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City

Guwahati all set to welcome Maa Durga

With only a few days left for Durga Puja, the committees are preparing to welcome the Goddess with fervour and enthusiasm and all the Puja committees have set different themes for their pandals to wow Guwahatians with. Here, we take a look at some of the most popular Puja pandals of the city. JUTHIKA BARUAH

Rest Camp, Kalibari

Latasil

Nayantara Club, Kumarpara

Guwahati Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti (Latasil) The Puja mandap has been designed in the shape of the Vaishno Devi temple and the idol will be placed 22 feet above the hills. The budget of the Puja is estimated at around Rs. 1415 lakhs and the Puja will be followed by a three day cultural program. Artists from Orissa will perform Bawli, Gatipua and Purulia dance. Other than these, local artists will perform nagara naam throughout the day.

Nayantara Club Durga Puja Committee The Nayantara Club puja is being made in the theme of an Aadorxo Gaon (Ideal village) ‘Aamar Gaon Maar Xoman’ which will depict the culture of the village. “The theme has been taken to introduce the rural culture to the city people. The youth are not familiar with the concept of the rural life and therefore we will depict the life of a village. There will be a pond, a dheki and the idol will be dressed up in traditional mekhalachadar which is hand woven. The jewellery too will be traditional. The lights have been brought from

Santipur Chandannagar and will be set up in a Diwali theme. The budget for this year was set at Rs. 12 lakh,” said Gautam Das, Secretary of the Committee.

Santipur Sluice Gate Sarbajanin Durga Puja Samiti The mandap of the 18 -year old Durga Puja of Santipur is being prepared based on the South Indian temples by Sambhu Sinha. Atop the mandap, a gigantic diya and a sankha will be placed and the lamp will be lit electrically. The main entrance of the mandap is being made in the shape of the Snake Tower of Dubai. It will be an eco-friendly mandap as no fibre or plastic will be used. Like the previous years, this year too, there will be a lighting set-up in the middle of the water. “The famous play of Lakshminath Bezbaruah’s ‘Tejimola’ and the slaying of Mahihaxur will be depicted. There will be a statue of Ojapali which is mechanical and it will attract the viewers with its electronic singing. The budget of the Puja is 16lakhs. The lights will be brought from Digha and the Puja mandap will be fully secured with 6 CCTV cameras to be installed in various places and a good number of volunteers will be

Maligaon American Colony deployed to control the public,” said Nilavjyoti Das, General Secretary of the Puja Committee.

Kahilipara being made by deploying private security and CCTVs.

Athgaon Sarvajanik Durga Puja Samity

Nabin Sangha Durga Puja Samity (Rehabari)

The Athgaon Puja will be based on the special theme of Black Magic, which apparently still exists in the state. The artist from Kolkata will perform and enact the practice of animal sacrifice which is a long running ritual as many people still believe that the Goddess would shower them with special blessings on doing so. The budget of the Puja is set at Rs. 15 lakh and the light and sound effects would be the special feature. Security arrangements are

The main attraction of this Puja is the idol. The Secretary of the Committee Rana Nath said that the originality of the idol has been lost as the Pujas take up special themes for which the origins of the Puja have been lost. “We are trying to bring back the origin of the Puja and the idol will be dressed in traditional attire. We have not taken up any theme as it destroys the real essence of Durga Puja. The budget for the Puja is around Rs. 6lakh,” said Nath.

Rest Camp Kalibari Durga Utsav Samity The Puja Mandap is being modelled in the shape of the Victoria Memorial of Kolkata. “We have not taken up any theme but we will try to exhibit the festivals that are being celebrated throughout the year. We celebrate 13 pujas in 12 months and this will be depicted through the pujas. A three-day cultural program will also be organised to provide a platform to the local artists to perform. We have a budget of Rs 24 lakh for the Puja and the lights will be brought from Kolkata,” said Ravi Sutradhar, member of the Committee. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Lifestyle

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Crime

Veteran criminal Bubu Konwar plays hardball with cops

Being a veteran criminal Konwar does not confesses to all crimes and police is confident that they will unfold many hidden mysteries. RAHUL CHANDA

Bubu Konwar has good hold in upper Assam and has groups who inform him about rich visitors. He loots the visitors and finally kills them. According to police he is a veteran criminal and has a pathological attraction to crime. Bubu was arrested in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and now again in 2015. Police checking his links with extremist group like NSCN (K). He might also have a link with some politicians who gives him contracts to kill people.

he city police succeeded in arresting most wanted contract killer and hard core criminal Bubu Konwar alias Binod Gogoi from the city’s Kharguli Malibagan area on Sunday night last. He was involved in a kidnapping case in Sivasagar recently in which he killed one Dhiraj Talukdar and stole his vehicle. Already five persons including a woman were arrested in the case and Bubu was the kingpin but according to police sources Bubu had an impressive history of murder and many other crimes. He is presently in six-day police custody and police is facing a tough time interrogating him as according to police he is an individual with such a criminal mentality who takes pleasure committing crime. So, eliciting information from him might take some time. The Dhiraj Talukdar murder case, which was the key to putting Bubu behind bars now, is also a tricky case and police was able to nab him after a thorough follow-up and investigation.

Dhiraj Talukdar murder case On 30 September 2015 complainant Ritimani Talukdar, wife of Dhiraj Talukdar of Narengi ASEB Colony fi led an FIR at Dispur Police Station stating that on 29/08/2015, at

around 6 am, her husband Dhiraj Talukdar left for Dibrugarh from Guwahati with two unknown persons in Maruti Swift Desire vehicle bearing registration number – AS 01-GC/0873 belonging to his father in-law. On the same day at 6 pm, he informed the complainant that he is returning to Guwahati but did not arrive as scheduled. It was suspected that some persons had kidnapped him with the vehicle. A case was immediately registered in the police station (Case number – 1874/15 under section 365/343/379 IPC added section 302 IPC) and the case was entrusted to SI Arun Baruah for investigation.

The investigation The Investigation Officer (IO) collected the call detail records of the victim’s mobile number (8486478418) and identified some of the suspected persons who contacted the victim. During investigation, after getting some clues about a suspected accused, the IO visited Pimla Basti in Dimapur and conducted a search operation in the house of Phugali Auam Gogoi, wife of Bubu Konwar and subsequently arrested her on 12/09/2015. A Micromax Mobile handset without a SIM card was

recovered which, according to police sources, was suspected to be used for contacting the victim Dhiraj Talukdar for hiring the vehicle. The mobile was seized as also another Nokia mobile with five other SIM cards. She was produced before the court on 13/09/2015 and was sent to three days’ police custody. During the interrogation the police came to know that the mobile was given to her by Bubu Konwar and after getting the information about that number, police collected the call records. They got to know about Priyanka Gogoi alias Panchi from Ghoramara who was another wife of Bubu Konwar. Police apprehended her and on interrogation she confessed that she along with Amiya Das and his wife Papari Dutta Das had hired the vehicle of the victim to go to Dibrugarh. Subsequently, Amiya and Papari Das were arrested. On 25th September all the three accused were produced in court and were hand a five-day police remand. In course of interrogation all the three confessed that they hired the victim’s vehicle to Dibrugarh and while returning Bubu Konwar boarded the vehicle and killed the victim Dhiraj Talukdar near Ratanpuria Gaon in Sivsagar at around 8 pm on 29/8/2015 by firing at point blank range with his pistol. Thereafter they dumped the dead body in Jaji River near Tamulisigia Village in Jorhat District. The city police visited the spot along Amiya Das and Priyanka Gogoi and identified the place. The

police also were informed about one Ananta Konwar who had helped Bubu to dump the body and he was also apprehended.

The arrest In the course of investigations the police collected a mobile number of the main accused Bubu Konwar and while tracking the number they got information about his movement in Malibagan area of Kharguli under Latasil Police Station. Police conducted a search operation at 10 pm on 04/10/2015 and found him but he attempted to open fire on the police party and in retaliation the police also fired one round. Somehow the police managed to arrest Bubu Konwar and after producing him in court got a six-day police custody. One 7.65 mm pistol and seven rounds of ammunition were also recovered. Bubu is in police custody and interrogation is on to recover the vehicle. Bubu’s mobile is missing as according to police sources, Bubu had thrown the mobile somewhere during the course of his apprehension.

Modus operandi

Commissioner of Police, Mukesh Agrawal said that Bubu Konwar is a veteran criminal and he has some kind of attraction towards crime. He said that Bubu commits a crime, goes to jail and after returning again

commits a crime and all the crimes are heinous in nature. He said that Bubu was arrested in 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and now again in 2015. According to a highly placed source in the police Bubu is involved in crimes like murder, vehicle theft, arms and drugs smuggling and also contract killing. As he operates majorly in Nagaland, the police is suspecting that he has links with various outfits there like NSCN (K) as he sells all the stolen vehicles in Nagaland. Being from Upper Assam, Bubu has many informants planted there who give him information about the movements of wealthy people who visit the Upper Assam but are not too familiar with the region. Bubu targets them, loots them and finally kills them. As he sells the vehicles in Nagaland he has good nexus there and is in terms with the State’s rebel outfits. After Anil Chauhan, Bubu Konwar is a big catch for the city police and according to sources police is also interrogating the contract killing angle as there is a doubt that he might be in terms with some politicians who give him contracts to kill people. The case against him at present is under investigation but police is confident that they will be able to unfold many hidden mysteries. Meanwhile the police source also added that being a veteran criminal Bubu easily does not confess to crimes committed by him. He is basically the proverbial hard nut to crack. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Crime

Crook cons Durga Puja committee and flees with over 3 lakh

KALYAN DEB

Sudhir Das embezzled `70,000 from Subhash Nagar, `1,05,000 from American Colony, `60,000 from Ananda Nagar, `40,000 from Kamakhya Nagar and `50,000 from Accounts Colony Durga Puja Committee. Sudhir initially approached Accounts Colony as a contractor and settled for lower amount in comparison to what a local contractor would charge for setting up a pandal. The word spread around the area and several Puja committees fell for the same trap.

hile the festive fervor is on the rise with Durga Puja barely a few days away, pandals are already being set up in several areas of the city. However, adversity struck the area of Pandu which is known for organizing several Durga Pujas within the area when one Sudhir Das stole the amount that was meant for setting up Puja Pandals and fled. Sudhir Das defrauded not just one, but five puja committees of the area viz. Subhash Nagar, Ananda Nagar, Kamakhya Nagar, Accounts Colony and American Colony and has been absconding since September 30th. Sudhir fled with an amount of over three lakhs collected from the people and sponsors for organizing Durga Puja in the locality. The incident has also raised questions whether Durga Puja will be at all organized in these areas given the circumstances. Sudhir Das approached the members of Durga Puja committee of Accounts Colony in Pandu about a month ago as a contractor and presented them several designs of pandals within moderate budgets for which other contractors of Guwahati would charge much higher amount. In order to establish goodwill with the committee members he asked for a token amount of one thousand rupees as advance payment while signing the contract. Sudhir came back after a week along with a few labourers

In order to convince the members of buying the required material Sudhir used to shift the material from one pandal to another. Sudhir fled at midnight of September 30th. The workers that were assigned for the job were from different professional backgrounds and had no knowledge about setting up a pandal. The members of three committees of Subhash Nagar, American Colony and Ananda Nagar have approached the CGM Court to bring Sudhirto trial.

which gave the impression of Sudhir being genuine about his work.In fact, he even went about starting work on the the pandal. Word spread about his comparatively lower charges and gradually, Sudhir managed to bag the contracts of four more Puja pandals of the area. “Initially he did not show any signs of being a fraud and started working after a week of signing the contract. Moreover, he had agreed for a lower amount to set up the pandal. While other contractors asked for over 3 lakhs for the same pandal, Sudhir asked for 2 lakh 40 thousand agreeing to the same design. “Though we have somehow managed to set up the pandal but a lot is yet to be done and the pandal has already gone over budget,” said Amit Ghosh, Joint secretary, Accounts Colony Durga Puja Committee. Surajit Dey, Secretary, Subhash Nagar Sarbajanik Durga Puja Committee asserted, “Since, he was also in charge of setting up of the pandal of the Accounts Colony which is considered the biggest Puja in the area, it didn’t raise any doubts in our mind. However, he gradually showed his true colours as he started asking money every other day for the smallest of things such as tools, nails, etc. We also began to notice that after a certain point of time the pace of work had slowed down and that is

when our doubts started mounting.” In order to convince the members of buying the required material Sudhir used to shift the material from one pandal to another. However, this became apparent to the members. Sudhir was charged with embezzling money and material.Soft-spoken Sudhir managed to convince the members to the contrary and assured that the work will be completed within the designated time. The unthinkable happened around midnight of September 30 when Sudhir disappeared along with money and there is no sign of his whereabouts ever since. As asserted by the committee members Sudhir had pre-planned the entire con-exercise as the associates that he had brought for setting up the pandals were from different professional backgrounds. The workers were brought down from Bongaigaon and after being interrogated by the committee members they had confessed that Sudhir had told them to lie about their background and had assigned them for different jobs in setting up the pandals. “There were seven workers whom Sudhir brought from Bongaigaon and assigned them with different jobs in three different pandals. After interrogating the workers it came to light that some of them are masons

while others work as daily wage labourers. None of them had any experience of working in a Puja pandal. Sudhir had assigned them with fake roles in the entire con-exercise and fled putting the Durga Puja celebrations of the area in jeopardy. The situation has also put us in an awkward position as the residents and sponsors who had donated funds for organizing the Puja will hold us unduly accountable”, Dey said. Sudhir had also mislead the committee members by introducing himself as a resident of Srirampur. On investigating about his background it was found that the crook is a resident of Bahaduratari village in Dhubri. The members of the three committees of Subhash Nagar, American Colony and Ananda Nagar have approached the CGM Court to bring Sudhir under trial. Moreover, no police complaint has been lodged since the members are skeptical about any kind of serious investigation to bring the accused for trial and have rather approached the court for the convict to be summoned. Although, the incident has made a serious dent to the fervor of Durga Puja celebrations, the committee members have mentioned that Puja will be nevertheless organized. Since the budget of the Puja had to be curtailed the decoration and appearance of the pandals will not be up to the mark. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

Contractor embezzles Durga Puja fund

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Blue Print

RAHUL CHANDA

n 7th October the CBI arrested prominent journalist Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of former union minister Matang Sinh on charges of allegedly taking money from Saradha group chairman Sudipto Sen by threatening him. She has been accused of misappropriation of funds, cheating and criminal conspiracy. A Kolkata court rejected her bail plea and she has been remanded to CBI custody till October 13. Manoranjana Sinh is known as one of the pioneers to launch a satellite TV channel in the northeast and a few years back, she made a huge impact on the people of Guwahati with her pictures on huge hoardings plastered all over the city that projected her as a very powerful lady. But what exactly transpired that this huge media honcho of one time is today behind bars facing various charges?

Early years Manoranjana Sinh passed from The Air Force School, New Delhi n 1985 and did her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College, with Mathematics as her honours subject. According to her close associates she was a very bright student and was actively involved in social causes since her college days. Her first job was with Financial Express and then she joined Indian Express covering political stories. According to a close associate of Sinh she was first married to journalist Shantanu Saikia but was divorced within a few days. Saikia is the same man who was arrested by Delhi police on the document leak case from Oil Ministry for his web portal. He is also the son of one of the doyes of Assamese literature, Chandra Prasad Saikia. Through her journalistic assignments Manoranjana came in contact with Assam’s prominent Congress leader Matang Sinh and they decided to get married. They gave birth to a son Mayurath who is in Los Angeles now. After her marriage with Matang Sinh she came to limelight and her entry to northeast witnessed the arrival of a new and first private satellite news channel NETV.

The rise Soon after her marriage with Matang Sinh, Manoranjana decided to start media ventures in the northeast as no private channel till then had started business here. She became the editor of The North East Age, the Guwahati edition of The Asian Age which was later closed down because of differences between Manoranjana and MJ Akbar. In 2003 the duo Matang and Manoranjana formed a com-

Rise and fall of media honcho Manoranjana Sinh From being the daughter of an influential right wing journalist to a politician’s wife, media honcho and now an alleged criminal Daughter of known right-wing journalist and editor K.N. Gupta. Manoranjana Gupta did her schooling from The Air Force School, New Delhi and her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College. Her first job was with Financial Express and then she joined Indian Express. She was married to Shantanu Saikia but got divorced within a few days. Shantanu is son of renowned Assamese writer Chandra Prasad Saikia. Shantanu was arrested by Delhi police on document leak case from Oil Ministry for his web portal. During her journalistic career in Delhi she met Assam politician Matang Sinh, got married to him and decided to open up media ventures in Guwahati. Became the editor of editor of The North East Age, the Guwahati edition of The Asian Age but closed it as she had differences with MJ Akbar.

pany Positive Television Pvt. Ltd. and launched North East Television which was regarded as a top ranking news channel in the North-East, and had the licence for five more channels as well as four FM radio stations. The crown jewel was NETV, which reached 6.5 million homes in the region. Direct-to-home operators Dish TV and Tata Sky used to pay the company around Rs 70 lakh per annum to get the channel on their platform. Anyone with a qualification in media studies in the northeast always hoped of getting an opportunity to work under Manoranjana Sinh. Some people working in different news channels in Guwahati regarded NETV as the mother of all news channels and Manoranjan Sinh was basically a larger-than-life role model. To add to her persona, Matang Sinh was a powerful politician from Assam and was the minister of state for parliamentary affairs in the PV Narasimha Rao government.

Launched North East Television in 2003 from Positive Television Pvt. Ltd. with her husband Matang Sinh. After few years in 2007-08 she started having differences with her husband and was ousted from NETV. According to sources she started having an affair with an Assam Police officer. In 2010 she returned and launched Frontier TV. Saradha Group Chairman Sudipto Sen named Manoranjana as someone who duped him off Rs. 25 crores in return of some shares in Frontier TV After Sudipto’s arrest Manoranjana was under CBI scanner and finally got arrested on Wednesday. Both Matang and Manoranjana Sinh are behind the bars now.

And so, the duo was considered very powerful in the state. But after 200708 a major rift occurred between the couple and it spilled onto the public domain.

The fall Their personal differences and their marital discord gradually blew up into a full-fledged business spat. Manoranjana Sinh wrote to the ministries of corporate affairs and information and broadcasting, alleging that she was illegally ousted from the board of Positive Television. The issue came to light when an advertisement in a Guwahati daily said that she had been removed from the capacity of director in the company. Manoranjana Sinh dismissed the notice as inconsequential as it was put out by a vice-president who, as her subordinate, had no right to remove her. In her missives, she had alleged that her husband fraudulently bloated the equity base of the company, which helped him borrow Rs. 195 crore from banks. She had added in the letter, that the figure was way beyond what the company required to give shape to its business plans. The company’s current turnover, her letters indicated, was just around Rs 5 crore. Matang Sinh said that all procedures were duly followed when his wife was removed from the board. Manoranjana

Singh was removed, he added, because she was disrupting the functioning of the news channel. Both Manoranjana and Matang filed court cases against each other and started living separately. According to a close associate of Matang Sinh both started having differences because of infidelity as it seems Manoranjana had an extra marital affair with one SP level police officer working in Assam and even Matang Sinh was known for being close to many women. This bitterness signalled the end of her relationship with Matang Sinh and her association with NETV. After a few years Manoranjana returned to Guwahati to open up another news channel called Frontier TV which, according to many, was funded by Saradha Group chairman Sudipto Sen. In fact many erstwhile employees of Frontier TV told GPlus that during the initial days of the channel, Sudipto used to visit the channel’s offices and while they knew that it was part of the Saradha Group’s business, they suddenly came to realize it was run entirely by Manoranjana Sinh. Saradha’s Sen also named Manoranjana as someone who duped him off Rs. 25 crore in return for some shares in Frontier TV launched by Priyambada Productions Pvt. Ltd. Frontier was launched officially in 2011 and Manoranjana, however, said all these days that the deal never came through. Last

year, Manoranjana filed a petition with the Company Law Board, alleging that her estranged husband had sold off Positive TV to Congress MP Naveen Jindal, an allegation denied by Jindal. According to insiders in Positive TV, the Sinhs had raised huge loans from banks to set up their broadcast business which they were finding unable to repay. While the TV business flourished initially, it began incurring losses as competition mounted in subsequent years. Manoranjana claimed that the company currently is not in pink of health. It is assumed that Sinh took money from Saradha’s Sen to pay off some of his debts even as Manoranjana alleged that the attempt to sell Positive TV to Jindal was also meant to ward off the financial crisis Matang Sinh found himself stuck with. Frontier TV and even NETV are both closed now and many employees of Frontier TV did not receive their salaries of many months. Some employees of Frontier TV had also approached the labour court against Manoranjana Sinh. Manoranjana Sinh moved from being daughter of known rightwing journalist and editor K.N. Gupta to being wife of one-time (and possibly still) die-hard Congress man Matang Sinh. She became owners of satellite news channels and now she is behind the bars. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Bazaar

The fancy bazaar market has a deserted look ahead of Durga Puja as shoppers go online shopping and to malls

JUTHIKA BARUAH

Although people go for online shopping, the market of saree still remains the same in the market as the traditional sarees are difficult to find online. “We sell sarees based on Bengal Handloom which are not available online and during the Puja people prefer traditional wear. We have permanent customers who only come to buy sarees as the traditional Bengali sarees are difficult to find in any other market or shops. The sarees are available from the range of Rs. 560 to Rs. 3000-4000. The products available are handloom Jamdani saree, Rasom Silk, Tasor Silk, Tanti saree, Tangail saree, Handloom Silk etc. Compared to other years this year

he trend of online shopping has brought down the business of Fancy Bazaar even during the festive season as the customers get the new taste of the convenience of online shopping as against the cumbersomeness of roaming around in the market. With the growing numbers of online shopping portals offering a variety of shopping options from household products to clothes and on to accessories it has become easier for the shopper to shop online than from the retail market saving valuable time in the process. Fancy Bazaar which was choca-bloc with shoppers during the festival season a few years back seems to wear a deserted look this year with the changing trend of shopping habits. “The market has fallen this year as the trend of online shopping has caught on. Earlier, people only opted for Fancy Bazaar for shopping and we had fi xed

customers from across the state who came for shopping during the festivals like Bihu, Durga Puja or Eid but now-a-days we have lost such customers also as they don’t take the pain to come all the way to Guwahati for shopping,” said Manoj Das who owns a garment shop in Fancy Bazaar. Das said that this year the business is not good unlike the previous years and he is witnessing a definite decreasing trend in sales. “Online shopping is reliable but the quality of the products can’t be judged as can be done in the market. People look for quality products but it often happens that when a product is ordered online or through television, the products are found defective and can’t even be returned or replaced. Earlier, the market was flooded with people 15-20 days ahead of Durga Puja but this year we have just not seen the same flow of customers till date with barely a few

the sale is bad but still there are customers who come to our store as we have 20% discount in all seasons and special sarees are not available in shopping malls. Quality is another issue and customers have a belief in a particular store rather than to go for online,” said Pintu Biswas, owner of Bengal Handloom. Binod Goenka of Goenka Selection said that with the changing scenario, the mindset of the people have also changed but still the people who have continued to come to Fancy Bazaar for shopping all these years opt for the same market and store with the staunch belief of getting quality products.

days left for the Puja,” lamented Das. Another shopkeeper Mukesh said that by this time in previous years, with only 10-12 days left for Puja, they never had time to respond to different customers properly at a time. Such was the rush. But this year they actually had to call upon customers to visit their shops. “We are really surprised that the business has fallen so much. We are not getting even our regular customers. Till last year we had 30-40 permanent customers who used to come only for the salwar suits and Babu Bazaar which was famous for salwar suits and sarees is now wearing a deserted look. All because of online shopping,” said Mukesh. A garment wholesaler Deepak Roy while speaking to GPlus said, “This year the market is not good and not even half the products are sold. If we used to sell 200 pieces in a day in previous years, this year not even 30 pieces have been sold. Earlier,

shopping used to start three months ahead of the Puja but this time we are facing heavy losses as the customers go for shopping in malls or go online.” According to Roy, there are a few redeeming factors though. He said that there still are a section of people who come to fancy bazaar as they cannot afford to go to shopping malls or online shopping because of the high price range. Fancy bazaar is a market where people still get products available in all price range which can be affordable by all sections of people. Tina Medhi, a customer said, “My choice is Fancy Bazaar as all kinds of materials are available in the market at reasonable prices. The product which we get in low price here is available at double the price in shopping malls. People who have extra earnings go to shopping malls but we live on a tight budget and therefore Fancy Bazaar is perfect for people like us who are solely dependent on our salary.” juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

Annivers ar Specia l

Online shopping trend dips sales in Fancy Bazaar market

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

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Snippets

24 lakh people left out in NRC form fillup: APW

PRANJAL BARUAH

he Assam Public Works, a NGO, which had moved the Supreme Court to intervene in detecting illegal settlers in Assam, has claimed that the ongoing process to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is yet to cover about 24 lakh indigenous people in Assam. On August 31, submission of forms for updating the NRC in Assam had closed, recording some 105 percent households compared to the 2011 census of the state, applying for it. The number went above the 100 per cent of the previous census records because the number of households in the state has gone up in the past four years. During the closure of the submission of NRC forms, Prateek Hajela, state coordinator for NRC informed that those who were left out will be given a final chance to apply for updating their names in the final NRC list in November later. In an additional affidavit submitted before a division bench of the Supreme Court consisting of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Rohington Fali Nariman, APW president Abhijeet Sharma observed that the process had projected 63.8 lakh household on August 30. “The total household presumed with the official average growth of .9

lakh household per year on the basis of 2011 census, Assam should have at least 68. 17 households. According to the same trend, at least 4.32 lakh household have been left out of the process. Assuming an average of six persons in a household, at least 24 lakh people must have been left out of the first phase of the NRC updation,” Sarma said. APW said that it believes that these are all indigenous people, farmers, labourers, day workers, many illiterate, semiliterate, embroiled in day to day struggle of life. Earlier, the last date of submitting the NRC forms was July 31 which was later extended for a month after the state government sought additional time from the Supreme Court. The SC had extended the deadline for publishing the draft National Register of Citizenship (NRC) and

also for publishing the final NRC till January 1 and March 1, 2016 respectively. Previously the time frame was October 31 for publishing of the draft copy and January 1 for the fi nal report. The court action came after state’s NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela sought more time for competing the task. Earlier, state government extended at least a month’s time to fi ll the NRC forms. The APW affidavit also proposed a modality for verifying the forms submitted by citizens of the state so far. “Modality for investigation and verification must give utmost emphasis on ‘Residency Report’ of an applicant for the last 46 years most stringently. This is the key to detect the post ’71 Bangladeshi foreigners in Assam. The status of Non-Indian Origin as entered in the “NRC Verification Form”, should be verified by the NRC Investigation team most stringently,” suggested Aabhijit Sarma, petitioner in the affidavit. The apex court appointed Commissioner Upamanyu Hazarika too submitted a report before the Supreme Court. The court asked Assam government to furnish its reply within four weeks’ time. Advocate Arvind Kumar Sharma represented Sarma. The court will take up the matter on November 5 next.

Investigative Units soon in Assam to counter crime against women

o deal with the soaring rate of crimes against women, soon the state will have ‘Investigative Units on Crimes against Women’ (IUCAW). The union home minister Rajnath Singh has written a letter to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who is also the state’s home minister recently and shared his concern over the spurt in crimes against women. With a total of 19,139 cases of crimes against women, the state recorded the highest rate of crime against women in the country last year with at least 123.4 percentage which is almost double of the national average of 56.3 percent. The letter from Rajnath Singh to Gogoi said, “There is a need to strengthen various elements of the criminal justice system, namely, investigation, prosecution and trials to deal with the rise of crimes against women. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has proposed to set up IUCAW, in states with high rate of crime against women on a 50-50 cost sharing basis with the states.” MHA has proposed to set up 150 such IUCAW units initially on pilot basis in most crime prone districts of every state. In Assam, districts like Sonitpur, Nagaon, Kamrup and Dhemaji are the having huge numbers of such cases. An IUCAW unit is likely to have 15 personnel, five women preferably. “The state will have full flexibility to create new posts or to designate from the existing strength. Each IU-

CAW will be headed by an officer of the rank of additional superintendent of police assisted by two DSPs,” the letter mentioned. The focus of these units will be to deal with heinous crimes like rape, dowry death, acid attacks and trafficking. The units will also encourage in proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tackling organized crime, monitoring proper implementation of the legislative provisions, helping awareness generation and promotion of social participation in checking crimes against women. The letter also advised the state to set up separate ‘fast track courts’ to deal such cases expeditiously. The union home minister assured that though all these issues are state subjects, yet the MHA would like to augment the efforts of the states in this matter. Latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)’s report said, some 5,307 cases of sexual offence, 9,626 numbers of cases of cruelty by husband and relatives and at least 3,895 cases of kidnapping of women were registered in Assam last year. “Some 2,047 women were raped last year out of which 23 were gang raped. Similarly, there were 3,100 cases registered across the state against assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty during the last year,” the statistics revealed. Another 3,895 women were kidnapped out of which one was murdered.

‘Muted voices of deprived must be heard loud and clear’: CM

“

Access to Right to Information must be ensured to the deprived and marginalised segments of the society and the muted voices must be heard loud and clear,” said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while inaugurating a day long Regional Workshop on Right to Information Act 2005 at Assam Administrative Staff College at Khanapara this week. He hailed that RTI can be an effective tool by ensuring that the voices of

the deprived and marginalised segments of the society are heard loud and clear. Assam is one of the pioneer States, which introduced the Right to Information by a separate State Act in 2002. Gogoi said that protection must be accorded to the public servants who work with good intention and not those with vested interests. “Public servants who serve the people

with good faith and intention must be protected unlike those who have malafide intentions and are in nexus with vested circles. Those who take risks and take hard decisions without fear or favour for the common good must be given protection,” Gogoi said, adding that favouritism, nepotism and corruption must be weeded out by ensuring transparency and accountability in governance which are vital for strengthening the roots of

democracy. Underscoring the need for involvement of civil societies and NGOs in removing the lacunae in implementation of the RTI Act, the CM said, “The very purpose for which the RTI Act has been enacted must be ensured and for this whatever inadequacies found must be plugged to make it more effective. For this the involvement of civil societies and NGOs is a must.”

State Chief Information Commissioner, HS Das said the RTI Act enacted in 2005 has completed 10 years of its implementation. Das said the good practices adopted by various states together with the problems confronting the states in implementing the RTI Act would be deliberated upon and the vital inputs would be placed before the National Convention to be held on October 16 and 17 in New Delhi.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Concern

Since the last few days, the hacking of 25 Indian sites has grabbed the headlines and is raising serious concern amongst the citizens. BIPASA SAIKIA KASHYAP

ecently, more than 20 Assam government websites hosted by the server of the National Informatics Centre at Dispur were broken into. The websites were hacked and their home pages were defaced with the most important sites being the official website of the Assam Police and the website of the Directorate of Elementary Education. The hackers took control of the NIC server, through which most of the government sites were accessed and taken down. The culprits are believed to be from outside the country and the incident is being linked to the two-week-long ongoing cyber war crime between India and Pakistan. This issue is raising serious concerns amongst both the citizens and law enforcers in the city. Since the NIC server was accessed by outside sources, the home pages of the official sites were made unavailable to the public. Sources claim that Pakistani hacker Faisal Afzal, alias Faisal 1337 who is supposed to be the mastermind behind the virtual attack on several Indian government websites is behind this. The virtual war started

in the last week of September when the official site of the Kerala government was taken down by Faisal 1337. The sites were taken down and slogans like “Pakistan Zindabad” and “Security is just an illusion” were left on the sites. Faisal’s facebook page claims responsibility for all the sites hacked, including the official websites of Bodoland University and Royal Global School, Guwahati. Speaking to G Plus, top official sources from the Cyber Crime department of the CBI explained the situation. “Most sites that were hosted by the NIC were taken down and accessed. We have a strong feeling that Pakistani hackers are behind this act and we are carrying on investigations.” The CBI personnel also waved off the issue and said that nothing very important was stolen. “We usually put up information on the websites that we want to make public, and share with the masses. Information, once out up on the websites are already made public. We only put up things that we want to share. Websites do not usually have much valuable information.” Indian citizens however are

really concerned and are raising serious queries. Speaking to G Plus, Indrajeet Bhuyan explained the breach of security and mentioned that it poses serious threat to us. “Most of the government sites have one common server. If there is a single site that is not patched up in the right manner, hackers can use that as a weak link and gain a backdoor entry to bring down the server. This in turn gives access to all the sites linked to the server. A shell injection is used and a .php fi le is uploaded to gain access to the server and the rest of the sites linked to it. The ‘upload.php’ fi le contains the code for uploading a fi le. With .php it becomes easy to upload fi les to a server. This is a serious threat,” claimed Indrajeet, who is an IT expert and a security blogger himself. It is quite easy for hackers to gain control of valuable data once the php fi le upload is successful. The government websites are managed mostly by people who work on contracts, and often they are not properly maintained. “On the other hand,” Indrajeet adds, “hackers are constantly inventing newer hacking techniques and in this age

of technology, even the simplest of hacking techniques can be applied to bring down these low maintenance sites. The Indian government is often seen to be extremely lax when it comes to maintaining the security of their websites.” In this web based era when everything is mostly done online, serious concerns are being raised by citizens. “When we fi ll up applications online, for example when we fi lled up our NRC forms, we tend to give away our personal data without any second thought. This includes bank statements, personal contact information and family history. If proper security measures are not taken, we are all in the open and things can turn bad. Anyone can have access to it,” says a concerned Indrajeet. According to him, websites of media houses and public services sites like the ONGC are the most vulnerable. The websites could be hacked because they were not updated with the latest security patches. If the State Police is unable to come up with security to protect their information, how secured are we?

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What the hack!

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

City

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Fighting

its way through

With the increasing necessity for fitness mixed martial arts or MMA is grabbing the fancy of many Guwahatians. KALYAN DEB

riginating from the full contact sport of Vale Tudo in Brazil, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a full-contact combat sport that over the past decade has developed from a spectacle into a highly respected sport with a global audience. Major fights between world-renowned Mixed Martial Arts superstars are among the most popular sporting events of the year, surpassing pay-per-view records of boxing and professional wrestling. Sports fans around the World have made their voices heard, they want a sense of real competition when they watch sports, and MMA delivers. However, it has to be admitted that it was Asia’s leading Mixed Martial Arts organization, the Super Fight League (SFL) which put the sport in the spot light which resulted in its massive popularity among the youth of the city.

Inception of MMA in Guwahati Although SFL has been hosting events in different countries, it was in the year 2012 that the sport caught the attention of the people of Assam. Indian audience learned about Bhabajeet when he secured an invitation to be a part of SFL following which, local lad Bhabajeet Choudhury made a mark on the world stage by claiming the No. 4 spot in the SFL World Ranking. This proved to be morale-booster to the aspiring sportsmen of Assam. The twenty eight year old, who had brought glory to the nation and the people of Assam by winning several medals

on the world stage and the national championships on many occasions in different formats of combat sport, also initiated the introduction of MMA to the people of Guwahati. Thus, Bhabajeet came up with the first ever MMA and fitness gym named Bidang on March 2013. “On the very first day I had around 20-30 students who wanted to enroll themselves for MMA lessons and for the first day the response was surprising. Since the concept is very new to people and moreover, when it comes to MMA people are generally skeptical about the sport, it is completely based on fitness training and provides better results than any other sessions. Since, the MMA trend is gradually gaining popularity, people of different age groups are coming forward to undergo training in MMA. Earlier, it was mostly youths between the age of 18 to 24yrs who came to the gym to get enrolled but now people up to the age of 50 yrs, both male and female, are coming forward to train,” noted Bhabajeet, founder of Bidang MMA and fitness gym, while talking to G Plus.

The drill

MMA training includes weight training, intensive training, cardio, strength and many more and is concentrated towards complete fitness. Since MMA is a full-contact combat sport it allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques from a variety of other combat sports such as Judo, Muai Thai, Karate, Tae Kwondo, Wu Shu, Wrestling and Martial Arts. With the inception of

MMA in Guwahati many women have also enrolled themselves for training in the sport. “The number of females enrolling for MMA is also gradually increasing since along with fitness training it also provides various selfdefense techniques. In MMA unlike any other combat sport one hits the opponent to make an impact rather than scoring points. So especially for females, the training will provide with vast self-defense techniques. Moreover, there are many aspiring sportsmen who want to make a career in the sport and have participated at several platforms,” Bhabajeet added.

Future of the sport The inception of Bidang MMA and fitness gym has provided a boost to aspiring sportspersons as Assam has been enlisted among the three northeastern states that actively participate in MMA tournaments held across the country. Players such as Manas Mazumdar Daimary, Satyajit Sangmai, Manas Das and several others have already made their mark in the sport.

“I came to Guwahati with a hope that since the region has promising talents in Martial Arts it can grow in the world of combat sport but the lack of advanced training is holding us back. However, after the inception of Bidang several players have got the chance to showcase their talents and I can proudly say that at least four players are ready to perform at the professional level,” said Bhabajeet. There are two divisions of MMA viz. amateur and professional and for one to perform at the professional level one has to be sufficiently experienced in amateur. The aspiring fighters are initially sent to perform at amateur level after going through rigorous training and can pursue a promising career as a fighter. While amateurs are generally of the age group of 18 to 22 years a professional can continue with the sport up to the age of 40 or more depending upon one’s fitness. Lack of platform is a major hurdle faced in promoting the sport. Since MMA is not a recognized sport, despite of having produced several quality players who have performed at the national level, the sport and their exponents still

struggle. “There are very few states that take part in this particular sport and besides Miozoram and Nagaland, Assam is the only northeastern state which is active in the sport and is currently leading the game. Unlike other sports there are no district level competitions in MMA so one has to directly participate at the national platform. I have approached several organizers to come down to Guwahati to hold tournaments here but have not received encouraging response so far. I have also been planning to initiate the Bidang Fight League on November 29 but due to the lack of sponsors nothing has been finalized yet. However, I believe that since the sport and the fighters have the potential to move forward and the sport has made a mark within such a short period of time it will soon be one of the most encouraged sport,” Bhabajeet asserted. Following the inception of Bidang MMA has taken a leap in the recent times. Apart from the fitness conscious youths who also aspire to make their careers as fighters, people of different age group are getting attracted towards the sport. Also several fitness centers such as Gold’s Gym provide training in MMA and SFL’s own training center that was eagerly awaited by the people has made its entry in the city. With such big names attached with the sport it can be expected that MMA will soon make its way into the mainstream scenario of sports. kaluyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Governance

Uzanbazaar fish traders oppose DC move

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he Kamrup (M) District Administration has asked the Uzanbazaar Wholesale Fish Traders’ Association to turn the market into a retail outlet to reduce the traffic congestion. The move has been opposed by the wholesale market association stressing the fact that the market has been functioning this way for almost 100 years. The Brihattar Uzanbazaar Schedule Caste Unemployed Fish Traders’ Association alleged that the district administration has asked them to sell fish only from the Brahmaputra, which according to them is not possible. “The market where our members are conducting their business and earning their livelihood is a market that was established more than a 100 years back. At that time there were no DC Bungalow or Raj Bhawan and the street was meant for the general public and not VIP’s. Now that the Raj Bhawan and other bungalows have been constructed, it cannot simply be termed a VIP road. We have been conducting business since ages,” said Bhaskar Das, General Secretary of the Association while speaking to G Plus. The Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup Metro, M. Angamuthu has also instructed them to operate as a retail market. Interestingly, the retail market had been converted

The DC has ordered the wholesale fish market to be converted into a retail outlet to bring back the tradition of selling fish directly from the Brahmaputra.

JUTHIKA BARUAH to a wholesale market before. “The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has already allotted a place for the wholesale fish market in Betkuchi and as the Uzanbazaar fish market is the oldest market, its tradition should be kept alive. It had been lost after the market turned into a wholesale one as the fish comes from outside. Earlier, the fish traders used to sell fish caught from the Brahmaputra which is not the case now. Many complaints have also been received from the local people that the fish carrying vehicles create problem and it leads to traffic congestion from the Vivekananda Kendra point up to the Raj Bhawan. Moreover the thermocol and the detergent used to wash the vehicles pollute the water of the River Brahmaputra. It causes an imbalance in the entire ecosystem,” said Angamuthu. The DC also pointed out that

besides the area being an important residential-cum-commercial area of the city, the road also leads up to the governor’s residence and the Brahmaputra state guest house and the market creates chaos in the wee hours of the morning. Replying to Angamuthu’s decision of turning the market into a retail outlet, Noni Kalita, a member of the Association said, “The Betkuchi wholesale market is situated on the outskirts of the city and the fish comes in from Andhra Pradesh. They do not need water to preserve the fish as these are kept in ice. But the local fish need more water for preservation or else people don’t want to buy the fish.” The association also alleged that because the wholesalers belong to the Schedule Caste and because they are fish traders, the DC has misbehaved with them and have tried to hamper their business, which is their only source of livelihood.

Kalita said that there is hardly any fish in the Brahmaputra and only 50-60 kg of fish can be caught from the river, which is not at all sufficient. “15 to 20 loaded vehicles come from outside the district and each vehicle carries around 2.5 to 5 quintals of fish. Carrying out a business is a fundamental right conferred by the Constitution of India under Article 19 (1)(g) and the right cannot be taken away by the DC. We unload the fish vehicles within 8 AM and the streets are free after that. We clean up the area no nuisance is created for the people,” said Kalita. The district administration has also directed the GMC and the DCP (Traffic) to identify a place where all vehicles of customers can be parked and to the DCP (Traffic) and the Transport department to prohibit the entry of all fish-carrying vehicles from the Vivekananda Kendra Point to Raj Bhawan.

It has directed the Member Secretary of the Pollution Control Board to take necessary measures to check pollution in the area and the GMC to provide space to fish wholesalers in the GMC Fish Market at Betkuchi. In a meeting held on Wednesday, 7th October with the Fish traders’ association and the fishery department, the DC has asked them to unload the fish vehicles within 4 to 5am. The association has also demanded that if the administration bans the coming of fish from outside the district, the administration should work on the wetlands and River for production of fish within the district. Monmi Das, a member of the association said that the fishery department are currently producing Kanduli fish along with Chital fish in the Dighalipukhuri. juthika.baruah@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Ward Watch

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WARD NO

CONCENTRATED AREA SURUJ NAGAR WARD NUMBER 31 SUB-DIVISION 31(a) COUNCILOR SWAPAN DAS PHONE NUMBER 9864067152 AREA SABHA MEMBER AMINUR RAHMAN PHONE NUMBER 943511629 PROBLEMS SCARCITY OF DRINKING WATER, POOR ROAD CONDITION

Suruj Nagar down in the dumps

KALYAN DEB

ocated on the GS Road in the Six mile area of Guwahati, Suruj Nagar can be categorised into those parts of the city that remain ignored by the authorities. Besides being a densely populated locality situated near Dispur, Suruj Nagar is also a connecting road to many surrounding areas such as Andanda Nagar, Tribeni Path and several others that further leads to Down Town, VIP Road and Hengrabari. However, the area remains deprived of the basic necessities such as proper road condition, drainage and drinking water.

Poor road condition The root of the problems faced by the locals of the area goes back to

Residents take up initiative as authorities remain ignorant

1984 when a flood-like situation had ensued and since then, the condition has gradually degraded. Along with improper road condition, the lack of drainage is also a major concern. However, the water on the road does not remain logged but during monsoons, the water overflowing from the drains rushes into the residences. Several efforts and approaches have been made by the residents to get the attention of the ministers and the concerned authorities but to no avail. MLA Akon Bora along with his son Manash Bora had also visited the area prior to GMC elections and had assured the residents of developing the area but no step has been taken so far. “The residents collectively approached the secretariat and local MLA Akon Bora several times but

no initiative has been taken so far. On many occasions, funds had been sanctioned but got cancelled in the final stages due to foul play of the members of the department. The same fund has been used for the development of areas where a minister resides. The locals had collectively urged Akon Bora several times but no progress has been seen till date,” said Premeshwar Saikia, a resident of Suruj Nagar. “On being approached by the Mahila Samiti of the area, the MLA along with his son had also visited the area and assured us of developing the road, but their words never materialised,” Saikia added. M.C. Moral, a concerned resident noted that despite the area being so near to the Assam Secretariat, no steps have been taken all these years. “The ministers are least bothered about the people and prioritise their own requirements. We have been suffering for the past several years but there is no response to our trouble. After every monsoon, the road require repairs and this will continue until a proper drainage system is constructed and the road is developed. The condition has worsened since the pipelines of the water supply project have been laid. The entire stretch from Six mile via Suruj Nagar, covering several surrounding areas, was dug out. But after the pipes were installed, the road only got destroyed and no restoration was done. This has worsened the condition of the road since then,” Moral said. “The Unnayan Samiti of the area took up the initiative and collected funds from every household for the

restoration of the road. This way a sum of Rupees fi ft y five thousand was collected through which 5-6 trucks of bricks were used to mend the road in whatever way possible. However, this is only a temporary arrangement and will only last till the next monsoons,” the resident further asserted.

Drinking water A lesser known fact about Guwahati is that there are several areas in the city that suffer from the scarcity of drinking water. Such areas neither have any water supply projects nor any boring that supplies water adequate quantity. As the city keeps getting urbanised and mammoth constructions are being undertaken, the only means of water supply is through boring which is a major cause of lack of consumable water. Among many others, the residents of Suruj Nagar in the Six mile area are facing severe crisis of drinking water. Earlier, a boring of 200ft was sufficient to meet the requirement but now, most households have to spend up to Rs2000 every month for drinking water. “Due to the massive constructions around the area, the supply of underground water has gradually reduced and since there is no other provision of water supply most households are dependent on underground water. Although the pipelines for the water supply has been installed in Suruj Nagar, several surrounding areas are yet to be included in the project,” said Rama Saikia, a resident of Suruj Nagar.

Councillor’s say

Expressing concern on the condition of the Suruj Nagar area, councillor Swapan Das mentioned to G Plus that it is shameful that after almost two years of the GMC elections, the area remains undeveloped. “The people of the area have suffered for a long time due to the poor road condition and MLA Akon Bora had visited the area six months prior to the GMC elections and had assured that the road would be constructed. The road was also approved by Akon Bora however, it was during the preparation of the final list of the financial year, the area was excluded by the PWD Minister due to lack of funds,” Swapan Das said. “It still cannot be said that whether the area will be developed in recent times, but another list will be prepared within months of October and November and it can be expected that Suruj Nagar will be included in the list,” the councillor added. Suruj Nagar Unnayan Samiti The Unnayan Samiti that has taken up the initiative of changing the sub-standard picture of the area, has been active since the year 2010. The Samiti has collaborated in order to meet the requirements of the society that the government has failed to deliver. The Samiti collects funds from each household and carries out restoration processes such as changing of street lights and mending damaged parts of the street. kalyan.deb@g-plus.in

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

SUBHRAJIT ROY

he Tajmahal, one of the seven wonders in the world, is considered as one of the exemplary works of architecture as well as dedication towards love. But the big question is that on whose love was it constructed? The expected answer is Shahjahan’s love towards his queen Mumtaz. Similarly, the other logical question which has been roaming around ages from mouth to mouth is that who built the Tajmahal? Was it the Mughal emperor Shahjahan or the builders and labourers who taxed their sweat and blood to create this architectural masterpiece? Another question which may arise in this context is that was there purely love behind such a creation or did hatred, ego, social discrimination etc. have some space as well? To remove the cloud of doubt over all these questions, the members of Yuva Chhatra Mancha of Dibrugarh University in association with Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Assam, staged the play ‘Tajmahal’ at the Rabindra Bhawan Auditorium in Guwahati on September 29, 2015. Following a musical pattern of storytelling, the troupe presented the cruel story behind this iconic masterpiece. Through a flashback, the artists brought forth the story of love between Shahjahan’s daughter Roushan Ara Begum and Iranian architect cum artisan Amanat Khan Shirazi. Though the emperor was quite impressed with Shirazi’s works of art, he refused to encourage his love for his daughter Roushan. Shirazi, an excellent artisan, who could bring about a portrait livelier on canvas just by feeling the touch of the person, could not however, impress the emperor with his paintings depicting his love for Roushan. Shahjahan’s ego was so bloated that he rejected all the paintings of Shirazi without even giving them a cursory glance. But Shirazi did not lose hope; he kept trying, getting better and better with every attempt, but failed to find success. The tussle, challenge and competition between love and ego continued. Meanwhile, Mumtaz died while giving birth to their fourteenth child and it was only then that Shahjahan could realise the pain of losing one’s love. He fi nally, approved Shirazi’s works of art and decided to construct a mausoleum in memory of his beloved queen. Shahjahan thought about his love and dedication and Shirazi gave life to his love as well, for which he had struggled so far. If I am to opine on the presentation of the play, it is worth mentioning that there were some masterful directorial touches. First of all, director Pranjal Buragohain scripted the epic episode in such a

manner that it could connect with the present generation of audience. As the Zikir orchestra was an integral part of the musical presentation, the director made extensive use of the orchestra team. Scene after scene the external narration and the on-stage drama complemented each other. At times, one of the members of the orchestra played the role of the reflected image as also the counter character of the characters on stage. Similarly, when there was a change over between two scenes the characters were observed to be in their respective character in the darkness. Speaking of the set design a halfconstructed Taj Mahal was visible on stage where a human figure was installed to symbolize the contribution of human love and labour. The director made excellent use of paintings; while one side enriched the ambience of palace, a fl ip of the same brought forth the workshop environment of the artisan. Dance forms like Darbari

Kathak and Sufi Kathak were also the part of the presentation. The lead characters were played by Gautam Thakuria (Shirazi), Manikanchan Konwar (Raushan), Palash Pratim Mech (Shahjahan) and Rashmirekha Bharali (Mumtaz). Though the actors played their roles to perfection, the casting could have been much better. The live background music of the play was scored through acoustic instruments and vocals as demanded by the story. The orchestra was comprised of Satyajit Bora, Chandanjyoti Chutia, Sadananda Taye, Pankaj Sonari, Randeep Bora and Bidyut Mohan. While on one hand the artists brought to light a dark truth behind the construction of the world’s premier love memorial, on the other hand, they proved that even a low budget production can also deliver good content and entertainment, if presented in a manner such that emotion and involvement complement each other.

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Epic episode

Art

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Reviews

n the occasion of his 81st birthday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi opens up for the readers of G Plus, in a candid conversation with Tinat. In this personal interview, she manages to show a side that the people of Assam have rarely seen.

Childhood

Teenage

Career

Your childhood, teenage years, hobbies and how you got into politics? As kids, we enjoyed all sorts of games, like hide and seek, football and hop-scotch. We also used to play indigenous games like taang gooti. As children, we used to love being involved in any sort of activity and my hands and mind used to be constantly working on something or the other. I was very passionate about repairing and so whenever the need arose, I used to repair cycles, watches, etc. There used to be a sewing machine at home and I would try my hand at stitching too. So anything new that was worth trying, I made it a point to understand it and learn about it. It is very difficult to say why I joined politics. But since my days as a student, I remember taking the lead in everything, even during the great earthquake of 1950. Although my teacher was my mentor, I mobilised a lot of relief material for the affected people. Even in college, I never stopped solving problems related to the institution or that of the students. I drew inspiration from a lot of National and International leaders, not to forget a lot of local leaders in Jorhat as well. I was especially drawn towards the leadership qualities of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru; his writings, his speeches! I used to paste paper cuttings of his talks to read and ponder about!

FAVOURITES Cuisine Hindi Movie Junglee

Assamese movie Ronga Police

Assamese is my favourite but I like to try out Mexican, Chinese, Italian.

Drink

Sweet Lime or Mousambi juice is my favourite drink.

Book

I loved reading the biographies of Nehru, Clinton and other leaders of the World.

Sport

Football was my favourite. Now, it’s golf!

Musi

I love a Hazar Englis

Lifestyle

CHILDREN

marriage

HOBBIES

punakon Alternate

My mother used to call me Punakon and only really close friends and relatives use this nickname. Rajiv Gandhiji called me TG.

career? From an early part of my life, I had a deep interest in law. So, if I was not a politician, I would have definitely practiced as a criminal lawyer. I did practice though.

Your best

you’ve

been to

Your role model

Actor

I don’t like to do anything that goes against the interest of the common man.

My time I dedicate an hour or hour and a half in the morning to some physical activity. I love walking and doing a bit of yoga.

My two best friends have been Poran Borbaruah and Narendra Buragohain all throughout. It is sad that Narendra expired sometime ago.

I DON’T HAVE ANY REGRET IN LIFE.

youth of the state?

I don’t remember how many countries I have travelled to but yes, I have travelled the Americas, Canada, the UK, Europe, South Asia, Japan and Australia.

Be sincere, be persuasive, dream big, have complete confidence in yourself, work hard and be committed to whatever you do!

The biggest Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was my role model, because of his dynamism, commitment to the poor and downtrodden, scientific temperament, modern outlook, foresight; all these qualities impressed me!

I used to love Dilip Kumar and Nargis. Presently, I hardly know any actors.

REGRETS

Your advice to the

and why?

all the songs of Bhupen rika. I rarely listen to sh music.

to do?

friend?

Countries

mis

conception

about you?

Yes, people have their own conceptions about people. Some people have the misconception that I have not delivered well enough, I am incapable, I have my selfinterests and the like.

not like

My children will decide their future for themselves. These days, the young people are smart and intelligent enough to make their dreams come true. Our duty is to cooperate with them and guide them.

Leisure time is very rare for me and if I do get some time for myself, I read the newspaper, especially the Economic Times and catch up on political and economic updates. Otherwise I love to walk around or play golf. I started playing golf in 1992 when I was in Delhi.

Annivers ar Specia

you do

Your children and your dreams for them

Mine was an arranged marriage. Incidentally, since I hadn’t met my bride-to-be, I mistook another relative in the family and gave my consent. However, I was quickly corrected and that is how my better half has been my best companion all these years.

Nickname?

Things

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Also

If you could

change

one thing about yourself

I am happy being myself. I don’t want to change despite the fact that even my family says that I need to change on certain fronts. I have lived being myself all my life and now, I don’t wish to change.

lies? I won’t say I have not lied - but I have never crossed the limits. I will never lie about anything that will go against my principles and ideology.

Happiest moment in life?

You see, there are several ‘happiest moments’ in my life. When I became an MP, when I got married, when Chandrima was born, again when Gaurav was born, when I became a Minister; there were so many happy moments. Even when I see Assam taking developmental strides; when I travel to the remote rural areas, when I find that young people are making progress in education, sports and more. Children have become smarter. Assam has progressed in education, sports, music, fashion, business, trade. The healthy competition in all these spheres makes me happy.

? What is a one question

that you’d like to

ask every

Guwahatian? Every Guwahatian should ask themselves, “What is my responsibility towards the city and its people?”

Place

Yes, I have travelled extensively around the World. But when it comes to a favourite place, it has to be Assam. Otherwise, I love the ambience of the UK.

Tinat Atifa Masood has compiled the biography of the Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Tarun Gogoi, titled “The Visionary- The Life and Rise of Tarun Gogoi”, which is to be released soon.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015 nd

Annivers ar Specia

GPlus

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G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

G PLUS

Annivers ar Specia l

2 YEARS OF

2 SATTYAKEE D’COM BHUYAN (THEATRE ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER DIRECTOR OF D’ E) PASSION COLLECTIVE) G Plus has done a great job by bringing news in a tangible and lively manner. Catering to the younger generation, G Plus is reaching out to the younger audience with their active social media handle. Not everyone can handle a black-and-white breakfast companion and so here’s me wishing G Plus all the best for the years to come!

ZUBEEN GARG SINGER G Plus completing two successful years shows that the people have accepted the newspaper. Both, the tabloid and the online portal have been doing really well in covering Guwahati. With the right balance of entertainment and news, I am a habitual reader of G Plus and I hope for their prosperity in the years to come.

AAMITABH BAROOA S SENIOR IT CONSULTANT My heartiest congratulations to GPlus for completing 2 successful years! I am an avid follower of your paper and your social media page. An upcoming metro like Guwahati was in need of a paper that catered to its diverse populace and you guys have filled the void. My best wishes are with you and I hope you achieve more in the years to come.

GAURAV GOSWAMI REGIONAL MANAGER, HYUNDAI, GUWAHATI As a regular reader of G Plus, I want to express my heartfelt congratulations on its 2nd anniversary. I hope this milestone is a step forward for many more to come. Both the tabloid, and the social media page are doing great and are sources of knowledge and information. It is a great initiative and I wish the team all the very best!

MAHBUBUL HOQUE (CHAIRMAN, ERD FOUNDATION)

R RAJKUMAR THAKURIA (E (ENTERTAINER) G Plus has completed two years which proves that it has been successful in winning the hearts of the people in Guwahati. I have been an avid follower of the newspaper and I wish that in the near future G Plus caters to the people around different parts of Assam.

AAN NA GOSWAMI ANABIL (A ARO (AROHAN FOODS) As a regular reader of GPlus and a frequent browser of their Facebook page, I can say that they have helped me in staying updated about Guwahati. From News to entertainment and knowing more about the people who are making a difference in the society, GPlus is a complete package. Best wishes to the team at GPlus and hoping they become a daily soon.

G Plus is doing very well and I wish them all the best for the future. I also request the management to cover all the different talents and educational institutes in the region. Students from this region read National newspapers like The Indian Express or The Hindu to collect information. So why shouldn’t they read a local newspaper? So, as a local newspaper G Plus should cover all the educational aspects so that the paper caters to the students.

MAHAVIR JAIN CCOMMERCE) M ERCE MM ERRCE CE) (PRESIDENT, KAMRUP CHAMBERR OOFF CO My heartiest congratulations for your second anniversary! It is a popular source of information among the youngsters. Giving unique news in every issue is one of the best things about your publication. My best wishes for success of this news house!

MUKESH AGRAWAL (COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, GUWAHATI) I wish you all the best so that you achieve new heights and also request you to work for the betterment of the public and the citizens

Drr M ANGAMUTHU ANNGAAMUTH MUTHHU (DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, KAMRUP (METRO)) Best wishes to G Plus team.

AJAY TEWARI A TM AR TMEN ENTT OF SPORTS EN SPO PORT RTSS RT (COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT AND YOUTH WELFARE) News coverage has been encompassing, engrossing, positive and attractive. G Plus has truly lived up to its name. It has touched the lives of the common man in Guwahati.

GAUT U AM M DDAS A AS GAUTAM (DISTRICT TRANSPORT OFFICER) The endeavour taken by G Plus in highlighting different social issues is really appreciable. Being the District Transport Officer, I salute their effort in publicity of different issues related to commuters and different transport services. I wish them success for their future.

ASHW H AN ANI CH CCHOUDHARY HOUDHAR A Y ASHWANI (BRANCH MANAGER, SONY INDIA PVT LTD – NORTH EAST) I congratulate the entire team of G Plus for completing 2 successful years. Sony has been associated with G Plus right from back when you started and we value your association. G Plus is complete package and it covers everything for its readers. I, on behalf of SONY, wish the entire team of G Plus many more successful years ahead.

SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR SRI ((SSP (SPIRITUAL GURU) I am happy that G Plus is marking its second anniversary and my best wishes are with the team. The media has an important role to play in creating an awakened society. Wish you all the success in your work.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Reviews

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Lifestyle

Annivers ar Specia

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Reviews

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Lifestyle

Annivers ar Specia

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Life

STARDUST

The Science of

www.artofliving.org/yoga, Follow Sri Sri @ SriSriSpeaks on twitter

How much importance should we give to Vastushastra?

The evening! I gazed listlessly at the sky My mind almost reaching For the stars! But the eyes caught the Dust instead, Springing forth silent tears Not for today But tomorrow.... Apprehensive? Of what the future Holds, Nay, separatelyCounting the shells Th rown on the beach. The sand dunes With footprints of your And mine Slipping, Giving way to Quicksand..... And in its stead, a tree of Blue and yellow flowers Bloomed. Flakes of blue and yellow petals, blown by the breeze, to cover our golden bodies.

TINAT ATIFA MASOOD

ee, Vastushastra is defi nitely a science in itself. Th is science was conceived and developed in the ancient ages, and it is a part of the Vedas. But as of today, it is not available or accessible to us completely. It was written down on palm leaves and stored in the ancient universities and libraries but a lot of those documents (palm leaves) have been destroyed by termites and rats. A major part of this knowledge is therefore no longer fully available to us. Th is is why nowadays you fi nd that someone or the other develops and markets his own ‘brand’ or concepts about Vastushastra. Just remember one thing: no matter what may be the doshas (problems) one may be facing because of improper Vastu construction, the highest power above it all is grace, and it can be remedied by chanting Om Namaha Shivaya. All problems and negativity drop off by chanting this mantra. Some basics of Vastu are quite self-explanatory. For example, since the Sun rises in the East, so one should keep the main entrance of the house facing the East so that the rays of the rising sun enter the house. So, one can have the main entrance door of the house in the East or in the West. One should not have the main entrance of the house facing the South. The reason behind this is that in the earlier days, the cremation grounds were always located in the South direction. In the South of every town or city, there was a huge cremation ground where dead bodies were burnt. So to prevent the air that blew from that direction from coming into the house, the main entrances were never kept facing the South. Nowadays it is not so. In some cities today, if the cremation grounds are located in the East or in the North, then you cannot have the main entrance of the house facing those directions. If you take Russia’s example, then for Russia the Sun is in the South direction, so in that country you will fi nd that the homes there have the main entrance facing the South so that more and more light comes into the house. So there is a separate Vastu for homes in Russia. The Mount Kailash is present towards India’s North-east. People considered it as very pure and holy and associated a deity known as Ishana with that direction. It is similar to how it is for the Muslims and the direction of Mecca. Across the world, Muslims face the direction of Mecca and offer their daily prayers. The Muslims in India face the West when they read the Namaaz (reading of the Holy Quran), while the Muslims in Jordan, Lebanon etc., face East because for them, Mecca is in

that direction. InVastushastra strong emphasis has been given to the Sun and its direction. Going by this understanding, the Vastu being followed for Australia or South America will be totally different owing to the difference in the direction of the Sun as seen there. So these rules and theories in Vastushastra have been formulated keeping these aspects in mind. Another thing to note is that the Vastu of a public place is very different from the Vastuof a temple, a shop, or an Ashram, etc. Th is is how Vastushastra has been conceptualized, but we have very limited knowledge and texts available to us about this science. Many documents and scripts relating to Vastushastra were either destroyed or burnt in the libraries of Nalanda University, or during the times of Aurangzeb. It is said that during Emperor Aurangzeb’s time thousands and thousands of manuscripts and books were burnt in the open, and the fires kept burning for six months. Whatever books remained were destroyed by termites and rats. In those days the scholars and pundits were not very generous at heart when it came to spreading knowledge. They would restrict teaching the knowledge of these sciences to their disciples and children in their ancestral line only, so that the knowledge remained secret and limited to these families only. Due to this narrow-minded approach, not everyone could gain access to this body of knowledge or share it with others. Vastu is just one of the many sciences. Just see how the same thing has happened for Yoga as well. Some 40-50 years ago, Yoga was not taught to everyone. In those days if you wanted to learn Yoga, you would have to go to a special teacher or a

Yoga expert. Yoga was not something everyone practiced routinely in their homes in those days. Even Pranayama was not taught in those days. There are so many elders sitting here who are more than 50 years old. Tell me, was it ever taught so commonly and publicly in those days? In those days people belonging to a specific caste or background only were taught Yoga. The teachers would not open the doors of Yoga to just anyone. We have lost so much precious knowledge because of being so rigid and conventional in our ways in India. Only a few people were instructed about one or two Pranayama and breathing techniques at the time of Upanayanam (sacred thread-wearing ceremony) by a special pundit who was called to conduct the ceremony and rituals, and that was it. No one was taught anything after that. It was even worse for the ladies because they were never taught Pranayama or Yoga. It was thought of as a taboo for the ladies. Have the elders ever seen any lady doing Pranayama in those days? It was almost impossible for a lady to learn this. It is when we started the Art of Living Foundation, we opened the doors of Yoga and knowledge to everyone, and by doing so we broke away from these rigid and obsolete norms that were followed earlier. For the first time in many years, we raised our support for women also being equally capable of learning and practicing Yoga and Pranayama techniques. So the Art of Living Foundation took up this unique opportunity of making this knowledge accessible to the women as well. Yes, a few Yoga teachers used to teach these techniques in those days too, but to a very small extent. It was just a handful few. So this was a major reason why this knowledge remained limited to

a few people only. But one need not worry too much about this. Why? It is because once we go deeper into meditation, then whatever comes to us during meditation has everything that we need for our progress. Last week we had a discourse on the Vignana Bhairava (an ancient and sacred scripture said to elaborate various methods to meditation and Samadhi set as a dialogue between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati). I too had not read it earlier; but when I went through it, I realized that so many of the techniques mentioned in the scripture were already what we were practising in our Advanced Meditation Programs here. The kind of meditations described in the scripture was already a part of the Advanced Courses here. I said it seems as though this scripture gives a stamp of approval and correctness to the techniques we have prescribed in our Advanced Meditation Programs. The techniques prescribed in such an ancient and authentic scripture are also being practiced as a part of the Advanced Meditation Programs. The essence is the same. So when we become Antarmukhi – when our mind turns inwards to its source (Self), then whatever realization dawns upon us in such a deep state is also in complete agreement with that which is mentioned in the scriptures. There is no difference. There is a saying in India which means that whatever comes from the mouth of a realized Guru and the knowledge that is mentioned in the scriptures – both are one and the same. There is no difference. Th is is the real point you must understand.

HIS HOLINESS SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR JI

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Commissioner of Police Mukesh Agrawal recently said that they will ask all the Puja organisers to install CCTV cameras in and outside the Puja pandals so that all the activities inside the pandals can be under surveillance for the safety of the people. In the past also authorities used to ask the Puja committees to install cameras but only a few used to follow the orders. So, as the city always has threat from extremist groups shouldn’t CCTV camera installation be made mandatory? G Plus talks to some Guwahatians and takes their view.

es, absolutely. I believe CCTV Camera set up in every Puja pandal should be made mandatory by police and district administration in Guwahati. Police Control Room in major Puja pandals is a must to control vehicle movements. Quick response teams, Veerangana, Commando, ambulance and fire service should be ready at a standby. S B should also be deployed in civil attire to monitor any suspicious objects or personnel in movement during Puja. Additional cranes should be deployed by the traffic department for picking up any uncivilized parking of vehicles.

urga Puja, is organized in almost every locality of Guwahati, but the evil and anti-social elements that still exist in our society poses a huge challenge every year to the law enforcement department of the state. Already the city police have busted a pick-pocket racket a few days back which has its roots in West Bengal and it is operational in Guwahati during Durga Puja. So the mandate of installing CCTV camera in pandals is a welcome step as taking the help of technology is essential to tackle any untoward incidents. Also community policing initiative should be considered where volunteers from various colleges should be working with police to ensure that there is no shortage of manpower.

GAURAV PRATIM DEY

SATYAJIT CHAKRABARTY

BROZEN SAIKIA

AMLANJIT DAS

SAHIL JAIN

SAHA RJ

f course, yes, but things should not be taken for granted just by setting CCTV cameras at places. Rather than looking for culprits of any incident through CCTV footages afterwards, police should remain alert to keep any kind of undesired incident from taking place and be ready, equipped and properly geared up.

es, it should be made mandatory. Incidents of chain-snatching, pickpocket and eve-teasing take place regularly in crowded places. But, once cameras are installed the fear of getting figured in the CCTV image will keep the anti-social elements away from the pandals which remain the most crowded place.

he installation CCTV cameras should certainly be made mandatory as it will help in keeping the security of the people intact and ensure smooth functioning of the Puja keeping unwanted activities from taking place. Moreover, CCTV cameras are social friendly devices and several cases have been cracked through such installations. Meanwhile, the police will also have to remain alert and keep their monitoring thorough to prevent any anti-social activity.

ecurity is a big concern in Pujas or any big public gathering. Having CCTV cameras will keep everyone alert and roguish elements will think twice before indulging in any mischievous act. But hopefully the CCTV cameras will be functional.

GHULAM KIBRIYA

Annivers ar Specia l

Meet Meet Meet Should police mandate CCTV cameras in Puja pandals to ensure security?

In Focus

Advertising Professional

ith a career spanning over thirty years in the advertisement and creative industry, he is one of the pioneers of the advertising industries in Assam. Meet Ghulam Kibriya the founder of Exclusive Advertisement Pvt. Ltd. one of the first advertisement agencies in Guwahati. Born on the 16thof December 1958, Ghulam Kibriya had a childhood that involved a lot of travelling. Although the roots of Ghulam Kibriya are based in Guwahati, he had to shift from one city to another after frequently as his father was an engineer for the Government of Assam. He was born in Jorhat and started his education in Nagaon and came to Guwahati for a short while after which he went to Dibrugarh and then Shillong. He finally landed up in Guwahati and finished his schooling from Don Bosco in the year 1975. Kibriya then went to Kolkata and pursued his graduation in commerce from St. Xaviers’. “I did dabble after graduation since I wanted to do Chartered Accountancy but somehow it never happened. In our times, the ideas of career were very fi xed and it was either medical or engineering and just being a graduate was looked down upon. During the mid 70s, a career in Chartered Accountancy, Cost Accountancy, etc. were the new avenues and that is what attracted me. Advertising as a career option bloomed only from mid 80s and to me it happened by chance in Kolkata. During the years 1978-79, I happened to have a friend whose father owned an agency and I used to visit once in the while. The set up fascinated me. While in my mind, the idea of an office is where things are very organized, but in this, it was very casual. These things got me really fascinated,” asserted Ghulam Kibriya. Kibriya then got back to Guwahati and in the year 1982, he came across an outfit named Adland Pvt. Ltd. The owner was impressed with Kibriya as he was aware of the functioning of an advertising agency and asked him to represent the company in Guwahati after coming to a profit sharing arrangement. “I started operating out of my house with a small set up, as I was the only person. While all other functioning happened from Kolkata, my main job was to market the agency in Guwahati. In the year 1986, I quit Adland and started Exclusive Advertising,” Kibriya added. It was after starting his own office when he believes to have faced the real world. He started with a Commercial Artist (Graphic Designer) and a peon and carried on for some time with the same team. Soon another qualified person joined the art department and thus his art department was sorted. Meanwhile, back in those days, the idea of adverting was

not clear to the people of Assam and for many advertisements mainly meant hoardings, which created a gap. The market too was dependent on Kolkata for any kind of designing and printing jobs. Kibriya initially targeted the PSUs in order to fi ll the gap as they routed advertisements through agencies only and they also needed the support of agencies in order to design and release brochures, journals and folders. The companies were dependent mainly upon Kolkata for the entire process. Meanwhile, Kibriya has also witnessed the revolution of DTP and the transition from manually putting together a layout to the use of Photoshop and InDesign. “When I started though, the market was there but it also needed to be developed as many were not aware of how advertisements could add value to their communication process. I could successfully sell and make clients understand the value of my service and that is how I ticked in the business. One has to be in love with his profession and it is the same thing which got me going. One also has to be inspired and give all out to one’s work and God has also been kind to me that I got the right kind of return, which in the meantime inspired me. Knowing that I did play a small role in bringing up the industry from a certain level is a satisfying achievement for me,” he beamed. Ghulam Kibriya who is also the President of the Ad Club Guwahati that was formed earlier this year, targets to recognise and appreciate good work in the field of advertising. The Ad Club also looks forward towards engaging people from advertisement in different social and learning activities.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Travel

Home is where they

pitch it

BIPASA SAIKIA KASHYAP

As Guwahati slowly turns into a bustling, busy and loud city, more and more people are looking to step out into the wilderness for a few days of natural calm under the sky.

urga Puja! For the modern, young Guwahatian, it is a vacation time to look forward to rather than a time of being pushed and shoveled in a crowd to bow to an idol in the name of faith. The four days of holiday is a craving that plenty of Guwahatians are routinely succumbing to despite a dilemma that they often face. Where do they go to? And for just four days? What is a good destination to go, unwind and then get back to the choc-a-bloc schedules of the city life? A young graduate from the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (Ministry of Tourism, GOI) and the University of Delhi who also happens to be a skiing instructor from the Atal Behari Vajpayee Institue of Mountaineering, Jnandip Borgohain lights up with enthusiasm as we broach the topic of alternative destinations. “When I was a student in DU, I and a group of friends skipped a college trip to Goa and chose to backpack through Nepal. The sheer magnificence of the Himalayas lead us to create Kite Manja, and ever since there is no looking back. My wanderlust started since, and I came back to Guwahati with big plans for the city’s travel enthusiasts who wanted to leave behind the hustle of the city for their extended weekends.” Tuning with nature was what was important, I realized. Blowing up money at the various coffee taverns and watering holes of the city was no more fun. Having a good time, in my opinion, would mean a morning where I would wake up to the sound of a gurgling river nearby or the calls of rare birds echoing in the dense forests of the Panidihing Bird Sanctuary that is situated between The Disang and The Demow Rivers (just a few kilometres from Sivasagar town) and which was home to about a hundred and sixty five species of migratory birds. A trek in the hills during the day and a chat with friends around a campfire in the evenings - indeed all this is possible for the Guwahatians, blessed as they are to be residing within the boundaries of redolent, unexplored greenery. Says Jnandip, “I came back to Assam and started exploring most of the neighboring places. Most people who visit the

northeast pass through Guwahati making it an overnight stop to get to the other neighboring states. What they are unaware of is that this city is the gateway to an entire terrain of unexplored adventure and breathtaking scenic beauty. The land of Assam and its nearby areas are yet to be explored, and Guwahati is where it can all start. This is where our initiative lies.” The wistful narration continued, “Imagine an extended weekend of say three days where one can pitch a tent in the middle of Amguri Tea Estate beside a flowing river. Imagine a weekend that would end right in the middle of a river cruise and a river dolphin safari in Dibru Saikhowa National Park which also happens to be one of the nineteen biodiversity hotspots in the world. Imagine taking a stroll by the Dikhow River that also happens to flow through villages that are home to the oldest communities of the Mising and Deori tribes. And also imagine spending some quality time at the Patkai rainforest which is home to exquisite tropical flora and fauna. Wouldn’t it be exciting to spend a night sitting in the oldest village of the Mising and Deori tribes drinking local beer and getting to know their culture? We at Kite Manja are striving to bring this variety of travel to the wanderlust Guwahatian.

“The spirit of hospitality of the local tribes is often overwhelming. When someone takes an interest in their culture and lifestyle, they go to great extent to make you understand their life better,” smiles Jnandip. Assam Tourism has been very supportive of this initiative taken by the team of Kite Manja. Through its help, the team of Kite Manja has able to access many previously unsighted locations. Nil imBaruah, Tourist Information Officer, Assam Tourism is all praises for this young team. He got a chance to be acquainted with team Kite Manja during the Ziro Festival of Music when he was inspecting the camping sites. “What these youngsters are doing to promote the tourism industry of Assam, making Guwahati a focal point, is truly great. The idea of camping is quite new in northeast and I think greater efforts are required to make it more popular. This type of an initiative can bring a good change in the tourism sector and will make way for the tourist flow

to Guwahati and other parts of the northeast from around the globe. Moreover, in places like Majuli, Assam where there is no large scale of accommodation facilities, especially during the upcoming Rash Festivals held in the month of November every year, camping may be great alternative choice for tourists visiting the festival.” The fact remains that an entire gamut of culture, heritage and adventure is lying unexplored just a few hours away from Guwahati and most Guwahatians are still clueless. San Moni Malakar, member of a biking community called Bulls of Assam has been travelling with Kite Manja for quite some time. He shares his experience thus, “It has been rewarding both because of picturesque landscape and people who are closer to nature. Biking is a visually hyper real mode of travelling with a 270 degree view of the landscape. Riding a bike is exposing oneself to the elements, something that at once helps us connect with various people on the

road. It’s been a great experience being associated with Kite Manja. They are both professional and humane and needless to say that their camping locations are always unique and amazingly picturesque.” The challenges remain. Air connectivity in the northeast remains a pricy affair. But there is simply no replacing the spark of a night in the woods, staring up at a clear night sky, at the sparkling stars, the bright moon and then falling asleep in the lap of nature. You can live your camping destinations by contacting the following teams: 1. Kite Manja Phone: +91 811982566, +91 8474819076 email: info.kitemanja@gmail.com 2. Shoes on Loose Phone: +91 9582153457 Email: infor@shoesonloose.com 3. Campventure Phone: +91 8811040869, +91 9707432476 Email: campventureinfor@gmail.com

Photo credit Bitu Chetia

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

G Talk

TWO YEARS OF MADNESS

s we celebrate our second anniversary, it would be an understatement to say that two years have passed us by at lightning speed! The journey has been an amazing rollercoaster of ups and downs at the least, but I can proudly say that we have all thoroughly enjoyed it. The learning curve has been steep and the pace has been frenetic. From the very beginning, our focus has been Guwahati – the city of aspirations, an upcoming metro and a truly cosmopolitan beast. It had almost everything that a city should have and so we decided to give it one more feature – it’s very own tabloid. With the spectrum of print media as varied as the myriad ethnicities of people the city is home to, G Plus was started with the objective of being the city’s own weekly. So far, the direction we have take has seemed right and we are eagerly looking forward to new adventures in our third year. However, this journey would not have been possible without the support and adulation from Guwahati and its amazing

citizens. The encouragement, appreciation and brickbats that we have received along the way has only helped us get better and be more responsible. It made us realise that we are a part of no small endeavour but a big revolution. A revolution by the name of Guwahati and it was our duty that we aid its march towards progress and development. So here we are all raring to go for another year. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our writers, the advertisers, the readers, our associates and our well wishers who have supported us along the way. It would not have been possible without you. I would also like to thank all our followers on Facebook, Twitter and mobile app who have helped us be one of the most popular form of digital media in the city. A big thank you to each and every one of you. I am an eternal optimist and I believe that this is just the start of a momentous journey – a journey that we want you to be a part of. So let’s shift gears and take it up a notch.

KOUSHIK HAZARIKA EDITOR

Annivers ar Specia l

From the desk of the Publisher and the Editor

The real Guwahati Dear Readers, It has been two years since GPlus has been in circulation. Today marks the publication’s third year. An anniversary issue! We started GPlus to create a platform where the issues of the city could be placed, highlighted and addressed. And we placed a restriction on ourselves. We wanted to project only the city, our city - Guwahati. Guwahati has been one of the fastest emerging metropolises in the country – in all aspects. And we at GPlus believed we needed a newspaper of our own. We wanted to ensure it was our own - very local; ultra local, in fact. There were and still are other newspapers and periodicals that are covering the state and the region with Guwahati being just a miniscule part of it. We felt we needed a difference. GPlus was created with an aim to cover more positive and developmental aspects of the city and add the touch of growth and progress as part of its news-fabric. In terms of content, we have been evolving as we continue to get feedback from our readers and fans. Our attempt remains to incorporate as much as we can. The tabloid reflects our love for the city which is our world, our living space. Although we continue to keep it a weekly in our effort to provide you some fine weekend reading, we have also been able to create a strong presence online through our website, mobile application (currently available on android only) and social networks. Our endeavour is to ensure that the newspaper is

available with our readers’ hawkers as well as their nearest book stalls. We have also kept promotional copies for reach at various hot spots in town including the Guwahati Airport, prominent coffee shops and hospitals. Over the last two years, we have received positive feedback from Government officials, social groups and citizens alike which has encouraged us to continue our effort to place stories that demand our attention. We have an infectiously enthusiastic team at work that shares our passion for the love of our city. The hard work they put in everyday is mind-boggling to put it mildly. Today, I thank our readers, fans, hawkers, agencies, contributors, advertisers, other stakeholders and all our partners-in-growth to help us keep up the spirit of Guwahati. Keep reading and keep enjoying GPlus!

SUNIT JAIN PUBLISHER

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Lifestyle

iXpand

How to stop videos from autoplaying on Facebook

The iPhone’s memory solution

T F

acebook now autoplays videos on your timeline if just hover video on desktop and automatically on mobile apps. Most of the Social networks focus on video auto-play because it is good for advertisers. But it is not so good for users, infact it irritates users. Good thing is that there is an option to disable autoplays .If you want to disable video autoplay, you can do this from settings. Here is the step by step process to disable video autoplay on facebook website, iOS app and Android app

1. Stop autoplay on Facebook website Step 1 Go to Facebook account’s settings page and find video option the left side menu. This is the last option in left side menu.

Step 2 Ste

In th the videos section, you will see options to set video quality and autoplay. vide

Step 3 Ste

In A Auto-Play videos option, set it to default

2. Stop Facebo 2 Facebook autoplay on Facebook iOS App Step 1

Go to Settings and then Account settings.

Step 2

Tap on ‘Videos and Photos’ option.

Step 3

Now select ‘Auto-play’ option here.

Step 4

Turn it off by selecting ‘Never Auto-play Videos’.

3. Stop Facebook autoplay on Facebook Android App Step 1

Go to settings and select app settings.

Step 2

In App settings, tap on ‘Videos play automatically” option.

Step 3 Turn it off.

Indrajeet Bhuyan is a 17 year old tech blogger and security researcher. He is passionate about computers and believes in sharing knowledge and information . He uses his spare time helping people and companies secure themselves. fb.me/indrajeet.bhuyan

here is something about using an iPhone that is oddly satisfying no matter how much you cringe and complain about it. Somewhere, a copywriter did a great job of writing ‘If you don’t have an iPhone, you don’t have an iPhone’. But then again an avid iPhone user will tell you that managing storage is extremely annoying on an iPhone. There’s only so much iCloud backup you have the patience the make and connecting to iTunes is another headache. So today we’ll look at a nifty little device called the iXpand created by Sandisk. The iXpand is about 2.5 inch tall and 1.5 inch wide accessory for your

iPhones and iPads. One of the most practical purchases for an iDevice, the iXpand is great for transferring documents, small clips and photos on the go. Since iDevices do not offer expandable storage of any sort, this is the closest thing you can get to give yourself some extra storage space. The iXpand features the signature lightning conductor which means it is only useful for iPhone 5 and above. The iXpand has a unibody design with both the lightning connector and USB 2.0 on the frame. It is not bulky or huge and is conveniently portable. It comes is various sizes of 16GB, 64GB and 128GB. The drive is to be used with the iXpand Sync mobile app (download instructions will follow the moment you connect the drive to the iPhone) which detects most audio and video

format, things that the native iPhone can’t do with iTunes. iXpand also has its own battery and it does not affect the battery life of your iPhone and iPad. The battery is self charging when it is connected to a computer or can be charged with a USB wall charger. There is a small activity LED that notifies you when the battery is low. One great feature on iXpand is the ability the play content from the drive directly without creating cache on the phone. Just plug, click and play. This way, you could carry your movies, a couple of seasons of the favourite TV Series and maybe discography upon discography. It also acts as a data encryption module so that you have a two step authentication for your personal documents.

Stretch those knots out at the Office

oga has been under the scanner for a very long time now. Our new Prime Minister is out to label Yoga as Indian and while he is at it we also know office workers in India have a hard time working long hours. So why don’t we make use of what is our science and help take some stress off of the hard working people in the office. Yoga has been developed over the years, a science

which comes from the word ‘yuj’ which means ‘carry together’ the spirit and the physical body together. Quick yoga stretches have been known to calm the mind, relax blood pressure, increase body strength and flexibility and give a sense of relaxation. Sitting behind a desk is known to let pain creep in and make work very hard. Here are some office yoga stretches that you can perform to relax those muscles and have a better time working at the office.

Seated Pigeon Pose

Scale pose

Palming

A very simple yoga pose that will help you stretch out the hips and release tension from the lower back. Push back your chair, away from your desk, sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor, inhale and cross your legs. Lift each knee towards your alternatively. On exhaling, bend forward slightly until you feel a gentle hip stretch. This stretch can be held for a few, slow, deep breaths before changing to the opposite side.

The scale pose is an excellent stretch for your abdominals, shoulders, hips and legs. It is a quick way to have blood flowing and making you feel energetic. To perform the scale stretch, sit on the edge of your chair, press your hands down on the edges of the chair and raise your legs and butt up off the seat. This engages your deep abdominal muscles and you can feel the blood rush within you. Hold for 3 to 5 breaths.

While it does sound very simple and physically is too, sitting quietly with eyes closed is harder than it seems. Taking some deep breaths can help you relax. Rub the palms of your hands vigorously, until they become warm and place the palms gently over your eye lids. Keeping the eyes closed, lower the hands and repeat the process thrice.

Cow Face Arms

Wrist Release

Seated Spinal Twist

Yes, although the name sounds funny it is a rather difficult stretch. It is a great exercise to relax your upper back, upper arms, chest and hips especially when you’ve been sitting for long periods of time. To perform cow face arms, stretch your left arm behind your back and right arm behind your head. Clasp fingers if you can. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths; switch sides. For a deeper stretch, exhale and bend forward, then inhale back to upright.

Weeks and years of typing can take a toll on your wrists and forearms. Forearms tend to get knotted pretty quick over the years. while at the office, take some time to bend your wrists in each direction. With one hand press your fingertips toward the top of your arm, then switch. Then bend each wrist in the opposite direction by pressing your fingertips toward the inside of your wrist.

This office stretch can help relieve sciatic pain while improving blood flow. Sit towards the edge of the chair with knees bent directly at 90 degrees. Press the feet towards the ground and feel your spine open up and relax. Inhale, bringing arms wide and overhead; exhale and twist to the right, placing your left hand on your outer right thigh and your right hand on the edge of the seat. Widen your collarbones and stretch your chest. Return to centre while bringing your arms wide and overhead, then exhale and switch sides.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

NOW SHOWING

Dona Planet. GS Road 08800900009 JAZBAA 4.10 PM SINGH IS BLING 10.15 PM RUDRAMADEVI 1.05 PM THE WALK 6.40 PM TALVAR 9.10 PM

Fun Cinemas

HUB, GS Road 9864800100, 9864800200 JAZBAA 10 AM, 5.45 & 8.45 PM SINGH IS BLING 3 PM THE WALK (3D)(E) 12.30 PM

Anuradha Cineplex Noonmati 03612656968, 9954544738

JAZBAA 9.15 AM & 5.30 PM RUDRAMADEVI 2.15 PM THE WALK (3D)(E) 11.45 PM JAJABOR (ASSAMESE) 8.15 PM

Apsara Cinema Ulubari 0361 2541335 JAZBAA 11 AM, 5, 8 PM RUDRAMADEVI 2 PM

GOLD Cinema

Cast: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Jackie Shroff, Shabana Azmi Director: Sanjay Gupta

ishwarya Rai Bachchan returns to Bollywood after a five-year sabbatical with Sanjay Gupta’s Jazbaa. The film is one of the most awaited films of 2015. Apart from Ash the action thriller also stars Irrfan Khan, Atul Kulkarni, Jackie Shroff, Priya Banerjee amongst others. The plot of Jazbaa bears similarities to a South Korean crime thriller titled Seven Days. While Abhishek Bachchan’s wifey plays a lawyer and Irrfan Khan plays a suspended cop, apart from these, there are four important characters in Gupta’s thriller. Our critic Tushar Joshi is watching the film at a theatre right now and has sent us his first impressions of the film. Tushar says, “ Slick and super stylish are two words that have become synonymous with every Sanjay

Gupta film. The director has the ability to turn even an ordinary scene into a visual spectacle by the use of technology and his camera lens. With Jazbaa he goes all out in creating a world that has intrigue, treachery, deceit and tons of suspense. The story is tight and grilling from the very first frame. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan plays a famous lawyer who takes up the case of criminal at the behest of a thug who has kidnapped her daughter. Irrfan Khan plays inspector Yohan her associate who has a sharp tongue and is more than just an accomplice to the plot. The first half is extremely engaging and fast paced. Aishwarya slinks into the role of a mother caught in the midst of a situation struggling to fight her inner demons. There a certain relate ability to her Anuradha. You can

GOLD Cinema

Salasar Building, Lakhtokia 9854066166 JAZBAA 11 AM, 2, 5 & 8 PM SINGH IS BLING 2.30 & 8.30 PM RUDRAMADEVI 2.30 PM TALVAR 11.30 PM

GOLD Cinema

LG Towers, Narangi 8811001898 JAZBAA 11 AM, 5 & 8 PM SINGH IS BLING 2 PM

Annivers ar Specia l

feel her pain when she has a brush with her daughter in a gripping scene pre interval.” “Irrfan has the best lines in the film and the frontbenchers will totally root for him. Gupta also does an amazing job in bringing Mumbai to life. His camera captures some of the most scenic and popular spots in the city with grandeur and style. However what will keep you on the edge of your seat are the unexpected twists and turns in the plot. On the plus side the songs aren’t forced into the plot but serve as backdrops for the story to progress. There is no doubt that Aishwarya believes in this project to the point that she c leaves her signature giggles behind and becomes this gritty woman who will go to any extent to save her daughter. Performances are a definite highlight of Jazbaa.”

Cast: Anushka, Allu Arjun, Rana, Nithya Menen, Prakash Raj Director: Gunasekhar

he story of the film is set in the ancient Kakatiya dynasty of Orugallu. The majestic kingdom is ruled by Raja Ganapati Devudu(Krishnam Raju) who does not have any male successors. As time passes by, Ganapathi Devudu’s wife gives birth to a baby girl Rudrama Devi(Anushka). Fearing that his long time enemies from the Devagiri dynasty would attack him after knowing that he has no male successors, the king decides to announce Rudrama Devi as prince Rudra De-

vudu to his empire. Rudrama Devi grows up like a warrior and keeps her identity under wraps. Twist in the tale arises when the entire Kakatiya dynasty comes to know that the young prince is actually a girl. What will Rudra Devudu do now ? Will he declare himself as the royal Rudrama Devi and fight the enemies ? and where does Gona Ganna Reddy(Allu Arjun) and Chalukya (Rana) feature in all this set up. To know answers to all these questions, you need to watch the film on the big screen.

On the whole, Rudrama Devi is a decent attempt from Gunasekhar. Heavy duty star cast, rich visuals and Allu Arjun’s stunning character elevate the film to a decent level. But a dragged out narration and slow pace of the film makes things tedious during the second half. The film is bound to get some huge openings because of the buzz it is carrying. Finally, if you keep all your expectations in check and go with the flow of the film, you can easily give this film a shot for its lavish film making and historical lineage.

ASTC Complex, Paltan Bazar 9854066166 JAZBAA 11 AM, 5 & 8 PM SINGH IS BLING 11.30 AM, 5.30 & 8.30 PM RUDRAMADEVI 2.30 PM JAJABOR (ASSAMESE) 2 PM

PVR Cinemas

Reviewsw

Book: Tell Me A Story Author: Ravinder Singh

ME GA VIEW RE

ock Band 4 seems primarily concerned with bringing the classic series formula to new consoles, albeit without some of the Rock Band 3 additions that probably didn’t justify their investment. It’s all about guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, with your four-player band wailing away at plastic instruments to the tune of licensed smash songs. We played a short stint at E3 last month, and given the few years that had passed since we last fired up Rock Band 3, we would’ve believed developers Harmonix if they’d said it was the very same game. Which isn’t

a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination – but unless you’re a die-hard or you play long enough to notice subtle tweaks, the initial sensation is that the classic formula has simply been maintained. But there is one significant addition to the formula that feels like a natural evolution for the game: freestyle guitar solos. Rather than nail as many streaming notes as you can, Rock Band 4 makes it easy to just wail away at buttons and bring some inventive jams to life. The game shows you some guide indicators to help you shape the solo, and apparently makes it difficult to to-

tally botch the job – but beyond that, it’s totally up to you. Another tweak: songs with harmonies will have multiple vocal parts available, as in The Beatles: Rock Band. That applies not only to new songs, but also to those found in the DLC back catalogue. Harmonix says the game also has a revised career mode with more of a focus on story and decision-making, letting you make calls for your band that might lead you to more fame and money – or a strong artistic legacy. We haven’t seen that in action yet, but we’re eager to see how indepth that proves to be.

U YO ULD O AD H S RE

here is always a story that changed your life… And that is the time when life happened for you! Tell Me a Story is collection of heartwarming stories about events and incidents that have affected or changed the lives of the writers in ways that they cannot forget. Happy or sad, inspiring or

shocking, these are stories of moments that have left an indelible mark on their lives. Stories, that they would love to share. Selected and edited by Ravinder Singh, Tell Me a Story is about moments that make life worth living. It is the second such anthology, after the highly successful Love Stories that Touched My Heart.

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia nd

Entertainment

Dhou

The Wave

ssamese movies have been in the crosshairs of critics for a while now. A new Assamese feature fi lm titled ‘Dhou - The Wave’ is all set to release with hopes of reviving Assamese cinema. The fi lm has been directed by Lakhinandan Pegu and produced by Tutul Chandra Pegu and Sabita Yein under the banner of LN Films. The story has been written by the director himself and the screenplay has been written by Munin Baruah. The story revolves around two friends and the movie features a lot of actors and characters essayed by Lakhinandan Pegu, Nibedita Yein, Biki, Hiranya Das, Pabitra Barua, Mridushmita Gogoi, Tonia Padhi, Mridul Baruah, Lipika Bora, Rajib Doley, Trisha Saikia and Rupsanda. The fi lm’s music has been composed by Diganta Bharati and he has also penned the lyrics. The songs have been rendered by Assam’s most popular singers including Zubeen Garg, Papon, Dikshu, Barnali Kalita, Priyanka Bharali and Zublee among others. The cinematography has been done by Biswabhusan Mahapatra around the scenic locations

of Manali, Shimla, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP, Orissa, Chennai, Rajasthan, Shillong and Guwahati. Well-known action director from the south, Sailen Roy has choreographed the action scenes using the roofing method to present scenes of

people and cars soaring up in the air. Songs have been choreographed by Hemen Sarma and B.K. Mahapatra. The movie is out to bring something fresh to the Assamese screens. Let’s hope it hits the mark!

KALYAN KUMAR KALITA

Guwahati’s e-Rock Band: SKD

KD, Guwahati’s premier electronic rock band has been swaying the audience and Guwahati is getting their groove on at their shows. Their covers and their own compositions including ‘Xur Kotha’ and Spanish Guitar are doing well on social media platforms. SKD stands for Suman Kalyan Dutta, the band’s lead vocalist who formed the band back in November 2014 and six veteran musicians came together to form the band. On 20th September, 2015, their performance at Cheers Crossroads was a crowd puller. Another highlight for the band was their performance on World

Music Day at Shilpagram. The band plays E-Rock, Hard Rock, Country, Jazz, Blues, Reggae, Indie and Fusion. They’ve toured and travelled all over India and have played for all age groups. They have been known to highlight corporate events, club shows and awareness rallies. The band comprises of the following members: Suman Kalyan Dutta; Vocals – an ex-Moonwind member (19942014). With 25 years of experience in performing various gigs, he is the founder and leader of SKD. Ritrisha Sarma; Female Vocalist – Trained in classical music from Shivani Barooah Phukan

and now sings Western. Kailash Sarma; Lead Guitar – Graduated from B. Barooah College and has the experience of playing with Zubeen Garg. Also the best guitarist in Synkisis 2006 Pompom Bania; Drums– Actor and drummer, multi talented! Diganta Banikya; Keyboard -Keyboard player for TV channels and has more 15years of experience! Papu Gogoi; Bass Guitar – Visharad in Tabla, 15 years of experience in western and classical music and worked with the likes of Zubeen Garg, Shanta Uzir, Bhupen Uzir, Dipak Sarma among others.

Pradeep-Bhabesh

The Action Director Duo

ocal artists of the state have been involved with various projects of National and International stature in the last couple of years. With their continued participation, they have earned several laurels, not just in State based projects, but they are also involved in projects outside Assam. Pradeep-Bhabesh entered the Assamese Film Industry last year as actiondirectors with their feature fi lm ‘Suma Poroxote’. The movie was directed by Jonmoni Devi Khaund and recently bagged the award for the best actiondirection. The same duo was responsible for directing the action sequences in a Rajasthani Movie titled ‘Mero Badlo’. The duo clinched the best action-direction award at the Rajasthani Film Festival 2015. The award was collected by the fi lm’s director, Mahendra Gaur on behalf of Pradeep-Bhabesh. In order to improve the action sequences in the Assamese fi lm industry, the duo has tried to bring a whole new level of realism to their action sequences. Their direction is particularly meant to target the present youth and bring something fresh to the Assamese movie screens. The duo has worked in various Assamese movies as action directors including major movies titled Suma Poroxote, The Face and Tumi, Khawoi-The Danger Zone which

is awaiting release. Apart from these, they have also worked in mega serials as action-directors. ‘Bhoi’, ‘Ghor-Sansar’, ‘Abhijaan’ etc are some of them. The action based Rajasthani fi lm ‘Mero Badlo’ has been directed by Mahendra Gaur and produced by him under the banner of MR Motion Pictures. The story has been written by the director himself, screenplay-dialogues have been written by Murarilal Pareek. The fi lm’s music and background music has been scored by Assam born music director Bibhuti Gogoi and the songs have been rendered by Goldie Singh Sohel, Zublee Baruah, Mainak M-Sonic, Arpita Chakraborty and Mahendra Gaur. The achievements of PradeepBhabesh outside Assam are noteworthy and have made the state proud.

KALYAN KUMAR KALITA

G PLUS OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Lifestyle

There’s a major focus on work and you’ll be eager to play an active part. While Mars in Virgo encourages you to put your best foot forward, it might not be so easy when Neptune’s influence comes into play, especially early in the week. Clarity will begin to dawn once Mercury turns direct on Friday. Sunday brings a fabulous opportunity to make a bold move. It also offers a chance to take your business or a key ambition to the next level.

The week begins on an intense note that could affect a budding romance or your performance in a creative or entrepreneurial project. You may feel pressured, but try to avoid making decisions until you’re sure you’re on the right track. You’ll soon notice a difference once Mercury forges ahead on Friday. There may be a chance of a small windfall over the weekend that would make you smile.

AMBULANCE

Taurus You could be pushed into making a decision early on, but avoid doing so unless you’re absolutely sure it’s right. Research your options and bide your time for a few more days. Venus dancing into Virgo adds extra sparkle to your romance zone, bringing more opportunities to find that special person or enjoy creative pastimes. Issues associated with lifestyle and health also clear up as Mercury pushes ahead on Friday.

Cancer

Gemini

You may feel a greater responsibility to get ahead now that Saturn is moving through your work and lifestyle sector. This means you’ll likely be putting more pressure on yourself. Don’t forget to schedule in plenty of leisure time and the chance to relax to avoid burnout. Also avoid signing anything of importance on or around Tuesday, because things may not be what they seem.

Virgo

Leo Go easy with your finances, especially in the early part of the week. And take extra care of your credit cards and personal data. If you need to make a major purchase, keep receipts and any associated paperwork, as there’s the potential for a mishap. At the same time, Jupiter’s presence in your financial sector boosts opportunities to expand your income and enhance business success.

It can be easy to get in a muddle this week, as there is the potential for mixed messages and general misunderstandings. But there’s also a lot that’s exciting and upbeat happening for you in the days ahead. Venus dances back into Virgo on Thursday, making you an attractive option. Money matters will be less subject to delays and frustration once Mercury turns direct on Friday.

Scorpio

Libra

You may feel put upon by family members and pressured into taking a course of action that irks you. A touch of diplomacy can help swing things your way. Later, you’ll find that delays begin to melt away fairly rapidly as Mercury pushes forward, leaving you able to get on with plans and projects that have been on the back burner. If you get an intuitive hunch to go somewhere or connect with someone over the weekend, follow it up.

It’s that time of year when you need to take time out to relax and enjoy life a little. Take stock of all you’ve achieved and look ahead to your goals and plans for the next twelve months. Be sure to leave plenty of opportunity for socializing and leisure, as there’s a powerful lineup that encourages you to meet with others, network, and become part of your community.

Capricorn

Sagittarius The desire to succeed could take on a whole new meaning this week as Mars moves deeper into your career sector. There’s also an exciting aspect involving Jupiter, which could see you latch on to a brilliant idea and eager to take it further. This might involve a business plan or an insight into your career or industry that could see you doing very well further down the line. Avoid making any impulsive moves, however.

Avoid making important decisions early in the week, as you may lack critical information. Research your options and you’ll make a wise choice. Romance may show up when you’re on a trip or in an academic setting. Even so, it could take some time to develop into a close, intimate relationship. The weekend brings some exciting times as you have a chance to put a plan to the test.

Pisces

Aquarius

SUDOKU

Others may be only too willing to offer practical advice this week, especially if they think you’re heading in the wrong direction. They may be right, but they might not understand exactly what you have in mind. Avoid making decisive moves until later in the week. Finances look set to improve as Mercury pushes ahead on Friday. Now you can go ahead and purchase big-ticket items or close lucrative deals.

Annivers ar Specia l

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 11 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, 9207044374 Downtown Hospital 2331003, 9864079366, 9435012669 Guwahati Medical College (2529457, 2529561) Guwahati Medical College Emergency (2263444) International Hospital 0361-7135005 0361-713500

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

Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 03612541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344 Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351)

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 SERVICES ADIO TAXI SERVICE 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

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

Go easy with money matters early on, as there’s a potential for mistakes. If you’re thinking of purchasing a big-ticket item, hold back for a few days and look into your reasons for wanting it in the first place. You might be able to save some cash. Travel plans look promising, too, especially once Mercury turns direct. The chance of a relaxing break could do you a world of good. Later, an intuitive idea could help enhance your income and take it to a new level.

HOROSCOPE Aries

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

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, 37, 2731199 9 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 OCT 10 - OCT 16, 2015

Annive 2 pec rsar S ia

Catching Up

In a particularly mild week in the city, the arrival of a Porsche in Guwahati stirred the G Plus social media handles. The post was seen by almost 13,000 fans, liked by more than 350 people and shared 30 times. The post was buzzing with comments where most of them claimed that it was one a kind in the Northeast. On Twitter, the post received 7 re-tweets and was favourited 11 times. facebook.com/guwahatiplus twitter.com/guwahatiplus

Guwahati

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