Last week Dubai witnessed the sixth show of One Night Stand – comedy in desi ishtyle… a rib tickling good and achingly funny monthly fixture on the comedy circuit aimed at Dubai’s desi community. Over the past few years Dubai has put itself on the map as the most happening place to be. The entertainment calendar is always filled with many events and venues that ensure there is something going to provide socialites and fun loveing expatriates a platter of varied opportunities to indulge their senses and unwind, amidst their otherwise fast-paced and stress filled lives.

Earlier, the Sabha flag was hoisted by its vice-president Lahori Barthakur and the Sahitya session started with Chiro Senehi Mor Bhasa Janani sung in chorus. President Gagon Hazarika welcomed the distinguished gathering, in particular the appointed speaker Prof Dr M Rahman of Halifax University, Nova Scotia, Canada and the participating artistes Samar Hazarika and Chandana Deka from Guwahati and outlined the aims and objectives of ASSUK and invited all Assamese expatriates to stand united and help and inspire in keeping up the good work.

As a part of the Sabha’s first phase of a long-drawn agitational plan, the organisation has called a 12-hour Upper Assam bandh from 6 am on August 6 in protest against indifference by successive regimes. The State Government too has been warned of serious consequences in the ensuing Assembly election provided it failed to convince the Centre about the urgency to make necessary statutory arrangements at the earliest possible.

Last year the outfit’s list of activities included targeting schoolchildren gathered at a Dhemaji school for the Independence Day ceremony. On that occasion, six children and several adults paid the price for the ULFA’s egregious pathology.

This year, they have called for a general strike on August 15 in the state and warn to target the cinema houses, gas pipelines, railway lines and even big emerging industries, such as tea and petroleum industries.

And the recent attacks on pipelines and railways in upper Assam have already caused a great deal of damage and fear.

I don’t know, why Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, as to why the Government of India remained in deep freeze even as Manipur remained under siege for over 45 days. But surely there is nothing particularly new about the simmering tensions in the region over the demand for a Greater Nagaland?

Surely it is the job of the home ministry to remain alert to the possibility of these tensions spilling over and creating a situation of breakdown? And surely regional sensitivities cannot be cause for inaction?

Prabhakara’s treatment of the book appears too mild going by the sub-standard and error-ridden text of the narrative. It is also surprising to note that Prabhakara failed to point out some glaring discrepancies in the book, but for which I would not have bought this useless publication.

Bijoylakshmi Baruah,
Chandmari
Guwahati 781003.

Late Khagendra Nath Nath, Mujibar Rahman, Dr.Mehdi Ali, Wazuddin Ahmed, Khirod Mohan Sen, Dr. Annada Charan Das, S.N.Gupta, Dhiraj Mohan Das, Deben Kachari,and other energetic persons are there to establish the college. After the founder principal Wazuddin Ahmed some renowned assamese like Dr. Mahedra Bora, Dr. Birendra Nath Dutta,Ratna Kanta Barua, Dr. Pravin Sarma were occupied the prestigious principal seat.

Hitherto, this issue had always been given a political hue of minority (read foreigners) protection but now with an authoritative finding on facts and a severe castigation of the Government effort or rather the lack of it, in removing foreigners, this judgment now requires the Government both at the Centre and those in the Northeastern states to provide answers and to act.

The road is unmotorable since more than 7-8 years and it is deteriorating year after year due to flood, etc. Now the position is such that it takes around 2-2.30 hours to cover a distance of 20 kms by bus. Leave aside the paitients / elderly persons, the healthy persons become sick while travelling by this road. I would therefore request to the authorities concerned to kindly look into the matter and do the needful so that the people of that area get a good road for commuting to other places, headquarter, etc. for which we shall be ever grateful.

Sincerely yours.
25.08.2005