GPlus Volume 2 Issue 43 by G Plus

How much salt should we take?

PG 16

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play enthralls Rabindra Bhawan

Panchita Saikia

New chic on the block

PG 18

Page 24

VOLUME 02 | ISSUE 43 AUG 01 - AUG 07 , 2015

PRICE `10

Jyotikuchi girls Shreya and Riya were never kidnapped

Later found to be willingly working in an alcohol bottling plant

In Conversation

Dearth of medicine upsets GMCH patients

SHAMSHER SINGH COMMISSIONER OF EXCISE

With the patients going to private chemists for medicines, GMCH pharmacy fails to provide free medicines to most of them PG 02

Paltan Bazaar police solves mysterious murder PG case 06

14 PERIPHERAL business on THE rise with NRC update

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Lead Story GMCH central pharmacy fails to provide medicine to the patients for which they have to buy from outside at double the price The hospital authority only provides medicines who are being referred by the authority As of 27 July, 2015, 112 medicines of different diseases are available in the hospital.

Dearth of medicine upsets GMCH patients

Patients allege that hospital authorities have a nexus with the private pharmacies from which they recieve commission due to which they do not provide medicines to the patients free of cost

Juthika Baruah

he Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), although being one of the biggest medical college and hospital in the region, regularly fails to provide medicines to its patients free of cost forcing them to buy medicines from private pharmacies at doubled rates. Patients at the premier medical college and hospital frequently allege the non-availibility of medicine at the central pharmacy of the hospital but the authority seem least bothered about it and have taken little or no measures to ensure its availability. “My father suffered from stroke and we had to bring him to GMCH but it’s very difficult to get the medicines in the hospital pharmacy. We were forced to buy them from the private pharmacies outside which cost so much money. We come for treatment in the government hospital thinking that we will get the basic facilities at a reasonable rate but the facilities are not available in the hospital. We come from faraway places and if we get the medicine free of cost, we get much relief but instead, we are forced to buy medicines from outside at the market rate,” said Manoj Gogoi, one of the attendants of a patient

who came all the way from Morigaon while speaking to G Plus. Another patient, Jonali Das who came from Chaygaon said, “I am suffering from urine infection and I came for treatment here in the hospital as it have not healed even after consulting five doctors. I have got the treatment but the problem is that medicines are not available in the Central Pharmacy. We are not economically well off and coming all the way from my village to Guwahati is not that easy for us. We had to bear a lot of expenses and if we do not even get the medicine free of cost, it becomes a problem.” Das said that the people who are regarded as BPL or are not economically sound come to the government hospital so that at least they get some facilities free of cost or in concession rates. She said that if the medicines were provided free of cost, at least people get some relief and do not have to buy them at higher prices outside. “I have been prescribed twothree medicines which are not available in the pharmacy nor have I found them in the private pharmacy. If we do not get the medicines here itself, how can we expect to get them in the

rural areas,” said Das. Reena Das who is suffering from tuberculosis said that it has been three weeks that she have been admitted in the hospital but there is no medicine available for her condition. “Being a TB patient, I need many medicines and all the medicines have to be bought from the private pharmacies as the hospital pharmacy does not have them. There are many medicines in the hospital pharmacy but they do not give them to the patients. They have a tie up with the private pharmacies and they get a commission for not providing them which they do not if they have to provide free medicines,” said Das. Speaking to G Plus, Superintendent of GMCH, Dr Ramen Talukdar said, “It is a misconception of the people that there is no availability of medicines in the central pharmacy. The people allege that they don’t get the medicines but it’s not possible to provide free medicines to each and every patient. If a person want insulin, they might not get the syringe and they allege that nothing is available in the hospital.” An official of NRHM while speaking to G Plus said, “The scam in

availability of medicines in GMCH is not a new issue. Such thing happen in the hospital without the knowledge of the public and it is happening as the state is corrupted and no one dares to speak the truth. All such things need to be brought to the public domain so that it could be reduced to some extent.” An official of GMCH said that the

drugs are being supplied by different companies and it is a long procedure from ordering the drugs to its supply. The medicines for cancer, kidney transplant and other major diseases are being supplied from NRHM and Directorate of Health Services but now the drugs for cancer is being supplied by NRHM. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In The News

Unidentified body suspected to be of Hatigaon homicide accused Cops suspect that the unidentified body recovered from Sualkuchi could be of Pranab Mahanta’s

Unidentified body recovered from Sualkuchi by river police on July 25th which is suspected to be of accused Pranab Mahata.

KALYAN DEB

n a latest twist to the Hatigaon triple murder case, an unidentified body, suspected to be of accused Pranab Mahata, has been recovered from Sualkuchi. The body was recovered on July 25th by Sualkuchi river police but could not be identified by Mahanta’s family members. Mahanta have been missing since June 21st after his car was found near the Saraighat Bridge and police suspected that Mahanta jumped into the Brahmaputra river after killing his family. Further identification process will include preservation of the femur bone through which the DNA will be matched with Mahanta’s brother but it has not been handed over to the city police yet. The process requires around seven days of time following which the further investigation will be carried out. Police officials informed that in case of unclaimed bodies, they can be preserved in the morgue for 72 hours after which is cremated in a distinct base keeping it identifiable at the same time. Since the body could not be identified by Mahanta’s brother, so police will take his blood sample to match the DNA in order to come to any conclusion. Another twist took place in the Banphool Path triple murder case earlier in the week when abscond-

ing businessman Nayanjyoti Bhattacharya turned up at Hatigaon police station after over a month of the homicide with a Gauhati High Court order granting him anticipatory bail - giving police a chance to question him. Following the sudden visit, Guwahati police commissioner Mukesh Agarwal said, “Since he remained absconding for more than a month, the suspicion of him being deeply involved has become stronger with information that Bhattacharya had gone out of Assam too.” The police had also started a complete profiling including what relations he had with Mahanta and his family and other details such as financial relations. Police had also found chances of a different plot behind the murder after arresting one Bhaskar Dutta from Pathsala who was allegedly having an extramarital affair with Priyanka Mahanta, which also resulted in her attempt to commit suicide in Bhaskar’s presence at the Mahanta’s Hatigaon residence. Facts also point at Bhaskar having an affair with Adrita, Mahanta’s elder daughter. According to sources, the purported affair was discovered through messages recovered from Adrita’s phone that were sent by Bhaskar. However, it was confirmed

Police had also found chances of a different plot behind the murder after arresting one Bhaskar Dutta from Pathsala who was allegedly having an extramarital affair with Priyanka Mahanta, which also resulted in her attempt to commit suicide in Bhaskar’s presence at the Mahanta’s Hatigaon residence. by sources in the police that Bhaskar had never met Pranab. The chain of events began on June 21st when Priyanka Mahanta, and her two daughters, Adrita (18) and Akshunna (12), were found murdered inside their house at Banphool Path, Hatigaon and the car of Pranab Mahanta (54), was found near the Saraighat bridge. Police suspected Mahanta jumped into the river after killing his family when the three bodies were discovered in two different rooms that were found locked from the outside on the first floor of the Mahantas’ three-storey building. Police confirmed the case to be a homicide as blood was oozing from the victims’ heads and they recovered a hammer from one of the beds. Pranab had called several

relatives on the morning of June 21st, offering an apology, following which his mobile phone was switched off. Police had also recovered a note which revealed that Nayanjyoti Bhattacharya had not returned Rs 7 lakh he owed as his name was in the note purportedly written by Mahanta. Preliminary investigation suggested that Bhattacharya’s refusal to pay back the money had resulted in financial distress for Mahanta. Surrounded by suspects and questions, although the accused of the triple murder is very much clear, the motive still remains a mystery. Only further investigation and DNA test report will reveal if the recovered body is of Pranab Mahanta’s but the motive behind the killing still remains foggy.

As the body remains unidentifiable by Mahanta’s brother, DNA test will be carried out from blood samples of Mahanta’s brother and the femur bone that has been preserved from the unidentified body. After being absconded for over a month, businessman Nayanjyoti Bhattacharya turned up at Hatigaon police station on July 24th after acquiring a Gauhati High Court order granting him anticipatory bail. New plot behind the murder discovered after police arrested Bhaskar Dutta from Pathsala who was having an extramarital affair with Priyanka Mahanta and daughter Adrita. Priyanka attempts to commit suicide in the presence of Bhaskar Dutta at Mahanta’s Hatigaon residence who later takes her to GNRC, 6 mile. Mystery began on June 21st when Priyanka Mahanta, and her two daughters, Adrita and Akshunna were found murdered inside their house at Banphool Path, Hatigaon. Following which the car of Pranab Mahanta was found near the Brahmaputra leaving behind a note and naming Nayanjyoti Bhattacharya.

kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In The News

Juthika Baruah

Photostat and Studio business on rise with NRC update Retail shops and individuals are earning extra income by filling up the forms for the illiterates and semi-literates and providing them with application forms

he programme of NRC update have resulted in the growth of the photostat and studio business in the city along with the extra income for people filling up the forms for those who are finding themselves unequal to complete the task. The city’s photostat and studio business are on the rise as people rush to such shops to take out copies of their original documents for updating the NRC. “People need passport sized colour photos which have to be in white background as mentioned in the NRC guidelines and accordingly people come to the studio for the photographs. It is not that we are doing a roaring business but as it is mandatory to give the photographs along with the NRC application, people come to the studio to have their photographs clicked as mentioned. But one thing is for sure that maximum families come to make the photographs. Now-a-days, coming to studio has become outdated and they only come when they need a passport photo,” said A. Ahmed who owns a studio in Bharalumukh. Ahmed said that earlier when one

needed to click a photo, they had to come to the studio but now-a-days, everyone have cameras and passport photo can be done even in photostat or any other shop. “The business of the studios has gone down after the introduction of new technologies but now with NRC update process in full swing, all the families come to the studio to have their NRC photos because of which our business has slightly risen but it is not permanent. It’s a one time business as people won’t come frequently to have their photographs once the NRC process is over,” said Ahmed. Dhrubajyoti Kalita who also owns a photostat shop and studio said, “It is not that we are earning an extra income from the NRC photo shoots. Being mandatory, people have to come to copy their original documents. We are not forcing them to come for copies and photos, it is the rule of the NRC update for which they come to us.” A customer, Rimlee Das while speaking to G Plus said, “The price for photocopies has remained the same but the studios are collecting more

money from the customers. We used to get passport sized photos for `40-50 but now they are charging `60-70 and people do not have any option other than to have the photos because we need the photos to submit with the NRC application form. And in every household, there are at least 4-5 members and they are collecting money from each and every person which has become a good source of revenue.” On the other hand, although the state government has made it mandatory to help the people who are unable to fill up the NRC forms, it has been seen that the employees appointed to

work in the Seva Kendras are taking money from the people to fill up the forms. G Plus also came across a shop in Maligaon that is charging `500 for filling up the forms and to give the receipt to the people. “I am an aged person and can’t go to the Seva Kendra to bring the form and submit it for which I came to this shop as I heard that they provide the forms. But when I asked for the form, they charged me Rs. 500 whereas forms are given free to the people. It is the responsibility of the government to see whether the forms are being given to each and every

Pranjal’s family express dissatisfaction over cops’ cooperation Approaching human rights commission or the Chief Minister of both the states could be the next step Kalyan Deb

ranjal Das’ family members have expressed grave dissatisfaction over police’s cooperation of both the states as his whereabouts could not be traced even after thirteen days. Pranjal’s father, who visited the Byrnihat police station on Friday with the hope of finding a clue of Pranjal’s whereabouts after being informed that the water level of the Umtru River has come down only faced disappointment. It was also found that the blue coloured Bajaj Discover 155ST bearing registration AS 01BF0612 belonging to Pranjal had already been handed over to Hatigaon police on July 23rd about which Pranjal’s family were not informed and the bike was being rather kept in the police station in an abandoned state. A weary Minaram Das (Pranjal Das’ father) said, “I m getting tired of travelling back and forth to Byrnihat

every other day and the police of both the states are not co-operative enough regarding the matter. It has been nine days since the three accused had been handed over to judiciary custody and yet no information could be gathered which means that our intelligence system has failed.” “With every passing day we are losing patience and see no other alternative but to approach the state human rights commission or the chief ministers of both the states”, Das added. The last update in the mysterious disappearance of Pranjal was on Friday July 24th when his sandals were recovered from the location where he was last seen following which no signs of Pranjal has been updated so far. Meanwhile, Pranjal’s mother is hopeful of his survival and expects the return of her son soon and wishes for his good health.

Meanwhile, the OC, Hatigaon has been repeatedly saying that just because the victim is from his area does not put the case under his jurisdiction. Since, Pranjal was last seen in Guwahati at his college in Six Mile which falls under Dispur police station and went missing from Byrnihat, so it should be Dispur police who should take charge of the case and coordinate with Byrnihat police. Pranjal Das has been missing since July 19th after he left home for college. Pranjal had visited his college viz. Hiteshwar Saikia Jr. College situated in Sixmile where he was enrolled as a degree student under KK Handique State Open University, collected his second semester admit card, but never made it back home again. It was later found through another friend, Nabanita Bordoloi who contacted David Rabha one of the accused, who

said that he along with Pranjal, Pankaj and Partha Bhattacharya went to Umtru and were together till 4pm of July 19th. Pranjal, on the fateful day made plans along with friends David Rabha, Partha Bhattacharya and Bidyabanta Basumatary to visit Umtru and as stated by the three, was with them until 4pm when he parted to a certain distance in order to urinate and has been missing ever since. According to the three, they looked for Pranjal’s whereabouts till 8pm that day and when he could not be found informed the Byrnihat police the next day as they were too nervous to inform Pranjal’s family members. The three, David Rabha, Partha Pratim Bhattacharya and Bidyabanta Basumatary had been detained suspecting their involvement in Das’ disappearance and were later sent to judiciary custody.

household. As I had no other option I took the form. It is not that I had to buy the form but the main concern is that people who can’t afford it would not be able to buy the form. As it is the responsibility of the government they should see whether the forms are being distributed or not and they should not allow the private retail shops to sell the forms,” said Binod Malakar, a resident of Maligaon while speaking to G Plus. The date of submission of application form has extended up to 31st August, 2015. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

Pranjal’s blue coloured bike Bajaj Discover 155ST registered AS 01BF0612 was already been handed over to Hatigaon police on July 23rd but Pranjal’s family were not provided any knowledge about it. With every passing day Pranjal’s family members are losing patience and see no other alternative but to approach the human rights commission or the chief ministers of both the states. The last update in the case was on Friday July 24th when Pranjal’s sandals were recovered from near the location where he was last seen. It has also been nine days since the three accused had been handed over to judiciary custody and yet no further information could be gathered as of yet. Pranjal Das has been missing since July 19th since he left home for college and later made plans with friends David Rabha, Partha Bhattacharya and Bidyabanta Basumatary to visit Umtru.

kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In The News

rahul chanda

Jyotikuchi girls Shreya and Riya were never kidnapped Parents raised hue and cry after the two friends went missing but were later found to be willingly working in an alcohol bottling plant

Shreya Gupta of Jyotikuchi

ith Guwahati turning into a transit point and a hub for women trafficking, any complaint of a missing woman is often treated as a kidnapping related to some trafficking case. But, few recent cases has indicated that in many instances, these are later found to be just girls intentionally leaving their homes and going away in search of jobs or eloping with their loved ones. Recently in a much publicised case in the month of June, two girls from Jyotikuchi area were reported missing but were later found to be working in a factory at Khanapara after leaving home of their own free will.

The case On 23 June last, parents of Shreya Gupta (19) of Jyotikuchi Dhupolia, and Juhi Rai (18) of Jyotikuchi Tiniali (Shankar Hotel) filed a missing person complaint at the Fatasil Ambari Police Station as both girls were missing and the parents feared that it was a kidnapping case. Two cases were registered (377/15 under sec. 366 of IPC) and (376/15 under sec. 366 of IPC). The entire Jyotikuchi area was shocked at the news of the kidnapping of two girls. Both the girls were childhood friends and the day they were reported missing, the duo had gone for shopping but did not return in the evening. The case took a sensational turn and the family members and friends put a lot of pressure on the police to find the girls.

The probe The police started investigating the case and tracking the phone numbers. They questioned close friends and family members of both the girls to get some clue, but after tracking the mobile numbers, it was discovered that both the girls had boarded a train to Bongaigaon after which they were untraceable. Later on during investigation, the police discovered that the girls travelled to Bongaigaon, then to NJP and returned back to Guwahati on 27th

The girls then narrated the story of how they willingly went to Bongaigaon in search of jobs but after spending all their money, they returned to Guwahati. The police said that the girls wanted to work and do something different in life and hence decided to run away from home. They saved some money and decided to go to Bongaingaon but they were not able to get any work there. They also went to New Jalpaiguri but even there they did not land any work. So, on 27 June, they returned to Guwahati and rented a house from one Ramanand Yadav in the Khanapara area.

June, 2015. On 16th July, the Police recovered the girls from an alcohol bottling factory near Khanapara.

What had happened? The girls then narrated the story of how they willingly went to Bongaigaon in search of jobs but after spending all their money, they returned to Guwahati. The police said that the girls wanted to work and do something different in life and hence decided to run away from home. They saved some money and decided to go to Bongaingaon but they were not able to get any work there. They also went to New Jalpaiguri but even there they did not land any work. So, on 27 June, they returned to Guwahati and rented a house from one Ramanand Yadav in the Khanapara area. With help from one of their common friend Ajma, they managed to get jobs in an alcohol bottling factory in

Parents file missing complaint on 23 June alleging the two friends Shreya and Riya are kidnapped

the Jorabat area. Their whereabouts was discovered after they called a friend from an unknown phone number in the Jyotikuchi area to know how their family was. The friend in turn informed the police and the police tracked the number to the Khanapara area.

Police tracks phone numbers which goes untraceable after Bongaigaon Both the girls return to Guwahati on 27 June and rent a house in Khanapara area The girls start working in an alcohol bottling factory in Jorabat area One of the girl calls her close friend in Jyotikuchi area from a different number with the help of which police finds the girls in Jorabat Girls confess that they were never kidnapped and left home willingly Police hands over the girls to parents

Rima Sharma of Sarupetia

Flash back In a similar case few days back, Rima Sharma, who was reported missing on 30-05-2015 [case no. 1064/2015,U/S 366 (A) IPC), was later discovered to never having been kidnapped as the previous information had suggested. Being very upset with her family situation, as her father habitually mentally tortured her, she fled to Chennai to find work. Before leaving, she withdrew `5000 from her father’s account from an ATM in Ambari. The Police had traced Rima till Goalpara after which she abandoned the SIM in her phone making it difficult to trace her after that. Rima, however, contacted a friend when she reached Chennai and informed the person about her location. The friend reported this to the police, who traced the number and retrieved her from Channai on 11th of July, 2015. After court’s order she was forwarded to her parents. The team of city police did a commendable job finding her in Chennai and bringing her back to the city, but initially the parents of Rima Sharma put a lot of pressure on the police. They wrote letters to high profile people and gave statements to the media that their daughter was kid-

On 16the July police traced the girls and found them in the alcohol factory and handed them over to their family on 20 July 2015. The assumption of the locals of the Jyotikuchi area who blamed the police for inaction and assumed that the girls were kidnapped and trafficked was found to be incorrect.

The Police had traced Rima till Goalpara after which she abandoned the SIM in her phone making it difficult to trace her after that. Rima, however, contacted a friend when she reached Chennai and informed the person about her location. The friend reported this to the police, who traced the number and retrieved her from Channai on 11th of July, 2015. After court’s order she was forwarded to her parents.

napped and the police did not do anything. A police official said in anonymity, “Rima Sharma’s parents made a lot of hue and cry about the case and accused the police of not acting fast, but after the police did a commendable job in the case which led to the discovery that the girl was not kidnapped, the parents should have at least apologised for their behaviour.” rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In Th News

Paltan Bazaar police solves mysterious murder case A city based businessman’s driver gets kidnapped and killed, police arrest the criminals in a short period of time rahul chanda

he Paltan Bazar police recently solved a mysterious murder case where the driver of a city based businessman, who was initially reported missing but on probe was found dead in Boko. The case remained a mystery for the police for a long time but finally they solved the case after arresting two people in connection with the crime. The police also discovered that there is a major link between vehicle theft and arms smuggling.

Businessman’s driver Amar Ali goes missing with Toyota Innova vehicle from Paltan Bazar area Amar goes to Goalpara with his friends to help Sanjay Kalita elope with his girlfriend

The case On June 1, a city based businessman, Surajit Bhuyan from Betkuchi filed a missing persons complaint at the Paltan Bazaar Police Station stating that his driver, Amar Ali left his rented house at Lalmati area in Paltan Bazaar with his Toyota Innova (registration number - AS-01-FC-9922) but both the driver and the car were missing and he was unable to locate Ali. The driver left his house as he was expected to go to Betkuchi and give money to Surajit, but after few hours, according to Bhuyan, his mobile remained unavailable and untraceable. A case was registered in the police station (Case no. 480/15 under sec. 381 of IPC RW sec. 120(B)/365/302/201 of IPC, RW sec. 25(1A)/27 of Arms act). The police started investigating the case and on 2nd June, received information about a vehicle with the same registration number. The car was found abandoned at Lakhipur area under Goalpara district and when the police reached there, they found some blood stain inside the vehicle.

The body On 4th June, the dead body of Amar Ali was recovered from a jungle in Boko. The body was recovered after two days and the post mortem report is still awaited. Police then started investigating the case thoroughly. With the help of the phone call records, police discovered that before Amar Ali went missing, he contacted one San-

Sanjay with his friend Ayub Jamadar kills Amar and disposes body in a jungle in Boko

jay Kalita (30) who is a resident of Baksa. After tracking Sanjay Kalita, police arrested him and his partner in crime Ayub Jamadar (28) of Barpeta.

The confession According to phone records, the last call made and received by Amar Ali was to Sanjay Kalita’s phone. Police searched for Sanjay Kalita and finally arrested him from Baksa. Sanjay was also a driver and knew Amar Ali through driving assignments. Amar was an emotional man and Sanjay became a good friend of Amar. On the night of 1st June Sanjay called Amar to Maligaon where Sanjay used to stay with his relatives. Sanjay was with one of his friend, Ayub Jamadar and they had a story for Amar. Sanjay told Amar that he has a girlfriend in Goalpara and her family is against him, so, he needs to elope with her. Sanjay requested him to help him and assured him that he could return next day early morning. Amar agreed to help Sanjay and

The duo take the vehicle to Goalpara to sell the vehicle but do not get buyers With missing news going viral both get panicked, leave the vehicle in Goalpara and run away Police with the help of call records tracks Sanjay and Ayub Recovers a 9mm pistol from Maligaon Technicality still being investigated but Sanjay and Ayub confess to the crime

went with Sanjay and Ayub Jamadar. After reaching Boko, Sanjay and Ayub killed Amar. Amar was shot by a 9mm pistol and his body was left in a jungle. According to police, Sanjay, along with Ayub took the vehicle to Goalpara and tried their best to sell it off but did not receive any buyer. As the news of the missing vehicle became viral, the duo panicked and left the blood stained vehicle in Goalpara and ran away. After their arrest, both confessed to the crime and Sanjay told police that he thought he would sell the car after killing Amar and with the money he would elope with his girlfriend. Both are in judicial custody now and police has also recovered the pistol which was used to kill Amar. The pistol was recovered

from Sanjay’s relative’s house in Maligaon although the family members did not know anything about it. A case has also been registered under the Arms Act and the police is still awaiting post mortem report. According to sources in the police, many vehicles are stolen from Guwahati and are sold in Goalpara area which borders Meghalaya. There is also a racket between vehicle thefts and extremist groups as people involved in vehicle theft racket are gradually entering the arms smuggling business. In this case police is yet to find where Sanjay got the pistol from and whether he had committed such crime in the past as well. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

Weather report for the week SAT 01 August

SUN 02 August

MON 03 August

TUE 04 August

WED 05 August

THU 06 August

FRI 07 August

Rain showers.

Heavy rain.

Thunderstorms.

Strong thunderstorms.

Numerous showers.

Mostly cloudy.

24 / 31 °C

24 / 33 °C

25 / 33 °C

26 / 33 °C

25 / 32 °C

24 / 40 °C

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In The News

AGP to go to people’s doorsteps before 2016 Aditya Gogoi

fter several setbacks in the last several years, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), Assam’s major regional party has decided to reach out to the people in person to redeem their image ahead of the 2016 assembly election. AGP president Atul Bora on Monday said that the party leadership and the workers will visit 200 families everyday in each of the 126 constituencies. “It’s time we feel the emotions of the people and understand their problems. We have decided to conduct this ‘AGP -- door to door’ programme in the recently concluded central council’s general meet at Kaliabor. Likewise we can visit more than 25,000 families in a day across the state,” Bora said. The programme will commence from August 17 this year and in 100 days, the party will cover 25.2 lakh families across the state.

“We are extremely hopeful to meet around 1 crore people in person in the next 100 days when the programme starts. I also appeal to all our grass root workers to get ready to make it a success,” he added. The visiting AGP leaders and workers will seek advice and suggestions from the head and other members of the family. After the visit, the team will send an SMS

with the mobile number and the name of the head of the family to the central committee. The AGP has also released ‘Maha Abhijognama’ – a list of major ‘ill deeds’ of Congress led state government and the BJP government at the centre towards the people of the state. This list includes some of the incidents and developments during the last 14 years ruled by Congress. The Maha Abhijognama says that Tarun Gogoi led state government has declared around various 450 developmental schemes but more than 250 such schemes have not been completed. “Among so many other misdeeds of the state government over the last 14 years or so, the law and order situation of the state has deteriorated with several major riots, violence have taken place. Besides, around 41 thousand people have committed suicide during the last 14 years,” said Bora.

Debutter board to face legal action Aditya Gogoi

he Kamakhya Debutter Board might face legal action for failing to clear the financial details to the Kamrup (Metro) district administration in time as directed by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court had directed Kamakhya Debutter Board to hand over all the properties including the financial details which were being administered by the board to the traditional Bardeuri Samaj within four weeks of the verdict on July 7 this year. The board though has submitted some of the properties to the district administration so far, it has failed to clear the financial details. The Kamrup (metro) district administration has warned the board to come up with the details of finance within the stipulated time. Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner M Angamuthu said that after examining the court order, action will be taken against the Debutter Board. “There is no way out. They (Debutter Board) have to submit all the details to us so that we can hand it over to the Bardeuri Samaj as asked by the Supreme Court before August 4,” said Angamuthu.

Now the district administration is scrutinizing the properties submitted by the board. The Debutter Board has not submitted any kind of documents which describe the financial transition like cash book, salary register, bank statement and money receipt among others. The Debutter Board secretary Naba Kanta Sarma said that they have no details of the accounts till 2012 since they took over in 1996. “The accounts of the Kamakhaya Debutter Board from its inception till 2012 can be submitted only after the relevant books are handed over to me by Balen Sarma and Sukhendra Prasad Sarma (of Bardeuri Samaj). Therefore, the detailed accounts may kindly be sought from the concerned Dolois – Rajib Sarma and others,” Naba Kanta Sarma said in the affidavit. The Supreme Court earlier upheld a Gauhati High Court order of 2011 to restore the traditional system of managing the affairs of the pre-10th century Kamakhya Temple by the Bardeori Samaj in place of the Kamakhya Debutter Board, which was in control of the shrine since 1996.

Chatribari girl Anjali Sahani wins Kyorugi

championship

class nine student of Nichols High School Anjali Sahani was awarded gold medal in junior girls under – 44kg weight category in the Kyorugi championship held from 23rd to 26th July 2015 at Hari Mandir, Prangan, Nalbari, Assam. The championship was organised by Nalbari District Taekwondo Association.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In The News

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre CM reviews for Innovation soon: Gogoi progress of work at Bhupen T Hazarika Samadhi g plus news

he Assam government has announced setting up the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Innovation soon. Making the announcement in Guwahati on Thursday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said the centre would help engage the young minds of the state and the North East as a whole in entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity. The ‘People’s President’ famed Kalam died at Indian Institute of Management in Shillong on July 27 while delivering a lecture. He died of a massive cardiac arrest. “The proposed Centre named after the great scientist, super human being and a teacher par excellence would help ignite the young minds towards entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity, thus helping to transform the lives of the common man and bringing smiles on their faces,” he added.

The Former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was laid to rest on Thursday at his hometown of Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) with full military honours in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other

leaders. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders also paid their last respects to Kalam – also known as India’s Missile Man.

Consider parole to murder convict Mahendra Das: GHC g plus news

or the first time in 15 years, murder convict Mahendra Nath Das is likely to visit his home in Senga in lower Assam’s Barpeta district soon since he was sent to jail in 1996 for beheading one businessman in Guwahati. Das had moved the Gauhati High Court to intervene in granting him a parole to visit his village to perform ‘Shraddha’ of his deceased mother. The high court has recently directed the IG Prisons to consider granting him a parole for 20 days for the purpose. Though his mother

died on May 31, Das was not allowed to go home following which he started a hunger strike inside the Guwahati Central Jail. “The state government, in an affidavit, expressed apprehension on his parole saying that his visit may cause disturbance in the area. However, we argued that Das fulfilled all the criteria of possessing a good behaviour inside the jail during his stay behind the bars,” the counsel added. The HC asked the state police to consider attaching armed security persons with Das during his visit af-

ter the petitioner’s side agreed to bear all the expenses of the security personnel. In 2013, the Supreme Court had commuted Das’s death sentence to life imprisonment, after his mercy petition was rejected by the President after 12-years’ delay. Das had contended that the delay in deciding his mercy petition and the President giving his assent to the death sentence resulted in excruciating agony and trauma for almost 12 years for no explainable reason.

hief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday directed the PWD and Cultural Affairs Departments to execute the construction of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Samadhi Kshetra on a war footing and complete the memorial of the State’s cultural icon before November 5, 2015. The Chief Minister’s directive came at a meeting when he was reviewing the progress of the construction work of the memorial at his official residence at Khanapara on Monday. The review meeting came as a part of the series of steps he has undertaken to complete the construction of the Samadhi Kshetra before November this year. In the meeting, Gogoi also took stock of different parts of the memorial that will add sanctity and glitz to the whole project. The Chief Minister also asked the

concerned functionaries to take necessary steps so that the Samadhi Kshetra reflects the essence of the immortal creations of the music maestro. He also asked the implementing department for adequate steps to make arrangement for playing maestro’s musical numbers in the Samadhi Kshetra. Minister for Cultural Affairs Bismita Gogoi, Minister of Water Resources Basanta Das, Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia, Commissioner and Secretary Dr. Ravi Kota, Commissioner and Secretary Cultural Affairs Department Preetom Saikia, Vice-Chancellor of Gauhati University Prof Mridul Hazarika, Editor-in-Chief, Dainik Agradoot Kanak Sen Deka along with other dignitaries were present at the meeting.

“Dr Kalam knew Northeast better than us”

n a humble tribute to Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of state, the ‘Missile Man of India’, the ‘People’s President’, Mahbubul Hoque, Founder and Chancellor of University of Science and Technology, Meghalaya and Chairman, ERD Foundation, reminiscences about Dr Kalam and his various interactions with him while he shared his life’s ambitions and dreams for a developed India. “I first met him in the month of June 2014 at his Delhi residence. It was a good experience interacting with him. Although it was a government residence, there was none of the finery attached with being surrounded by caretakers. I had assumed that there would be a lot of security arrangement at his residence, but when I went there, all that they asked was whether I had an appointment with Dr Kalam and when I replied in the affirmative, the security personnel let me in immediately. We waited in the

lobby in the small verandah for some time and after that I entered the room and saw Dr Kalam standing and waiting for me. After we settled down, he asked me something about myself - how I came up with the idea for the university among others. Another gentleman, who accompanied me, expressed his wish to get a photograph with him. The gentleman stood by him but when Dr Kalam saw me still sitting, he asked me very genially to join them. He agreed in principle to come and attend the function at

the university. He then told me that he was a visiting professor at IIM Shillong and that he would club the two events together and visit our university. So it was last year that he visited our university first to attend the North East College Principals’ Conclave, which was attended by a large number of principals from North East colleges, before heading to IIM Shillong. He came, attended our programme, stayed for hours and I got the opportunity to discuss several issues close to his heart. We had ar-

ranged a room for him in the campus to take some rest, but we found him working instead with his secretary working on his lecture, right until he was ready to go to the meeting. This was how he spent his time. It was not simply rest, but rest for the sake of work. There were several issues that he mooted, like how corruption can be removed. We must reach out to the people, especially those who have realised that although Dr Kalam may have left the earth for his heavenly abode, it is our responsibility to carry his mission forward and to give his message to the youth of this country that his unaccomplished task is now left to us and we have to fulfill it. Another very important aspect of Dr Kalam was his care for the underprivileged. If he was staying in a residence, he not only took care of the higher officials but of every person working there. He was a great and morally upright human being.

His idea was to empower the 90 per cent people who are simply surviving in the society because if these people can be empowered, no one would remain backward anymore. This was the main theme behind his ideals and he consistently fought for them. But the question remains how many people will actually follow his ideals. People are talking about Dr Kalam but it is very shameful that it is mostly in the form of draft and nothing much has been taken care of, be it in the development of technology or rural innovation. As an educationist, I can carry forward and propagate different kinds of issues and we have decided that two fellowships will be offered to conduct research leading to PhDs. We will give the fellowships to scholars, for research work in the form of research findings and information that will go to the masses. It will be known as Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Fellowship and it will focus on his works.”

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

City

Outstation autos not a concern for local counterparts Despite the growing number of outstation autos in the city of Guwahati not following the fare meter, no sense of competition can be seen among the local auto rickshaws to settle for a lower fare. KALYAN DEB

ven though several outstation registered auto rickshaws are seen plying on the streets of Guwahati, for the auto rickshaws registered in Kamrup Metro, it is hardly a matter of concern. Although the number of auto rickshaws in the city keep growing, it is surprising to see that there is no sense of competition among them. Although it was made mandatory by the government for all auto rickshaws to operate according to fare meter but till date there are hardly any autos that operate according to the norms. Most auto rickshaws charge the same amount of money to travel a certain distance and even after bargaining to reduce the fare, not many auto would agree for a lesser amount. In a survey carried out by G Plus in some of the auto stands across the city, it was found that every auto at any particular stand charge the same amount of fare to travel to the particular distance and only settle for a difference of Rs 20 to Rs 30 after bargaining. According to the auto rickshaw drivers, it is an understanding among them that everyone in every auto stand follows. “Since most of us come from a similar economical background, so we can relate to our problems. More-

While the number of outstation auto rickshaws in Guwahati streets keep growing, the intention of plying according to the fare meter is nowhere to be seen. It can also be mentioned that since the transport authority has also not issued fresh permits to auto-rickshaws since 2007, the auto rickshaw owners’ association had earlier urged the state transport department to allow permit to 2,000 auto rickshaws to ply in the greater Guwahati area, though they do not have the necessary permits to operate here.

over, we all have families to feed, auto maintenance charges and other expenses as well, so being competitive will not help anyone of us. Also, there is not much difference between the fare that we charge and the amount generated on the fare meter. We do not want to scare off the passengers by asking for an unfair amount, so we only ask for a reasonable fare”, said an auto rickshaw driver in Ganeshguri. Another driver asserted that most outstation autos plying on the roads of Guwahati are from areas such as Nalbari and Barpeta as the number of passengers in such areas are comparatively less and they get more passengers in cities such as Guwahati. “Guwahati is a place that has tourists coming from different places and also there are sections of people

who prefer taking an auto rather than a crowded bus, so it provides the auto drivers with more number of passengers than that of the rural areas. This is what lures the outstation registered auto rickshaws to ply on the roads of Guwahati”, said another auto rickshaw driver. Pointing at the poor economic background of the outstation registered auto rickshaws, he said, “Those outstation autos running on the streets of Guwahati are not from a very sound economical background so we can relate to their problems and since they only come here to earn their living so there is no point in competing with them.” While the number of outstation auto rickshaws in Guwahati streets keep growing, the intention of ply-

Number of autos seized for violating norms by plying in outstation area from the month January to June, 2015. Month

Total number of autos ceased

Number of outstation autos ceased

January

February

March

April

May

June

ing according to the fare meter is nowhere to be seen. It can also be mentioned that since the transport authority has not issued fresh permits to auto-rickshaws since 2007, the auto rickshaw owners’ association had earlier urged the state transport department to allow permit to 2,000 auto rickshaws to ply in the greater Guwahati area, though they do not have the necessary permits to operate here. However, according to officials in the transport department, there is no provision for special permit for an outstation registered auto rickshaw to ply in a different area. It is considered illegal and if found, the ramification of such activity will result in the seizing of the auto rickshaw or any commercial vehicle.

There is no provision of special permit for outstation autos to ply in a different area. A total of 38 number of outstation autos have been seized from the month of January to June out of 106 auto rickshaws. Most outstation auto rickshaws ply on the streets of Guwahati due to the vast availability of passengers than that of other cities. In all stands the auto rickshaws have an understanding according to which none of the autos will agree to travel for a certain amount for fare. Most number of outstation autos that have been seized are registered in Amingaon (eg: AS 25 ******).

kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

City

Scorching heat burns the city

JUTHIKA BARUAH

Maximum temperatures recorded at Guwahati (Borjhar) 36.8°C 27.07.2015 37.0°C 28.07.2015 37.0°C 29.07.2015 37.6°C 30.07.2015 37.2°C

26.07.2015

Sell of soft drinks and fruit juices are on rise as people try to quench their thirst with the various drinks available on the roadside to beat the unbearable heat of the summer

he scorching summer heat is making life miserable for Guwahatians with least expectations of rainfall and if this heat continues for long, then the denizens may well be in for the worst summer in a very long time. With the rise in mercury, people are seen trying to beat the heat with cold drinks, Nimbu Pani, Daab (Coconut water), sugarcane juice etc. and business has become good for such vendors. One such vendor, Bhrigu who sells sugarcane juice, while speaking to G Plus said, “Maximum people prefer sugarcane juice as it is a natural drink and not harmful and in this sizzling heat, people tend to take such drinks to quench their thirst. Cold drinks have soda and other ingredients which is not good for health but sugarcane juice and nimbu pani are natural which makes them more attractive to the people. I earn `300500 daily and sometimes even more when the weather becomes hotter.” Another vendor Raju, who sells daab (tender coconut), said that in this summer heat, people drink coconut water to quench their thirst and most do not think of the price. “Daab is a healthy drink and people prefer it because one daab is equal to 10 cold drinks. The price of one daab is `30 and I sell around 60-70 daab daily and sometimes even more. During summer, our business becomes slightly better than rest of the days as people do not prefer coconut water in

Meteorological Analysis (Based on 0830 hours IST) 30.07.2015 The cyclonic storm ‘KOMEN’ over northeast Bay of Bengal moved northwards and lay centred at 0830 hours IST of Thursday, the 30th July, 2015 over northeast Bay of Bengal near Latitude 22.0°N and Longitude 91.2°E, 80 km southwest of Chittagong (Bangladesh) and about 300 km east southeast of Kolkata. The system would move north-northwestwards and cross Bangladesh Coast around Longitude 91.0°E by afternoon of Thursday, the 30th July. After landfall, it would move west north-westwards and weaken gradually.

Weather forecast 24 hours

Rain/thundershowers would occur at many places in Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura; at a few places over Assam and Meghalaya and at isolated places over Arunachal Pradesh.

Warning Rain/thundershowers would occur at many places over Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura and at a few places over Arunachal Pradesh.

Local forecast for Guwahati and neighbourhood for next 24 hours: Partly cloudy sky is becoming generally cloudy sky. Rain/ thundershower would occur. Strong surface wing would prevail. winter.” A customer, Ratan Das said, “The last few days have been very warm and if this weather continues for two more days, it might turn dangerous for the people as unbearable summer heat tend to cause sun stroke and heat stroke, which are often fatal. We can’t stay at home and when we come out of the house for work, the heat burns

us so much that we have to take nimbu pani, daab or sugarcane juice to quench our thirst. Besides, as we men tend not to carry water bottles with us unlike the women, we, therefore, have to resort to take soft drinks outside.” Speaking to G Plus, Deputy Director General of Meteorology, Regional Meteorological Department, Sanjay O’ Neil Shaw said, “Assam will

not get direct impact of the cyclonic storm ‘KOMEN’. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over South Assam is expected on 30th and 31st July 2015. Strong surface winds may cover that area.”

Shaw said that the previous highest maximum temperature recorded at Guwahati (Borjhar) was 37.5°C on 13.07.2009. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Fake brands flood city’s markets With public and the concerned industries not complaining about the issue, counterfeit and smuggled products are sold at large in Guwahati RAHUL CHANDA “I bought a pair of Levis jeans from the Bhutia Market at Paltan Bazar two months back as I got it just for Rs 1000. But just after three months, the jeans faded and were spoilt, I cannot wear it anymore,” said a city based college student. The student further said that later he realised that he was duped and it was a fake brand. Various other fake brands have flooded the city markets with fake products in almost every sector. Recently, FICCI Cascade organised a seminar in Guwahati inviting various experts to start a fight against counterfeiting and smuggling of various products in the north-eastern region. Guwahati being the gateway of the region and also a business capital is seriously facing a huge problem of fake products due to counterfeiting and smuggling.

The process FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy), recently unveiled its nine sector report titled - ‘Illicit Market: A Threat to Our National Interest’. As per the report, the state of Assam has seen a significant growth in illicit trade among these sectors in the last couple of years. It is one of the fastest growing markets for illegal cigarettes and alcohol in the country. Illegal cigarette industry is estimated at more than 25 per cent of the total cigarette market in the State. While the supply of legal cigarettes shows a decline, the illegal players have taken over this market and is growing at a higher rate. In case of alcohol, the illegal market has also grown significantly in the state in value and much higher in quantity especially for IMFL and imported liquor. Mukesh Sahay, ADGP, CID, Assam shared his views about the extent of the menace in the state and also highlighted the various initiatives taken by the Assam Police to curb this growing socio-economic threat. He also thanked FICCI CASCADE for taking up the issue and said that the masses should say ‘NO’ to smuggled good. But is it really possible to end the use and sale of fake products, G Plus takes the view of some experts.

Experts Industries and Commerce Commissioner and Secretary Swapnanil Barua feels that till there is a lack of presence of industries in this region, it is difficult to stop smuggling and counterfeiting. He said, “The govern-

The source said that it is difficult for the police to take action without any complaint and the public usually don’t complain when they get supposedly good brands at cheaper rates. Markets are flooded with fake branded garments, and no one, either from the public or the company files any complaint. The major cases which are filed are mostly when fake products are caught in a huge quantity. ment was in talks with a pharmaceutical company since a long time for setting up an industry here but whenever I contact them, they do not respond. The industries sitting in Delhi should be concerned about the issue and make their presence felt here

which would help them provide quality branded products to the people at a reasonable price.” He further said that there is a problem of counterfeiting and smuggling and there are all kinds of fake products available in Guwahati which happens because people want to buy branded products at cheap rates. CID ADGP Mukesh Sahai said, “The concerned industries who are facing the problem should partner with law enforcing agencies and keep a constant surveillance on the issue.” He further said that like NASSCOM keeps a check on the software industry, all other concerned industries should work together with other agencies like the police. Impulse Social Enterprises managing director Hasina Kharbhih explained that there are various issues which are the main cause of the problem. She said, “Eastern trade corridor with liberal trade treaties, long and porous border with the neighbouring countries, lack of awareness about the issue, availability of counterfeit products at the border haats and illegal migrants being forced into the counterfeit distributions are some of the main reasons for such a major issue.” She said that the northeast is the biggest market for fake drugs, cosmetics, tobacco and many more and the suppliers source such products from Burma and Bangladesh and sell them mainly in the north-eastern region. Fake drug producers can easily copy the holograms and other packaging materials.

Guwahati and the police According to experts, Guwahati is flooded with counterfeit and smuggled products and according to sources in the police many cases are registered daily. The source said that it is difficult for the police to take action without any complaint and the public usually don’t complain when they get supposedly good brands at cheaper rates. Markets are flooded with fake branded garments, and no one, either from the public or the company files any complaint. The major cases which are filed are mostly when fake products are caught in large quantites. So, to stop the problem, the public or the companies should start complaining whenever such incidents come to light. Due to porous borders, counterfeited fake products get smuggled easily and are sold in Guwahati markets in cheap rates Brand conscious people buy branded products in cheap rates Concerned industries and the public do not complain on the issue Huge amount of revenue loss due to fake branded products smuggling Experts ask concerned industries to partner with law enforcing agencies and combat the menace

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

Work for waste

City

management

plant soon at new location Aditya Gogoi

he Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) will start work on the new solid waste management plant after the revenue and disaster management allot a plot of land measuring 20 bigha in city’s Noonmati Garden area under Beltola Mouza. Earlier, bowing to sustained pressure from wildlife activists and nature lovers, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration had ordered the GMC to shift its garbage disposal project from Deepor Beel, a major water body of the state on the outskirts of the city. GMC commissioner Narayan Konwar said that they have already asked for fund from the state government to start the work. “After formal possession of the land, a detailed project report will be prepared for the plant. It will cover all the works – starting from the roads to the plant to the other technical and mechanical devices. We have to do it as early as possible,” Konwar said. The GMC has asked for Rs 1.95 crore for the project. However, according to the GMC, the area of land given to them is smaller in size compared to the garbage produced in the city. “The area is much smaller. Besides, there are some other drawbacks in that area. There is an unmanned railway crossing and we need to construct roads and other infrastructure in that locality which will further lessen the area of work. The area is also hilly. Let’s see how to proceed,” said a source in the GMC. The revenue department, however, has requested the Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner to take necessary action for identification and subsequent allotment of additional area of land in favour of the GMC. M Angamuthu, Kamrup (M) DC, said that the district administration will do the needful after examining all details. “We are examining the possibilities. We will decide what to do after that,” Angamuthu said. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) last year asked the state government to submit a status report on the present condition of the Deepor Beel following an RTI query which had alleged that unrestricted and unregulated ‘illegal’ dumping of garbage and sewage on the wetland had a disastrous effect on the wetland’s ecosystem.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

City

Latasil locals oppose Deuri Samaj’s move to look after Ugratara Temple

Juthika Baruah

Handing over the charge of Ugratar Temple to Deuri Samaj not acceptable as Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarmah, being members of the Samaj, will indulge in politics

he Ugratara Temple, located in Latasil area in the heart of the city is embroiled in a controversy with 16 lesa of temple land being allegedly grabbed by local residents, Bani Sarma and Kailash Sarma who have utilized the land for their personal purpose. The temple land was illegally grabbed way back in 1961 by their father, Premoda Kanta Sarma without the consent of the Managing Committee of the temple from Sashi Kanta Sarma. “Premoda Kanta Sarma had constructed some houses on the temple land and given the houses on rent as laundry, shop, saloon etc. and the people who stayed on rent used the toilets in the temple premises which created great inconvinience for the pujaris,” said Paresh Chandra Kalita, Secretary of the Managing Committee of the temple while speaking to G Plus. Kalita said that according to the Assam State Acquisition of Land Belonging to Religious or Charitable Institution of Public Nature Act, 1959 (Act IX of 1961) passed by the Assam Legislative Assembly reserved for Presidential assent, the property can be looked after by District Magistrate but Bani Sarma, illegally occupied the land and as they are members of

Particular Dates 13.12.1995 The court gave the responsibility to the sons of Premoda Kanta Sarma after his death. 10.06.1997 The Assam Board of Revenue accepted the two appeals and the District Magistrate rejected the land patta given to Premoda Kanta Sarma. 11.07.1997 Bani Kanta Sarma and his brothers appealed a Civil Rule- 3228/97 against the hearing in Gauhati High Court.

the Deuri Samaj, they want that the temple should be looked after by the Samaj which, however, is being opposed by the residents of Latasil and the temple’s Managing Committee. “Bani Sarma wants that the temple should be looked after by the Deuri Samaj so that they can occupy the land and could run it according to their wish. Cases have been registered against them seven times and all the cases are in favour of the temple committee. In 1993, a Bordeuri from Nalbari, Surendra Nath Sarma who visited the temple noticed that the land in front of the temple had been encroached upon by the sons of Premoda Kanta Sarma and he demanded the return of the temple’s land patta from the Sarma family by the district magistrate,” said Kalita. Kalita said that a case has also been registered by Surendra Nath Sarma against the family for refusing to return the patta under Assam Board of Revenue R.A- 55 (K)/93. In September, 2009 Kamal Bhattacharjee took over the responsibility as Doloi in-charge from Bordeuri Jiten Sarma as Sarma had failed to

give an account of where the temple’s funds were being spent, except that some bordeuris’ have taken the money from him. The Secretary of the Managing

constructed for the bordeuris, beautification of the pond etc. “The documents that were produced before the public through RTIs by Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarma were nothing but only some signatures which were given on the PAN card in the name of the temple by well wishers,” said Kalita. In 2006, when it came to notice that there were many anomalies in managing the temple, some members of the Managing Committee with the best intentions for the temple’s future, decided to take the issue to the then District Magistrate Dilip Mahanta and accordingly, they decided to hand over the charge of the temple to Kamal Bhattacharjee as the new incharge Doloi of the temple. However, the locals of Latasil and the Managing Committee of the temple are opposed to the decision to hand over the charge to the Deuri Samaj by Bani Kanta Sarma and Kailash Sarma as they are the members of the Samaj and if the Samaj takes the responsibility of running the temple, then they would get a chance to encroach on the land.

The temple land was illegally grabbed way back in 1961 by Premoda Kanta Sarma without any consent of the Managing Committee of the temple from Sashi Kanta Sarma.

Committee further informed that after Bhattacharjee had taken over the charge, many developmental work has been done like installation of the facility of drinking water and toilet for the pilgrims, new houses

juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Ward Watch

WARD NO

KALYAN DEB

“If a permanent solution is not found, we will have to look for other alternatives” Despite several initiatives to relieve residents of Anil Nagar of water logging, people await a permanent solution

Concentrated area Anil Nagar Ward number 20 Councilor Anima Deka Phone number 9508417039 Sub division 20(a) Area sabha member Mukut Nath Phone number 8011020101

hough Guwahati has been praying for a rainfall following the sudden rise in the temperature and scorching heat since the past few days, people of localities such as Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Rajgarh, etc. are breathing a sign of relief as during this particular time last year, residents were being evacuated from their homes as most of the residences were under neck deep water. Being the most flood hit areas of the city, these places often witness massive water logging after few hours of downpour with flood water entering most residences in places like Anil Nagar and Nabin Nagar, damaging properties and endangering lives.

People’s say “Last year it was in the middle of the night when the streets and the by lanes in our locality were suddenly submerged by flood water. People were not able to venture out even on foot, let alone cars and other vehicles, as the water level had risen quite high. Even in my place, the water level was neck high and I had to be carried out by some of the relatives. The flood damaged most of the household items and for several days we had to live somewhere else,” said Basanti Mazumdar who has been residing in Anil Nagar since 1987. “If the same goes on and a permanent solution is not found, we will have no other option but to look for other alternatives as we cannot continue to live in such conditions. Water logging on the road is still bear-

able but when it enter our homes and damage properties, it becomes very inconvenient for the people”, Mazumdar added. There were several other people who suffered similar problems and even had to abandon their homes and relocate to other places. A similar problem was faced by Bipin Hazarika who has been residing in the area since 1961. Sharing his last year’s experience he said, “We had to leave the house and live in a hotel for several days. In order to avoid the problem and stop the water from entering the house, we had reconstructed the house and raised the ground level but last year, the situation went out of hand. Although, this year so far, no such problem has taken place due to the administration’s initiatives but we are waiting for a permanent solution.” Promod Chandra Deka, advisor, Anil Nagar Unnayan Samiti said that more than 60 drains of the adjacent localities flow towards Anil Nagar

and Nabin Nagar, adding to the problem during rains. “MGVK Bhanu has helped a lot in ensuring the area remains flood free but still the problem has not been solved. We have also demanded a similar system like in Anil Nagar via Rajgarh but that has not been implemented as of yet. For past several years, the rainwater from Meghalaya’s foothills collected by the Bahini River has added to the severity of artificial floods. Welfare committees of various localities had met the Chief Minister and senior officials many times after last year’s monsoon requesting action to prevent artificial floods”, Deka added.

Recollection The problem of water logging first began in the year 2004 but as stated by local residents, it was only after the drainage systems were merged with areas such as Pub-Sarania and Nabin Nagar in order to relieve the areas of

The water reservoir that has been installed by the boundary wall of Bharalu river

Councilor’s Say Talking to G Plus, Anima Deka mentioned that several initiatives are being taken up and the problem is not a matter that can solved within days. Prior to this year’s rain, the entire Bharalu river was cleaned and the concerned departments are trying their best. However, no permanent solution has been found yet. “Anil Nagar, being the closest to the guard wall where water pumps can be installed unlike Pub Sarania, which is an easier process but since it has been realised through the method that it can clear off the water much sooner. But it is not a permanent solution. Though several proposals have been made by the residents and the welfare committees, initiatives will definitely be taken by MGVK Bhanu and the concerned departments but the same will require sometime as no construction can be started at this time of the year”, Deka said. Despite many assurances, people still await long-term measures like diversion of the drainage system and till such actions are undertaken, artificial floods will continue to cause problems in the low-lying localities.

artificial flood and the drains were connected to Bharalu via Anil Nagar nearly six years ago, that the problem aggravated. Although 4.5 ft diameter hume pipes were installed under the roads throughout the area, when the Bharalu got filled, the water reversed back and discharged the excess water through the man holes. The water level even crossed the guard wall that caused the massive flood situation in the area. “The water run-off from the hills and drain water from adjacent localities including Lachit Nagar, Chandmari, Sarania, GS Road, RG Baruah Road and many other localities flow down to Anil Nagar, aggravating the water logging problem of the area and the underground water drains also have never been cleaned ever since they have been installed,” said Am-

bika Prasad Sarma, a resident.

Measures taken by the authorities After last years’ immense flood situation, senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu, GMC Commissioner Narayan Konwar and Kamrup Metro Additional DC Rajib Prakash Barua, visited the affected areas. Four numbers of pumps were immediately put into service to drain out the floodwaters which helped the water to recede from most of the areas. Also a water reservoir is being installed by the boundary wall that will prevent any kind of plastic material and other garbage to flow into the Bharalu River. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

In Conversation

rahul chanda

I will take stern action against corrupt officials

Shamsher Singh, Commissioner of Excise

port like vehicles should be provided to the field staff.

orn and brought up in Tinsukia, Commissioner of Excise Shamsher Singh joined the state civil services in the year 1986 and was inducted into IAS as an officer in 2004. Prior to state civil service, Singh was working with department of customs and central excise for one and half years. He served in various positions in Assam government starting as Extra Assistant Commissioner in Tinsukia, then served as Additional Deputy Commissioner in Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Nagaon, Deputy Secretary Industries and Commerce, Managing Director Assam Small Industries Development Corporation, Director Inland Water Transport and was Deputy Commissioner Hailakandi before joining as Commissioner of Excise on 13th March 2015. After almost four months, the commissioner exclusively talks to G Plus about the challenges he is facing and the changes he wants in the department. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been around four months since you joined as the Commissioner of Excise. What are the main problems or challenges you are facing in this department? This has become one of the biggest revenue generating departments for the state, but the manpower is comparatively less. If I am allowed to talk about the challenges, the illicit liquor that has been prevailing in the entire state is a big

There is a lot of counterfeiting and smuggling of fake liquor brands going on in the city. How will you deal with it? We have not come across any such fake liquor brands but yes smuggling of liquor from the neighbouring states have been taking place for quite some time because you know Meghalaya has quite a number of wine stores in the border area. So, since there is difference in the price some unscrupulous liquor traders are always trying to smuggling, so I think that the liquor that is coming from outside the state could be fake and spurious also. A question from the general public is who can own a wine store or a bar and how?

challenge and I am trying to counter that ever since I joined this department and we have achieved a lot of results as well. At the same time, we will have to strengthen the provisions of Assam Excise Act because this act is very old and it needs a lot of amendments. I am proposing to government that some amendments should be done so that adequate legal action can be taken against the wrongdoers. I personally want that the illegal liquor traders should be

booked under non-bail able provisions. What are the immediate changes that you want to bring in to your department? The department should be modernised and E-governance should be in place. There should be development in the district and the state level as well and the required sup-

There are two categories of shops on (bar) and off (wine store). Any Indian citizen can apply for the license but at present the license for off shops has been stopped since 2001 as there are many already many existing wine stores. On licenses are given to reputed restaurants. The restaurants can apply to the local district superintendent of excise who sits in the DC office. The application comes from the deputy commissioner to the commissioner and then goes to the government for sanction. There are always allegations against the excise department about bribes and corruption. How will you act on this issue? The allegations of corruption is not new and it is always there and as this is a revenue earning department and a department dealing with alcohol and other intoxicants, these kind of allegations are and will be there. As a revenue generating department, our performance is reflected in the revenue generated for the state. If we achieve the target and earn more revenue, it means that there is less corruption. We have a target to achieve and the target is fixed by the government and we are

trying to achieve that. Even then there may be corruption but if the revenue generation is as per the target or more we can be satisfied that corruption is minimised. There are disciplinary rules and there are also provisions in the law against corrupt people. Law will take its own course and I will take stern action against any such official who is corrupt. We have already ordered quite a number of enquiries against allegations and also published in the media. As a bureaucrat do you face any political pressure as you are in a department, everyone is eyeing on? Not at all. Is there any possibility of Assam becoming a dry state? It is up to the government to decide and I cannot comment on it. What changes did you carry out in these four months? I have made CCTV cameras compulsory for all the bars, wine shops and bonded ware houses because all these licensed premises are responsible for earning revenue for the government, so the government is also the owner of theses license premises. We have to keep an eye as to what businesses they are conducting there. They keep excisable goods in the bonded ware houses and if anything goes out of it, excise duty should be paid. Similarly, in the retail shops, they cannot sell liquor to a person below 21 years of age. The cameras have recording facility and we can check them whenever required. CCTV can prevent a lot of corruption also. I want to see a modern excise department which will happen soon. Tell us about your family and your hobbies. I have my wife and two children. My daughter is pursuing Mass Media in Mumbai and my son is studying in the Royal Global School. Talking about hobbies I love to meet people and I love music. I even enjoy singing. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Do parents need

counselling?

Meet

In Focus

Diganta Sharma Sound engineer

In today’s competitive world while a child is always pressurised to be the best and reach the top but in the process we are missing out on what they wish to express and share. As a parent, are all couples successful enough to be called good and successful, rather than expecting the child to be best. G plus takes opinion from Guwahatians.

Loya Aggarwala Student Counsellor

“Yes, absolutely I do and that has been my biggest challenge. Even more than the children, it’s the parents that often require more counselling because parents are from a different generation and their mind sets are often very fixed and so they try to shape today’s generation like they were but that cannot be how the present generation could be led. It has to be the other way round and the parents should start thinking like the children and the challenges that the new generation is facing which is causing a huge gap between the two generations. So, yes, parents do need counselling.

Rina Dey

Teacher, Don Bosco School, GHY

Yes, definitely parents need counselling nowadays. Earlier, parents would stop them with a simple answer but these days children are exposed to so much information at hand and are more curious so parents also need to be prepared on how to handle children in a proper manner and guide them in a proper way. There is also so much exposure to bad elements, so these days children need very careful handling. This is not the age any anymore where children would blindly obey their parents. Now children do question their parents’ and elders’ decisions, it is not that they are not obedient but they question things out of curiosity and we need to be prepared to answer them. For that we need to have proper guidelines and proper counselling. Also, these days we are not able to give enough time to our children so we need to know that the time we spend with our children is a quality time and to know what quality time is, we need to have some counselling so that we know that we are giving the best to our children.

Renu Devi HOMEMAKER

I am a proud mother of three children, two of who are doctors and one is a teacher. I used to be worried about how to expose my children to various changes in the society so that they can follow certain values to behave properly so that they can lead a respectful life. I used to read a lot of books and articles to get ideas about how deal with my children. All parents are not same and they differ according to their education, lifestyle, financial condition and many more. So, I think there should be counselling provided to the parents regarding what kind of guidance they should provide to their children.

Gulam Kibriya

Managing Director, Exclusive Advertising Pvt. Ltd Yes, I feel some parents do need counselling but it doesn’t go for all parents. There are few parents who unnecessarily become very competitive and try to live their dreams through their children. Parents try to achieve though their children what they could not achieve themselves which is not fair. Different children have different capabilities, qualities and different kinds of talent but parents ignore that part and impose their desire on their children. Days have changed. Earlier, there were certain paths that children had to follow, be it a doctor or an engineer but today, children have so much exposure that parents should identify and support the talents of their children.

Afrida Hussain Senior Journalist

Yes, I think there are some parents who need counselling. There are parents who are ambitious and some are carefree in nature and I think that a child should be given the liberty within an arena and as a parent I should be there. The ages between 5 to 7 is the period of learning and according to a book I read, what we teach the children between this age stays with them forever and it is very necessary for the parent to be there with the child. If I notice any kind of abnormality then I will immediately consult a doctor and get counselled in a regular manner. This is especially true for working parents and according to me, it is not a bad thing to be counselled if it helps one to communicate better with one’s child and spend as much time as one can with them.

iganta Sharma, a name well known in the Assamese music and film industry has managed to achieve a certain height that several musicians of this and the coming generations will aspire to get. But what Dignata has achieved today, undoubtedly required massive dedication and focus and a whole lot of struggle. Although he was born in Guwahati, Diganta spent most part of his childhood and adolescence in Dibrugarh as his family had to move to the city because of his father’s job. It was only after completing his graduation from Dibrugarh University that Diganta came back to Guwahati and started working on his career in the music industry, even though his association with music began way back at the age of 16 when he started playing the mandolin. “It was because of the family’s influence that I started playing mandolin. Since several members of my family were into music, so it was kind of genetic. I started playing the instrument and tried several unconventional and experimental methods that also helped me win the gold medal in the Dibrugarh University”, said Diganta Sharma. His journey began in the year 1987 when he visited Guwahati and started his career as a session musician. Although being associated with music was never in his wish list nor was it a field supported by his family members. Meanwhile, he started playing with several musicians and contributing in different albums. However, even after being an All India Radio approved artist, only playing the mandolin did not serve him enough to earn his bread and butter and survive away from home either. It was Jitul Sonowal who introduced Diganta to guitars and the same helped him survive in Guwahati while contributing in different albums as a session musician. But, it was always the technical aspect required behind creating and recording a song that Sharma was always curious about. “There used to be a studio named Nataraj in Rukmininagar where I used to play as a musician and at the same time used to fiddle around with the console and one

fine day Debo Borkotoky designated me as a recording artist at Digi Music in the year 1996. Since I didn’t know much about the technicalities, so I had to do a lot of studying from different books, through the internet and in the process worked non stop for 40 to 50 hours and that is when I took up recording in the earnest,” Diganta said. Diganta also become the first person in the northeastern region to work on a complete digital set up and this particular transition created a destination for Sharma and he has never turned back since then. Over the years Sharma has worked with several veteran musicians, singers and music arrangers, be it Zuben, Papon, Dikshu, Joi Baruah and several upcoming and aspiring musicians. Being a sound engineer, Sharma’s work is not confined to the soundproof walls of the studio and he is equally passionate about live music. Sharma, who is also Zubeen’s official sound engineer, considers the proud moment which took place two years ago when he participated in an attempt to register in the Guinness World Record in Jorhat on March 3, 2013, where 500 artists playing 315 different musical instruments with vocalists at the same time and Diganta worked in 600 input channels single handedly. “It is even hard to imagine 600 to 700 people about to perform on stage and I was approached for that. I worked on the entire set up three days prior to the event and even my crew members did not have any knowledge about the event. I even had to position every musician in their particular places since to get the sound of each and every instrument is not an easy job and I enjoyed doing it,” Sharma said. Sharma, since has not looked back and started his own venture with MK Digital currently located near AIDC in the year 2003 and has been contributing to the Assamese music industry ever since. Sharma has also expressed his desire to perform on stage and coming up with some of his own creations. Sharma, who has also been associated with several children’s drama, now has tried his hand in acting in a movie named Khel which is set to be released in September.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Health

How much salt should we take? How to tame our salt habit?

“Salt is what makes things taste bad when it isn’t in them.” - Unknown

he word salt has come from the Latin sal, meaning salt. The English word “salary” is also linked to the word ‘salt’, because salt was once used in place of currency in many parts of the world.

Why the human body needs salt Sodium is a crucial electrolyte in the body. Many foods contain small amounts of sodium naturally, but most of the sodium in the diet comes from salt. Salt is made of sodium (40% by weight) and chloride (60% by weight). The more sodium we have in our bloodstream, the more water it binds. For this reason, sodium is thought to increase blood pressure. It is also an electrically charged molecule, and along with potassium helps maintain electrical gradients across cell membranes. The body can’t function without sodium. Not only does salt help control our fluid balance, it also controls the way our muscles and nerves work. Our bodies automatically regulate how much salt, or sodium, should be present in the body. If levels are too high we get thirsty and drink - this speeds up the elimination of salt through our kidneys.

How salt can affect health Sodium is believed to increase blood pressure, a common risk factor for heart disease and stroke. If blood pressure is elevated, the heart has to work harder to push the blood throughout the body and there is increased strain on the blood vessels and various organs. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for many serious diseases, like heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

How Much Sodium is Optimal? We all need a little bit of sodium because it helps keep our body fluids at the right concentration and is needed for muscle and nerve activity. It is recommended that adults should not be eating more than 6g of salt (2.4g sodium) a day. Salt intakes should be much lower than this for babies and children. Babies under 12 months old should have less than 1g of salt a day. The major health organisations recommend that we cut back on sodium and we should aim for less than 1500 mg of sodium per day, and definitely not more than 2300 mg. 1500 mg of sodium equals about 0.75 teaspoons or 3.75 grams of salt per day, while 2300 mg equals about one teaspoon and 6 grams of salt per day. Most people today are eating much more than that. The average intake of sodium is about 3400 mg, most of it coming from processed foods.

How much is 6g of table salt?

lent way to reduce blood pressure and improve health.

This is about one teaspoonful only. It is impossible to work out exactly how much salt one eats in one day without knowing the precise salt content of each food and measuring the exact quantities someone eats. However, knowing that a recommended daily maximum is 6g is useful, because one can then find out how much salt there is in some of the foods we normally eat. Most people are surprised at how much salt they eat when they sit down and work it out from the foods they are consuming. The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to reduce salt intake globally to approximately one teaspoon (5 to 6 grams) per person per day by 2025.

How to cut down the salt?

Can too little sodium cause any harm?

Multiple studies show that too much salt restriction can also cause adverse effects on health. Low sodium diets were found to cause an increase in LDL (the “bad” cholesterol) and an increase in triglycerides It also increased insulin resistance, a leading cause of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In athletes, a low sodium intake can cause hyponatremia, a sodium deficiency which can be very dangerous. A low-carbohydrate diet lowers insulin levels, which causes the kidneys to excrete excess sodium from the body. Low-carbohydrate diets are an excel-

As salt is often a ‘hidden’ ingredient in many foods, it can sometimes be difficult to work out how much we are eating. Some foods can contribute a lot of salt to our diet without us realising. The salt we add during cooking and at the table makes up only a small amount of salt in our diets. Around 75% of the salt we eat comes from ready-made and processed foods, such as bread, breakfast cereals, soups and baked beans. Even sweet things, such as biscuits, can have salt added to them. To keep track of our salt intake, we should get into the habit of reading the nutritional information on food labels, where we can find the salt content for a 100g serving.

How do I know how much salt a portion of food has? One should check the labels of foods to find out which ones are high and low in salt content. If the label has more than 1.5g of salt (or 0.6g of sodium) per 100g, it is a high salt content food. If it has 0.3g of salt (0.1g of sodium) per 100g then it is a low salt content food. Anything in between is a medium salt content food.

How to cut back on sodium? Eating more fresh foods Most fresh fruits and vegetables are naturally low in sodium. Opting for low-sodium products When we buy processed foods, we should choose those that are labeled “low sodium.” Removing salt from recipes whenever possible We can leave out the salt in many recipes that we cook. Limiting use of sodiumladen condiments Soy sauce, salad dressings, sauces, dips, ketchup, mustard all contain high sodium. Using salt substitutes wisely Some salt substitutes or light salts contain a mixture of table salt and other compounds. To achieve that familiar salty taste, we may use too much of the substitute — and get too much sodium. Also, many salt substitutes contain potassium chloride. Although potassium can lessen some of the problems from excess sodium, too much potassium can be harmful especially if anyone has kidney problems.

Take it slow but go low Our taste for salt is acquired, so we can learn to enjoy less. We can decrease our use of salt gradually and our taste buds will adjust over a period of time. After a few weeks of cutting back on salt, we probably won’t miss it, and some foods may even taste too salty. We can start by using no more than 1/4 teaspoon of salt daily in cooking. Then as we’ll use less salt, our preference for it will diminish, allowing us to enjoy the taste of the food itself, with heart-healthy benefits.

Dr. Bikash Rai Das, Consultant Heart Surgeon, GNRC Hospital

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

s I bade farewell today to my teacher, Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, I reminisce my short, yet very effective meeting with him in 2011 at the Toklai Tea Research guest house, Jorhat. I asked him, “Sir, one word of advice from you!” “Just dream big dreams and hold onto that dream. Keep that dream alive at all times! “ And that’s what I have done since then and those are the words I choose to

Life speak to young children I counsel across the Northeastern states as an Oxford University Resource person and even in remote villages in my political capacity as the Vice-Chairperson of the Minority Department of APCC. Today, as I watched Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam’s final journey, I wrote a couple of lines to pay my respects for a man I would have wished to meet once more, maybe many more times.

A BILLION PRAYERS I cried For the first Time, As you waited To see me bid Goodbye To you! You flashed that Smile Like you always Did! And told me “I would be happier if you Smiled!” I wish I could! I am heart-broken Today! I wish you were not saying Goodbye! I wish I could have met You One more time Just once more And talked about my Heart! I was hoping you would Tell me to Dream again And hold onto that Dream, Like you did when I met You Years back! Your words always stay with Me! I carry them deep in my Heart Wherever I

Go! I spread your message Among the people of Your Nation, My Nation Amongst your children, Who are heavy in the Heart Today! As you lie in peace in your Home, You smile again and wipe my Tears! The wind from the sea-shore Caress Your silver-grey hair And the warmth of the morning sun Create a heavenly halo Around you! I know for sure now that You’re going! The sea-gulls are crying To welcome you To your abode In the Clouds! To your galaxy! I know you will always be there For me! You turn and wave! And as my eyes brim over with Tears, You disappear in the billion Sands of time!

tinat ATIFA MASOOD

Dispassion and Desire

hat is Desire? The word spells everything you have been taught, and yet unknowingly or knowingly, all of you have the term dancing through your eyes, minds and even hearts. Most of you probably know that it is the play of desire that could take you away from your selves. As long as some desires linger in your mind, you cannot be at total rest. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita, ‘You cannot get into Yoga (union with the self) unless you drop the desires or hankerings in you’. Every desire or ambition is like a sand particle in the eye! You cannot shut your eyes nor keep them open with a sand particle inside - it is uncomfortable either way. Dispassion is removing this sand particle so you can open and shut your eyes freely! The other way is to extend your desire, or make it so big - then also it will not bother you. It is a tiny sand particle that irritates your eyes - a big rock can never get into your eyes! Learned men from many years have talked of dispassion and the need for dispensing of desire. But does that mean that you need to do whatever you can to shed the desire and work towards abolishing it completely? Isn’t the want to get rid of desires a desire itself? While shedding desire from your soul, you are clasping it within your bodies. To shed desire, you need to embrace it with all your heart. Be willing to accept all that your mind realizes and your heart feels. If you have a desire coming into your mind right now, at this very moment what do you do? You work to fulfill that desire. After it gets fulfilled, do you know where you will be? It will lead you to the very same

place where you were before the desire rose in you. So let us understand, what is this quest all about? Is it the loss of desire that you need to achieve or the overcoming of desire? A teenage girl sees an expensive dress and immediately falls in love with it. But like all beautiful things, this one is too expensive for her to buy. She tries to convince her father to let her buy the dress and tries every possible way to make him understand that the dress is worth the price and maybe even more. The father refuses despite of everything. The young girl gets so upset that every party and function she goes to, she feels incomplete without the dress. Each time she sees a beautiful girl; she visualizes the dress and feels insecure about herself. Each time she sees the dress in the window sill of the showroom, her heart tugs from inside. After a lot of tears, bickering and ranting, the father finally gives in, and buys her the dress. The girl is delighted. She wears it to every possible party and function, but after six months the very same dress is lying idle in the cupboard. After two years, the same dress lies in a heap of clothes that are being discarded to the servant. So you see desire from the most superficial perceptive, taking a life form and finally being turned into nothing. So how to deal with desires? Just do not give too much weight to the fulfillment of desires. Don’t fight it off and try to rid it from your system. You have no control over the desires. Desires come up. Instead of holding on to them, or daydreaming, just offer the desires. Just surrender it in its complete form. This process is called sanyas. When you offer everything as it arises in you, then nothing can take you away from your centre. Otherwise, small things can shake you and you become sad or upset. Just a few

words from here or there can make you sad. Life teaches you the art of letting go in every event. The more you have learnt to let go, the happier you are - and as you start being joyful, more will be given to you. Taking a good look at the desires and realising that they are futile, is maturity or discrimination. What is surrender? It simply means that when a desire comes to you just offer it and say to yourself - “If it is good, let it happen to me.” And then that’s it, let go of it. When you let go of it, there is more freedom. And in freedom, there is only joy. Then everything blossoms naturally, like a flower blossoms from the bud. But surrender doesn’t mean the absence of action. Don’t just make an affirmation and say “Okay, I shall have a good job” and let go of it and do nothing about it. You need to do whatever is necessary to be done. Give all your actions that are required from you. Your karma for what you want to achieve is necessary. Be active; be dynamic, but not obsessed with the feverishness about fulfilling the desires, because that is the ultimate root cause of depression. Act, surrender and be free. With dispassion, you can enjoy the world freely and relax. Dispassion can bring so much joy in your life. Do not think that dispassion is a state of apathy. Dispassion is full of enthusiasm - it brings all joy to your life and allows you to rest so well.

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji www.artofliving.org/yoga, Follow Sri Sri @ SriSriSpeaks on twitter

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Art

Chandan Sarmah

Children’s play enthralls Rabindra Bhawan

he evening on July 22 at Rabindra Bhawan was indeed a celebration of children’s spirit and endeavour. A group of talented children staged two plays and rendered a few songs and poetry recitation under the banner of New Delhi-based cultural forum INLI Foundation and there is no denying the fact that the overall quality of presentation was far above average. The first play was ‘Olat Paalat’, dramatisation of one of the most acclaimed poems by Sahityacharyya Atul Chandra Hazarika. The narrative and story-oriented poem depicts the plight of an old childless couple in a humorous way. Both the husband and wife define each other’s job as less tiresome. One day, they decide to do the job of the other and, in doing so, the husband takes up the household chores and the wife goes to the paddy field. Thus their day-to-day life becomes more troublesome. While the husband is at a loss to do the house-

hold chores with which he has never been accustomed, the wife too faces unending miseries in the paddy field because she is also never used to do those. Finally, both husband and wife realise that the basic rule of leading a happy life is to do one’s respective job and not to look down at the other’s. The performance by child artists

Raju Roy (as the husband) and Pallavi Dutta (as the wife) was impressive and flawless. Director Parag Sarma, a National School of Drama graduate with much experience and talent as an established actor-director, has shown his superior skill in designing the scenes with innovative elements. The second play, ‘Bhotukare Bhu’,

was dramatisation of Navakanta Barua’s immensely popular children’s short stoty by the same name. Little Sonti while going through his textbook in the evening suddenly finds a ghost trying to disturb him saying fear-causing things. Sonti overcomes the ghost’s attempts and then appears the father of the ghost. This

12 sportspersons bring laurels for Bidang MMA Academy

G PLUS NEWS

welve sportspersons affiliated to a leading fitness and training centre in Guwahati, Bidang MMA Academy, has managed to bring laurels for their academy by winning medals in various categories which contains Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in the 12th SubJunior/ Junior and 14th Senior State Wushu Championship 2015 held at Bishwanath Chariali, Sonitpur from 24th to 26th of July, 2015. The 12 were part of a 15 member team of sportspersons trained in Wushu and Mixed Martial Arts selected by the academy to participate in the Championship. The medal tally of the aforementioned event is:

time also Sonti keeps his mental strength intact. But when the mother of the ghost comes in and begins to say some of the things which already happened to Sonti, he panicks. The mother ghost unfurls before Sonti all the lies that he has told his parents. Sonti becomes so panicked and disturbed that he decides to confess all to his parents. With such a strong morale of the story yet told in such a subtle and unique manner, the play evoked huge response from the audience. Over and above, ‘Bhotukare Bhu’ could earn wide-range accolades also because of immensely impressive performance by Bodhisattva Sarma (as Sonti) and Bhaskar Barua (as bhoot). Director Sarma deserves qudus for such a superior production. Praise also goes to Indrajit Das, a dedicated man who looked after overall planning and management of the production. The children’s troupe also presented three songs which added colour to the evening: Rudra Barua’s ‘O Tul Tul O Bul Bul...’, (by Aneesha, Abhishree, Hiyasmita, Murchana and Gyanshikha), Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia’s ‘Kor Ejaak Sapon Jen Barashun...’ and Nabakanta Barua’s ‘Kone Aaji Aabeli...’ (by Aneesha Bharadwaj). The recitation of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad’s immortal poem ‘Kumpur Sapon Bhoot Powali’ was impressively rendered by Gyanshikha Hazarika (Pooja). The programme in Rabindra Bhawan by INLI Foundation is the latest in its long list of the activities. More such programmes by INLI Foundation will certainly earn overwhelming response from the greater cultural fraternity of Guwahati and Assam.

Junior

1. Anurag Pathak, Bronze 52 KG 2. Rupjyoti Das, Bronze 56 KG 3. Ritesh Paswan, Silver 60 KG 4. Satyajit Sangmai, Gold 65 KG 5. Manish Mahanta, Silver 70 KG 6. Manas Mazumder Daimari, Bronze 70 KG

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Senior

Manash Das, Silver 56 KG Bulbul Borah, Bronze 60 KG Riku Baishya, Gold 75 KG Manish Tendon, Silver 75 KG Handry Dolly, Gold 80 KG Kuldeep Das, Silver, 85 KG

Out of these all Abhishek Baruah, Upamanya Choudhury and Maria Yabu also fought very good fights but was not able to secure any medals.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Events

The Grooming Guide

ith an aim to promote professional grooming for the younger generation, and help them enter the modelling industry, a weeklong grooming workshop titled ‘The Grooming Guide’ was organized by Mantraa Grooming Academy managed by Mantraa Media and Events for BPL youths. The mentors for the entire week were Rewati Chetri - Femina Miss India Finalist 2015 and Miss India Miss Popular and Miss Multimedia and Chow Poran J Gogoi, Fashion Designer and Choreographer, Lifestyle Skills and Personality Enhancement Mentor. Thaneswar RoviProfessional Male Model was the mentor for male students. Daily special classes were held throughout the week. Communication Skill lessons were given by Dipankar Bhattacharjya -Faculty Empanelled with Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India. Hair Make Up and Styling which is one of the most important components of modelling and grooming, hands on training was given by Meenakshim Dowerah at Mallaika’s beauty salon. Fitness and Yoga was taught at Slimming Zone Gym, Hatigaon by Mintu Baruah-Fitness & Yoga Instructor. Dinning Etiquettes and Table Manners classes were conducted by Sanjay Dutta-General Manager - Civil Services Officers Institute, Assam and Senior Trainer in Hospitality domain. Cos-

Students and Mentors of Mantraa Grooming Academy Miss India Finalist Rewati Chetri

Mantraa Grooming Academy (MGA)’s THE GROOMING GUIDE workshop students Fitness and Yoga Mentor Mintu Baruah after the hands on traning at Slimming Zone gym Guwahati

tume Designer for Assamese Cine Industry and Art & Craft Designer Nang Anne Gogoi and Fashion Stylist Lopa Baruah from Vogue Bangalore were other guest mentors. A valedictory ceremony for the July session of The Grooming Guide students was held at Mantraa Grooming Academy premises Ganeshguri where the selected students performed mock ramp walks and a show choreographed by Chow. Poran J. Gogoi. Certificate of Participation was given to all the successful students. Meghraj Upadhyay - Chairman of Mantraa Group the promoter of the Academy said, ‘It’s our first initiative and we are happy to be supported by our exclusive tabloid Partner GPlus and magazine partners like Good Times of North East, The Mileage. The response was warm from the fraternity and we will have The Grooming Guide- Aug and September sessions soon. Registrations are on for the same. Selected groomed models will be given a ramp walk for our next fashion show in the month of October in Guwahati. Meghraj further added that, ‘Boys and girls of BPL families with proper documentations will be given free grooming’. ‘I think proper grooming by professionals like the one at MGA will definitely help youths to take up glamour as their career with practice to perfection after the grooming’- Miss Popular and Miss Multimedia of Femina Miss India 2015 opined.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Reviews

u Yo ULD N O SH ISTE L

Album: Man Plans God Laughs Artist: Public Enemy

SH You ReOadULD

E have been around so long and their influence has been so thoroughly absorbed into the culture that it’s easy to take them for granted, but where Mick & Keith played arenas, Public Enemy consciously shrugged off the majors and remained fierce insurrectionists, existing just under the radar. By the end of the 2000s, they may not have been regulars in mainstream music publications, but they still had underground hits, such as “Harder Than You Think,” which surprisingly became the group’s biggest-ever British hit in 2007. PE brings back that track’s producer, Gary “G-Wiz” Rinaldo, to produce the entirety of Man Plans God Laughs, and he helps Chuck D create a hard, furious flash of a record that deliberately leans on Public Enemy’s history while keeping a steely eye on the present. All the self-allusions -samples from Nation of Millions, lyrical callbacks, horn stabs straight out of the Bomb Squad -- aren’t a way to revive the past but rather to provide a context: this isn’t music that came from nowhere, it is tied to history as well as the future.

‘Another Face in the Crowd’ A short synopsis

S Mov Revi ie ew Cast: Ira Dubey, Palash Sen, Kymsleen

Kholie, Carol Gracias, Saurabh Pandey, Bishnu Khargharia, Yashpal Sharma, Tinu Anand, Prisha Dabbas Director: Biswajeet Bora

ot often you come across a film that has the potential to touch you on more than one level. Aisa Yeh Jahaan shows the promise. But... Written and directed by debutant Biswajeet Bora, Aisa Yeh Jahaan is about a middle class Assamese family in Mumbai. The family comprises of an idealist Rajib Saikia (Palash Sen), his materialistic wife Ananya (Ira Dubey), their child Kuhi (Prisha Dabas) and their domestic help Pakhi (Kymsleen Kholie). It starts well. The first half involves establishing the characters and the ‘save trees’ premises as the family visits their home in the much greener Assam. This is where the love for trees and their importance in our lives is explained by village simpleton Nalia Kai (Yashpal Sharma) to the young Kuhi. Bora manages to craft endearing moments between Kuhi and her father. He also succeeds in portraying the restlessness of the outsider in the ‘Maximum city’ as he works relentlessly to make a life, even as difficulties threaten to break his resolve. One scene between Rajib and Nalia would connect with many, as the earlier reflects on his life in the big city vis-Ã -vis what he let go. The desperation of a man to do better than his mediocre life and yet being

stuck oozes from Rajib’s character. You would hope things only get better from there. But they rather go awry in the second half as the director misses the mark aiming to shoot too high. Multiple subplots undoes the painfully drawn characters. What you are left with is like a new film every ten minutes, each dealing with a new topic -importance of trees, middle-class aspirations, greed and ambition and the racism faced by northeasterners. Also hampering the screenplay are uncalled for songs. While songs shot in Assam are bearable just because of the scenery, when an item number pops out of nowhere you would not know how to react. Especially when it’s a particularly bad song! The film is lifted by Ira Dubey’s performance. As the woman who wants a better lifestyle and does not mind lying about her ‘success’ to school friends, she is thorough. Palash Sen does his best but he is not quite given much as much to do. Prisha Dabas is adorably cute but the director fails to manage her reactions. Kymsleen Kholie fits her role. Aisa Yeh Jahaan did have promise. It has a heart too. But that’s rarely enough. Not in this case. Bora’s debut film falls short of possibilities by quite a margin. What it becomes is a rather half-baked, average fare.

et in Delhi, this is a rib tickling and sometimes tear inducing story of three diametrically opposite friends, and a damsel … not in distress but the cause of distress for the males of the species! The story focuses on friends coming from culturally, ideologically and geographically opposite ends of this great country. Welcome to hilarious world of Fatso aka Jai Shankar Singh – a Punjabi Adonis, Jags alias Jagannath Subramaniam Masti Iyenger Bharti – a Tamil ‘Communist’ Brahmin, Bali alias Priyadarshini Hazarika, an Assamese Helen of Troy, and me – a plain simple confused Bong. Just out of college and in their first jobs, life is perfect for them… until they are hit by the hurricane of fate. One loses his job, another decides to quit his and the rest chip in to help start

a business venture together, highlighting the difference between salary taking and salary giving. The trials and tribulations of initiating a business enterprise in urban India finally culminate into an absolutely entertaining finale. From the summit of hope to the depths of despair, from utter confusion to absolute clarity, from maddeningly mad to rip roaringly funny… this is a story of friendship, aspiration and optimism garnished with a liberal dose of humour, chaos and disagreement! Depressed…sad… feeling down…go read this book… you will end up smiling. A work of fiction based on facts… a story that will linger on in your hearts, a story that celebrates the magic that is India… This is a story of you and me. Smiles, laughter and a few sniffles guaranteed.

trials fusion awesome level max GAME IEW REV

rials Fusion Awesome Level Max is the first DLC released outside of the season pass. It’s priced £7.99, twice that of one of the previous post-release packs, but offers good value, with 30 new tracks, 10 supercross tracks, 30 challenges and over 130 editor objects. It also features a cat riding a unicorn while wielding a flamethrower.

Despite being the focus of the marketing, the cat and unicorn make up less than a third of the content included, featuring only in eight Trials tracks. Here you begin on a bike only to be transformed into the cat and unicorn team for most of the remainder, before turning back into a bike again on the final stage. These courses are visually unique, thanks to the gal-

loping mythical stallion, but I can’t say they played that much differently despite a few cool ideas. It’s also a shame the Awesome Adventure isn’t actually more of an adventure. The developers clearly had some fun putting together the courses and the characters, but the whole thing is still presented as a series of events rather than a cohesive campaign. Some cutscenes and story would have helped flesh out the experience and made it feel more distinct from the rest of the game.

NOW SHOWING Drishyam

Bajrangi Bhaijaan

Apsara Cinema

Daily at 10.45 AM &1.45 PM

Daily at 5 PM & 8 PM

Anuradha Cineplex

Daily at 11.45 AM & 5.45 PM

Daily at 2.45 & 8.45 PM

Fun Cinemas

Daily at 8.30 AM, 2.30 & 8.45 PM

Daily at 11.30 AM & 5.30 PM

Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar)

Daily at 2, 5 & 8 PM

Daily at 11 AM, 5.30 & 8.30 PM

Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazar)

Daily at 11AM, 2, 5 PM

Daily at 11.30 AM, 2.30, 5.30 & 8 PM

Bahubali

Aisa hai jahaan

Daily at 8.45 PM

Daily at 2.30 PM

Daily at 11.30 AM Daily at 8.30 PM

Gold Cinema Daily at 5 PM Daily at 2 & 8 PM Daily at 11 AM (Narengi) Telebooking numbers: Anuradha Cineplex; 03612656968, 9954544738, Fun Cinemas: 9864800100, 9864800200, Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazaar): 03612735367, 9854077177, Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar): 9854066166, Gold Cinema (Narengi): 8811001898

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

MULTIPLAYER

WARFARE Clash of Clans

Tech Watch

o matter how old you are, you like playing games, probably more than some people you know. But you’re too old to be playing it or maybe you’ll set a bad example for your siblings? Well, let go of these notions, be a proud gamer. Whip out that Smartphone and get busy. Here’s a list of violence neutral games, that have great multiplayer experience and you can play with people all over the world.

8 Ball Pool

I’ve already been asked about 13 odd times, ‘Do you play CoC?’ The game is developing a cult following. Making squads, raiding villages, using goblins and giants and magic spell is somehow very appealing to people. The game is great fun if you’re at a doctors’ appointment or waiting for a date or just randomly decide to raid a village in the middle of the night.

Modern Combat 5: Blackout I was joking about the non violent section, but this will be the only one. The 5th instalment in the MC series offers an intense multiplayer experience much like its predecessors. The game offers rank based warfare, (the more you kill, the faster you move up). The single player mode is not so great because it follows a generic story line with random twists. However, multiplayer experience is just rad. It is available, free on the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. The graphics and UI are worth drooling over. You can make squads with people from all over the world, beat other squads, win events and change squads too. But beware, after you leave a squad, they’ll send you sentimental messages... (Remind you of anyone?)

GAME ON

The primary necessities for gaming on a handheld would be a large screen, preferably over 5 inches so that the fingers do not cover the screen, a good display, so that what you see on the screen is crystal clear and an insane GPU for the graphics intense games that developers have been coming up with. If you’re one of those Candy Crush and Clash of Clans players, I suggest you do not read beyond this point. This list is more for someone who prefers playing Modern Combat 5 or The Room (1&2) or maybe Leo’s Fortune. Check those out!

iPhone 6 Plus 5.5 inches 1080p display bundled with an A8 processor with PowerVR Series6XT GX6450

This game designed by Miniclip is free on the Play Store and iOS App Store. The game is available to play on the Facebook page and is a great office pass time. The concept is simple; play billiards for free against friends or in a classic multiplayer setup. Earn pool coins for future matches; customise your cues and enter different tournaments with different fee for better and bigger rewards. The game is currently winning the internet because of how simple it is.

Top Eleven With 15 million users monthly, this is one of the most successful online games out there. As the name suggests, you are a manager and your job is to arrange the top eleven football players from your club to compete with other users. The game is must for a football enthusiast, especially the kind that screams at the TV. You can name your own clubs, invest real money, customise teams, buy/sell/bid players, and the works. The reason for the immense popularity of this game is because it filled the void in the Web and mobile platforms for good football manager games. Suffice to say that Top Eleven is one of the best manager games out there, for those still struggling, look no further.

Motorola Nexus 6 5.96 inches, Full HD display, Snapdragon 805 Adreno 420

Samsung Note 4: 5.7 inches, Snapdragon 805, Adreno 420, Quad HD Display Sidharth Bedi Varma (sidharth.bedivarma@g-plus.in)

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Entertainment

VOICE FOR A CHANGE

aksha introduces itself as a promising experimental rock band that highlights the regional music of Northeast. Truly, the best word to describe it is ‘promising’. The band will be launching their first album titled “Voice for a Change”. The songs in the album are no longer generic Assamese songs you come across. Presented with its own regional feel, the songs are infused with electrifying solos and a melodic voice that could definitely do some damage. The band came together in Mumbai, when the lead vocalist Pranjal Medhi initiated the project with Himangshu Bora, the bassist. The duo joined hands with guitarist Dishankan and drummer Simanta and after a couple of jamming sessions, the band was ready to rumble. The band has performed gigs all over India and has been very well received across major social media platforms. The band’s first venture was “Abhimaan” a music video with the same band members and since then, there

has been no looking back. Recently, Daksha played for the prestigious channel MTV Indies for the show Rhythm 8 and gained an overwhelming response and now, they’ve geared up to launch their latest album ‘Voice for a Change’.

About the guys: Daksha is currently a 4 member band with: PranjalMedhi, leading the line up as the vocalist for Daksha. He hails from Goalpara, the land of Goalporiya folk music. Pranjal was the winner of the famous reality show

tpal Das, the new generation star face of Assamese cinema talks to Dibyendu Goswami on issues pertaining to the present condition of Assamese films, show business and his on-going acting assignments to hit the screen in the near future. Catching up this smart Guwahatian at a city’s coffee joint on a Sunday afternoon in the backdrop of the Day of Solidarity which was observed by the Film Fraternity of Assam (to overcome the on-going crisis the industry is facing) recently, he relieves some of his opinions to a number of queries in an exclusive face to face interview. Excerpts:

What made you come to the front of the camera for all these years ?

I am not from any filmy background. It all happened while I was participating in a personality test event way back during my college days. Tapan Das was in the show as a panellist who spotted me and proposed my name for the VCD film Ringa Ringa Mon in 2005. This was the starting point. Coming to mobile theatre where you have been working for a year, how was your experience ? Do you feel that the system is good enough since it has proved to be the only surviving entertainment industry here in Assam?

The industry has got some problems though it has given bread and butter to many. The system need to be re-organised right from the grassroots to provide better facilities both financially and otherwise to each and everyone proportionately related to the business. As far my personel experience is concerned, I passed through a very traumatic period which is known to possibly all connected to this field. Well, you have been acting for quite some time now and that too successfully. Ramdhenu and Rowd are well made movies and technically impressive. Inspite of that, all went wasted except the first one possibly. Reason behind from your side and how do you for-see the future of Assamese cinema ?

Chatting with the fundaaz guy By DIBYENDU GOSWAMI

The commercial success of a film depends upon a lot of factors i.e marketing, releasing at proper time, co-ordination with exhibitors, publicity etc. All these need to go smoothly together. Moreover shortage of movie halls is a huge problem. There must be a clear cut policy to promote regional cinema by constructing mini cinema halls in the rural areas. This will definitely increase the veiwer’s number since mobile theatres are surviving mainly in these rural pockets. As for the industry, people crying over the on-going crisis is concerned, to my mind, instead of mourning over the existing problems, we should better try to transform our words into action. Music videos are like soapoperas these days for exhibiting not only the actors but also the singers as well who want to promote their albums. How do you rate this from a veiwer’s perpective? Is it not excessive?

I do agree to some extent but

“Jhankaar”. Currently, is also working on some Bollywood projects and is all set to launch the new album on 2nd August. Himangshu Bora, a Guwahatian by birth and traits, Himangshu is the bassist for Daksha. He was nominated at the Rolling Stone

ted by acting in this genre?

proper direction. How do you rate the present popular taste of Assamese viewers in respect of both celluloid and theatre? It has been opined by some quarters that present mobile theatre too have lost it’s previous dignity both in terms of subject and treatement. Your comment ?

Change is there and it will happen. But we need to be careful so that a balance is maintained keeping all things intact without hampering the other. We must know how to display the good things fitted to the popular demand. projects ?

these items also sustains the actor’s screen presence (even if in the small screen) whatsoever, more so in the case of an Assamese artiste. Moreover, since a story concept is reduced to five minutes work, it also acts as a time saver amidst busy schedules sometimes. As far the singers are concerned, I think it definitely helps in their carrier as electronic media, especially television is making waves all around. Assamese celluloid (all pervasive) today is far more competitive than what it was earlier and which is definitely a welcome sign. Do you think the field is wide enough to provide space to work for proving oneself?

Definitely. Technically we are improving and so we need to be more commited. Good films have to be made and there is no short cut to success. Entertainment has to be provided through a well scripted story with

Metal Awards, 2013 as one of the best bassists, and he won the same title at Assam Engineering College. Himangshu Bora is the winner of the ‘Best Bass’ player in Yamaha Asian Beats Regional. DishankanBaruah, the backbone of Daksha. He was also a nominee at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards 2013 with the metal band “Rectified Spirit”. Dishankan is the crowd pleaser; the solo from ‘Abhimaan’ should be enough to prove his credibility. A rockstar since his college days, Dishankan received the ‘Best Guitarist’ award in Jorhat Engineering College and since then has not failed to impress the crowd. SimantaChoudhury, the first ever Meinl Cymbals (Germany) endorsee from Northeast India. The magnificent drummer was also a part of Doorstep Casket which won the Beach Festival 2011. ‘Voice for a Change’ is releasing on 2nd August with an official press meet at Guwahati Town Club, 3:00PM onwards and there is a chance to catch ‘Daksha’ perform live after the press meet at Cheers Crossroads. interviewed by Sidharth Bedi Varma

Your

future

As of now I am busy in an IndoBhutan bi-lateral project though it is yet to be kicked off formally. Again there are the music videos which are much popular these days besides being very lucrative for our acting profession. You have been in the television screen too with Tumi Dusokut Kajal lole, Moromor Anuradha, and recently Protishobi telecasted through the private channels. Do you have any other on the cards ? How do you rate having acted in the TV screen than that of big screen?

Recently I have been associated again with a serial of an entertainment channel. As far as acting is concerned, it makes no difference to me since I fully believe in good performance, whether it is in big or small screen. You can prove your talent in either of these mediums. You have been in the VCD’s for long. How have you benefit-

Well I started my acting journey with this format and people identify me because of these VCD’s. Hence I cannot deny their contribution of what I am today. As far as acting is concerned, yes definitely when I do a feature film, it needs me to be more careful and cautious than the others like the music videos or so. Well after being in the glamour outfit for so long, do you have any plan to venture into the parallel films to get in touch with the world class cinema ? For that matter do you think that your best is yet to come?

Yes I do. In fact talks are on in that line. Let’s hope things work out for me in the near future. I am ever willing to work with people of those standard. Of late, you have been picked up by the corporates for commercial quickies, marketing several consumer brands. Do you think this is a good parameter for measuring your popularity ?

Well, I am already getting good numbers of fan following over social media. Let’s see how far I can carry on their expectations in the near future. Recently you had participated in a fashion show which was an unique attempt with a totally new concept. How did you feel being a part of it?

I felt very excited when the offer came to me and the show received good response. Finally would you like to say something to the readers of G Plus?

Stick to the reading habits and try to make Guwahati green and safer. Wishing you success ahead, Thank you.

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Horoscope Aries Though still active on the home front, thoughts turn to vacations, fun in the sunshine, and a chance to relax and do all the things you don’t normally get to do. There’s an upbeat party theme in general, particularly on Friday, when the Aquarius Full Moon encourages some fabulous social events. Themed get-togethers, charity bashes, dance parties, and more will be enjoyed by all.

This week you’ll thrive on new ideas, creative opportunities, and the chance to expand your horizons. If you get the option to network or attend some key social events, consider accepting, as you’ll benefit greatly. Friday’s Full Moon could see you enthusiastically embracing a plan that has plenty of mileage in it. A cutting-edge opportunity may be yours if you’re willing to accept.

Though you’ll be busy juggling plates on the home front, the developing Full Moon, which comes to a head on Friday, can see you in the limelight for one reason or another. If you need an opportunity to share a brilliant idea or showcase your skills, this is the time to go for it. Saturn turns direct in your relationship sector on Saturday, which can help improve interactions, particularly if you’ve had problems recently.

You’re in your element and eager to explore creativity, romance, and activities of an entrepreneurial nature. You’re at your best when thinking on your feet and organizing things. The Full Moon in Aquarius on Friday brings a pleasant, upbeat energy to key social events, making them more enjoyable than usual.

You’re in the mood for action this week! Even so, shopping and investing your hard-earned cash could also be a lot of fun. If you haven’t treated yourself to a few luxuries or a spa day recently, it’s time to do so. You deserve to pamper yourself this week. Saturn pushes ahead in your romance sector, which could see a budding relationship take a new and more positive turn.

Virgo The focus on your spiritual sector continues, making this an excellent time to explore hidden depths for creative ideas and other treasures. Try to relax, as inspired thoughts that show up during times of quiet might help heal some of the issues plaguing you recently. Retrograde Venus leaves your sign and backs into Leo at the end of the week, encouraging you to improve your relationship with yourself.

Scorpio

Libra Certain people may be pushing you to make headway with a goal or plan, particularly if they stand to benefit. While this is all well and good, be sure that you aren’t the one making all the effort. If so, you’ll need to speak up. An active social scene could see you happily involved in planning a celebration or other special event.

Your spot in the limelight looks set to continue for some time, so make the most of this chance to showcase your natural brilliance. You may even become known as something of an expert in your field. Saturn in your sign pushes ahead once again on Saturday, which can signal greater progress with a plan or project that seems to have been stalled.

Capricorn

Sagittarius Opportunities for adventure continue to show up, but try to avoid spending on impulse even if one of them seems especially tempting. This week’s alignment looks excellent if you’re away on vacation or have a chance to chill and set your own schedule. The Full Moon on Friday brings an opportunity for a highly charged social event or meeting.

Though interactions could be a tad edgy, you’ll benefit from being honest rather than keeping your feelings to yourself. Shared finances continue to look positive, making this a good week to pamper yourself and splurge on a few luxuries, especially if you’ve been working hard. Opt for something that you’d really enjoy even if it is a little expensive.

Pisces

Aquarius

Sudoku

Lifestyle issues continue to keep you occupied, which means you’ll be busy at work and perhaps at the gym. If you can be creative when it comes to varying your everyday routines, you’ll find it easier to stick with them. Mars in your pleasure sector could encourage you to explore cultural events, such as exhibitions of art or crafts, concerts, and much more.

BLOOD BANK

Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Ganga Blood Bank 2454742, 2455029 Lion’s Club of Ghy Central 2546611 Marwari Yuva Manch 2546470, 2547251 Saharia’s Path Lab (24 hours) 2458594

HOSPITALS Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) B Baruah Cancer Institute (2472364/66) Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd (2451634/678) Chatribari Christian Hospital 0361-2600051, 9207044374 Downtown Hospital 2331003, 9864079366, 9435012669 Guwahati Medical College (2529457, 2529561) Guwahati Medical College Emergency (2263444) International Hospital 0361-7135005

Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 0361-2541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344 Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351)

Railway Central Hospital Casuality (2671025) Redcross Hospital (2665114) Sri Sankardeva Netralaya 0361-2233444, 2228879, 2228921 TB Hospital (2540193) Wintrobe Hospital 0361-2519860, 98647-77986 IHR-Institute of Human Reproduction 0361-2482619,09864103333 GNRC Hospital 0361 2227702 GNRC Life First Ambulance 9401194011

24-HOUR PHARMACIES Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) D Modern Medicos, Maligaon (9864366763) Candid 24x7, Panbazar (2604422) DEAD BODY CARRYING VAN GLP Social Circle 2737373, 9435047046 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 GGUMTA 98640-16740 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Call Centre – 9678005171

OTHERS Fire Emergency 101 State Zoo 2201363 GMC Carcass Pickup 9435190720, 9864047222 LPG Emergency/Leakage 2385209, 2541118

RADIO TAXI SERVICES Prime Cabs 0361- 2222233 Green Cabs 0361-7151515 My Taxi 0361-2228888 Cherry Cabs 8876222288

Cinema Hall Anuradha Cineplex – 0361-2656968, 99545-44738 Fun Cinema (HUB)- 98648-00100, 98648-00200 Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar) – 98540-66166 Gold Cinema (Salasar) – 0361-2735367, 98540-77177 Gold Cinema (Narengi) – 88110-01898

police station A Sudoku puzzle consists of 81 cells which are divided into nine columns, rows and regions. The task is now to place the numbers from 1 to 9 into the empty cells in such a way that in every row, column and 3×3 region each number appears only once.

last week solution

Whether you’re doing business or dating someone special, relationships and interactions look positive and upbeat this week. It’s time to accept invitations and move in new, exciting circles, as you could benefit by doing so. The Full Moon on Friday bodes well for parties, celebrations, first dates, and anniversaries. Opt for total romance with all the trimmings!

Ambulance 102 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Downtown Hospital 9864101111, 9435012669 GLP Social Circle 2737373 GGUMTA (Mirza) 03623-227109 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 Free Ambulance to GNRC Hospitals Toll Free: 1800-345-0011

Cancer

Leo

Citypedia

AMBULANCE

Taurus

Gemini

SP, Kamrup District: Ph- 2540278 DGP Control Room: Ph- 2540242 SB Control Room: Ph-2261511 Police Control Room: Ph-2540138, 2540113 Azara PS: Ph2840287 Basista PS: Ph-2302158 Bharalumukh PS: Ph- 2540137, 2731199 Borjhar PS: Ph-2840351 Chandmari PS: Ph- 2660204 Chandrapur PS: Ph-2788237, 2785237 Dispur PS: Ph-2261510 Fancybazar PS: Ph- 2540285

Fatasil Ambari PS: Ph-2471412 Geetanagar PS: Ph-2417323 Hatigaon: Ph-2562383 Jalukbari PS: Ph-2570587 Jalukbari Out Post: Ph-2570522 Jorabat: Ph-2896853 Khanapara: Ph- 2281501 Khetri PS: Ph-2787699, 2787220 Latasil PS: Ph-2540136 Noonmati PS: Ph- 2550281 North Guwahati PS: Ph-2690255 Paltanbazar PS: Ph-2540126 Panbazar PS: Ph-2540106 Pragjyotishpur Ps: Ph-2785237 Women PS Panbazar: Ph-2524627

G PLUS AUG 01 - AUG 07, 2015

Catching Up

Panchita Saikia

Kylie Jenner keeps things private

eality TV star Kylie Jenner says “no one knows what goes on” in her day-to-day life and she only shows people what she wants them to see. The 17-year-old, who celebrated high school graduation at an extravagant bash hosted by her mother Kris Jenner on Thursday, felt obligated to share pic-

tures and video footage from the event on social media. This was to make it clear that rumours that she quit school last year weren’t true. Kylie wrote on Twitter: “That’s what’s wrong with today. If you don’t show or ‘prove’ to social media that you’ve done something, it’s like it never happened!

Social Media Intelligentsia

hile we do not want to get into another wrong or right argument, the constant updates, tweets and comments regarding Yakub Memon’s death penalty has become a pain. While morality is subjective, the regularity and abundance of the news is slowly becoming ‘kamur.’

GYAN

Mojo I take immense pleasure in helping the needy and my family has been integral in teaching me how to overcome my failures and guided me the right direction to be a better person . route in the woods I believe, everyone is sent to earth with a definite purpose and one shall not stop until that purpose is achieved. Success is a journey, not a destination and my actions are more important than the outcome. I am determined to seize every opportunity that comes my way, and succeed in life.

Ka m u r of the week

Guwahati

About me Hi there! I am Panchita Saikia. I’m currently pursuing B.Tech from Don Bosco College Of Engineering & Technology, Azara. I entered the fashion industry back in 2012. Besides doing ramp shows, I’ve been featured on TV and Music videos. I was declared the Second Runner Up of East Zone Finale of Woman’s Era, Palaash Miss India 2015 in Kolkata. I will be participating in the Grand Finale in Delhi this August. I am a trained Bharatnatyam dancer, a green belt in Taekwondo and I love swimming, playing badminton and painting. I enjoy taking photographs and making short films. I love to listen to old classic songs to take my mind off of things.

(Coordinated by Aryan Nath)

Did you know?

UGRATARA TEMPLE

gratara temple, located in Lamb Road, Uzan Bazaar is an important Shakti shrine and has idols of three different lords Dakhina Kali, Chamundini and Nil Saraswati. Inside the temple core there is a small pit filled with water, which is considered as the Goddess. The wife of Swargadev Shiv Singh an Ahom Kingdom named Phuleshwari Deori constructed the temple whose history goes past over thousands of years, in the early part of the 17th century. The Ahom king also excavated a lake,

known as Jorepukhuri, in the east of the temple. The present temple has undergone renovations and modifications by Raibahadur Bhuban Ram Das, after it was destroyed by a devastating earthquake in the year 1889. The residing deity of the Ugratara Temple is Goddess Ugra Tara, who is considered to be another form of Goddess Parvati. The legend has it that the temple was constructed on the very spot where the naval of Sati fell on the earth, after her death.

PIC OF THE Doing the Daab Photo: Adib Zamali

WEEK

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