Society / Assam

GUWAHATI, September 11: The "tithi" of Srimanta Sankardeva was today observed throughout Assam. Several programmes were organised throughout the state. The main functions were held at the Barpeta and Bordua satras to remember the contributions and ideals of the Vaishnavite saint. The state chief minister, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, inaugurated a scheme of the Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra to hold cultural programmes at the complex on Saturday's and Sundays. Speaking to a sparse gathering, Mahanta hoped that such activities would help preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the state. He...

GUWAHATI, September 9: Renowned litterateur, educationist and former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Jogesh Das, died at the Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) here today. Das, a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, was on artificial ventilation for the last several days following a brain haemorrhage on August 31. He was 72. Born in 1927 at Hanhchara tea estate, Das started his career as a teacher at Doomdooma High School and later joined B Barooah College in the city in 1953 as a teacher in Assamese. He retired as the head of the department of Assamese of B Barooah College in...

GUWAHATI, September 9: Renowned litterateur, educationist and former president of the Asam Sahitya Sabha, Jogesh Das, died at the Guwahati Neurological Research Centre (GNRC) here today. Das, a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award, was on artificial ventilation for the last several days following a brain haemorrhage on August 31. He was 72. Born in 1927 at Hanhchara tea estate, Das started his career as a teacher at Doomdooma High School and later joined B Barooah College in the city in 1953 as a teacher in Assamese. He retired as the head of the department of Assamese of B Barooah College in...

GUWAHATI, September 5: The move of the Guwahati city police to involve the people in preventing crimes has yielded the desired results as people from all walks of life have come forward to offer their helping hand to the police. Police sources revealed that while the petty crimes in the city had increased, the number of police personnel in the city had remained the same for years. The city police decided to try out a new idea to prevent crimes in the ever growing city. Sources said that keeping in mind the need to evolve new methodology to prevent crimes, the city superintendent of police...

GUWAHATI, September 3: The Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) chairman, Justice Surendra Nath Bhargava, has denied reports appearing in a section of the press that he was involved in any financial wrongdoing during his tenure as Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court, before he took up his present assignment. "I am pained to see such reports", Justice Bhargava said. "Three years after my retirement from the post I am now being accused of misappropriating a few thousand rupees which is not fair", he said. Of late, some reports have appeared in the press that Justice Bhargava, during his stint...

GUWAHATI, September 3: Dhiru Bhuyan, celebrated actor and director of films, AIR plays and TV serials, passed away today at his Uzanbazar residence here after protracted illness. He was 56. Born in a renowned Assamese family of Uzanbazar, Dhiru Bhuyan had developed a penchant for acting from his very childhood. Bhuyan made remarkable contributions in the field of Assamese culture. Professionally, he joined AIR Guwahati as casual announcer in 1962, became regular announcer in 1966, and served as senior programme announcer till his death. His first appearance on screen was as a child artiste in...

GUWAHATI, September 3: Dhiru Bhuyan, celebrated actor and director of films, AIR plays and TV serials, passed away today at his Uzanbazar residence here after protracted illness. He was 56. Born in a renowned Assamese family of Uzanbazar, Dhiru Bhuyan had developed a penchant for acting from his very childhood. Bhuyan made remarkable contributions in the field of Assamese culture. Professionally, he joined AIR Guwahati as casual announcer in 1962, became regular announcer in 1966, and served as senior programme announcer till his death. His first appearance on screen was as a child artiste in...

GUWAHATI, August 29: Road accidents in Assam are turning out to be a greater menace than terrorism as the number of persons killed in road mishaps in the state is almost double the number killed in terrorist-related incidents. As per a report of the Assam Police, last year as many as 915 persons were killed in road accidents in the state, while 480 died due to terrorist-related violence. Last year 110 persons were killed in road accidents in Guwahati city while 268 others were injured. In the first seven months of this year, 81 persons were killed and 216 others were injured in road accidents...

SIBSAGAR, August 17: They take pride in identifying themselves as Assamese. They speak proudly about their glorious heritage. But, when asked to speak out their preference categorically in matters related to personal interest and archaeologically important sites they are encroaching upon, they prefer their personal interest to the archaeologically important sites or monuments, be it the Momaikata Garh, the Talatal Ghar, the Kareng Ghar, the Rang Ghar or the Phakuwa Doul (Jaymati Doul), among others. The state revenue department has armed them with "Myadi Patta" in most of the cases, making...

GUWAHATI, August 8: A pilot project to reduce the maternal and infant mortality and morbidity rate has been launched in four districts of Assam by the state branch of the Indian Council of Child Welfare (ICCW). The project, sponsored by United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), if found successful, will be expanded to more districts later. According to the National Family Health Survey 1992-93, the under-5 infant mortality rate in Assam is 142 per thousand, one of the highest in the country. The all-India figure is 109 per thousand. Similarly, the maternal mortality rate in Assam is 544 per...