G Plus Vol 3 Issue 27 by G Plus

Sex

There is a difference be-

in our city tween “my wife does not

mind it” and “she enjoys it.”

with Dr. Mithun bhartia

PG 18

VOLUME 03 | ISSUE 27 APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

PRICE `10

Was smokeless tobacco

to give birth to a mafia nexus? PG

War Memorial work to resume; GHC dismisses PIL PG 03

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016 Nivedita Hazarika

New Chic on the block

Page 24

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Lead Story

Was smokeless tobacco banned to give birth to a mafia nexus?

rahul chanda

ssam became the first state to legally ban the consumption of all forms of smokeless tobacco including paan masala containing tobacco and nicotine within the state on 13th February, 2014. Thus sale, consumption, manufacturing, trading, storage and advertisement of all forms of smokeless tobacco were banned in Assam. However at present, smokeless tobacco is openly sold throughout the state without any restrictions and on enquiry, a paan shop owner in Guwahati has said that the Supreme Court has allowed the paan shop owners to sell smokeless tobacco legally. Trying to know what exactly the situation is and whether the smokeless tobacco is indeed banned or not in the state, G Plus investigated the matter and tried to take the opinions of all stake-holders.

Paan shop owners move the court against the government’s decision Supreme Court in July 2014 orders that sale of smokeless tobacco cannot be prosecuted till the case is disposed The sale of such products starts again in Assam without any prosecution from the authorities following the SC directive In September 2015 SC disposes the case saying that a similar issue is pending in the Gauhati High Court

After the ban After the state government banned smokeless tobacco in the state, the paan shop owners moved the court. The Supreme Court had asked the state government in July 2014 to stop prosecution on the sale of the tobacco easing the paan shop owners’ difficulties in selling the same illegally, but it was just a stay order that said that the sale cannot be prosecuted till the case is disposed. This made the state authorities stop the prosecution. After the SC asked the state government in July 2014 to stop prosecution on the sale of the smokeless tobacco, the paan shop owners were easily selling the smokeless tobacco and the health department issued a letter to all the prosecuting authorities of all the districts to stop prosecuting the sale of smokeless tobacco. The paan shop owners now thought that the sale is again legal but it was confusing for some as the smokeless tobacco

State government bans smokeless tobacco in 2013

In an investigation carried out by G Plus, we find that the current supply of smokeless tobacco (like guthka, zarda, etc) to the city comes through a fine-tuned nexus operating from Siliguri and Byrnihat with total revenue loss to the state government was not easily available. Many big distributers of such tobacco in Guwahati said that they are not selling because it is banned and hence the paan shop owners still had to buy at higher prices and further sell it to customers at even higher prices. Now, where do the paan shop owners buy the tobacco from?

G Plus investigation A paan shop owner in Lalganesh area, talking to G Plus, said that the price of smokeless tobacco has increased and while the police have stopped imposing fines on them on the pretext that smokeless tobacco

VAT Rates on tobacco products in Assam Year

Cigarette

Bidi

Smokeless

VAT 2010-11

13.50%

VAT 2011-12

20.00%

VAT 2012-13

20.00%

VAT 2013-14

25.0%

20.0%

VAT2014-15

30.0%

Ban

VAT2015-16

30.0%

Ban

is banned, the dealers still take extra money. Enquiring who the dealers are and where are they located, the paan shop owner said that earlier Chaurasia of Fancy Bazar was the main distributor of smokeless tobacco. These days however, there are sales people who visit the paan shops and distribute the smokeless tobacco. Apparently these days there are different people covering different areas. For example, if a paan shop owner from Lal Ganesh wants to sell smokeless tobacco, he has to contact the person who is responsible for the distribution in that area. The order is placed over the phone and the person delivers the product at the paan shop. The owner said that the tobacco comes from areas like Jorabat or Byrnihat in Meghalaya. G Plus visited Fancy Bazar and especially Chaurasia’s outlet where ironically the salesman said that since there is a ban they do not sell smokeless tobacco any more. Similarly, G Plus visited major dealers in the Fancy Bazar area and all gave this same excuse. G Plus then went to Jorabat and after enquiring from many shops it was found that the smokeless tobacco business actually happens from Byrnihat. The G Plus team visited Byrnihat and acting as customers found that there are many shops who

supply smokeless tobacco to Guwahati and also to other places in Assam. A salesman in one of the wholesale smokeless tobacco shop in Byrnihat, talking to G Plus, said in anonymity that they have marketing personnel who roam around entire Guwahati, take orders and deliver the products accordingly. The salesman said that they are instructed not to carry smokeless tobacco in large quantities and therefore they take orders for smaller quantities. Talking about the cost, the salesman said that the price for such tobacco is more than the printed rate. The salesman also said that sometimes, while delivering the smokeless tobacco, the police create problems at the check points but the marketing people know how to manage the police. The salesman finally said that the owners of the wholesale smokeless tobacco shops in Byrnihat are mostly from Guwahati and they also have shops in Guwahati. So it appears that the Guwahati dealers are running a parallel smokeless tobacco business from Byrnihat.

The present status In September 2015 the apex court disposed of the case that chal-

SC also directs the GHC to dispose the case within three months Tobacco sale is still not prosecuted and authorities are unaware if the tobacco is banned or not in Assam The situation gives birth to a nexus which smuggles in smokeless tobacco from Byrnihat and Silguri and makes shop-to-shop delivery in Guwahati Except the state government everyone in the nexus earns It is highly doubted if a cut might be also going to the politicos as after all they are the law makers

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Lead Story lenged the legal validity of the Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, Advertisement, Trade Storage, Distribution, sale and consumption of Zarda,Gutkha, Paan-masala, etc. containing Tobacco) Act, 2013. The Supreme Court disposed the case stating that a similar issue is pending in the Gauhati High Court. Hearing the writ petition no. 383/2014 (Udai Chaurasia & Ors VS State of Assam), the apex court, in its judgment said that Gauhati High Court will do the needful for disposing the matter and also asked the High Court to expedite the hearing of the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1583/2014 so that the matter may be decided within three months’ time. The Supreme Court also said, “We clarify that we have not considered this petition on merit and we are disposing off this petition simply because a similar issue is pending in the High Court.” So now if the Supreme Court has disposed the case, is the ban on the smokeless tobacco not technically prevalent? It is now more than three months that the case has not been disposed and the status of the ban is also unknown.

The confusion The nodal officer of National Tobacco Control Programme for Assam, Dr. Arundhati Deka talking to G Plus, said that the state health department did not receive any notice from the Supreme or the Gauhati High Court regarding implementing the ban again or even to start prosecuting the sale of

he Gauhati High Court has given a verdict in favour of the war memorial, the construction of which had been opposed by civic bodies even as the memorial was being constructed on the northern bank of Dighalipukhuri arguing that it will affect the ecology of the pond. The High Court has brought relief to the Directorate of Sainik Welfare, which had initiated the war memorial, by dismissing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The High Court, in its order pronounced on 30th March, described that the proposed memorial would inspire the children and youth of Assam to join the armed forces. It would also inculcate in them a sense of respect for the members of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives for the country, added the verdict. The division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Singh and Justice Manojit Bhuyan observed that the respondents, including the state government, assured that there would be no construction activity in the water body of Dighalipukhuri and the pond would be preserved and protected from any encroachment. A team of senior citizens led by noted academician Hiren Gohain, who moved the court through a PIL two months back, challenged the construction following which the court directed to maintain status quo on the construction activities around Dighalipukhuri. Legend has it that the Dighalipukhuri tank had been created by Bhagadatta and that a canal was dug from the Brahma-

VAT Revenue earned from tobacco products in Assam (in Lakhs) 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 7815

9850

13752

cordingly. But after the stay by the SC in July 2014 the state government notified the prosecution authorities, especially the cops, that people cannot be prosecuted. What about the recent SC order which has disposed the case and isn’t it technically again restarting the ban? smokeless tobacco. Some senior health department officials did not want to comment on the matter as they did not know what exactly the status is and asked G Plus to give them some time so that they can update themselves. Similarly, senior police officials also are unaware about the status of the ban. Meanwhile however, the police personnel, from time to time, keep fining the people who travel with smokeless tobacco. Interestingly, the dealers and the paan shop owners are earning huge profits since the ban was implemented in the state and as now they are not prosecuted, the profit is doubling even as the state government is incurring a staggering loss of revenue. The move has also given birth to a new mafia nexus who smuggle smokeless tobacco into the state from Siliguri and Meghalaya bribing various enforcing agencies at the check points.

There also arises a huge doubt that a part of the commission is paid off to the politicos. After all they are the one who implement such bans. It may be mentioned that under the Assam Health (Prohibition of Manufacturing, Advertisement, Trade Storage, Distribution, sale and consumption of Zarda, Gutkha, Paan-masala, etc. containing Tobacco) Act, 2013, anyone found consuming smokeless tobacco was supposed to be punished with fine up to Rs. 1,000 for the first offence and Rs. 2,000 for the second and any subsequent offence or offences. In case of offence committed by a company, the company as well as every person who at the time of the commission of the offence is in charge of and responsible for the conduct of the company’s business, was supposed to be deemed guilty of the offence and liable to be prosecuted against and punished ac-

The concern “Banning use of smokeless tobacco products by implementing the Assam Health Act, 2013 was an excellent move on the part of the Assam government. By doing so Assam became the first state in the country to ban all forms of smokeless tobacco. We are now hoping for a positive result from Gauhati High Court so that the act is back in force again,” said Arnab Gogoi, a social activist. According to Sushmita Sarma, a school teacher, strict implementation of the Assam Health Act, 2013 is the need considering growing use of smokeless tobacco products - mainly paan masala and zarda mixture among students. “The other day only I caught a student with five packets of paan masala and zarda. Considering such smart techniques of the tobacco companies, only

18357

23385

24305

strict implementation of Assam Health Act, 2013 (which bans even zarda and other forms of chewing tobacco) can save the students from the clutches of tobacco menace,” Sarma said. According to the study on the, “Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India” that was conducted by the Public Health Foundation of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the total economic costs attributable to tobacco use in Assam amounted to Rs. 541 crores in the year 2011 for persons aged 35-69, of which 47% was direct medical costs and 53% was indirect morbidity costs. So, the confusion prevails whether smokeless tobacco is banned or not and meanwhile the nexus involving the companies, the giant dealers, the paan shop owners, the authorities who take bribe to allow the entry of the products and the politicians who support all these people are making huge money while the state government is losing revenue. It remains to be seen whether after the GHC verdict smokeless tobacco will be completely banned in Assam and especially in Guwahati. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

War Memorial work to resume; GHC dismisses PIL The court has given a verdict in favour of the war memorial, construction work of which was halted after a section of people opposed the venture citing reasons of jeopardy to the eco-system and heritage of the tank

Juthika Baruah

putra River during the Ahom rule. It also has a link with the other water bodies and there is also a link with the environment. A restaurant at Dighalipukhuri has already hampered the environment. It’s not only the eco-system but also the environment that needs to be preserved. As opined by senior citizen, Harekrishna Deka, while speaking to G Plus, the Government had taken a wrong step by permitting the construction of a restaurant. Amazingly the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) also came out with a statement that it would not allow any war me-

morial in Assam, as it would only glorify the Indian armed forces. The armed group claimed that New Delhi had been “forcefully invading Assam” and hence it would continue opposing the project. Talking to G Plus, Commodore KC Choudhury, Director of the Directorate of Sainik Welfare said, “It comes as a great relief that we won the case and the High Court’s decision has been a warm verdict as the memorial will also provide knowledge to the people of the state. We have already said that it will not touch the eco-system and it has been constructed in the area which was allot-

ted to the fishery department.” Choudhury, in an affidavit, mentioned that the construction of war memorial started on the government land outside the area of Dighalipukhuri. He also committed that no construction activity would be carried out in the water body of the 4.5 hectare tank. Moreover, Choudhury stated that the proposed war memorial would have the statues of Lachit Borphukan with other soldiers depicting the Battle of Saraighat, an Amar Jawan Jyoti reverse rifle with a helmet on top, a uniformed soldier with his rifle reverse arm salute and also relevant murals depicting various battles of post and pre-independent era. According to sources it has also come to be known that there are parties who want to use the place for commercial purposes rather than see it being a war memorial. The estimated budget for the war memorial project is Rs. 7.5 crores and works worth Rs. 3.5 crores has already been completed. “People know the concept of the war memorial and ecology being hampered is just an excuse. Rather,

the issue has been made political as there are people who want to open another restaurant or a commercial complex. The war memorial has not at all touched the water of the pond. Rather it has been constructed in the vacant land. Earlier, the area was so dirty and isolated that females couldn’t pass by it as many untoward incidents used to take place. But with the construction of the memorial the place is already looking good and it is likely to be a tourist destination,” informed the source. Choudhury also informed that the remaining construction work will be started soon and the tentative date of inauguration is 15th August, 2016. Meanwhile, the Patriotic People’s Front Assam [PPFA] welcomed the verdict which clears all hurdles towards the completion of the proposed war memorial in the heart of the city. Many civil society groups including the PPFA supported the move to construct a war memorial and the court directive has finally vindicated their stand. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Controversy

Congress leader’s

sexual rendezvous

KALYAN DEB

he pursuit of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) secretary and the party’s candidate from Kamalpur assembly seat, Pranjit Choudhury, still continues after a post-graduate student of Gauhati University lodged a case of sexual exploitation against him at the Panbazar police station. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Gauhati High Court rejected Choudhury’s anticipatory bail plea. After hearing his petition, Justice Paran Kumar Phukan declined to grant him pre-arrest bail without perusing the case diary. However, on Friday, the police failed to produce the case diary following which the next hearing has been scheduled on 26th April, 2016. Choudhury had approached the high court seeking relief under Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which deals with anticipatory bail. The affair turned sour began soon after the second phase of election was over when the girl, in her FIR filed on 13th April, alleged that Choudhury had exploited her physically and gone back on his promise to marry her. The victim (23) had deposed her statement before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kamrup (Metro). Following the FIR police have registered a case of rape and cheating under Sections 376 and 420 of the IPC against Choudhury. “After the case was registered, police visited his city and the Kamalpurbased addresses but he was nowhere to be found. He has been summoned to cooperate with the investigation but he is absconding. It is suspected that Choudhury has fled from Assam or else he would have been presented

r. Mrinal Kumar Sarma (22nd Feb, 1941 – 8th Apr, 2015), Former General Manager, AIDC and Ex-Managing Director, NEDFi had great zeal and a deep passion for entrepreneurial development in the North East of India. After successfully completing management courses from Asian Institute of Management Science (AIMS), Manila, Philippines in 1984, Japan American Institute of Management Science (JAIMS), Hawaii-Tokyo in 1989, he had been offered a position in a corporate in California. He however chose to come back to his motherland, Assam, as he was committed to implement his rich experience and learning for the benefit of the people of this region. It’s been a year since he left this world and to coincide with his first death anniversary, his family has decided to do their small bit by trying to keep alive his passion of entrepreneurial development and in this

turns into nightmare; court rejects anticipatory bail

Pranjit Choudhury in court soon after,” stated a policed official. Choudhury (39) is a former Assam Youth Congress leader and a member of the Post-Graduate Students Union of Gauhati University. He is married with two children. The 23-year-old victim filed the complaint at Panbazar police station on Wednesday after informing the local media at a hotel in Uzan Bazar. She alleged that Choudhury promised to marry her after the elections, which ended on 11th April and kept her at the hotel for two days. But when she tried to con-

tact him, he could not be reached. According to the victim’s police statement, she met Choudhury in January this year. “The victim said Choudhury started getting close to her in January and she fell in love with him. She was aware that Choudhury was married but he promised to marry her saying he was having trouble with his wife. She waited patiently till the elections as he had promised to marry her after the elections,” a Panbazar police official mentioned. Following the FIR, the victim was sent to Gauhati Medical College and

Hospital for medical examination and then to a shelter home for women at Jalukbari. The police thereafter sent the woman with proper escort to her parents’ home in Goreswar. Efforts to contact Choudhury proved futile but he had earlier told a private television channel that he knew the girl as she was his employee and that she was being used by someone. Choudhury’s relatives also echoed similar opinion and mentioned that the entire incident is a political gimmick. The police had also searched Choudhury’s residence at Chandmari but he was nowhere to be found. Choudhury’s PSOs were debriefed about his whereabouts but no fruitful information could be gathered. In Kamalpur, several women’s organizations on Saturday and Sunday held demonstrations demanding immediate arrest of the Congress leader. Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, has made it clear that the Congress party would not stand by Choudhury if the charges against him were proved true. “The law will take its own course. If he is proven guilty, the Congress will definitely not stand by him,” Chief Minister Gogoi had said a few days ago. Meanwhile, APCC president Anjan Dutta said, “I have seen the news on one of the TV channels but have not received any formal complaint from anybody against him so far. At this moment, I can only say that the law will take its own course if there is any truth in the allegations.”

MK Sarma Memorial Promising Entrepreneur of NE Award, 2016

The winners with the family members of Late MK Sarma context, the ‘MK Sarma memorial promising entrepreneur award, 2016’ has been constituted. 5 entrepreneurs

have been selected by a panel of 3 judges and they have been awarded cash awards amounting to Rs. 1 lakh

along with a citation. The winners are Naveen Sood from Canecraft & Allied Industries (Rs. 50,001/-), SS Graphics (Rs. 20,001/-), Renu Mahanta from Kuhi Food Processing (Rs. 10,001/-), Dipjyoti Sarma from Rangman Shilpa Udyog (Rs. 10,001/-) and Binita Deori (Fabric and Textile Designing, Rs. 10,001/-) There are 6 other entrepreneurs who were awarded a citation each for promising work they have done in their respective fields. The family of Mr. M.K.Sarma hopes that this small step will encourage the winners and motivate many others. The award ceremony at the NEDFi House was attended by Mr. Haren Das, Chairman AIDC, Mr. Swapnanil Barua, Commissioner Industries, Mr. Hemango Sharma, MD AIDC, Mr.

Police failed to produce the case diary on Friday following which the next hearing has been scheduled on 26th April On Wednesday GHC declined to grant him pre-arrest bail without perusing the case diary The tussle began on 13th April following an FIR alleging sexual exploitation by the congress leader The complainant informed local media at a hotel in Uzan Bazar and alleged that Choudhury, who had promised to marry her after the elections, had gone back on his word According to the victim, Choudhury started getting close to her in January and she fell in love with him Choudhury (39) is an APCC candidate from Kamalpur, a former Assam Youth Congress leader and a member of the Post-Graduate Students’ Union of Gauhati University Efforts to contact Choudhury have proved futile and it is suspected that Choudhury has fled from Assam kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

B Paul Muktieh, CMD NEDFi, Mr. Digen Baruah, Chairman, Guwahati Management Association amongst others. A magazine – ‘MK Sarma – a Life Well Lived – Industry Speak’ - has also been release to commemorate the event and articles in this magazine are by invite from superiors, colleagues, peers, clients and friends who have worked with Mr. Sarma at some point of his career. Dr. Nomal Borah, Founder GNRC, Mr. Abhijit Baruah, MD, Premier Cryogenics, Mr. Shyamkanu Mahanta, Promoter MMS Advisory are few of the noted individuals who have written in this magazine. Mr. Sarma’s family constitutes of his wife Mrs. Archana Sharma, Retd Teacher, Kali Ram Barooah Girls High School, his son Mr. Rrituraj Sharma, Principal Consultant, Infosys Consulting based in London along with his family and his daughter Mrs. Madhurima Goswami based in Mumbai along with her family.

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Call to stop concept of cultural nights in Bihu functions

According to the Brihattar Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani Samannayrakshi Samiti the Bihu functions should include folk culture of the state rather than giving it the feel of a cultural night which has resulted in dilution of the original Assamese culture Juthika Baruah

Zubeen performed without wearing dhoti in Bihu functions Nabam Kashyap and Manash Robin performed in traditional attire Most Bihu functions were over by 1-1.30 am It will need 2-3 years to bring back the original culture of Bihu back Zubeen Garg

re the young generations forgetting the original culture of Bihu or are the Bihu committees making money out of the festival casting aside the traditional way of celebrating the national festival of the state? These are two big questions haunting the minds of the people of the city. After the controversy erupted that Zubeen Garg will not perform on the Bihu stage in dhoti (as had been mandated by the Brihattar Guwahati Bihu Sanmilani Samannayrakshi Samiti that artists will have to perform in traditional attire), it was seen that very few of the young generation artists performed wearing the traditional dress. After the controversy, the Samiti decided to restrain Zubeen from performing in the Bihu functions even as 4-5 Bihu committees opposed the decision of the Samiti and invited Zubeen to perform in their functions. The Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan (Latasil Bihutoli), which is the oldest Bihu Sanmilan, opted out of the Samannayrakshi Samiti’s mandate as they did not want to be a part of it. They were the first to invite Zubeen to perform despite him openly declaring that he will open the dhoti of anyone who will force him to wear one. According to sources, the President of Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan does not support the decision of the Samannayrakshi Samiti and it is unfortunate that being the oldest Bihu they do not agree with the tradition that the Samiti wants to revive. “It has come to our knowledge that next

year the Guwahati Bihu Sanmilan will be restructured after which they will be a member of the Samiti and accordingly the work will be done. Also the mind-set of the people should be changed. Only then we will be able to bring back the original culture. The young generation thinks that Zubeen and Papon are the only artists who perform in the Bihu functions and they wouldn’t like to attend those functions where either of the two is not performing. The concept of cultural nights should be stopped and the cultures of different tribes should be encouraged so that people can get to know about the different cultures of the state,” the source added. G Plus has come to know from its sources that some of the Bihu committees have tried to give the matter a political slant which will not be accepted as Bihu is the national festival of the state and politics and culture cannot be mixed. This time the Bihu committees who have asked Zubeen to perform are not in the Samannayrakshi Samiti and from next year the Samiti will try to bring every committee under one association so that all could follow the tradition. “We are not against Zubeen or Papon but the original culture should be displayed. This time we have brought Mising Bihu and Deuri Bihu. People should know about each and every culture. The Bihu functions have become cultural nights which will lead to a wrong path. We have been trying to bring back the culture of Bihu because today it

is influenced by western culture making it highly commercial. We should celebrate Bihu with fervour and enthusiasm and we have to guide the young generation with the actual culture rather than expose them to a wrong culture which is seeping into the society,” informed the source. Nabam Kashyap, a young generation singer has performed in traditional dress and so has singer Manash Robin which reflects that it is possible to perform by wearing traditional dress. The concept of making money out of Bihu functions should also be stopped. In the guidelines set by the Brihattar Guwahati Bihu Samannayrakshi Samiti, it has been mentioned that the Bihu functions should be over by 15th May. The organisations or NGOs who celebrate Bihu with business in mind and has made it a commercial venture will not be allowed to do so anymore as a national festival cannot be a festival of publicity. This year most of the Bihu functions were over by 1-1.30 am. “The committee members of Maligaon Bihu committee are not local people and therefore they do things according to their wishes. But from the next year the local people will take charge as the culture has been degrading and they will try to bring back the original culture,” added the source. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

Buzz

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Governance

Citizens to be accountable for domestic plastic

waste management Bipasa Saikia Kashyap

ith the rains overlapping the city, it is a common sight to see the city’s streets submerged under artificial floods. During the past week, continuous showers have submerged most of the major connecting roads – like Lamb Road in Ambari, various areas around Paltan Bazar, Zoo Road, Last Gate, Bashishtapur, etc. making the life of the common Guwhatian a daily mess. One of the biggest reasons for the occurrence of these artificial floods are the clogged drains in the city and the main reason for the clogged drains is the lack of proper plastic waste management rules. Just last month, the Environment Ministry had issued new Plastic and Waste Management Rules and ordered that all the state bodies implement these new rules within the coming six months. For the first time, responsibility has been thrust on waste generators. According to the new rules, mass waste generators like office complexes, commercial establishments, industries and factories have to segregate plastic waste at source before handing it over. “Till now, it was the GMC that has been taking the responsibility of segregation of plastic waste at the garbage source. However, from now this responsibility will also have to be shared by waste generators,” according to Anant Gani, Additional DC Kamrup (M). According to the new rules, plastic bags have to be above 50 microns. Plastics below that become harder to decompose. Till last month, this was 40 microns. “We are working with local NGOs for the management of plastic waste in all the 31 wards of the city. The administration has also issued orders to most of the local markets as well as other big brands that plastic bags below 50 microns will be banned.” Within the next six months, plastic bags will only be made available to those shopkeepers and street vendors in the city who register themselves with local bodies on the payment of a certain registration fee. The fee will be contributed to the waste management funds of the GMC. Retailers and street vendors are going to be issued notices that they will not sell or provide commodities to consumers in carry bags, plastic sheets, or multi-layered packages that have not been manufactured under the new rules. According to the DC, event organizers in the city – especially marriage functions, religious gatherings, public meetings and political rallies that are usually held in open spaces are going to be responsible for the waste generated from these events. This is a

Guwahati city to face stricter and more stringent plastic waste management rules For the first time, the public is going to be responsible for plastic waste management Plastic bags below 50 microns to be banned

Garbage dumped on a city street site first time initiative. Extended Producer Responsibility has been introduced and for the first time, the producers (i.e., persons engaged in manufacture, or import of carry bags, multi-layered packaging and sheets or the like and the persons using these for packaging or wrapping their products) and brand owners have to be responsible for collecting waste generated from their products. They have to approach local bodies for formulation of a system for the plastic waste management within the prescribed timeframe. “We are issuing notices to all the manufacturing bodies to abide by these rules,” stated Gani. Guwahati is going to see a new surge in the management of plastic and waste management. According to Gani, Guwahati’s plastic and waste management policy will go

through additional modifications alongside the new rules implemented by the centre. “We are still very much working on the door-to-door garbage collection in the city and we are engaging collectors to segregate plastic waste at the source itself. The door-to-door collection of garbage was introduced in the city in July 2014 and since then there has been a growth. We cannot say for sure that it has been a grand success for we need to expand a lot more. But there has been a definite success and we plan to stick to this,” Gani mentioned. Even after that, once the waste is collected, there is more segregation before the final step of waste treatment. “We ensure that before the waste goes for the final treatment, we separate the degradable and the non-degradable waste. The non-degradable waste is then kept separately for over ten to

fifteen days and is treated with things like coconut waste and made into fertilizer.” The Supreme Court had issued an order, as per the requirements of the GMC, to change the location of the final garbage dump. “All the garbage collected is taken to Boragaon where we finally treat all the garbage and turn it into compost. This has been going on for years but now there are problems arising due to the land and its surroundings. Keeping this in mind, we will have to take our garbage elsewhere to a bigger and more open plot of land. The new dumping site has not been finalised yet.” In Guwahati, the biggest problem of waste management is the lack of manpower. Not a lot of people are keen towards working for the waste management industry. Lack of professionalism and maltreatment of

GMC issues notices to all local and global brands to implement the new plastic waste management laws the people who are associated with these jobs are perhaps the biggest hindrances faced today. The Environment Ministry, on 5th April 2015, had announced the regularization of manual scavengers all over the country, but it did not address as to how to implement them. According to Gani, Guwahati city will not be joining the rest of the bigger cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Aizwal, Kanpur in banning plastics anytime soon. “A complete eco-friendly substitute to plastic has not yet been discovered and in the absence of such an alternative, it is not practical to impose a complete ban on plastics in the city. This is one of the initiatives of the smart city project and it is on the table. However, for now, the real challenge is to improve plastic waste management systems in the city.” The Indian Waste Management is governed by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change in association with state pollution boards, state governments and municipalities. According to official figures, around 62 million tonnes of solid waste is produced in the country each year out of which only 43 million is collected. Out of that, only 12 million tonnes of garbage is treated. Around 4.5 million tonnes is hazardous waste that includes bio-medical waste. 3 million tonnes in plastic and 3.2 million tonnes of e-waste (like electronic appliances such as mobile phones, computers, and televisions) is generated annually in India.

GMC garbage dump bipasa.saikia@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Concern

Hora family to file PIL demanding availability of doctors on Sundays

Doctors should be available on Sundays in nursing homes so that patients get proper treatment and every hospital should have neutral monitoring committee

Juthika Baruah

the health scenario said, “There are many factors which needs to be studied and till date no research has been done as to why the health system of the state has not been improved and why such mistakes repeatedly take place in the hospitals. The people who allege that patients lose their life due to negligence of the doctor or the technician or the hospital authority cannot be quantified. Sometimes when we enquire into such cases we find that the allegations of negligence are not true. Rather it takes a different turn into the cases.” Saikia said the research is a long process and that the health department will dwell on the issue as to why the people of the state have to go outside for treatment although there are many hospitals in the city. “In the discharge sheet (of Avneet Hora), the cause of death was stated to be acute respiratory distress syndrome. As per the guidelines of National Institute of Health, such children should be treated with utmost care along with constant monitoring. But the line of treatment was not at all in accordance with the guidelines. If my son would have had such serious problems he couldn’t have talked to me so well while in the ICU,” alleged Barbara.

G Plus Photo

he parents of Avneet Singh Hora, a six year old child, who died at International Hospital supposedly due to the doctors’ negligence, will file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding three things so that doctors cannot play with the lives of the people. Avneet Singh Hora, a six year old child was admitted to the International Hospital on 14th February at around 6.30 pm as he had complained of headache and had a mild temperature. But due to a doctor’s negligence the child had to lose his life. The parents of the victim have alleged negligence by the hospital authorities and by the doctor for which they had to lose their child. They had also written a letter to the PMO earlier where they alleged lack of sincerity and non-availability of oxygen masks for children and also negligence by the hospital authorities. The PMO has forwarded the complaint and asked for further investigation into the matter. Speaking exclusively to G Plus, Mrinalini Barbara, mother of the victim, said that after 15th February the investigation had not been processed because of the upcoming elections. But now that the election and Bihu is over, they will move for further proceedings. “I will file a PIL seeking availability of doctors on Sundays. Facility of monitoring should be provided for the attendants so that they can at least monitor the patient’s condition through CCTV or a glass panel should be provided on the door of the ICU to look at the patients’ progress and a neutral monitoring committee should be available in each private nursing home,” said Barbara. She further stated that Dr. Prakritish Bora, who is mainly responsible for the incident, is not available to answer the queries of the investigation. “I have lodged a complaint at Assam State Commission for Women and they had called both the parties with their statements on 2nd April, 2016 but Dr. Bora was not available and he had sent Dr. Abid Ahmed under whom Avneet was treated before he lost his life. But as Dr. Bora was not present on the day of the hearing before the Legal Advisory Committee the hearing was not authentic according to the ASCW,”

said Barbara. She also said that Medical Council of India has also directed the Assam Medical Council to investigate the matter and accordingly Assam Council of Medical Registration has sent a letter to Dr. Abid Ahmed seeking a written statement regarding the incident and to submit a report by 18th April, 2016 as to what took place at International Hospital on the crucial day. Barbara also mentioned that the judiciary for negligence of medical

authorities is not proper and that the judge has to accept whatever the authorities provide as answers. She said that none of the advocates want to take cases of medical negligence. “Medical negligence has become a common problem and the people do not raise their voice for which the medical authorities do not take the issue seriously,” said Barbara. Talking to G Plus, Joint Director of Health, Kamrup (M), Ganesh Saikia while commenting about

PIL to be filed by Hora family Dr. Prakritish Bora is unavailable for giving any statement on the incident that took place Neutral monitoring committee should be available in each nursing home The judiciary for medical negligence is non-technical

juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Buzz

GU’s 22nd rank by NIRF is decent: VC

Juthika Baruah

G Plus Photo

auhati University which has been ranked 22nd by the National Institutional Ranking Framework is lower than Tezpur University which bagged the 5th rank. However, this has been termed as “much better” by the Vice-Chancellor as the perceptions of the state and central universities are different. Speaking to G Plus, VC of the University Dr. Mridul Hazarika said, “The University has got 22nd rank centrally but state-wise it is at the 4th position which is much better. We cannot compare it with Tezpur University as it is a central university and the perceptions of state and central universities are different. The funds of a central university are sanctioned from the Centre but our university being a state university does not get huge amount in funds.” “The University has achieved a lot over the past 2 years but people only criticize highlighting the bad things. The good has never been reflected which impacts adversely on

GU bags 22nd rank centrally but state-wise, it is at the 4th place behind Tezpur Central University and with 345 colleges affiliated to it, the rank is being considered as an accomplishment

FinancialYear

Annual Expenses of Library On Physical Resources: Books & Journals (Rs. in Lakhs)

Annual Expenses of Library On eResources: eJournals, e-books, etc. (Rs. in Lakhs)

Annual Expenses of Laboratories On Creation/ Upgradation & Equipment (Rs. in Lakhs)

Annual Expenses of Laboratories On Maintenance & Safety (Rs. in Lakhs)

2012-13

17.00

10.00

445.00

2013-14

110.00

106.00

2014-15

145.00

106.00

the University. There are 345 colleges under the University and it is not an easy task to maintain each and every detail of the students. Tezpur University has a basic advantage of being small and compact and it does not have any colleges affiliated under it but our University has much more burden on it. Moreover, the funding pattern of state and central universities differ and we are virtually surviving hand to mouth with the amount of funds we receive,” said Hazarika. He further informed that the score of the University is 68.58% which is quite acceptable given the funds that they receive from the Government. When asked if any new subject or department should be in-

Total outdoor sports area (in Sq. Mtrs.)

Total indoor sports area (in Sq. Mtrs.)

Annual Expenditure on sports facilities (Rs. In Lakhs)

Annual Expenditure on Extra Curricular activities(Rs. In Lakhs)

55.00

55000.00

2500.00

10.00

43.00

315.00

52.00

55000.00

2500.00

10.00

45.00

275.00

43.00

55000.00

2500.00

15.00

36.00

cluded so that students find it easier to pursue a course within the precincts their home state rather than going outside, Hazarika said that they cannot open a department of their own as the Government needs to approve it and with the introduction of a new department new teachers would have to be appointed and all this requires the clearance of the government. The VC further slammed the Government for the poor education system due to which the grade of University has gone down. Hazarika also reiterated that the University has bagged four awards in the last twoand-a-half years and has also improved the infrastructure but people

fail to notice the development activities and rather believe in the wrong news published in some newspapers. “The elections are held with a purpose to bring development in the university. We have seen that Tezpur University and Dibrugarh University are much more developed than Gauhati University. We don’t have wi-fi connection and most importantly, the bus service is not available for which the students have to face many problems. We want that the students’ union and the administration bring a change in the university by developing the infrastructure rather than think about their political future. Only then the university will get to a better position,” said one

No. of Women Members of eminence as Institute Head/ Governing

of the students. The NIRF has conducted the survey and among the management institutions, IIM Bangalore was ranked number one while Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal, was ranked the top pharmacy institution. The HRD ministry has asked the University Grants Commission (UGC) to allow additional time of one year at M.Phil. and two years at Ph.D. for women researchers to complete their programmes. Maternity leave of 240 days will be excluded from the course duration. According to the NIRF, Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc), Bangalore, was ranked the top university

in the country followed by the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai. Jawaharlal Nehru University ranked third and the Central University of Hyderabad fourth. Delhi University was in sixth place, 50 followed by Banaras Hindu University (7th), Indian 50 Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruva55 nanthapuram, (8th), BITS Pilani (9th) and Aligarh Muslim University (10th). About 3,500 institutions, which participated in the domestic ranking, were judged by their performance in the areas of teaching, research publication citation, students from other states, women students, economically backward students, placement, mean salary, peer rating and perception, among others. The NIRF published the ranking in categories of general universities, engineering institutions, management institutions and pharmacy institutes.

juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

City

HC seeks answers from district administration on Bahini River encroachments

Bipasa Saikia Kashyap

s per a March order issued by the Gauhati High Court, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Guwahati Development Department and Kamrup (M) district administration has been ordered to file affidavits that state the details of cleanliness of the Bahini River that flows through Guwahati.

Locals demand answers for Bahini river’s maintainence GMC, GDD and Kamrup DA ordered to give details to the High Court

History The river originates from Umtyanga in the hills of Meghalaya and flows through the southern part of Guwahati from Basistha. From there it crosses the connecting road of Natun Bazar, Bakrapara Manasha Mandir, Bakrapara Tiniali and then the National Highway 37 between Basistha Chariali and Khanapara continuing through Rukminigaon and Hengrabari. After that, it joins Bharalu River near the Assam State Zoo (Jonali Point). Till a few years ago, the river would often carry huge discharge beyond its carrying capacity due to heavy rainfall in the catchment area in the hills of Meghalaya which was the main reason why a huge portion of Guwahati too would get submerged. Most major areas in the city, like Dispur, would face heavy water logging due to this. Following this, the Water Resources Department excavated a pilot channel in the year 1983 near Natun Bazar area that helped in diverting a major portion of the Bahini River to Basistha River with the help of a sluice gate. In due course of time however, people started encroaching on the old Bahini channel between Natun Bazar and Bakrapara Tiniali. The length of human encroachment was recorded to be 321 metres and a portion of the Bahini River dried up. This was the reason for the shift of Bahini’s entire course to flow through the excavated pilot channel to the Basistha River.

Current issue Last month, a local named Debendra Narayan Deka, approached the Gauhati High Court seeking intervention citing reasons that garbage

This is not the first time that locals have made serious complaints regarding the river’s plight In 2011, a sum of Rs. 100 crores was given for the river’s maintenance but things are still in a deplorable condition

The Bahini river in the city in Dispur discharge from the Bahini River is the main source of sewage in most areas across the city. Deka filed a petition where he stated that encroachment by humans and the construction of many concrete structures was a huge reason that added to the growth of sewage in the city. Construction of illegal culverts, bridges and their ill-maintenance by authorities is another major reason for the occurrence of flash floods in the city. The flood water collected usually remains logged for years and with the garbage disposed, gives rise to immense stench and foul odour that is the leading reason for most health hazards people are facing in the surrounding localities. The stagnant water is a breeding ground for

mosquitoes and rodents and has been the main source of malaria and other diseases within the localities. In rainy seasons, the condition worsens. In 2008, the government issued an order for demolishing of at least 81 of those bridges and culverts, but till date only 55 of them have been brought down. According to Deka, most of these culverts are private constructions. The Bahini River is 8400 metres in length. Due to illegal encroachments along the river, the river has shrunk at many locations. In breadth, the river should be 8.5 metres. But due to most of the reasons stated above, it has shrunk to 4 metres. The GHC has ordered the GMC, GDD and the Kamrup DA to submit

a report on this citing the details that would ultimately lead to the clearance of sewage in the river as it is increasingly becoming a rising concern for the city people. According to a GMC official, “They need to submit a detailed report on what are the primary concerns raised by the river and viable ways to tackle it. The report has to be handed over to the bench by the 25th of this month.” According to him, the report has to mention the issue of encroachment along with other reasons for water-logging. This is not the first time complaints have been raised regarding the same problems in the city. Considering the water logging problem in the Guwahati, particularly in Basistha,

the local people had approached the District Administration for revival of the dead portion of the Bahini River so that the excess water from the Bakrapara side can be diverted to Natun Bazar side by connecting the other part of the river. In 2011, the GDD had apparently received a sum of Rs. 100 crores for the proper maintenance of the river. The fund proceedings were supposed to tackle issues like cleanliness, water-logging, removal of unwanted and illegal constructions, encroachment and flash floods. However so far, there has been a delay in the proper maintenance and which is why the high court has taken this step, according to the GMC official. bipasa.saikia@g-plus.in

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN 24 April

MON 24 April

TUE 25 April

WED 26 April

THU 27 April

FRI 28 April

Thunderstorms

Heavy rain

Numerous showers

More sun than clouds

20 / 35 °C

19 / 35 °C

20 / 35 °C

22 / 34 °C

20 / 33 °C

SATURDAY

23 April

Thunderstorms

20 / 34 °C

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Bazaar

Bihu in the city is an emerging source of revenue generation for all classes of people

Bihu turns into a major industry Bipasa Saikia Kashyap

Businesses like food, textile, music are flourishing and more and more people are investing in it targeting the Bihu days Bihu is no longer a tradition – it is more of a commodity, an avenue of business, especially in Guwahati that is involved in revenue generation

ihu is emerging as an industry in Guwahati city. Each year pre-Bohag, the markets of Guwahati are filled with goods manufactured specifically to suit the Bihu requirements. Be it entertainment, food, textiles – Bihu has definitely become a well organized 21st century industry. Every year during Bihu, the city is full of huge installations where numerous Bihu functions are held. Various famous locations are turn into Bihu hotspots and around these, many business activities flourish. Locations like Latasil, Ganeshguri, Bharalu and Maligaon are those where the biggest functions in Guwahati are held. “The celebrations in this part of the city dates back to sixty five years. It boasts of performers like Bhupen Hazarika and in newer times, young icons like Zubeen Garg. It is a big event – one of the biggest in Guwahati till date. “Every year when one event is over, we immediately start planning for the next. Our Bihu committee has been very blessed to have dedicated members who continue with their support and this has been going on for years. The residents of the neighbouring areas have also been very helpful,” said Kailash Sharma, senior member of Latashil Bihu Committee. Funds are raised by Bihu committees through all means possible. They have individual donors, private organizations as well as government organizations that extend help as part of their social responsibilities. “We accumulate funds starting from 10 rupees to however much our donors are willing to pay. Organizations like SBI and Coca Cola have been our sponsors for years now. From those funds, we have to manage everything – from the Bihu stage to the roadside installations.

Gamochas for sale on the streets of Guwahati We are also required to pay a certain tax to the administration for management. The Latasil Bihu has a no-profit no-gain policy but whatever revenue is made, we use it for social purposes,” added Sarma. Other than Latasil, Maligaon is another old locality where the tradition of celebrating Bihu has been going on for years now. “We organize a big event every year and fund collection obviously becomes an issue. We collect funds from the Railway colony here and people from outside the Maligaon area also come to support us. Private sponsors like Gionee mobiles supported this time, but they were the only private sponsors. Also because of the rains, we had to cancel a day’s event and we faced a few problems because of the elections,” stated Bhupen Deka, President of the Maligaon Bihu Committee. “We invite artists from

all over the state to perform here – some agree to perform out of their own accord but some we have to pay.” The Assamese music industry also flourishes during this time of the year in the city as this is the time when most of the local singers release various singles and albums of Bihu music to keep pace with the celebrations. Abhishruti Bezbaruah, a young singer who recently released her second single, reckons that unlike earlier, Guwahatians are actually adding a contemporary twist to Bihu. “People are no longer hooked on to buying CDs. People in the city are more in touch with online releases, specially the youth here. My Soundcloud and YouTube channels have shown bigger and better responses. But my music is pure Axomiya,” said Bezbaruah. This is also a marketing strategy on the part of

the artists to reach their target audience, which in turn works in the favour of the Assamese music and film industry. A lot of these artists are seen during this time making stage appearances against remuneration. The entertainment industry is definitely the biggest gainer in terms of revenue generation during Bihu. However, other smaller industries like textiles and food also flourish in the city during this time. In the months preceding Bihu, it is not a rare sight to see vendors who go door to door and sell traditional attires. During this time, there are a fair number of such sellers who come to Guwahati with their products. Most of what they sell is traditional cotton mekhelas that they weave back home. “We come from interiors of Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Jorhat and Dhemaji. Our products are

all hand-woven by artisans back at home and we work throughout the year. Other than home deliveries we also sell to big shops and brands in the city who buy in bulk from us. I make numerous deliveries in various shops in Panbazar and for years they have been my customers and now my business is expanding. This year, I also supplied bua mekhela chadors to Silkalay. We get good businesses from them. The work is very hard, but we manage to do some good business out of it. Back home, it is mostly our mothers and sisters who are involved with the manufacture. Our work is different in that our designs are a mix of designs of all the tribes of Assam and we try and mix and match that in our weaves. In a way we also set a trend and that has been accepted by our customers. Price of one mekhela can range from anywhere between Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 20,000 depending on the work. We also supply our designs to film studios,” said Poran Singhdeo, a vendor from Lakhimpur. Food is another business which profits tremendously in the city during Bihu. Now-a-days the modern Axomiya bowari does not have the time to sit by the fire and spend hours in making laarus and pithas. The laaru-pitha business is one of the biggest contributions of the house wives in Guwahati city. “I had plenty of time after my children left home to work outside and initially, in the spare time I used to make cakes and sell these to my neighbours. This was fifteen years ago. From selling to my neighbours, I now supply to famous shops like Mandakini Sweets. Earlier it was just me but now I have some help as my business is growing,” said Mamoni Barooah, a Sundarpur resident who is a regular supplier of laarus and pithas in the city. “During the Bihu time, my business peaks, but I supply to big brands throughout the year. A packet of pitha comes for about Rs. 60 and it is somewhere between Rs. 40 – Rs. 50 for a packet of laaru. Guwahatians are happy to pay the price and till date I haven’t had a customer who has complained. Maybe they are making up for the guilt, but I get my due share,” she chuckled. As an industry, Bihu is increasingly becoming one of the biggest revenue generation sources of the city. Each year, the concept of Bihu is given a new twist and from that a variety of other business ideas spring on which the city people are making a living.

Bihu food for sale on city’s streets bipasa.saikia@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

City

Six Mile the new hotbed of opportunities Bipasa Saikia Kashyap

ix Mile is emerging as one of Guwahati’s important commercial localities. With a flyover that eases traffic congestion and the area connecting the National Highway 37 via Jaya Nagar and Khanapara, it acts as the entry and exit gateway of the city. The announcement of the flyover in 2009 and its completion has brought the rest of the NE states closer in that it connects Six Mile to Khanapara and thereafter to the rest of Guwahati. The process of construction of the flyover had been a tad slow, but it stands complete today and is a huge reason for changing Guwahahti’s entire revenue generation. Due to ease of commuting, more and more people are coming and settling down in the adjoining areas of Six Mile. This is a prime reason why the trade of renting, selling and buying property has seen a definite growth. Ananda Nagar is one such area adjacent to Six Mile where, in the last two years, eight apartment blocks have come up in one single lane. The number of apartments in an area only suggests the growth of inhabitants in the area. Renee Hazarika, one of the oldest residents of that lane and a member of the Ananda Nagar Housing Samiti, while talking to G Plus, stated that though business has gone up, there are downsides as well. “After my husband’s demise, I sold a part of our land here and now there is an apartment block where we have rented out two of our flats. It has been three years and there has been a steady flow of students and young working professionals who seek to rent them and we can negotiate prices because people are willing to live here. The downsides are that there has been a rise in property taxes and maintenance of the area has deteriorated. All the by-lanes inside Ananda Nagar are in tatters and roads are broken due to the increase in the number of vehicles. During the monsoons the condition worsens. There is a spot after crossing Nayantara Department Store which is basically a garbage dump and which requires immediate attention. Garbage here is not taken away by the GMC often and it is right on the main road. We also need more street lights around the area.” On asking about connectivity, she appeared happy that the Ananda Nagar Lane that connects the VIP Road has been reconstructed. “Earlier, the end of that lane was completely broken and it was very inconvenient. Now the condition has improved.” Six Mile is also a favourite area for Guwahatians who look to chill out after an evening’s work. Vivanta by Taj has made its presence felt just slightly ahead of Six Mile and other huge business establishments like the Lily

Six Mile turns into biggest trade hub in the city Establishments like Vivanta by Taj has increased the pace of development Kamrup administration to announce several water schemes in the Six Mile area

Six Mile flyover

Establishments likr Taj Vivanta(L) and The Lily(R) have contributed to the growth of trade and businesses in Six Mile Hotel, Pantaloons, Reliance Trends, alongside Guwahati’s famous eateries like Urban Mantra and Café Hendrix all fall within touching distance of the area. This is another source of revenue generation for a class of people. Job opportunities in Six Mile have improved. A lot of low income jobs like security guards, gardeners and other blue collar jobs have also opened up which in turn is another reason for the growth of settlements here. The plying and availability of commercial vehicles likes cabs, autos and rickshaws in and around Six Mile is another source of revenue generation for the city. “Earlier we used to get very few rides from any other part of the city to Six Mile. I used to drive my auto in Panbazar eight years ago, but today I have shifted my location and very rarely do I go that side,” said Rajendra Kalita, a permanent auto driver of the locality. Because of the plenty of

big establishments here, my business has improved. In a day I get around fifty trips. I drive around the same small radius in a day but I make more than I used to making longer trips in Panbazar.” Unlike a few years ago, the entire area is now open till late into the night improving the business growth. “Every day I make trips till past midnight as everything is now open. Past nine, I at times make trips towards the Panjabari side, or even the Narengi side, as the night charge is higher and the traffic is thinner.” The rotary under the Six Mile flyover connecting Belotla is another boon according to him as now the traffic management is better due to the bifurcation. However, due to the many establishments coming up and the increase in human settlement in Six Mile, residents have been reporting a case of severe water crisis. Rukminigaon, another area adjoining Six Mile, is one

locality that has been facing this problem. Tanmoyee Rajkhowa, a resident of Rukminigaon, whose parents sold their ancestral property in Chandmari years ago to invest in a flat here, shed some light on the water crisis faced by Six Mile inhabitants. “About five years ago we had all the access to round-theclock clean drinking water. However now-a-days, that has been limited to two or three times during the day. We live in an apartment block where collecting water at only two points of time during the day becomes a problem. Also, there are about eighty families living in our apartment block. So the water distribution also becomes problematic.” “The Six Mile area is one of the most planned areas under the Smart City project and the administration is seeking newer ways to improve livelihood options there,” according to Additional DC, Kamrup, Anant

Gani. “Once the smart city scheme was developed four water schemes were announced that will deliver in all the major areas like Dispur, Six Mile, Beltola and Khanapara on one side and the other adjoining areas like Panjabari, areas around the VIP Road like Patharquarry, Narengi, etc. on the other. One scheme that is complete and will be up and running has been undertaken by the JNURM in Kamrup. Under this scheme, several new water supply lines and new water intake points have been included. This is complete and will be up for trial soon. Other water projects funded by the Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are underway and will hopefully be completed next year.” According to him, alongside providing continuous water, electricity is also a prime concern. “As the Assam Secretariat is located there, the administration’s desire is to provide 24 hours electricity to citizens here. We also have a very strong manpower who work 24X7 in case of frequent rains and hailstorms.” True to this claim, electricity is one sector where residents of Six Mile have no complaints about. “Electricity and maintenance has definitely improved after the Vivantas and the Lilys coming up in the area as the administration definitely does not want to get on the wrong side of the wealthy visitor. These places are frequented by celebrities and business tycoons which works in our favour. Ten years ago, regular power cuts were the most common thing,” said Tanmoyee Rajkhowa’s mother, who is also a member of the Kali Mandir Samity which is involved in social work. “However the condition of roads, garbage disposal and its management are areas that the administration need to work on consistently.” bipasa.saikia@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Politicking

ith roughly a month still left for the results of the Assam elections to be declared, the politicos of all the parties are displaying confidence of winning and snubbing all opinion polls. The general people are not being able to predict who will form the government in Dispur this year. The first phase of polling in 65 assembly seats on 4th April had also recorded close to 80% polling. The second phase in 61 constituencies recorded 82.06%. In the Lok Sabha polls of 2014 voting percentage of the state stood at 80.16% while in the previous assembly elections in 2011, it was 76.03%. The increase in the voting percentage this year is raising various questions among political observers as some feel it is for a change of government while others opine that it is the NRC updation exercise which has thrown a scare among the people resulting in the huge turnout. G Plus talked to many Guwahatians, political observers and even candidates who contested but it looks like no one has a confident prediction this time.

Who will form the government in 2016?

While eagerly waiting for the results of 19th May, the people in Assam are facing a perplexing question as to who will form the government this year rahul chanda

Who will form the government? In an interview to a national daily, the BJP candidate of Jalukbari constituency, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said that the BJP-led alliance will get 70 seats and he is actually optimistic of securing around 80. The BJP state leader said that the basis of their optimism is the political feedback and the percentage of voting in their core areas. Similarly, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, whose term will soon end, has expressed confidence that he would be the Chief Minister of the state for the fourth consecutive term and Congress will form the government without anybody’s help. During the first phase of polls (4th April) they will get three to four seats lesser than the earlier term, but from the second phase (11th April), in the lower Assam side they will get the maximum seats, which will balance out the seats which they will lose in upper Assam. So both the major parties are confident of a win but to form the government at least one party has to lose. Looking at the confidence of both the parties political observers are finding it tough to predict who will form the government leading to a lot of speculation among observers.

The speculation A political observer, talking to G Plus, said in anonymity that during 2014 parliamentary elections BJP won 7 seats in Assam and if calculated at a micro level BJP won those seats from 84 assembly segments. Therefore they had coined the term “Mission 84.” The observer said that Congress meanwhile did not come up with any special strategy to win the assembly elections and also could not retain their influential leaders like Himanta Biswa Sarma. The observer said that it

Tarun Gogoi will be a debacle for the Congress this time because of their weak leadership. According to him, Anjan Dutta does not have much political sense as he has only done business in his entire life. The observer said that making Anjan Dutta Congress state president was a very bad move for the party and many in the party are on uncomfortable terms with Dutta. The observer calculated the seats that the BJP-led alliance will win stating that BJP will win around 8 seats in Barak Valley, 33 in Upper Assam and 31 in Lower Assam. The observer said that this time it is a tough contest but the BJP-led alliance will manage at least 67 to 71 seats from the entire state - more than good to form the government. Similarly another observer talking to G Plus said that Congress will surely form the government but it might have to ally with AIUDF. The observer said that the increase in the voter turnout was mostly seen in the constituencies which are dominated by minority voters who always vote for Congress.

Sarbananda Sonowal The observer also said that if Congress manages to win 50 seats on its own they can easily form the government with a post-poll alliance with AIUDF. The observer said that there might be a wave for change but the voting process in Assam is based on ethnicity and religion and since the Congress has worked for all in the last 15 years, people still want them to govern the state. There might be various speculations and opinion polls but Tarun Gogoi will surely win from Titabor and Rockybul Hussain from Samaguri. The observer said that the Congress vote might be divided but it will still form the government as no matter how big a wave of change might be fleeting across the state. Many people in Assam have already rejected AGP and are scared to vote for BJP. Now what about Guwahati and who will win the four seats here?

The Guwahati seats The four constituencies in Guwa-

Prafulla Mahanta hati (Jalukbari, Dispur, Gauhati East and Gauhati West) also witnessed a tough contest and in three of these constituencies the Congress fielded new faces raising questions about their “winability.” A Congress converted BJP supporter from Jalukbari constituency, talking to G Plus, said that Himanta Biswa Sarma will win with a record margin as he has the support of the entire Jalukbari. Meanwhile, the Congress candidate from Jalukbari, Niren Deka, talking to G Plus, said that he is confident of winning. People in Dispur are not sure about who will win as the urban population seems to be supporting BJP candidate Atul Bora whereas they feel that the rural population, mainly in Sonapur area, support Congress’s Akon Bora. BJP candidate Siddhartha Bhattacharya of Gauhati East constituency is confident but according to some people in the constituency the Congress candidate Bobbeeta Sharma has carried a better campaign and was able to woo the voters with her new strategies. In

Badruddin Ajmal Gauhati West, Hemanta Talukdar contested as an Independent after he was denied a ticket from Congress and he is confident that he will win because of the good work he has done in the last five years. The Congress candidate, Juri Sharma Bordoloi, feels that she is from the young generation and therefore she will surely win. Meanwhile, AGP veteran Ramendra Narayan Kalita is confident of a win because of Congress vote division between Juri and Hemanta. But some Congress supporters in the constituency said that being ignorant of the AGP-BJP alliance, many BJP supporters, on not finding the Lotus symbol, voted for Congress. In this perplexing situation of everyone being confident of winning, it has become difficult to predict who will form the government. The only outcome that can be reasonably confidently stated is that it is bound to be a coalition government this time. rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

In Conversation

Interview with

KALYAN DEB

Priyadarshini Chatterjee

riyadarshini Chatterjee of Dhubri will represent India in the Miss World Pageant soon and after winning the Femina Miss India contest she is all set to bring more fame to the state. Priya is the daughter of Prabir Kumar Chatterjee and the granddaughter of actor Late Anil Chatterjee. Priya exclusively talks to G Plus about her priorities and her possible career.

Being the first from the region to have clinched the title do you think you have a social responsibility towards the people? How do you plan to portray yourself to them? Yes, I completely understand the sentiments of the people of Assam and I understand that I have achieved something not just for myself but also for the state and the region. I would like to take forward my responsibility and put in my best to bring the Miss World crown as well to the region and make the people even more proud.

Could you throw some light on the kind of social activities that you plan to pursue in future? My project, Sishu Kalyan, will be focused towards child education - especially to eradicate child labour mostly in the slum areas because that is where I feet such issues are seen the most. Also in slum areas the children are inclined towards drug abuse. So if I can educate them not only with aca-

demics but also indulge them in cultural activities, it will keep them away from such bad habits. Although the project has not been established yet we are working on it.

What would be your plan of action? I have a team of five to ten members with whom I will visit the slum areas, pick at least ten children and teach them for at least an hour. I will have a syllabus for them starting from alphabets and numbers and along with that we will indulge them in other activities such as theatre, singing, dancing, art, etc. So, we will do the child support managing according to the children we pick and their time. I am not someone who can stop them from working because that is for survival but I would like to take an hour from them so I can provide them the education so that they can do something productive. That is basically my plan and I believe that from 5 I can reach 50 and gradually 500 and more children.

How has your life changed since you have clinched the title? My life has changed drastically. I was just a college going girl who would pulled on her jeans and T-shirt and went to attend my classes, chilling with my friends in the process. But right now I am somewhere with not only a lot of publicity but also a lot of responsibility to represent India at a world platform. I think it is something huge and I have to put in my best as I

I have always said one thing I believe that I have been crowned Miss India because I have always been honest, true and natural not just on stage during the finale but throughout the journey. I think that is something which reflects on you and your personality and that is what the judges were looking for - someone who was natural and that is what helped me. canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let this go away. I do feel special and happy that my parents are proud of me.

Besides the good memories of being a part of the beauty pageant what were the tough aspects of the competition? Firstly, it is really hard to keep up with the competition at times because it is a long process and gets hectic. Keeping up and being consistent with your performance is something we all have to work on. One day I may perform well and the next day I may just be tired because of the hectic schedule. At time we also feel lonely; we miss our home and friends. So, maintaining my emotional balance is something that I have learned and eventually we learn

how to cope up with these things.

What qualities do you think claimed the title for you? I have always said one thing I believe that I have been crowned Miss India because I have always been honest, true and natural not just on stage during the finale but throughout the journey. I think that is something which reflects on you and your personality and that is what the judges were looking for - someone who was natural and that is what helped me.

Who is your ideal beauty queen and how did she inspire you? I do not have any ideal beauty queen but if you ask about my inspiration I would say it would be my mother. If you ask me who I look up to, I would say Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone, as both these women have worked hard on themselves. They have come across to being who they are without any backing or support and have reached heights to-

day. While one is a Bollywood queen the other has reached Hollywood.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? I am a student of sociology and in future I want to pursue anthropology in travel and tourism. Personally I love to see around and meet new people and I am very observant. In anthropology I want to make my own study and theory regarding the society and that is what I want to personally do in life. Meanwhile, I would also love to continue modelling as it is something that makes me really happy - walking the ramp and posing for photographs, so I think I would love to continue with that.

Are you open to any offers from Bollywood or the Assamese film industry? I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t received any offer yet and neither am I into acting much. So I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I would be into movies. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Ward Watch

WARD NO

Concentrated area: Commerce Point Ward number: 21 Sub-division: 21 (a) Councillor: Shashanka Jyoti Deka

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Phone number: 9864217101 Area sabha member: Gajen Chandra Deka Phone number: 9435100010

Civic and civil issues remain despite significant transformation of Commerce Point G

KALYAN DEB

uwahati has several prominent locations that attract gatherings and assembly of people looking for relaxation. Among the lot, the well-known Commerce College Point holds a significance of its own. Many high schools and degree colleges have been set up in this area enriching its educational atmosphere. The transformation of the area into an educational hub eventually happened to witness establishment of commercial outlets all around. However, the picture was not the same half a century ago. One of the first establishments in the area was the Gauhati Commerce College on 10th September, 1962. A few years later the area witnessed the inception of Jnanadabhiram Barooah Law College, popularly known as JB Law College that came into existence in 1969. Over the years the area has seen mammoth transformation since the inception of the two colleges and one who has seen the transformation can surely make out the big difference that has taken place. We visualize Commerce Point today as having several food joints, people hanging-out in happy frames of mind and the mushroom growth of various commercial outlets and educational institutions. The Chandmari flyover and bus stoppage at commerce point offers the perfect ambiance for an adda. The hills surrounding the area, the view of vehicles passing by and the youthful crowd adds to the beauty of the area. The Anandaram Barua flyover more popularly known as Chandmari flyover is one of the best places to be at on given day. Named after the great Assamese scholar, Anandaram Barua, the irony is that only a handful of its denizens know or call it the Anandaram Barua Setu. For most of those who whiz by the bust of the late scholar, it is the Chandmari flyover. With the view of vehicles and trains passing

below the flyover, it offers a vantage point to enjoy the Bihu or any other event taking place on the AEI ground below. However, some major transformations and a few minor changes on a daily basis in the area at times go unnoticed.

The Transformation The transformation of Commerce Point began in 1962 after the establishment of Gauhati Commerce College. However, not many people used to hang out in the area as for the major part of student population Panbazar was the first preference due to Cotton College being located in the area. The youth and student multitude shifted to the area after the construction of the Anandaram Barua flyover in 1985. It was not only a major transformation for the educational establishments but also gave Commerce Point a huge commercial boost. With the construction of the flyover, not only students from parts of the city started flowing in to GCC but it changed the picture of the area. Several food joints were set up, private coaching classes began, paying-guest accommodations opened up and most importantly it also eased the bus route. “Until the construction of the flyover the bus routes were connected through Rajgarh. Those travelling from Zoo Road to Chandmari would divert from Apurba Sinha Path and enter Rajgarh Road and then connect to Chandmari. Due to the railway gate it created massive traffic congestion in the area whenever there was a train passing by. So after the construction of the flyover it eased out the traffic problems and gradually several educational institutions including the colleges and private coaching classes added substance to the area,” stated Dhanjit Kumar Das, a local resident

of the area. “The construction of the flyover not only saw a flood of commercial outlets but the overall picture changed. From 1985 to 1990, a massive student population shifted from Panbazar to Commerce Point altering the significance of the area,” Das added. Sanjay Mudoi echoed similar perspective and stated that the construction of the flyover and the changing of bus routes also worked in favour of the residents of the area and the rest of the public of the city.

The Downside The end of the flyover near the Commerce Point sees the maximum people who use the area as a spot to hang out. The end that borders GCC on one side and JB Law College on the other is the best spot to have a chatty time. However, many use it as a drinking spot. Many a time, youngsters can be seen consuming alcohol and the inebriated condition often gets them indulging in quarrels that end up with blows being exchanged. Such an inci-

dent turned out to be a major mishap when a 10th standard student was allegedly beaten up by a group of youths over an alleged eve-teasing incident during last year’s Bihu festival. The boy was found lying near the flyover with multiple injuries and was rushed to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in serious condition. He succumbed to his injuries the next morning. In order to avoid such mishaps the police remain alert and patrol the area on a regular basis. It was also stated by some of the locals that drug abuse is also a problem that can be seen in some of the nooks and corners of the area. “We try to shoo away people whenever we notice that they are indulging in antisocial activities. The kids should learn to avoid creating any kind of nuisance. Police intervention at times helps in throwing a scare among such youngsters but the problem persists,” a local stated.

Civic Issues As developed as the area might

seem it also has civic issues that remain unaddressed. Till the 1960s or early 1970s, the roads all over the city appeared to be wide enough to cater to the needs of the existing traffic at that time. But with the gradual growth of vehicular population during the last two decades, the roads could not keep up. The most common remedy like widening is not possible because there is not adequate ‘roadside reserve’. The Commerce Point being located on a higher contour does not face any such problem. However, the Rajgarh link road has to deal with the same every monsoon. The silt filled drain that dissects the link road carries rain water flowing downhill from Chandmari and due to the silt the water often rushes into the houses of the area. Locals informed that they collectively de-silt the smaller drain but to clean the larger drain is expensive. “The drain which has a depth up to 10 feet is filled with eroded soil up to 7 feet and only 2 feet is silt. So if the soil is not extracted out on regular basis the water rushes into the residences. Last year’s initiative by MGVK Bhanu was appreciable due to which the rain has not affected us yet but if the de-siltation process is not continued there will be major problems,” Sanjay Mudoi asserted. Meanwhile, the councillor informed that in part of the drainage de-siltation has been carried out till Apurba Sinha Road but more in more part the process will be carried soon. “An application has been forwarded to the GMC commissioner. Last year there were certain anomalies with the payments of the contractors which will be deducted this year and the de-siltation is expected to be carried out soon,” stated Shashanka Jyoti Deka, councillor, ward number 21. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Society

KALYAN DEB

Age is just a number

here are many people that we come across in our daily lives. Of them, just a few hold such significance that they acquire a special place in our hearts besides inspiring us to test our own sense of generosity and humanitarianism. Such a personality is Aruna Mukherjee, a 99 year old social worker and a resident of Paltanbazar (near Meghdoot Cinema) who remains thoroughly motivated with her work even at her advanced age. And so very creditably, Aruna Mukherjee intends to continue her work for the betterment of people till she breathes her last. A speech by Indira Gandhi which she had once heard where the late prime minister mentioned ‘Kuch Kar Ke Dikhao’ shook Aruna to the core. She decided to buckle up and decided to dedicate her life to serve the needy alongside her responsibilities towards her family. From an early marriage to being the oldest surviving member of her family Aruna has come a long way indeed. And amazingly, for over fifty years now she has survived purely on tea and biscuits. “The desire to do something socially relevant has been there since childhood. I have witnessed the British rule and the struggles of the people. In our minds we used to think that if we all fight together we can always bring a change for better. Even during childhood the games we used to play involved the struggles and our fights and we sought to uplift ourselves through education. One would play a British while the other girls would be students reading books and novels,” Aruna shared during a conversation with G Plus. She seemed positively overwhelmed that she was actually sharing her life-story with a newspaper. Married off at a mere age of 14, Aruna could never claim her right to education. She was married to Jadu Lal Mukherjee, then head of the department of chemistry, Cotton College and made her way to Assam from the erstwhile undivided India, now Bangladesh. As she informed it was her husband who taught her to express herself and she gradually taught herself to read and write. However, she did not keep the acquired education to herself and motivated women around her to start learning so as to help in contributing to their respective households.

An inspiring story of a 99 year old social worker

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a year due to her pressing responsibilities towards her family. The idea never left her mind though. Soon after her children grew up and were capable enough of taking care of themselves Aruna decided to revive Nari Adhikar in 1960. However, this time she came up with bigger plans. Aruna started taking singing lessons herself and also tutored those who came to her. “On reviving my work, I started educating them, training them in art and painting, sewing, doll-making and most important of all, I used to tell them to

put their knowledge to practice, earn their own living and become self-dependent,” Aruna stated. When Aruna revived her initiative in 1960 it attracted a large number of enrolments and she had to manage shifts for the trainees in several groups. Each group had seventeen to eighteen women and this still continues even after fifty years of its existence. She also visited other places to motivate and train people. “Once my children had grown up I had ample time for the people and rather than staying at

Nari Adhikar In 1949, Aruna gathered a few women from her neighbourhood and started “Nari Adhikar” where she gave them vocational training in knitting, sewing, embroidery work and other such things that helped them with a daily earning of Rs. 2 on a regular basis. This was a major contribution to any household back then. Aruna started with seven to eight women from her locality but gradually people from other parts of Guwahati also joined the training. However, she had to temporarily halt the initiative after

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home I wanted to do something productive and I conveyed the same to other women. My husband used to leave for college and I had the home to myself. After coming back home all he wanted was not to be disturbed as he was a workaholic and liked to be in his own space. However, he always gave me the freedom to do what I desired,” Aruna asserted.

A cup of tea and biscuit for living “Shishur mukher aahar, maayer mukher hashi” is what she stated when being asked how she survived only on tea and biscuit. It was during her visits to Sukleshwar temple that she saw homeless people sitting in queues starving and shivering in the cold and all she could think of was providing a helping hand. That was also the time when trains filled with refugees from Bangladesh added to the number of the unfed and the hungry. Out of agony for them Aruna decided to improve the situation within the limited resources that she had. She invited some of the starving refugees taking shelter in the railway station to her home and fed four of them from her share of food. As the word spread, the next day a few more came looking for her. The number kept increasing every day and a time came when the number reached 50 but all Aruna could do was feed them from her own share of food.

“Back then my husband’s salary was Rs. 20 which was only just sufficient for the family. So I fed them with whatever I could. There were also many children. My husband used to have rice and milk every day. So from his share of half a litre I used to separate some for the children and mix water in my husband’s share. Gradually it came into his notice that the quality of milk had deteriorated and he asked me to complain about it. But only I knew the actual reason,” chuckled Aruna. Like all good work has its downside, Aruna and her family was also affected by the contribution she was making for the needy. A time came when the family got indebted to their regular grocery shop as well. She finally decided to inform her husband about her activities and received support from him. Her initiative continued till the year 1956. In the process she started cutting off on her daily diet and gradually developed the habit of living only on tea and biscuit. It was in 1947 that she stopped consuming any other food. She has a cup of tea at around 3 am, another at 9 am and her final cup for the day at 4 pm. “I learned that what I consume is sufficient for me to live. My children were worried so they got me checked by doctors who stated that I was completely healthy. Moreover, I cannot eat any food unless I serve some to the poor ones. Even after the refugees got settled in other places, the habit remained. There are a lot of bananas that grow within the premise of my house and I give some of it to the homeless,” Aruna mentioned.

The children and oldage home Aruna is currently working on opening up a children and an old-age home within the premise of her house. “Ananda Dhara” and “Apon Ghar” are the projects that are currently under process. Although, such initiatives require financial support Aruna is optimistic about single-handedly moving ahead with the project. “I have been offered help by several NGOs but none felt right enough and I will not approach the government for help. So if anyone comes forward to help me in kind I will welcome it and I will start the old-age home in a month or two,” Aruna stated in enthusiasm. Aruna had 4 sons and a daughter of which 3 sons have passed away. Her surviving son and daughter are married and live in Canada. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

G Talk

Monsoonal Woes E

he monsoons usually do not arrive in the city until the first week of June. But April onwards, all the warnings of the impending summer time misery do show up and this year seems worse than ever. Our Bihu was washed out well and truly with all schedules and painstaking arrangements going haywire. The first instalment of the city’s now infamous water-logging has already shown its ugly side with last Tuesday’s deluge. If I recall right, the monsoons were tough on the city last year as well but an embattled administration took up the challenge with renewed vigour literally pumping out the rain water time after time, shower after shower, from the areas that were threatening to drown. Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Shree Nagar were salvaged to a large extent with water pumps under the direct supervision of the redoubtable MGVK Bhanu. While these were temporary solutions (where a permanent solution seems yet a far cry), they look set to be repeated this year. While there was a huge exercise undertaken last year of de-silting the drains of the city, such an exercise has not been witnessed this year. Perhaps this has been forgotten in the heated election pitch of 2016 and so, Guwahati is set to relive its rainy nightmares this year again. To all appearances, the administration is going to tackle the problem with its tried and trusted method of last year. Then there is the perennial summer time distress of electricity shortage. The only significant improvement in

this sector this year has been power minister Rakibul Hussain’s rhetoric. His brazen and repeated claim that Assam will be self-sufficient in power from January 2016 is far removed from reality and was uttered without material and statistical backup. Best part is we haven’t heard from him ever since on this count. Given an untoward fallout of the elections, we might not hear from him for a long time. Add to all this is a new, greedy facade of an app based cab service functioning in the city since last year which had earned the love and goodwill of the city folk because of its quality service coupled with rather moderate charges. Such is the momentum that Uber has gained that it is virtually threatening to put the traditional auto-rickshaws out of business purely because of its eminently affordable rates. And yet when it comes to offering their services in times of distress, it has not failed to take advantage of such situations by levying a surcharge on their rates just to ferry people through water-logged streets. It is uncanny how humanity loses its virtues and converts situations of distress into windfall business propositions. Should Uber continue this surcharge policy, it stands to be no different from loan sharks in terms of ethics of business. It looks like Guwahati’s monsoonal woes this year are set to soar new heights!

Swapnil Bharali Executive Editor

The Cyber Battleground

Is the wave of change sweeping through the elections as significant as it appears to be?

et’s cut to the chase with some reality checks. A wave is a creation of the media and nothing else. The media these days often want to influence people to toe its line and the Assam elections have been no different. In the aftermath of the elections I have found myself part of various discussion groups – some formal and others casual – where this wave has been taken rather seriously leading to conclusions that change is imminent. Now, I am not about to play Nostradamus in trying to predict how 19th May will pan out. What I am putting forward is an assessment of how practically significant this so-called wave has been. Assam has a population of 3 crores of which 1.8 crores are voters. All local media, including print, social and electronic has an influential grasp on a mere 20 lakh people – including all strata of society; teenaged students as well. While this is reflected by circulation and TRP data, it is a reasonable overestimate by my own admission. By influential grasp, I mean those people who have remained glued to the local channels showing this wave with bytes from a stream of voters who have voted for “change.” What this excludes are the teeming millions who did not have the luxury to be glued to the TV or are not habituated to reading newspapers to be at all engulfed by the wave. This also does not include communities like Ahoms and Misings of Upper Assam who do not waste their bulk votes just to be favouring a supposed “turncoat” who has never been popular with them. To top it all, it was apparent in the 2014 LS elections that the traditional tea-garden vote bank of the Congress got diluted enough to make me now believe that they can easily go back to their original fold this time round. All put together, the so-called wave was media created and has had no significant bearing on the elections.

Swapnil Bharali

he clichéd “Change is the only constant” is rather apt here. It is a worldwide phenomenon that change of democratically elected governments must take place after 15 years. And so the wave was imminent. As it came, it began to gain significance and it was eminently evident on the election day of 11th April. Prior to the elections and going by social media, it became evident that Tarun Gogoi’s slogan of 15 years of biswax and bikaax was turning out to be a major irritant. As the campaigns started, it was also evident that the wave had surged out from the television and social media onto the political rallies and election pitches. Fanning this wave was a resurgent Himanta Biswa Sarma in a do or die battle as he travelled tirelessly across the state giving his campaign a feverish pitch. It was a conscious and aggressive attack on the incumbent government that sought to relay that the supposed prosperity and peace prevalent in the state today was actually stunted. The growth could have been much faster and what is apparent today is only a masked or veiled manifestation. What the results of 19th May show would be a different story altogether but the fact remains that the wave per se has pushed the Congress party to fight its toughest election battle yet on the soil of Assam. While I am not about to commit myself in declaring that the BJP will, in all certainty, form the next government, it does not require a huge analytical mind to state that the wave has indeed been the most significant occurrence in Assam elections since 1986.

SIDHARTH BEDI VARMA

here has been an organizational change in the dynamics of carrying out attacks on nations, people and agenda across the world. The scope of cyber crime has soared by leaps and bounds and now it has a well-entrenched professional and organizational mechanism around it. In essence, apart from wars on land, sea and air, the digital ecosystem has also become an acceptable battleground. Battles here range from petty memes on social media to viral videos of beheading and open executions on to cyber bullying and personal attacks on people. The digital world has become such an acceptable and credible platform that every tweet and status means more than an expression of thought. It’s not going to be long before tweets become admissible in a court of law. Politicians make personal attacks, celebrities are ruthlessly shredded by uncouth barbarians probably sitting in their boxer shorts behind a computer screen and the real barbarians release beheading videos on the internet relying on these boxerclad bullies to spread the word. It’s a chain that everyone contributes to. A colleague of mine was recent-

ly a victim of a cyber attack where he was sent a malware link and now his system has completely given up on him. Several of my known associates have also been getting phishing calls from BPOs representing banks and asking for the pin and card details for ‘verification’ purposes. Luckily, all of these people were educated, well most of them anyway. So no bank details were actually given away, but imagine how these calls must have gone out to the numerous people living in villages and how many would have caved in and given out the details. Fraudsters everywhere! While everything being digitized is the next step, the constant threats everywhere are signs that before ‘Digital India’ actually takes shape, security measures for the digital-scape need to be stepped up. There is a need to comprehensively look into the ruthlessness of the cybercrimes over the past couple of years. With our young demography, millions of mobile connections, cloud data services, et al, India needs a critical reinforcement of its cyberscape even as it continues to rank as the third top source of overall malicious activity.

Koushik Hazarika

Interactive

ur smart city with its smart citizens and their smart phones have smart features of having cab services on the palm of their hands. The services of Uber and Ola, among others, use a feature of ‘surge pricing’ that is meant to meet the demand and supply gap. However, these services have been robbing people blind. Several people have raised red flags about the surge in the rates of Uber and Ola in Delhi and Karnataka and in both cases, there was government intervention where almost 300 cabs were seized by the Delhi and Karnataka governments. In the present scenario, Guwahati too faces a similar problem of surge pricing which is unfair and in fact, with no government in place for the next 30 days, it means that there can be no concrete action. This issue needs to be highlighted and addressed as the city has become dependent on these services. But that does not mean we must burn a hole in our pockets.

A concerned citizen

Letter to the Editor Dear Sir,

The rising factor of noise pollution in the city is a huge concern for its citizens. Though, as per the Motor Vehicle Act, there is a ban on using high-decibel horns around residential areas, schools etc., city buses continue to f lout the law. Most buses around the main roads like GS Road, MG Road and AT Road honk at such decibels even when it is extremely unnecessary. Students, patients and even the common public around these areas have become victims of hypertension and stress. Students have complained that they are unable to prepare for studies and it is only due to the noise factor. I hope through your space, the District Administration will take notice and act accordingly.

Narendra Kr Bhansali Via email

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

In Focus

Is the administration sufficiently prepared to tackle the forthcoming rainy season in Guwahati? With the rains already beginning to lash Guwahati, an apathetic administration seems ill-prepared to tackle the water-logging onslaught that perennially hits Guwahati throwing normal life completely out of gear. Vox Pop raised the above question on social media and the answers are a clarion call to the administration to gear up and prepare itself to tackle the situation even if it is with the temporary solutions of last year.

o. Despite being a perennial problem, the state government has never addressed it seriously. The illegal construction near Bharalu that was broken last year has cropped up again in most areas and it leads to narrowing of the Bharalu downstream which means that any rainfall this season won’t have adequate drainage. The city is bound to face flash floods again and areas like Anil Nagar, Rajgarh and Zoo Road will be submerged again. If proper planning and execution is done well ahead of rains by expert engineers to solve the problem and designing of drainage layout of the city was made this could have been solved.

o. This is going the same way as every other year or rainy season. Guwahati has been facing this because of improper and inadequate action. The efficient solutions could resolve it if taken. Maximum areas are facing the same problem from the last few days and these needs to be looked into and mended as soon as possible so that the people face lesser problems. At least the concerned authorities should try to minimise this problem.

Snehal Deb

Salma Nasrin

Palladip Saikia

Devasish Saikia

Barun Brahmachari

Pranjal Sharma

he administration is definitely not equipped to handle the monsoons in Guwahati. Take the city roads - most of the roads, including major roads in the city are broken and during the rains it gets worse. All the mud and the muck make it impossible for pedestrians. Take the road from Last Gate that leads to Bashishthapur, one of the major junctions in the city. The turn to that road was broken to be re constructed again about a year back and now the monsoons have arrived and the road is still not finished. Just a few steps ahead, there are huge potholes on the same road that leads to the footpath. Due to this, now the road is completely only mud and stones and ultimately that side had to be barred completely. This results in mad traffic congestion every evening. This is a common sight during monsoons and it is definitely not difficult to see. I drive around the city and I can for sure tell that the city’s roads are not safe during monsoons.

he authorities claim to be prepared for the upcoming rainy season but with the entire state machinery in election mode since a long time their claim seems hollow. Yes there has been drain desilting work which is appreciable but till the Bharalu River is properly channelized we cannot think of a permanent solution to the flood problem. The new government should take immediate steps in this regard.

hat good will come out of being just temporarily prepared every year? These temporary relief operations will always remain temporary keeping the residents of the affected areas on tenterhooks. It is not the best of mornings to wake up and find your slippers floating in water. When this is a clear and present problem of the city, I wonder what prevents the authorities from taking permanent steps to remove it. If it is money, may be a one-time tax levied on the citizens and thereafter, proper use of the funds towards permanently solving the problem would do the trick.

he local administration seems to be better equipped this time around. The steps taken recently to eradicate flash flood in the city are quite commendable. However, the initiative taken by the administration is not enough as the city will once again reel under severe flash floods in several parts of the capital as work for the same is yet to be completed. Moreover, until and unless a systematic planning of the drainage system is not planned for Guwahati, the problems will continue.

Meet

Sanjeev Sarma IT Professional / Entrepreneur

rom discarding a cushy job in IBM ACE (Advance Career Education), a venture of IBM Global Services, and branching out on his own in search of “something more fulfilling,” Sanjeev started WebX Technologies Pvt. Ltd. in 2001 with a startup idea called rupaliparda.com, a one of its kind portal for the entertainment industry of Assam. Born to Late Prabin Chandra Sarma and Pratima Sarma on 6th June 1979, becoming an IT professional was never in Sanjeev’s scheme of things. Rather he wanted to join the army. However, his decision was not supported by his parents. It was while looking for admission forms of colleges for his elder brother that it occurred to Sanjeev that computer engineering is something he should try his hand at. After 12 years of struggle, and having gathered experience and courage to expand, WebX, with 42 experienced members, has become one of the largest and fastest growing IT consulting companies in northeast India. The company till date has completed more than 200 projects including websites, web applications and Content Management Systems. Sanjeev and his group were the first to implement CMS in Railways way back in 2006. WebX today has branches all over Assam as also Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. The corporate office is in the Institution of Engineers (India) Building, Assam State Center, Panbazar. The company has 3 full time directors – Sanjeev Sarma, his elder brother Jayant Sharma and younger brother Simant Sharma heading 3 divisions, i.e. Software Services, IT Infrastructure Management Services, and IT Sales & Marketing. The company offers its customers a full range of IT services. WebX’s competencies range from system analysis to solution implementation with high-quality technical support. The company’s customers range from small businesses to multinationals and government agencies. Born in Sorbhog, Barpeta to a father who was an army man Sanjeev grew up in different places around the country. He acquired a master’s degree in computer application and started his professional career with ZAP Infotech Limited as a software consultant. However, being an Assamese, his father thought Guwahati would be a great place to settle down after retirement. So abiding by his parents’ decision Sanjeev shifted his base to Guwahati and started from scratch. His first client was Assam State Transport Corporation to whom he introduced the idea of online ticketing system. “Back in those days, Managing Director, Mr. Ramesh Ch. Jain, was willing to computerize the organization. I was informed about the opportunity by one of my friends. So I presented the idea of online ticketing system. Though he was quite interested, he was told by some IT expert that it is not possible. I took it as a challenge and completed the project in 15 days. The entire system was running on only 64 kbps leased line but it generated employment for 150 youths and trebled the revenue and market share of ASTC,” Sanjeev stated to G Plus. Before achieving success Sanjeev had his share of struggle. His seed capital was only

Rs. 15,000 and 2 desktops which he bought with loans from friends. “The challenges I faced during the initial days were poor internet connectivity, lack of internet awareness, shortage of quality manpower and geographical disconnect. It was not easy to work with an internet speed of 64 kbps and very few people had knowledge about internet,” Sanjeev stated. Presently, WebX is working on City Bus Management Information System of Assam Transport, Web-Based E-Services Delivery System for Labour & Employment Department of Assam, developing an On-Demand Web Casting Platform for Oil India Limited, MIS for Integrated Child Development Services to combat malnutrition for two districts of Assam, MIS for construction industry, etc. The average worth of each project is Rs. 25–30 lakhs and on an average, and they earn 20–30% from each project. With its major 12-seat development unit in Guwahati, WebX claims to provide highquality IT and ITIMS Consultancy Services and Enterprise Architecture Solutions to its clients. According to Sanjeev, they had initially invested Rs. 22 lakhs to build this development unit. In a bid to incubate and nurture new ideas, WebX has introduced “Startup Powerhouse” and is associated with 13 great ideas altogether. Startup Powerhouse is based out of Guwahati, and the initial 11 ideas received are also from Guwahati besides one idea from Nagaland and one from Arunachal. “We are identifying enterprising youths for setting up our rural presence who will deliver various services that we are planning. Initially we will be targeting sub-urban areas of northeast India and later we will penetrate into the interiors,” Sanjeev mentioned. Sanjeev’s work has also brought him several laurels one of which is the Indian Achievers Award for Industrial Excellence by Indian Economic Development and Research Association. Among future projects Sanjeev has a few aggressive growth plans and wishes to expand to other parts of India. WebX has already set up its office in Bengaluru while Kolkata and Pune are in pipeline. Sanjeev also focuses on developing new markets in rural India through startup initiatives.

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Lifestyle

Sex

in our city

We are a young recently married couple from Uzanbazar, Guwahati who are still exploring our sexual preferences. We spice up our sex life by watching pornography. We find great emphasis being laid on oral sex in these films. While my wife does not mind giving me the pleasure, I am still finding it difficult to go down on her. How do I change this inhibition of mine? I would like her to have a satisfied sexual life with me.

A It’s great to see a couple exploring and attempting to understand each other’s needs. In sex there are 2 partners involved where both partners are equal. I would ask why you have started oral sex in the first place. Do you enjoy your wife giving you oral sex or are you doing it because you have seen it in pornography movies and it seems to give pleasure? Whose idea was it to start having oral sex? Judging from your question, it seems like you had proposed the idea in the first place. There is a difference between “my wife does not mind it” and “she enjoys it.” Essentially, the point to be noticed is whether you have asked your wife if she enjoys it. Some people enjoy both giving and receiving oral sex while most people may enjoy receiving it. Do not compare it to the pleasures seen on pornography movies as they are actors who are paid

for the moves and sounds they make which are just netherworld fantasies. But an open minded approach to sex is needed. What inhibitions do you have? Do you feel it is unhygienic or do you find the whole idea revolting that you are at somebody’s genitals? Perhaps if both of you had a shower before oral sex you may find your inhibitions lessened. If the problem persists and leads to sexual dissatisfaction, then you should see a specialist for professional advice.

Dr. Mithun Bhartia is an expert in Diabetes, Thyroid and Sexual matters. He has returned from England after 12 years. His clinic is in Panbazar near Hari Sabha. Send your queries to advicesexologist@ gmail.com

VAASTU SHASTRA

THE WRATH OF VAASTU The southwest plays a very prominent part in Vaastu. It has direct influence on the owner, the spouse and the eldest child. This area is controlled by Rahu. Luck, finances, health and stability are also controlled by southwest direction. Vaastu defects in southwest will make the effort of occupants unsuccessful and not bring the desired results despite putting in a lot of hard work. Vaastu has recommended avoiding a property which has its main entrance facing southwest as this is the entry of the devil energy and brings in struggles and misfortunes. This space should be filled with heavy stuff to pull down the negativity of this direction. It is required that this direction is kept the heaviest and highest in comparison to other directions, especially the northeast. The converse is true for the northeast which is ruled by Ketu and Brihaspati (Jupiter). This direction is also responsible for luck, money, prosperity and fame. Northeast is the direction of God and hence is considered the most auspicious direction in Vaastu Shastra. To receive maximum prosperity energy, this direction must be kept open, low and lighter. If the above rules for northeast and the southwest are f louted, the owner may have success temporarily. But the defective Vaastu sets in slowly and the disastrous effects become permanent in the long run going beyond repair in many cases unless drastic rectifications are not made. An interesting case is the closure of Hotel Belle Vue in the Kharguli area. It is situated on the south bank of the river Brahmaputra and has a glorious view of the river. The owners were experienced hoteliers and the hotel was

one of the most famous in the north-eastern region. But slowly, despite the hard work put in by the owners, it started making losses and the owners had to sell it off. The party who bought the property also have not been able to restart the hotel on the premises since more than six years last. The hotel is situated on top of a hillock but its main entrance is from southern southwest (near the Governor’s house). The road goes up from below southwest and turns upwards towards the northeast making the southwest the lowest point near the gate. The main building can be divided into two parts. The kitchen, dining hall, lobby and the bar are at a lower portion at west. The residential rooms are in the north and northeast making the northeast heavy. The above Vaastu defects affected the financial status of the hotel and it ran into losses. But a lower east with large opening sustained it for several decades before the wrath of Vaastu set in once and for all.

Umami Vivanta by taj

When Vivanta by Taj announced a restaurant dedicated solely to Japanese and Oriental cuisine, it stirred my imagination immediately. Decked tastefully with oriental artifacts, handsome chairs and a dark wood floor with a striking craved marble wall, this 62-seater restaurant has a well curated menu. The staff is gracious and extremely helpful without being overbearing. Umami is in the capable hands of Chef Ashish who leads the team to deliver a flawless dining experience. If you are a Sushi fan, seek out the tuna rolls.The pickled ginger and the Wasabi accompanying the

Sushi will hit all the right notes on taste and flavor. Maybe they would have earned extra points from me if the rolls were a tad smaller and the serving was of four pieces instead of two. Try the Hargou Dimsum with a filling of truffle and cheese. Perfectly pleated with a translucent covering, it begs to be popped into the mouth. For the ultimate surprise try the Outenga pepper soup: our own ‘Outenga’ in an oriental avatar! Taj’s Executive

Chef Anirban takes the classic and bends it artistically to incorporate local flavours. To accompany your main, go either for a rice or noodle dish. If you opt for rice, do not skip the Japanese sticky rice ‘Gohan.’ It seductively soaks in sauces and the plum grains are tantalizing. Do ask for the scallops which go well with the complementing Asian broth. A sublime combination that is light and full of flavor and will throb with taste in

your mouth! The menu has all the classics like Peking Duck, Siewmai, Boas but what needs special mention is their House Specials where Chef Anirban brings out a smoked salmon Khorika with ‘Bhootjolokia’ and coriander green dip! If you’re a vegetarian, do not fret! The menu has extensive and delicious options. Go for the Crispy Fried Tofu, Schezwan Style Aubergine. If you like it spicy, Tobanjan Vegetables or Four

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

Style Treasure Vegetables will sure leave you satiated. But a must try would be Mock Meats. They are dishes made to look and taste like meat but made purely from vegetarian ingredients. The desserts bring the meal to a fine end. Try ‘Lotus,’ a coconut pannacotta with frozen raspberry, the petals of which bloom open when hot chocolate sauce is poured around it. It delivers a perfect balance of drama and taste. If you’re a chocoholic, the Nutella Ball will not disappoint you. Pastry Chef Amit, take a bow, the desserts are indeed divine and does justice to the meal. The restaurant is open from 7 pm to 11 pm. A meal for two will set you back by an average of two thousand plus rupees. Yet the dining experience is worth it. Umami has set the bar high for oriental cuisine in Guwahati, or might I say North-East, and will be a tough one to scale!

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

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Lifestyle

Cool Couture

Best version of

yourself

Simple Things Stylish Women Do Every Day

Be active

-play sports W

Really chic women aren’t superhuman; they’re just well-prepared.

ruth is, the fashionable friends whom you envy have some very helpful habits that make looking polished, confident, and cool a simple daily routine. Real style starts at home from the moment you wake up. We’ve done the research; all you have to do is read on for the takeaways that you can start practicing right now. 1. Plan their outfit the night before: It’s not magic or rocket science. The pulled-together women you see out and about really make an attempt to look that way. And it all starts by pulling out the outfit the night before which saves you from running around in a state of panic the next morning. 2. Give themselves plenty of time to get ready: Instead of waking up after pressing the snooze button thrice, take the morning to prep your outfit and fix your hair. Not only will it save you from running out of the house with a button unfastened or shoes mismatched, it’ll also give you a few extra minutes to wear a belt or a special piece of jewelleryand polish up the look. 3. Select the right undergarments: Stylish women know that the foundation of a great look is good innerwear. Plan the fabric and silhouette of your look with theright bra, panties, and shape-wear to provide the support you need. This is

to ensure that you’re not inadvertently giving your whole office a peep show even as you’ve forgotten your slip or preventing a nip slip on an evening with your date. 4. Follow other stylish women for inspiration: Stylish women may craft a look all on their own, but that doesn’t come without studying fashion icons and other ladies with killer style. The easiest place to get inspired? Scrolling through your Instagram feed or Pinterest board on the regular to get outfit ideas and endless fodder for your daily look at the office and beyond. 5. Dress for the weather: It sounds simple enough and dressing sensibly goes a long way in the style department. Check the weather before you leave the house to avoid all the hurdles. 6. Dress for the occasion: The well-dressed women in the room are always the ones who got the dress code memo. They look polished and appropriate and are never the ones tugging at their miniskirt in a room full of conservative gazes. Remember to consider where you’re going and who you’ll meet. 7. Anchor their look with one expensive-looking piece: Ever wondered how some women make even jeans and a T-shirt look impossibly chic? It has a lot to do

with the fit, of course. But there’s another subtle way that these ladies are elevating their outfit. It might be a great leather belt, a special pair of earrings or a luxe bag. But in every case, one expensive-looking accessory adds infinitely more polish. 8. Pick the perfect accessory: Like Coco Chanel famously dictated, “When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.” There is a point at which it becomes just too much, and the most stylish women know exactly what that point is. 9. Know when to wear heels and when to wear flats: No one looks stylish hobbling down the street in heels that are too high. A fashionable woman is also a smart woman. She stocks her closet with shoes that are as comfortable as they are sophisticated and knows when to pull out the stilettos or rely on a pair of pointed, polished flats. 10. Stay true to their personal style: Chic women never bow to the trends. They keep an arsenal of classic pieces that always flatter and work, despite the season or the latest craze.And that’s why they always have something to wear.

Sonika Ajmera Fashion Epitomist

Monte Carlo New Denim Collection Redefines Style and Fashion

o give that fashion-forward experience with greater control over their styles to all the denim lovers, Monte Carlo has unveiled its new Denim collection, which offers a never-seen-before variety that captures the essence of the summer season.

ith the influx of gadgets and other time wasters, sports these days have taken a back seat. There was a time when you would see kids running around and indulging in sporting activity in your locality after school hours or during holidays. Those days are gone. If you have been wondering why the ball never shatters your window pane these days it is because the budding SachinTendulkars are busy surfing the internet; they are showing off their cricketing skills on the play station. The entertainment of the internet and smartphones and the comfort of playing video games have won over the minds of the youngsters. The job routine and busy schedules of the adults have made them ignore sports for their children completely. But are we aware of what we’re losing by ignoring sports? Do we know why sports can be a game changer for us? Do we know what we will become if smartphones and video games, televisions and too much work continue to keep us away from sporting activities? Sports helps you stay in shape, teaches you how to organize your time, be disciplined, boost friendships, and build relationships with your peers and adults. Sports is among the few activities where you can learn positive core values, engage in healthy risk-taking, and learn lifelessons in a safe environment.

According to studies, India will be the global diabetes capital by 2050 if the problems of abdominal and lower limb obesity and metabolic syndrome are not arrested in time. Children do not fall into the category of being bracketed as obese because they are considered “healthy” and not fat. But what we fail to realize is that this cute fat can develop into obesity very soon and can be very dangerous for your child. It’s high time that parents realize the adverse effect of their child’s habits and lifestyle. Excessive television watching, internet surfing and smartphone usage among young children has been linked to negative impacts on early brain development and lifelong physical health. The same is quite true for adults as well. More and more adults are quitting sports because of their daily routine and their stress levels. They fail to realize how sports can be an excellent stress buster, a perfect alternative for the gym and an easier way of staying fit and energetic. The role of physical activity, games, and sports should be emphasized, and facilities should be provided for outdoor games in schools, colleges, offices and neighborhoods. I invite you to make a team in your school, locality or your office and start by taking up any sport once every week. Be it cricket, football, swimming or just cycling invite more and more people to join you. Stay healthy, stay energetic.

Madhur Jayne A practicing chartered accountant and a certified nutritionist. He is the co-founder of a coaching centre for chartered accountancy and commerce students. He is a life coach and trains people on subjects like time, health, lifestyle and people management. Visit www.madhurjayne.com for more details.

The latest collection includes Royal Denim made of imported Italian fabric that provides 360-degree comfort; Aroma Denim - afragrant denim that lasts upto 8 washes, Hexa denim that offers UV protection and anti-odor features and last but not the least, Ocean Blue Denim, a collection of different shades of blue that are perfect for hot summers for men. The women denim collection includes high waist denim as well a ‘do-it-yourself ’ range that comes along with denimnailpaint, silver glitter and Swarovski! “Denim wear has emerged as an evergreen fashion choice, no matter the season or prevailing fashion

trends. In fact, denims have a loyal fan following in fashion circle of people who eagerly wait for anything new on denim shelves. We want to give these loyal followers a royal summer treat this season with this new denim collection. Providing a wide range of options to choose from, our collection takes care of comfort, style, protection and appeal,” said Ms Monica Oswal, Executive Director. The company’s products are also available online now, retailing through its dedicated website www.montecarlo.in and is also available on other leading ecommerce portals such as Jabong, Myntra, Snapdeal, Amazon etc.

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Reviews Cast: Randeep Hooda, Rajesh Dhiman, Rajniesh Duggal Director: Syed Ahmad Afzal

et in Karnal, Haryana, the story revolves around the blood trade business. At its core, the film is about friendship, love and greed. The narrator of the story is Rajesh Dhiman, a young man who likes to dream big. He is admitted in college for the Diploma in medical laboratory science and soon meets two important people of his life. Poonam (Pia Bajpai) who forms the love of his life and Shankar (Randeep Hooda) who he is utterly influenced by. Shankar is a local goon, who runs the illegal blood trade business. Smitten by Shankar’s lifestyle and his charm, Rajesh instantly joins the former’s business. Money can be a bitch and when greed sets in, Rajesh and Shankar have a fall out. In the midst of this, the new SP of town, Gajraj Singh (Rajneish Duggal) has taken the onus of shutting down this ugly

vie w o M vie Re

blood business. Will Shankar and Rajesh get caught for their illegal activities is what forms the rest of the plot! The writers of the film dilute this social issue to form a part of an entertaining story. Right from go, they aim at a commercial film that throws light on an issue that has been forgotten or even unheard for many. Filled with dark humor, the script gives you many moments to chuckle more than once at the dialogues. What’s essential to this story is developing a bond amongst its lead characters Shankar and Rajesh. While the bromance formed is quite endearing, it takes long for the director to establish this, thus stretching the story longer. While Shankar’s character, typically of a baddie with a heart of gold is also shown to be

lovelorn, the back story to it is not as interesting. On the other side, Pia and Rajesh’s budding romance seems quite cute. After a first half that is entertaining, Laal Rang slumps in the second where predictability sets in. I wish the makers had made a thought of a stronger climax. Randeep Hooda as Shankar is devilishly charming. The swagger that he pulls off as Shankar, sporting the loud printed shirts, riding the Yamaha RX 100 is completely amazing. He is sure to make the ladies swoon! Akshay Oberoi surprises with his nuanced act. He plays the youngster fallen prey to the greed of a materialistic life extremely well. Pia Bajpai does a good job at playing the ambitious Sahranpur girl with a funny English. She maintains the tone quite perfectly all through.

Cast: Boman Irani, Vir Das, Johnny Lever, Lisa Haydon, Neha Dhupia Director: Akash Deep

he film revolves around the two lead characters who are best friends Santeshwar Singh aka Santa (Boman Irani) and Banteshwar Singh aka Banta (Vir Das). The good for nothing souls are soon misunderstood to be RAW secret agents and sent to Fiji for a secret mission. Their mission is to rescue the High Commissioner, Shankar (Ayyub Khan) who has been kidnapped. When RAW officer Arvind (Vijay Raaz) fails to find actual agents who used the name Santa Banta, he sends the fake ones. After reaching Fiji, Santa and Banta meet Shankar’s wife Kareena Roy (Neha Dhupia) and Shankar’s best friend Sonu Sultan (Ram Kapoor) for their so-called investiga-

tion. They are working in co-ordination with Fiji’s RAW agents Cutie (Lisa Haydon) and Akbar Illahabaadi (Sanjay Mishra). In the mean time, there is also a Nepal’s No. 1 Don (Johnny Lever) who wants to hunts them. Imagine all these characters pushed into an unfunny plot. The problem with this film is the fact that it is named after Santa Banta. However silly the jokes that we have heard from ages about these two fictional characters are, they have been somewhat funny. Unfortunately, with regards to this film, it seems more like the makers wanted us to hate them altogether. The script in place is extremely

poor and irritatingly unfunny. With a series of characters introduced in the plot, the writers resort to cliched references to make them comic. There is absolutely nothing funny about a Nepali don getting calls saying ‘Bahadur, gate bandh kar’. Also what is expected to make us laugh is third grade things such as Santa-Banta forgetting Sonu Sultan’s name every-time they meet and so they come up with Sonu Nigam, Tipu Sultan, Razia Sultan and so on. There is absolutely no difference between the first and the second half, both manage to invoke the same level of irritation. Most of the antics in the film fall flat and even having seasoned actors work on it doesn’t help.

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Forget Me Not, Stranger

Album:

New Lane Road

fter scoring with the John Mayer-esque pop of “Amazing” and the upbeat country of “Georgia Clay,” Josh Kelley has decided it’s time he bared his soul to us all. For his eighth album (and first for Sugar Hill), 2016’s New Lane Road, Kelley has taken a detour into singer/ songwriter territory. The album delivers a dozen personal songs about love and family with a feel that’s half-Nashville and half-Laurel Canyon. Kel-

GOLD Cinema ASTC Complex, Paltan Bazar 9854066166

Author:

Novoneel Chakraborty

Artist:

Josh Kelley

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Book:

u Yo LD TEN SHOU LIS

ley has said that he was listening to a lot of vintage Eagles and Jackson Browne material while recording the album, and it’s not hard to hear the influences. Kelley even soaks up traces of Browne’s vocal inflections on tracks like “Call It What It Is” and “I’ll Be Standing Tall.” If this music favors Kelley’s country side, the mood is laid-back and contemplative. Most of the time, Kelley has relationships on his mind. “It’s Your

Move” and “Call It What It Is” don’t make such things sound easy, but “The Best of Me” and “Cowboy Love Song” suggest it’s all worthwhile. “Take It on Back” shows the man loves soul music, and he cuts a pretty convincing groove with the goofball funk of “Anywhere You Wanna Go.” Many of the songs on New Lane Road cover familiar lyrical tropes, but Kelley brings a warmth and sincerity to this music that’s honest and effective.

Fan 11.00 AM, 2.00, 5.00, 8.00 & 8.30 PM Laal rang 11.30 AM & 5.30 PM Power (Bengali) 2.30 PM

u Yo LD ad SHOU re

’m Rivanah Bannerjee, 23/F/Mumbai. Some of you might already know how my life is on a razor edge. Those of you who don’t, just know this: I may be killed soon. . . by the Stranger. I don’t know who or what he is: a ghost, a person or a figment of my imagination? All I know is he isn’t just one thing: he is sexy and scary, terrific and terrifying. What I don’t understand is why a young, harmless girl like me, who works in a big city, stays

away from her parents and has a screwed-up love life, would be of any interest to him. Unless there is something about my own story that I do not know. . . In the hotly anticipated final instalment of the Stranger trilogy, Rivanah will learn the answers to her many questions—What is it that binds her to the dead Hiya? Who is the Stranger? Why has he been following her all this while?—leading to an intense, breath-taking climax.

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G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Entertainment

Entry Calling for Brahmaputra Valley Short Film Contest

ollowing the tremendous response by filmmakers and general public in the previous three editions, the organisers of Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival are organizing the fourth edition of the Brahmaputra Valley Short Film Contest this year. The Brahmaputra Valley Short Film Contest is organized to give upcoming talented film makers an opportunity to showcase their films and network with established national filmmakers. The contest is open for film makers from Northeast India as well as to any filmmaker whose film has been shot or filmed in Northeast India or features stories/topics related to Northeast India. Interested filmmakers can submit short films, animations and documentaries with duration of 10 minutes or less through online as well as offline. Last date of submission of entries is 31st May 2016. The short films will be judged by nationally and internationally acclaimed filmmakers from the region and Bollywood. The top 10 submissions will be screened at Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival. The top three winners will not only be awarded with prize money worth over 2 lacs but they will also get a chance to work with top Bollywood directors. Last year, the short films contest winner Jivitesh Mazumder got an opportunity through this platform and is currently working with a leading production house, Rising Sun Films on their upcoming film Pink, starring Amitabh Bachchan. Rising Sun Films is the production house of renowned filmmaker Shoojit Sircar and producer Ronnie Lahiri, which has produced popular films such as Piku, Madras Café, Vicky Donor among others.

‘I feel that filmmakers from the region need a platform to showcase their talent which is why Northeast needs more quality film festivals such as BVFF. I hope more and more budding filmmakers become a part of BVFF as they will get to learn more about the industry and also connect with the right people,’ shares Ronnie Lahiri, who is also on the BVFF advisory board. The film festival will be held at Guwahati this June. In 2013 Romi Meitei from Manipur won the contest and Dominic Sangma from Meghalaya and Tarunabh Dutta from Assam won the 1st & 2nd Runner Up respectively. In 2014, the winner was Steven Ao from Meghalaya. Romi Meitei from Manipur and Tribeny Rai from Sikkim were adjusted 1st and 2nd Runner Up respectively. The Brahmaputra Valley Short Films Contest and Film Festival are organized by Guwahati based organization, Tattva Creations.

ngaraag (Papon) Mahanta is a name that does not need any introduction. His resonant voice echoes in the hearts of his countless fans. Not only in the northeast, Papon has received massive appreciation and acceptance in Bollywood with major massive hits like ‘Humnava’, ‘Kyon’, ‘Sun le re’, ‘Khudse’, ‘Jiyein Kyun’, ‘Moh Moh Ke Dhaage’ for which he also received the Filmfare Award recently at a function held in Dubai. He has to his credit won the very popular Prag Cine Award, JD Rock Award, GIMA Award, Star Screen Award and Mirchi Music Award among others throughout his musical career. This time, Papon will add another feather to his cap by being associated as a guest music director in Hengool Theatre. This will be the first time that Papon will be associated as a music director in mobile theatre. The play is Rajdweep’s ‘Bonoriya’ which will be staged by Hengool Theatre in the upcoming 2016-17 season. Previously, Papon had lent his voice in the recitation of Rajdweep’s ‘Akou Edin’, a poem which was also staged by Hengool Theatre back in 2014-15. He also rendered his voice

Papon set to direct music for Hengool Theatre

for the song titled ‘Di Jowa’ for Rajdweep’s ‘Boliya Krishna’, staged by Hengool Theatre back in the 2015-16 season. This will however be the first time that he will compose songs for a play in mobile theatre. The singer shared his feelings saying, ‘Mobile

theatre is a cultural asset for us for and we are very proud of it. Many renowned artists and cultural activists have worked in this industry which has ensured its strong foundation in Assam. It’s really an honor for me to be associated with this industry.’ He also added that the theme of ‘Bonoriya’ has a lot of influence from incidents of our daily lives. Papon’s music will be another remarkable feature of the play. The play will be directed by Sankalpajit Hazarika, producer of Hengool Theatre. For the upcoming season, popular artists Prasenjit Borah, Syamontika Sharma and Amrita Gogoi have already been signed up for the lead roles. Papon recently debuted as a music director in the mega serial ‘Mayabini Ratir Kolat’, telecast on Rang Channel which has also been penned by Rajdweep.

KALYAN KUMAR KALITA

‘Mriganabhi’ to compete in Dadasaheb film fest

ssamese film ‘Mriganabhi’, directed by Rajat Kamal National Cine Award winner Hemen Das, has been included in the competition section of the 6th Dadasaheb Phalke Film Festival 2016. It must be mentioned that more than 700 films from different countries of the world will take part in the festival. ‘It augurs well for Assamese cinema that Mriganabhi has been selected for the competition section among these films,’ director Hemen Das said. The film is based on a story by Dr. Arupa Patangia Kalita and focuses on the angst of a deprived woman. It has been produced by Bishnu Deka. ‘Mriganabhi’ will compete in the ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Actress’ categories.

Abhishruti Bezbaruah releases second single

‘Roi Roi Roti’ T

he spirit of Rongali Bihu was brought out by Guwahati’s young talent, Abhishruti Bezbaruah. “Roi Roi Roti” is the young star’s second single. The tracks of the single were conceptualized using typical local live ambient sounds and ethnic instruments which are heard and associated with the spring season. Rongali Bihu marks the beginning of the Assamese New Year, one of the most significant celebrations in the region and this track captures the essence of the welcoming spirit of the festival in the most Axomiya way possible. “Making live sounds as the base of the song, we have fused ethnic instruments with electronic elements to give it a

new soundscape,” said the young artist. “Rongali Bihu, the Assamese New Year is all about celebrating, bonding, dancing and merry-making and through Roi Roi Roti - a folk fusion Bihu track, we have tried to encapsulate the spirit of Bihu for our audience,” she added. The entire concept of the song is Bezbaruah’s own contribution and its tuning and compilation has been done by Diganta Bharati. The music arrangement has been done by Poran (Jojo), the track was mixed and mastered by Ibson Lal Baruah and directed by Samujjal Kashyap. The video has been making a sensation on Youtube under her channel Abhishruti Bezbaruah.

KALYAN KUMAR KALITA

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Citypedia

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Horoscope Aries You might be inspired to aim for a diplomatic solution rather than tell it like it is this week. However, it could be tempting to argue with someone, especially if he or she refuses to see your point of view. The New Moon in Aries could encourage you to adopt a different perspective. On Thursday, you may feel moved to take action to resolve this matter once and for all.

Taurus A focus on a more secluded area of your chart hints that this could be an excellent time to reflect on the past year and the future. Still, you might need to resolve a conflict of beliefs that lies at the heart of a present difficulty. Change is in the air, but you could be resisting it, which will likely cause further frustration. You might as well go with it.

Cancer

Gemini Your social life perks up as Venus sashays into your party sector this week, bringing opportunities for good times and plenty of dates. Meanwhile, you could be facing a bit of a challenge concerning a friend or group and be wondering what steps you should take to resolve this. Success could lie in shaking off an outmoded mindset and adopting a more flexible way of viewing the situation.

Mercury hikes into your sector of long-term dreams and goals, so you may be mulling over an idea whose time has come. Meeting with like-minded people could help you bring it to fruition sooner rather than later. Regarding your career, you don’t have to listen to someone who’s jealous of your achievements. The more they try to get at you, the more you should ignore them and go on your way.

Virgo

Leo Don’t try so hard when you really don’t need to. In fact, you might be better off turning your attention to more relaxing activities this week. If you’re heavily focused on obtaining a particular outcome in a matter, it can make you oblivious to other areas of your life. This week’s New Moon in Aries encourages you to pull away from this kind of unhealthy obsession and explore new territory.

Family members may be more supportive than you give them credit for, particularly if they can see that you’re struggling with a project or business enterprise. Although you may be loath to share your troubles, it could be worthwhile. One person might prove especially helpful despite having their own problems to deal with. Indeed, the insights you gain as a result could get you back up and running fairly quickly.

Scorpio

Libra

If you’re honest, you might have to concede that someone close is getting on your nerves, but with Venus dancing into your relationship sector on Tuesday, you may not want to admit it. It might be better to recognize it and have the kind of conversation that you’ve been meaning to have for some time. It will clear the air and you’ll probably feel a lot better as a result. An upbeat encounter over the weekend could brighten things up.

Work and health are important issues this week, though if you’re eager to advance, you might need to change your mindset. The New Moon on April 7 highlights a perspective that may no longer be working for you and could be actively holding you back. It’s time for a change, one that could help revitalize other areas of your life, too.

Capricorn

Sagittarius You deserve some time out to enjoy yourself, but you may feel guilty about doing so. The chances are good that you’ve been working a lot harder than usual lately and you’re very aware of your responsibilities to others. All of this can be draining unless you learn to pace yourself. It’s important that you enjoy a little rest and relaxation, as too much work can dull your creative edge.

In your heart of hearts, you know what your course of action should be and yet you may be resisting this knowledge. The current planetary backdrop encourages you to face it. Your intuition is correct now, and you’d be wise to follow its guidance. If you do, you’ll find that a family matter or other uncomfortable situation resolves itself without too much hassle. If you don’t, it will just drag on.

Pisces

Aquarius

Sudoku

If you’re trying to build your confidence, then the negative effect of a jealous friend might not be doing much to help. Bearing this in mind, the Aries New Moon on Thursday could be a call to talk things over. However, if you wait until the weekend, you might be able to settle this in a way that enables you to appreciate and enjoy one another’s unique qualities.

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

As Venus enters your communication sector it could encourage you to negotiate rather than do something a little more drastic, especially when it comes to interpersonal issues. The New Moon in your communication sector could also entice you to take action, but in this instance you might want to resolve the matter once and for all, which could mean letting go of an awkward relationship.

AMBULANCE

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 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

BLOOD BANK

HOSPITALS

Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) B Baruah Cancer Institute (2472364/66) Brahmaputra Hospital Ltd (2451634/678) Chatribari Christian Hospital 0361-2600051, 92070-44374 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, 098641-03333 Dispur Hospital Reception 97070 20370 82539 99124 361-2235759 (Landline No. / Fax) Hayat Hospital

8011003110 GNRC Hospital 1800-345-0022 (Toll Free) GNRC Ambulance 1800-345-0011 (Toll Free)

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, LPG Booking (ivr System) 7670024365 Child line Guwahati 1098

GMC helpline number for garbage collection

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

Vigilance and anti corruption toll free number

8811007000

1800-345-3767 police station

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 APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Event

Days

Venue XS the place to be

Events

April 23rd to April 29th

APR 23 Sanskriti the Gurukul AT 9:00 AM

CCRT organises puppetry workshop in city

he Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Guwhati had organised a workshop on puppetry with the title “ROLE OF PUPPETRY IN EDUCATION” which started on 5th April and continued for a duration of 17 days. Lectures, demonstrations and practical classes were held in the Teaching Hall of the CCRT Regional Centre, Guwahati. On the first day of the workshop there was lighting of lamp by Dr. Sandeep Sharma, Field Officer CCRT, Guwahati which was followed by a discussion on CCRT’s initiatives in cultural education in schools, viewing of institutional video by Utpal Sarma (ACS - Retd.), Special Officer, CCRT Regional Centre, Guwahati . Puppetry has played an important role in disseminating knowledge in most parts of the world. The CCRT provides a comprehensive and integrated training in the preparation, manipulation and production of such puppet programmes which may be used in a variety of formal and non-formal teaching situations. Among its varied objectives one key objective of the workshop was to teach preparation and manipulation of glove,

shadow, rod, string and other puppets, out of low cost material and easy to use in classroom situation. There was a puppet show - the theme of the show being Swachh Bharat (Clean India Mission) - by the participants who made the puppets during the workshop on the concluding day and it received a huge round of applause from the audience. The group mime act on Gandhian principle and secularism was another attractive show on the concluding day. Certificates were given away to all participants. The accommodation in Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra also impressed the participants who were astounded by the beauty of the north-eastern culture and heritage. Ranjit Gogoi, eminent Bihu Dance instructor also gave an elaborate demonstration on the festival of Bihu, its varied elements including orchid flower, Dhol (Drum), Pepa made out of buffalo horn and flute, Gagana and other musical instruments. The puppet show is an age old tradition in north-eastern culture which has become extinct at present, but the efforts made under the aegis of CCRT will go a long way in its revival.

DEBATING WORKSHOP FOR Students of Sanskriti The Gurukul (CLASS VII TO XII) BY MIHA ADRIC, HEAD OF FACULTY AT ESU TURKEY DEBATE ACADEMY, SLOVENIA NATIONAL TEAM COACH

Rabindra Bhawan AT 3:45 PM

‘Bano’ – Based on Shakespeare’s King Lear

Cafe Copa AT 10:00 AM

CLIFTON CLUB NIGHTS.2 featuring DJ NISHAL all the from Club ROXY (KOLKATA) and DJ TRISHUL

XS The Place To Be AT 8:00 PM

ELEKTRONIKA EDM CLUB NIGHTS FT. ROHAN KAPOOR

Terra Mayaa AT 8:00 PM

DJ KAMYA

INDIA’S FIRST AND THE ONLY FEMALE DJ TO PLAY LIVE DHOL!

APR 25

Rabindra Bhawan AT 5:00 & 7.00 PM

MALINI - THE DRAMA

A stage play on Deforestation and saving environment

G PLUS APR 23 - APR 29, 2016

Catching Up Most shared story of the week The G Plus social media team exclusively covered the story of India’s team at NASA that was led by Guwahati boy Manas Pratim Borah. The team was adjudged ‘Best International Team’ for a rover designing competition where the winners will be inducted into the Mars 2030 program of NASA that will send man to Mars for exploration. The story reached out to almost 15,000 avid readers who shared and congratulated this team. facebook.com/guwahatiplus twitter.com/guwahatiplus

Guwahati

GYAN

Did you know?

Sirat Library

New

Chic

on the block

Nivedita hazarika About Me

Hi I’m Nivedita Hazarika. My friends call me Nenny. Born and brought up here in Guwahati, I’m pursuing my graduation from Handique Girls College. I have walked the ramp on several occasions and also won many titles and I think that is a major encouragement for me. I do want to take up modelling professionally.

Mojo

I love to dance and sing because I feel liberated. I have been in this field for 3 long years and I have realized that there is no shortcut to success.

Route in the Woods

n important part of the Lakhtokia Masjid (No. 1) is the Sirat Library which came into existence with the inception of the Masjid itself. There are no written records of when or who constructed the library. It is however believed that the structure is among of the oldest libraries in Guwahati. As glorious as the structure of the Masjid is today the only sight that greets a visitor to the li-

brary is of a small room bereft of books or readers. Its holdings are restricted to a small glass cupboard that has a few Islamic texts in it. The library that remained crowded till the 1970s has, over time, turned to a maktab and only witnesses a few children who come to learn the way to perform namaz. The only reason that can be attributed is the loss of interest in reading books in their printed version.

I am also keen to work in the movie industry. Here’s hoping everything goes well!

PIC OF THE

WEEK

In Association with Spoil sport in Bihu

Photo: Adib Zamali

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