Volume 31, Issue No 1

In this issue:

Assam has a very rich literary history. Assamese authors have been publishing books for several hundred years. For example, Assamese is known to have written literature starting the thirteenth century although the first printed books were published only in the early 1800’s. Before the Europeans brought the printing press to Assam, thousands of books were written in Assam. The books were handwritten painstakingly on especially prepared paper from locally available resources. A large number of such books that predate the printing press are still available in Assam.

The climate of Assam is very humid. It rains torrentially during the Monsoon season. The Brahmaputra and the many hundreds of big and small rivers and tributaries in Assam are prone to damaging floods almost every year. Earthquakes are fairly common as well. There are hardly any scientifically maintained archival facilities, and as a result of the natural calamities, sheer neglect and lack of knowledge, the precious handwritten books, dating back centuries are slowly getting destroyed.

A project for preservation of such Assamese handwritten manuscripts using modern computer technology was started during Assam 2002 held in Denver, Colorado, USA. The first book to be copied into digital images is Parijata Harana, available at the museum of Borduwa Satra. The book was photographed during January, 2003, using digital camera by a well-known professional photographer of Assam by the name Utpal Barua & then converted into a CD. All the pages have been published in the recent issue of Amerikar Oxomi (available at http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/~kalita/Asomi2003). Another such book in manuscript form, Bhakti Ratnawali was scanned in Kuruwabahi Xatra, Bokakhat, in August of 2003.

Currently, digitization of such books is going on at Kuruwabahi Xatra, of Bokakhat, Elengi Satra of Titabar and other places. The equipment used in the project include a digital camera (donated graciously by Samar Gogoi of Omaha, Nebraska), and lighting equipment. A laptop is used (borrowed from well-wishers in Guwhati, Assam, whenever available) to enable digitization of several books in one session, since the camera has got just 256 MB storage.

The project members include Naren Kalita, Nagaon, Assam; Babul Gogoi, Guwahati, Assam; Chandan Mahanta, St. Louis, Missouri; Jugal Kalita, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Prabodh Nath, Nagaon, Assam; Vavani Sarma, Secane, Pennsylvania; Sarat Nath, California; Kedar Bhuyan, Mays Landing, New Jersey; Dhrubajyoti Kalita, Torrance, California; Mantu Baishya, Omaha, Nebraska, and Mahesh Baishya, Dublin, California and many others.

Updates on the project will be posted at Assamnet as well as Assam.org. We intend to publish articles in newspapers and magazines in Assam as well.

The manuscript preservation project is sponsored by the Assam Society of America and Assam Foundation of North America. Funding so far has come from members of Assam Society of America. Any generous individual who wants to help in this project, financially or otherwise, is requested to contact Mantu Baishya, President of Assam Society of America at mcbaishya@hotmail.com.

To accommodate the needs of the growing number of young people in the Assamese community in Northeastern USA, an information-rich cultural program was organized at the Bridgewater Public Library on August 23, 2003. "This is a program for kids of various age groups below 16 years old", according to the organizers: Satyajit Dutta, Purandar Sarmah, Sankumani Sarmah and Sanjay Saikia. "Currently we are planning items like recitation of poems, singing, musical performance, discussion of scientific topics, training in public speaking, instrument playing, dance performance, acting or anything else you can think of" - said the four hosts in an email circulated to members of the community.

About 20 Assamese kids from New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts and their parents attended this first session of the program. At the outset, Satyajit and Jolly Dutta introduced the children to the audience. They were encouraged to say a few words, sing a song or do any acting while introducing themselves. Reema Rajbonshi, a recent graduate of Harvard and her sister, Ruby who is a final-year undergraduate student at MIT, held an informative quiz about Assam and the Assamese that was appropriate for the age of the children. Poonam Bordoloi led a short session in interactive story telling and rhyming. Rahul Kalita, a sophomore at Northwestern University, presented a story on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and noted that Martin Luther King derived inspiration from Gandhi.

At the end of the program books were presented to each of the participants to encourage good reading habits. Mahesh Kalita of NJ donated a few of these books; others were purchased by the organizers. School supplies like pen and pencil were distributed as well. Pizza was served for a quick lunch.

Finally, there was an open discussion in which it was decided to make this a monthly program. Senior members of the community and visitors from Assam also participated in the discussion.

(Contrubuted by Jukti Kalita, NJ)

AFNA (Assam Foundation of North America) has been conducting a fundraising drive to collect money for AAROHAN, an excellence center for children in Guwahati, a project started by Late Dr. Bhabendranath Saikia. The trust needs about Rs. 30 Lakh (Approx $65,000) to equip the building with minimum facilities so that it can be opened in February 2004. Please make your check payable to AFNA, mark it for "Aarohan", and mail it to: 44963 Lemont Road, Canton, MI 48187. AFNA’s website address is: www.geocities.com/assamfoundation.

(Kaushik Krishanu, Detroit, Michigan)

This was another busy season for Jupi Das of Harrisburg, PA, who specializes in the craft of paper cutting or Scherenrchnitte. This year, she attended several shows in Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Lancaster in Pennsylvania, Buffalo in New York and Bloomsberg in New Jersey. She likes the appreciation that she receives from the art lovers in these shows and has also been successful in selling some expensive pieces of her artwork. Some of her best art sells for over $1,500.

With superlative accuracy, she moves her blade through paper to create intricate shapes and designs. From a distance her work looks like skillfully drawn pen and ink designs. However, upon close inspection, the viewer realizes that the artwork is not of pen and ink, but is an exquisitely implemented paper cutting. "I translate my feelings into each piece that I cut, preferring simple form and bright colors to express the stories and experiences of my life. I create so that the energy and enthusiasm that I put into each piece will bring as much joy to people as the process of creating them brings joy to my life," says Jupi on her website, www.jupisart.com.

Jupi has earned accolades for her excellent work including an invitation to the White House at the end of 2002. She was one of the two artists from Pennsylvania whose ornaments adorned the Christmas tree at the White House last year. She has an art gallery in her basement.

Jupi is originally from Guwahati and lives in Harrisburg with her husband Jyotish and two children. Her parents are visiting her this summer.

(Contributed by Jukti Kalita, NJ)

A large number of Non-Resident Indians with root in Assam have been pursuing different professions in almost all the countries of the world. Many Assamese are prospering in India, outside Assam as well. With a view to establishing contact and also for interaction with them for obtaining their valuable counsel for growth and development of Assam, a convention of the NRIs of Assam origin and other Assamese living outside Assam (all non-resident Assamese or NRAs) is going to be held at Srimanta Sankardev Kala Khetra, Guwahati on 27 & 28 December, 2003.

The convention will cover various issues on which the NRAs may extend their help for development of Assam such as quality education, improvement of the primary sector, real estate and urban development, power, tourism, agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and process industries.

Assam Association, Delhi has recently constructed a cultural complex named after Mahapurusha Srimanta Sankaradeva. It is located near Jawaharlal Nehru University (behind IIT, Delhi). The building has all amenities such as an auditorium, an art gallery, a conference hall, a library, an office for Assam Association, a kitchen, dormitories for both boys and girls, guest rooms, and an open air theatre.

The complex hosts a cultural center for research and training in dance, drama and music forms of Assam. It has an educational center for Assamese language and culture. It provides accommodation for students, patients, and guests. It has a restaurant for those hunkering after Assamese cuisine. Its auditorium and open-air theatre facilitate organizing cultural functions, seminars, and study circles. The Assamese library emphasizes preservation of old literature. There is a training center for traditional crafts of Assam as well.

Assam Association, Delhi was created in 1947 with an objectives to "Provide a Forum for socio-cultural linkage, Organize Functions & Festivals, Organize seminars and meets, Establish a cultural complex to impart training on Assamese Language, Art, Drama and Dance forms". It has about 300 life members and more than 1000 general members. There are about 15000 Assamese living in Delhi.

Summer and outdoor activities always go together rather fine in the North East. And what if you combine that with an outdoor event involving community members? Lots and lots of fun and a jolly good time, you bet!!!

Well, that's exactly been the idea when a community picnic was organized by ASA on Sept 6, 2003 at Mercer County Park, NJ. The setting was perfect at Mercer County Park, a picture-perfect park with a large lake and a bright sunny day with highs in the 70’s. The food was delicious and plentiful, a true blend of East (an assortment of Assamese and Indian sweets, pithas served with hot Assam tea, pulao rice) and West (delicious barbequed chicken, corn, hot dogs, burgers, pasta). There were plenty of activities including soccer, cricket, and badminton and of course Bihu dance. Children had a terrific time with the slides, swings in the play park. If you were too tired from the activities, you could just chill out with some “Assamese Adda” or just listen to Assamese music to please thy soul.

About 40 families participated in the daylong event of fun and frolic. Surely everybody had lots of fun and was looking forward to the next summer picnic.

Little Anoushka (Pori) came as a miracle of joy to her proud parents Paban and Sagarika (Sarma) on December 6, 2002. She waited for first three months to finally see her grandmother (Dr.) Anjali Sarma who flew all by herself from Guwahati immediately after her retirement as head of Assamese Department, Handique Girls College, Guwahati. Dr. Sharma’s stay in Colorado was a lot of fun and enjoyment. She specially remembers the festive moment during the Rongali Bihu celebration in Colorado Springs. Anoushka's annapraxon was also celebrated on June 08, 2003. All the Assamese and Bengali families in Colorado made the special event very successful with a nice and lazy summer lunch in PinneConne Apartments' club house of Fort Collins.

Pritish, a baby boy was born on Thursday March 13, 2003 to Prakash & Baishalee Das of Foster City, CA. Congratulations to parents & big sister Priyam. Baishalee's parents Bishnu Prasad & Dr. Ranjita Medhi of Guwahati came for the happy occasion & left.

Rhea, a baby daughter was born on Monday, June 02, 2003 to Rupam & Sangeeta (Luna) Sarmah of Elk Grove, CA. Congratulations to parents & big brother Ritam. Sangeeta's parents Kumud & Meera Sarmah (elder brother & sister-in-law of Kabita Barua of Ames, IA ) of Jorhat are visiting them.

Alok, a baby boy was born on Wednesday, August 20, 2003 to Rajeev & Alpana Barua of Rockville, MD. Congratulations to parents & big brother Avik. Alpana's parents Benoy & Aradhana Das of Guwahti are with them till the first week of November, 2003.

Miraya, a baby daughter was born on Sunday, August 24, 2003 to Akhil & Ranjita Chowdury of Livermore, CA. Congratulations to parents & big sister Kirby.

On October 4, 2003, Tarun Gogoi, Chief Minister of Assam with his wife will be visiting their daughter Chandrima & son-in-law Prasenjit Phukan who live in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Bay Area Assamese Community is arranging a get-together to meet CM on October 4, 2003 at the Indian Community Center, Milpitas, CA. All are cordially invited to attend. In that get-together attendees will get a chance to hear CM first & then ask him relevant questions pertaining to developments, problems, solutions of Assam & NE.

Dr. Lopita Nath has come as a Visiting Professor of History, at the University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas. She is a senior Lecturer, in the Department of History, Cotton College, Guwahati. She has her Ph.D. on colonial transformations in Assam, and is presently engaged in research on the Nepali Immigration to North-east India. Her book “The Nepalis in Assam: Ethnicity and Cross-Border Movements in the North-East” was published in July, 2003. She has recently been awarded the South Asia Regional Fellowship by the Social Science Research Council to work on her second book on the Nepali Dairy Farmers in the Northeast. At the University of the Incarnate Word, Lopita teaches a course on the History of India, and another on the History of USA and also lectures on various aspects of Indian Culture.

Surajit Chaliha of Delhi (formerly of Guwahati), father of Rashmi, father-in-law of Kaushik Kalita & grandfather of two years old Nikhil of San Diego, CA is currently in the USA visiting families & relatives. He is the younger brother of Debajit Chaliha of Mountain View, CA.

Surendra Kumar and Giribala Thakuria are visiting their son and daughter-in-law Jayanta and Nilakshi Thakuria of South Brunswick, NJ. Surendra Kumar is enthralling the audience in the get-togethers around New Jersey area with his melodious songs - the most popular one being a romantic song "Bohudin tomar khobor poa naai...".

Nirala B. Deka of Guwahati is currently visiting her son and daughter-in-law Prakash and Anuradha Deka and her youngest grandson Ayan of North Brunswick, NJ.

Dr. Harendra Nath Sarma and Dr. Anuja Bala Devi of Guwahati are visiting their son and daughter-in-law Sankumani and Shravani Sarma and grandsons Arunabh and Abhijat of Marlboro, NJ. They also visited their daughter Ranjumani Sarma, son-in-law Pranab Sarma and grandchildren Devapratim, Arindam and Prerana Priyadarshini of San Jose, CA as part of this trip. Both Dr. Sarma and Dr. Anuja Bala Devi have been involved with literary activities. It is worth mentioning here that Dr. Anjula Devi composed the opening chorus "Aaji ekoish xotikar duar meli" of Assam Y2K get-together in Cherry Hill, NJ.

Anil and Chinta Baruah of Guwahati are visiting their daughter and son-in-law Rakhi and Apolok Borthakur and grandson Eeshan of Sugar Land, TX as well as son Reeturaj Baruah of Houston.

Narayan and Minu Das of Guwahati are currently visiting their daughter and son-in-law Jyotish and Jupi Das and grandchildren Jyotirmoy and Jahnavi.

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