge is required for respect. But for love no knowledge is required.

You just look at something oh you just fall in love with it. Or rise in love with it. So for love, it’s almost instantaneous. It can come and can come after respect also slowly. Two types. Respect is always from knowing. It’s a little bit connected to the head. Head doesn’t like to merge; it likes to keep a little distance. So in respect there is a little distance. Heart does not like the distance. Distance is painful for the heart. It likes to just dissolve, merge.

So respect is of the head and love is of the heart. And both are essential in life. Isn’t it? Respect! Wanting respect is a natural tendency of adults, even adolescent children. But how to give respect? Very few people know, you know? Everyone demands respect - ‘Better you respect me’. But do we know how to respect others? It needs a little sensitivity.

If you are sensitive, you are able to respect others. And if you respect others you also become sensitive. I think that is the change, that is the transition.

They are very close - respect and love - yet different. You cannot hate somebody and have respect for them. When you respect someone you start loving them. When you love someone, you start respecting them. It’s all very complicated (laughter) but still very simple and good. If you sit and think about it, it all appears to be very complicated. But when it just happens, it is shri shri ravi shankar Founder- Art of Living Foundation. very simple. Isn’t it?

secret menu apart from the regular menu and one is sure to be amused by the food. For starters, I had – Oh My God BBQ chicken wings, TS Special vegetable Kathi Rolls, Mahi Irani Tikkas and Drums of Heaven.

The BBQ chicken wings

In the main course, we ordered Dal Makhani, which they informed, was their star attraction; TS Special Khichdi and Rogan Josh along with Pudina Lacha Paratha. The Dal was deeply satisfying; it was both creamy and smooth, with a very evident taste of the spices. Accompanied by the flaky Pudina Lacha, it tasted heavenly. The Lacha Parathas were not

We concluded the meal with a bowl of Caramel Custard, Brownie with ice cream and Shahi Tukda. The Caramel Custard was very regular; there was nothing extraordinary in the manner of presentation or taste.

Nevertheless, the Shahi Tukda was amazing; it had golden crisps of double Roti amid creamy Rabdi with just the balanced amount of sweetness

are definitely going to leave you with an “Oh My God” exclamation! It was not just spicy and fiery but extremely yummy. However, it is not meant for the faint hearted, we tasted the mildest one and they surely go soaring high on the Scoville scale!

The reason: it has Bhoot Jolokia as a marinade. The Mahi Fish Tikka was another winner; we also loved the vegetable Kathi Rolls. It is one of the fastest moving items on the menu and I can understand why.

The Drums of heaven were also nicely done.

as greasy as they usually get when done in a Tandoor. The Khichdi was soul rewarding with cubes of pota-

and a generous sprinkling of Pista nuts. The Brownie was nothing to write home about.

The Socialite has many interesting experiences for the guests in terms of Food Challenges and Games.

The menu is comprehensive with a fine mix of Indian meal platters, Chinese and European dishes. Pastas and Pizzas are very popular too. The Socialite is indeed going out the extra mile to take care of its guests. A standard meal for two would set you back

by Rs 1000.

Hemanta Kumar Sarmah Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist.

The Socialite

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Question: Beloved Punditji, could you talk of respect? What is respect? Is it part of something bigger that we often miss to see? Or are we not aware of it?

ficient and amiable manager cum bartender, Pradeep. Presently, only mocktails are being served by them but you won’t be disappointed as the drinks are all refreshing and superb.

The ginger, basil and lime mojito and the watermelon were both incredible. But, the star of the drinks was the Oreo Shake! It comes in a bottle of

milk and is irresistible.

The Socialite has many surprises up its sleeves; a guest is treated no lesser than a king. Also, they have a

toes melting in a mélange of rice and lentil. It can be described as a heartwarming dish cooked to perfection.

The Mutton Rogan Josh did not live up to expectation though; the gravy tasted ordinary although the mutton was well cooked.

Kashmiri Nath Foodie, owner at XOXO cupcakes, food blogger, recipe developer and expert on Assamese cuisine.

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Entertainment

Prag Cine Awards 2017 |

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he Bodoland Territorial Council District of Kokrajhar is all set to host the most coveted award function of Assamese film industry as well as the biggest event of NorthEast - the PRAG CINE AWARDS, 2017 on 17 and 18th of June. It promises of a great ensemble of almost all the dignitaries and celebrities of Assamese film industry and to top it all, well-known Bollywood stars like Jackie Shroff, Adil Hussain, Priya Bhattacharjya, Zubeen Garg, Angaraag Papon Mahanta and Jaya Seal will also grace the occasion.

This star-studded function will witness awards in as many as 23 different categories of films made and released in the year 2016. A life time achievement award will be given to renowned filmmaker of Assam, Munin Barua,

popularly known as Bhaimonda, for his relentless contribution to Assamese film industry and reviving it with so many hit movies with sensibilities in the last two decades. A huge and spectacular stage is being built at Kokrajhar for the main function.

The Kokrajhar secretariat field is gearing up for the function and wishes people from across the state and beyond to throng in huge numbers and co operate to make this event a grand success.

The official list of the nominations prepared by the grand jury for different categories has been made public.

Here are some of the nominations: Best Singer (Female) A. Mizee (Akashe Aki Diya/Dur) B. Tarali Sarma (Sarbagunakar Sankar Dev) C. Rupa Mili (Li:Len) D. Rupjyoti Devi (Bahniman) Best Singer (Male) A. Zubeen Garg Janu Janu Moiyu Janu / Gane Ki Aane) B. Papon (Khuje Khuje Jiban/ Dooronir Nirola Poja)

Kokrajhar all set to host the biggest cine awards of North East C. Rupam Bhuyan (Akash Xunuwali/Maj Rati Keteki) D. Nilotpal Bora (Dur)/ Bisoaraxomoi Best Music Director A. Zubeen Garg (Gane Ki Ane) B. Anurag Saikia (Antardrishti/Maj Rati Keteki) C. Bhagawat Pritam (Beautiful Lives) D. Tony Basumatary & Utkarsh (Dooronir Nirola Poja) E. Dipak Sarma (Li: Len) 12. Best Editing A. Dhiraj Mazumdar (Shakira Ahibo Bakul Tolor Bihuloi) B. Dhruva J Bordoloi (Dooronir Nirola Poja) C. Saurabh Dutta (Dikchow Banat Polaax) D. Gagan Raj (Doordarshan Eti Jantra) Jury’s Special Mention A. Mahaendra Rabha (Child Artist/ Maj Rati Keteki) B. Bipasha Daimari (Child Artist/ Zero) Best Debute Director A. Deep Choudhury (Alifa)

B. Dhruva J. Bordoloi (Dooronir Nirola Poja) C. Jaicheng Jai Dohutia (Haanduk) D. Rima Das (Antardrishti) Best Film North East A. Loktak Lairembee (Lady Of The Lake / Manipur) B. Dak Bangla (Khasi) Best Actor In A Supporting role (Female) Ashrumoni Bora (Beautiful Lives) A. Meena Ingti (Aei Matite) B. Pranami Bora (Maj Rati Keteki & Doordarshan Eti Jantra) C. Sulakshana Baruah (Maj Rati Keteki)

C. Pakiza Begum (Beautiful Lives) D. Parineeta Borthakur (Gane Ki Ane) E. Jaya Seal Ghosh (Alifa) Best Actor (Male) A. Bishnu Kharghoriya (Antardrishti) B. Mintu Barua (Dooronir Nirola Poja) C. Jatin Bora (Doordarshan /Bahniman) D. Baharul Islam (Alifa) E. Boloram Das (Beautiful Lives) Popular Film A. Gane Ki Ane B. Doordarshan Eti Jantra C. Bahniman

Best Supporting Actor (Male) A. Arun Hazarika (Bahniman) B. Bibhuti Bhushan Hazarika (Dooronir Nirola Poja & Maj Rati Keteki) C. Rupam Chetia (Aei Matite) D. Chinmoy Chakraborty (Dikchow Banat Polaax)

Best Director A. Sanjib Sabhapandit (Dikchow Banat Polaax) B. Santwana Bardoloi (Maj Rati Keteki) C. Kangkan Deka (Beautiful Lives) D. Dhruva J. Bordoli (Dooronir Nirola Poja)

Best Actor (Female) A. Prastuti Parashar (Doordarshan Ati Jantra) B. Amrita Gogoi (Dur)

Best Film A. Antardrishti B. Dikchow Banat Polaax C. Maj Rati Keteki

A look back at Assamese Classics- A series of old movies for the readers with a story, its origin, its cast and its relevance to contemporaries.

Mirza Arif Hazarika

T

he film, released in 1987, won the Golden Award at the National Film Festival and was featured in the National Panorama.

Indra Bania won the Silver Leopard Best Actor’s award at the Locarno International Film Festival (Swit-

zerland). The film also won many national and international awards.

Synopsis: Rakheshwar’s world comprised of his wife Taru, his two children Mahen and Moni, a milk cow and a pair of bullocks. His only property was the 2 bigha land that his father had left behind.

Rakheshwar lived a very simple life with a regular routine of going with the flow. He was happy and always wore a smile on his face. His children went to school and he lived a self-sufficient life. All that he ever dreamt of was that one day he would come across a pot of gold the way he had heard in fairy tales.

But things had to change; change for bad or may be, for the worst. The wealthiest man of the village and a politician in making, Sanatan Sharma claimed that the 2 bigha plot of Rakheshwar lawfully belonged to him. It so happened that once Rakheshwar’s father had mortgaged the land to Sanatan Sharma against a sum of money.

But Rakheshwar had been the wit-

The adamant Rakheswar finally and made him work as a laborer in ness to the act when his father had reached the magistrate to demonanother person’s house. actually paid off the entire sum An official at the magistrate’s strate his anger but the gentleness along with the interest. So it was office informed Rakheshwar that of the man calmed him down. The only he who knew that the rich the hearing of his case would not magistrate convinced him that man cannot have any claim on the be possible before the harvesting something will surely be done to land at present. Since there was no season. He got furious thinking that help his situation. This gave the proof in writing of the money being poor farmer a lot of confidence returned, the wicked Sanatan as the assurance had come kept on claiming that the Halodhia Choraye Baodhan Khai from the magistrate himself. land lawfully belonged to The time for election had him.

Producer: Sailadhar Barua; Jahnu Barua come and Sanatan Sharma The poor farmer had no Direction: Jahnu Barua was contesting. The magisoption left but to visit the Story: Homen Borgohain (based on the writer’s trate came up with a plan; magistrate. There awaited novel with the same title) he told Sanatan that winning another challenge for him.

Cinematography: Anup Jotwani the election may depend Rakheshwar got exploited Music: Satya Barua a lot on Rakheswar’s case. by the middlemen or the Cast: Indra Bania; Purnima Pathak Saikia; Homen This case might make or ‘dalals’ of the government Choudhury; Pranjal Saikia; Amulya Kakati; ruin his political career. The offices. Corruption within Tanka Saikia; Pabitra Kr Deka; and many others seed of greed for votes that the offices were so deep including, Gaurav and Shobhna as child artists was sown by the magistrate rooted and ruthless that a worked wonders. The poor scope of even a little humanity even after doing so much, after sell- farmer did get his land back but was a joke to believe. To satisfy the ing everything that he had in order the turmoil that he suffered for so greed of the government officials, to satisfy each and every greedy many months for no mistake of his the middlemen and all the people official, what would happen to him own took his smile away forever. He related to the case, Rakheshwar and his family if he would not ac- won the case but lost everything at gradually had to sell off his cattle, tually get to farm on his land that home. This imbibed in him a new the milk cow and finally withdrew challenge to stand against injustice. year? his only son Mahen from school

G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

23

Events In a first-of-its-kind fitness event, TG Connect felicitated major athletes from across northeast, including footballers and bodybuilders for their exceptional contribution to the Indian sports and fitness industry.

Arambam Boby Singh – World Champion body-builder, upcoming football players of Assam Alen Deory, Durga Boro and Baoringdao Bodo – youngest goal scorer in I-League were felicitated for their contribution towards sports and fitness in India.

Other athletes who were felicitated in the event were: • • •

Khanjan Pratim Talukdar- 2nd runner-up at Mr. India Nabajit Das - Mr. Assam champion Sahil Swargiary - Two time Jr. Mr. Assam and Jr. Mr. India, 2nd runner-up • David Momin - Three times Mr. Assam champion • Dhiraj Rajbongshi - Mr. Assam champion • Rakhi Sharma - Asian power lifter • Pwilao Basumatary - National Boxing Champion • Samar Sarkar TG Connect – body builder and felicitates athletes of Roadies participant

(L-R) Tarun Gill, Baoringdao Bodo, Alen Deory and Durga Boro during TG Connect in Guwahati at Rabin dra Bhawan on Sunday

Tarun Gill with Baoringdao Bodo, Alen Deory and Durga Boro, Arambam Boby and Samar Sarkar during TG Connect in Guwahati at Rabindra Bhawan on Sunday

North-East Venue: Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati

Date: 11th June, 2017

Arambam Boby Singh felicitating Samar Sarkar of Roadies fame at TG Connect in Guwahati at Rabindra Bhawan on Sunday

Master Class with Siddharth Talwar

Date: 27th and 28th May Venue: Hotel Gateway Grandeur

Eatwithindia North East Chapter held a Master Class in Guwahati with Siddharth Talwar, at Hotel Gateway Grandeur. Talwar exposed passionate Guwahatians to the nuances of Awadhi Cuisine. Chicken Biryani, Awadhi Gobi along with his signature Mutton Korma was taught along with a special module on how to plate food and to take vibrant food photos. The event was attended by members of the Northeast Food Forum and other foodies of the city.

Preview Bazaar

Participants and members of Northeast Food Forum in the Master Class with Siddharth Talwar

Venue : India Club Date : 10th & 11th June, 2017 Organized by Fashion Bloom

by Papli Gogoi, Preview Bazaar was a two days long lifestyle and fashion exhibition with open stalls for designer garments, home furnishing, ethnic wear, lifestyle products among other attractions.

The event aimed to promote local designers, artists, weavers, textile developers & to give them a platform to showcase their products to a polished Guwahati.

Chef Siddharth Talwar

Papli Gogoi (L) hadning over a memento to guest of honour Megna Rai Medhi (R)

Papli Gogoi (L) handing over a memento to guest of honour Asha Bordoloi (R)

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G PLUS | JUN 17 - JUN 23, 2017

Catching Up Most shared story of the week

New

Face

on the block

Minangka Deka

About Me I am Minangka Deka, a mime actor from Guwahati. I completed my graduation from LCB College in 2015 and I hold a Diploma in Mass Communication. I have performed in more than 70 mime shows across the country and received appreciation and awards. I won 2nd prize in Northeast level and Best Mimer award in state level this year. Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee, Moinul Haque, is my Guru who has helped me pursue my passion.

Mojo Ustad Bismillah Khan awardee mime artist Pranjal Gogoi is my inspiration, and I’ve grown up learning his mime techniques. My journey as a mime artist has witnessed various challenges, but this beautiful form of art has helped me understand life and passion.

T

he G Plus exclusive with Dr. Ghanashyam Nath was the highlight of the week as the interview went viral and caused a stir among the students. Read by over thousands , the student fraternity was amazed at how Dr. Ghanashyam Nath’s departure from Gauhati Commerce College resulted in a dip in the performance of the premier institute and the current college he heads, K.C Das Commerce College secured 8 positions in the State HS Examination.

2.5K

243

facebook.com/guwahatiplus twitter.com/guwahatiplus

Route in Woods I aim to spread and popularize the art form and to reflect the rich cultures of Assam through terms for mime. I want to contribute to my society and convey the needful message through the art. I believe its strong impact can change many things in the society. This year I’m going to do some free workshops to spread the art form among the people of our region.

Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Swapnil Bharali.

Phone: 0361 2737737, Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641