G plus volume 1 issue 46 by G Plus

Losing Interest in Independence Day

City freedom fighter feels that the day has lost its significance and become a mere holiday

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PG17 Bookworm’s delight The Bibliophilia Cafe

A new place to hang out for the book lovers of the city

Humaima Malick Pakistani actor is finally making her much awaited Bollywood debut. PG24

VOLUME 01 | ISSUE 46 AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014 PRICE `10

1700 CR FOR GHY SEWERAGE PROJECT

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WARD WATCH

MS ROAD PG 15

City braves terror & rain on I-day

Oscar winner calls to protect Deepor Beel “It Has Turned Into A Dumping Ground.”

ndependence Day celebrations in the city were hindered due to rains but this did not dampen the newfound spirit of the city as people went out to hoist flags, participate in rallies, revel in picnics and hang out with friends and families.

Mike Pandey on Deepor Beel

PG 11

Page 02

THE KILLER FARE

Page 05

he recent murder of an autorickshaw driver in the heart of the city served as a jolt due to several reasons. The cold-blooded crime has posed questions about the general law and order of the city. The incident might have also brought to light the hidden resentment that

people have against the autorickshaws who fail to charge the passengers by the metre. Although the authorities have introduced laws and directives, the autorickshaws do not follow any kind of fare charts. However, that is not the end of the story as the autorickshaw drivers too have divided opinions about the ruling.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

In The News

CITY BRAVES TERROR THREAT AND RAIN ON I-DAY Rahul Chanda

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

hief Minister Tarun Gogoi unfurled the national tricolour at the Khanapara Veterinary Field Ground in Guwahati on 15th August while his cabinet colleagues took part in Independence Day functions in various parts of the state. Gogoi said that the State has experienced a sea of change over the last 13 years and has emerged as a vibrant economy, overcoming two decades of conflict and economic stagnation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There has been a visible transformation all around. Insurgency has dwindled, agricultural productivity has increased significantly, road connectivity has penetrated to new areas, economic activities have picked up momentum and employment avenues have increased manifold,â&#x20AC;? said Gogoi in his Independence Day speech after the ceremonial hoisting of the tricolour. But are these claims true enough? Has the city felt any kind of change this Independence Day?

The unpreparedness

Security

The holiday

This year, urban flood was recognised as a major issue. People came out to streets and even the Chief Minister waded out into water logged streets. The authorities then woke up and vowed to evict the people living in illegally in restricted areas. However, the same problem was noticed on Independence Day too. Prime Minister Narendra Modi unfurled the flag at 6 am, but Gogoi did it at 9 am. The police contingents and school children who were expected to perform at the function where assembled at Khanapara field before the Chief Minister reached the field. But, all had got drenched in the rain. Moreover, apart from the VIP area, the rest were all open and performers, audience and the media people along with their equipments had to face the rain.

In spite of various terror threats in the city and state, the authorities received a pat on their back as there was no security problem reported in the state. The IB warning about fundamentalist rebel groups targeting the city was made public through various media reports, but the Independence Day celebration was celebrated without any chaos. In the morning people were restricted to their homes because of rain, but people came out during the afternoons. Many bike and car rallies with flowing tricolours were also spotted all over the city The Yuva Modi Morcha organised many programmes across the city and dared to celebrate the Independence Day below the Ganeshguri Flyover which is considered as one of the most targeted places by the terror groups.

It was also observed that the Independence Day is celebrated by people more as a holiday and less as Independence Day. Many people went out for picnics and the city wore an overall empty look all throughout. It is also strange that many schools like the Delhi Public School for example, had their flag hoisting ceremony on the 14th, maybe so that the next day could be a holiday for all. Overall, the scenario is changing and people have started to come out and celebrate more on Independence Day in spite of the usual threats from extremist groups. Maybe people have just grown tired of cowering with fear after all these years.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

In The News

1700 CR FOR GHY SEWERAGE PROJECT Mrinmoyee Hazarika

mrinmoyee.hazarika@g-plus.in

he recently presented budget for the fiscal 2014-15, tabled in the current budget session of the State Assembly by the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who also holds the finance portfolio drew mixed responses from the different sections of people and it also has a couple of proposals for the city of Guwahati. During his budget speech, Gogoi stated that a sewerage project for Guwahati has been proposed at an estimated cost of `1700 crore. Mentioning the government’s all out effort for the development of

What Guwahati gets? • A Sewerage Project for Guwahati proposed at an estimated cost of Rs.1700 crore. • Affordable housing for 10000 urban poor of Guwahati. • Construction of Road under-bridges in 5 places of level crossings between Kamakhya & Guwahati station for easing traffic congestion in the Guwahati city • All major Roads, Lanes and Bye-Lanes of Guwahati to be provided with Street Lights. • A Scientific Storm Water Drainage System in Guwahati proposed for mitigating the problem of water logging and artificial flood. • One Institute of Urban Development and Research to be established to cater to the needs of Capacity Building of Urban Local Bodies. • Sanction accorded for procurement of 110 rural connectivity buses and 400 buses for Guwahati city.

33% rise in crimes against children

ssam has seen a 33% rise in crime against children since 2012. A total of 392 such cases were registered in 2012. According to the reports of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), at least 230 children were raped, 80 kidnapped and 14 killed in Assam last year. Over 129 girls have been trafficked. Assam Police have registered 64 cases of criminal offence like physical assault, corporal punishment and child labour. An incident of

child marriage was also reported last year. Police, who are yet to set up separate units to deal with crimes related to children in police stations across the state as directed by the law, have a poor record, performing abysmally in countering the rising trend of crimes against children. Only 14 criminals were convicted last year. Records available with state police say over 200 cases have already been registered in the state since the beginning of this year.

It is proposed to create a scientific storm water drainage system in Guwahati for mitigating the problem of water logging and artificial flood

Guwahati city, the budget stated, “It is proposed to create a scientific storm water drainage system in Guwahati for mitigating the problem of water logging and artificial flood. It is proposed to ensure the protection of the water channels and other water bodies of Guwahati from being further encroached.” Besides, the budget has a proposal to provide affordable housing for 10,000 urban poor of Guwahati. The budget also mentioned, “For easing the traffic congestion in the city,

The recently tabled budget has plans for the city it is proposed to construct road underbridges in 5 places of level crossings between Kamakhya and the Guwahati station. All the major Roads, Lanes and Bye-Lanes of Guwahati are proposed to be provided with Street Lights.” The budget has also proposed to establish an institute of Urban Development and Research to cater to the needs of capacity building of Urban Local Bodies. In the transport section of the budget, it has been mentioned that 400 buses have been sanctioned under JNURM for Guwahati city. Although, the amount of funds sanctioned or to be sanctioned and the time of execution of the same has not been mentioned in the budget. “I also propose to introduce a scheme to provide 30% rebate to the senior citizens in all ASTC buses,” Tarun Gogoi said during his budgetary speech. The excise section of the budget mentions that about `616 crore was collected as Excise revenue and `434 crore collected as VAT on liquor during 2013-14. The target for current financial year is fixed at about `709 crore. The department has detected 30,503 illicit liquor cases during 201314. Regarding the finance of the state, the budget mentions that the state has been able to attain a revenue surplus of `1554 Crore in 2012 – 13. According to CAG Report for the Financial Year 2012-13, the fiscal deficit was 1.06% of GSDP as against FRBM target of 3%. The tax revenue of the state increased two-folds in four years from `4,150 crore in 2008-09 to `8,250 crore in 2012-13, indicating an average annual growth rate of 19.76%. The budget also reflects the government’s willingness to improve the

capability and effectiveness of the police force. “Our government will give high priority to improve the capability and effectiveness of the police force. For this purpose, all vacant posts will be filled up. New posts will be created where necessary. A new Police Academy will be set up for training facilities. Emphasis will be given on modernisation and development of infrastructure. An amount of `50 crore has been provided for the immediate repair and renovation of Police infrastructure in the field, especially in the two hill districts and BTAD area,” the budget mentions. It has also mentioned that five new courts at Amingaon have been established for setting up a separate judiciary for Kamrup (R) District. “The State Government is considering a proposal to sanction 62 new Courts as proposed by the Gauhati High Court,” the budget said. Further, the budget also mentioned that the State Government is ready to implement the National Food Security Act (NFSA) with effect from 1st September, 2014 subject to clearance of Government of India. It will benefit about 2.52 crore population. In the industry and commerce front, Tarun Gogoi said, “Our Government is committed to enhance the industrial productivity and production in the State. In order to achieve the desired industrial growth of 9%, I propose to allocate required funds for implementation of different schemes of micro, small and medium enterprises, with special emphasis on women, weaker section, traditional artisans and first generation entrepreneurs. A Flagship programme named “Multidisciplinary skill development” has been launched to impart training on employable trades.”

Surya Gold Cement celebrates Rakhi with city traffic police

urya Gold Cement celebrated Rakhi with city traffic police. In order to strengthen the bond of brother-sister relationship, on the occasion of Rakha Bandhan, the representatives of Surya Gold Cement along with volunteers of Maitri, a city based NGO went across city traffic points to tie Rakhi onto their wrists. The sole intention of this activity was to restore traffic police personnel’s responsibility towards women commuters in the city. This initiative is a part of a series of initiatives undertaken by the cement brand to build a safe and strong Assam. Rep-

resentatives from Surya reached out to numerous traffic points across the city with the support of Maitri volunteers. Maitri is a leading city based NGO that works on women’s rights generating sustainable livelihood opportunities for them. Mukul Kr. Das, Officer, Maitri said, “It feels good that

Surya Gold Cement along with Maitri has come up with this initiative to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with us. We are humbled by this gesture.” This event assumes significance at a time when there are increased incidences of crimes against women in Assam as well as India.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

In The News

KALAKSHETRA DISREGARDS PLANNING COMMISSION

Mrinmoyee Hazarika

mrinmoyee.hazarika@g-plus.in

ndecisiveness on the part of the state government as well as the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra Society (SSKS) has tainted the dreams and visions of the state’s people and visionaries like late Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia, the renowned literary person of the sate who was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra (SSK) in Guwahati in 1998. As revealed in the annual audit report of CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) for the fiscal 201213, the secretary of SSKS and state government could not complete the construction of the auditorium complex despite the elapse of more than seven years from the stipulated date of completion, rendering the expenditure of `17.72 crore unproductive. According to the CAG report, with a view to establish Kalakshetra as a major centre of cultural and intellectual activities of the country, SSKS submitted a project report to the planning commission, Government of India, through the state planning and development department for the construction of three auditoriums of ‘Srimanta Sankardev International Convention Centre and Auditorium Complex’. The project, estimated at a cost of `27.91 crore, was submitted in 1999. The project report mentioned the construction of three auditoriums with seating capacities of 300, 800 and 1250 each with an estimated provision of `22.47 crore and other ancillary works worth `5.44 crore, which includes public toilets and restaurants, parking lot and central plaza, water body-cum fire fighting reservoirs and residential accommodation for key personnel. After getting approval from the PWD (building), Assam, the Planning Commission sanctioned an amount of `20 crore for construction of two auditoriums with seating capacities of 300 and 1250 instead of thinning away resources over three auditoriums initially in 2001. The commission also indicated that no further funds would be made available for the project and asked that after completion of the work of the two auditoriums within the provision of `20 crore, the work of third auditorium of 800 seating capacity could be taken up subject to the availability of funds. “Scrutiny (July and August 2012) of the records of secretary, SSKS, Guwahati, however revealed that disregarding the directives of Planning Commission, government of India, it was decided, in a meeting (July 2002) chaired by the minister of state, planning and development department, Government of Assam, to construct the auditorium complex as per the

Constructions

Payment Tendered cost mode (in `crore) `crore)

Auditorium (1250 capacity)

11.77

8.94

Auditorium (800 capacity)

8.31

2.57

38.35

Auditorium (300 capacity)

2.39

2.20

100

Public toilets and restaurant

0.33

0.07

Parking place

1.96

0.19

97.05

Water body cum fire-fighting reservoirs

1.31

0.77

87.70

Residential accommodation

1.84

0.29

Extra work

4.07

consultancy

0.82

Total

27.91

19.92

original project. The availability of balance fund of `7.91 crore, to be contributed by the state government was, however, not ensured. The work was awarded (May 2003) to L&T at the lowest bid price of `27.98 crore with the stipulation to complete the work within thirty months, that is by December 2005,” says CAG report. During its scrutiny, CAG also found that the contractor stopped the construction work of the auditoriums during March 2006 due to non-availability of funds after completing only the one with a seating capacity of 300 people, which was opened to public in January 2006. As of May 2009, the contractor was paid `19.92 crore including `2.20 crore paid for the completed auditorium of 300 seating capacity. In the meantime, after urging the state government to release funds to the SSKS several times, after a lapse of around eight years from the date of issue of formal work order in 2003, the Cultural Affairs department, Government of Assam, in March 2011, sanctioned `9.04 crore and subsequently relased an amount of `4.52 crore to SSKS for the completion of remaining work of the two incomplete auditoriums. “However, till the date of audit (August 2012), no further progress was achieved on the work despite the availability of funds. Secretary, SSKS

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Physical (in progress (in percent)

However, till the date of audit (August 2012), no further progress was achieved on the work despite the availability of funds. - CAG report stated that selection of new contractor for execution of the balance work would be done after terminating the contract formally with the original contractor,” the CAG report mentions. Citing the decisions of the Secretary, SSKS and Government of Assam as unacceptable and injudicious, the CAG report states that, “The reply was not acceptable as injudicious decision of secretary, SSKS and the government of Assam to proceed with construction of all the auditoriums simultaneously without ensuring availability of funds and disregarding the directives of Planning Commission led to non-completion of the project despite elapse of more than seven years from the stipulated date of completion. Besides, the expenditure of `17.72 crore incurred on the incomplete construction works proved unproductive. As of June 2013, the work could not be restarted due to non-settlement of claims submitted by L&T.”

Japan voted Ramen noodles as their greatest 20th century invention – Pokémon was number 8.

If the acid from your stomach were to make its way onto your body, it would burn a hole through your skin.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

THE KILLER

In The News In a recent incident in the city, an autorickshaw driver was mercilessly beaten to death by some people with the reason being touted as a disagreement for the fare.

FARE Rahul Chanda

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

ecently, an autorickshaw driver was murdered by some youths in the Japorigog area, which sparked a stir in the city. A case was registered at the Dispur Police Station (case number – 1656/14, u/s 302/34 IPC) on Sunday. The All Guwahati Autorickshaw Chalak Union (AGACU) and Guwahati Autorickshaw Owners Association (GAOA) called for an auto strike on 12th August from 5am to 5 pm. Along with the demands for compensation to the deceased, the auto unions also raised various other issues. The incident raised many questions about the security scenario and also the city’s auto service, G Plus looks into the incident.

The incident

Police arrested two persons in connection with the murder of Abdul Salam, the 50-years-old autorickshaw driver whose body was found in the Japorigog area. The accused are Dipankar Kalita and Biplob Gogoi, both residents of the Japorigog locality. Gogoi, who is an employee with the Directorate of Panchayat and Rural Development located in the Six Mile area, spoke about the mystery behind the death of Salam, confessing he was the one who had hired the auto up to Japorigog from Six Mile. “He (Salam) demanded `200 which I refused to pay. I insisted on `150 and gave him a `500 note. He returned `300 and tried to escape with my handbag,” Gogoi informed the cops. He added that when he shouted at the driver, he dropped the bag. Police said that some more arrests have to be made and for the time being the apprehended culprits are in a three-day-police-custody.

According to AGACU general secretary Naren Pathak, Salam was returning from Japorigog after dropping the passenger, when two bikes came behind Salam and started signalling. As it was a dark street, Salam did not stop and after a while, the two bikes overtook the auto and blocked Salam’s way to stop him. The men then started beating up Salam till he fainted and he was left lying there for about an hour without

THE AUTO FARE WAR AGACU general secretary Naren Pathak said, “We, the Chalak union are totally against the meter system and therefore we have been wanting a discussion with the government. It is almost impossible for the autorickshaw drivers to follow the High Court directives as there is already so much competition with the private taxis joining the race. The petrol prices too are increasing every second day and with the chaotic traffic jams, it is impossible to save a single penny if the drivers ply by the metre system. We oppose the system and have agitated against the move many times. We have written to the transport department for a discussion but did not receive any reply. It is only possible if like other

metros, CNG comes to Guwahati.” GAOA member and cashier Prakash Medhi said, “We are following the court’s order and all our members are plying by the metre system. There are also charts available in all the autos for the passengers, which will help them check if anyone is charging more than the rates fixed by the government.” We informed the drivers’ association general secretary about the owners’ association’s views, which irked him. He said, “Why don’t you take a trip in an auto from places like the Paltan Bazar point, Beltola Tiniali, Lachit Nagar, Ganeshguri junction, Zoo Road, where you will mostly encounter the owners who drive their own autos. You will

any help. A few bystanders called up 108 and the police but they managed to reach the spot only after the hour. According to Pathak, after the police reached the spot, instead of taking Salam to the hospital straightaway, they took him to the Dispur Police Station, where they took out his mobile phone and called his family members. He was then taken to Guwahati Medical College Hospital, where Abdul Salam suc-

cumbed to his injuries. When we asked the police about why the body was not directly taken to the hospital, the police denied the allegation and said that they directly took the body to the hospital. The auto unions have demanded compensation for the deceased and punishment for the culprits, but the true story can only be resolved by the police after proper investigation. But, if the arrested suspect, Gogoi’s ver-

come to know if they are plying by the metre system. You can also ask the enforcement department if all the autos are abiding by the metre system. It is impossible until the government brings in CNG.” We did a small survey and discovered that all the autos do not use metre system. Dipak Biswas, an auto owner and also a driver parks his auto at Paltan Bazar stand and feels that it is impossible to run on metre system unless CNG comes to the city. He said, “We do not charge that high, but some auto drivers do. But people should understand our problem too. Previously we had to pay `600 as road tax, now it has been increased to `1600. The first two kilometres are charged at `30

but sometimes, because of the traffic jams, we consume fuel of around `70 for 2 kilometres, so if we do not save at least `20 per trip, how will we survive?” Biswas is a member of owners’ association and his views vary from his superiors.

The authorities

Enforcement DTO Munin Das said, “We keep checking the autos and fine the drivers that ply without using the meter. We have also seized many autos. The auto drivers have some negotiations with the passengers and they keep their metres on when we check, but later they charge the passengers according to whatever they negotiated before booking the auto. The passengers should

sion has to be believed, the problem started with the negotiation of the auto fare. The Auto fares in Guwahati is a long pending issue which, in spite of the Gauhati High Court issuing an order to make metre system mandatory, the autos hardly follow the metres. There is also a division in the views of the auto unions, as the drivers’ association is against the metre system, whereas the owners’ association are willing to bide by it.

be responsible enough to complain and cooperate with us, which will help us to resolve the problem.” He also added that there is a conflict between the views of the owners’ and the drivers’ association, but still they keep checking and fining the offenders. CNG is an excuse, which the auto drivers are using these days for not using the meter, but still in the auto drivers and authorities spat, the common people have to face the music. However, the passengers should be responsible enough to complain against the auto drivers charging more. One person has died because of the auto fare confusion and it might lead to more such incidents.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

In The News

1274 Cr IN SEVEN YEARS

THE MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS UNDER RKVY SYEDA AMBIA ZAHAN info@g-plus.in

very government department in Assam is more or less is an example of wastage of funds sanctioned by the centre to take up developmental activities for the people of the region. The Assam Agriculture dept is no different. Irregularity plaguing the implementation of the Rashtriya Krishi Vikash Yojna in the misutilisation of funds pumped from the centre, has raised the eyebrows of many. The farmers who are the real beneficiary of this ambiguous project are in no way getting any help from the project to start a green revolution in this region, which was the prime objective of the mission. Since the year 2007-08 to 201314, under RKVY, a sum of 1274.16 Crores had been sanctioned. Various schemes for development of agricultural farms, promotion of organic farming, supply of good quality seed, modern farming equipments, irrigation, entrepreneurship development has been taken up under RKVY but the farmers are complaining of not re-

ceiving any benefit from such scheme. “In the year 2012-13, we got seeds to cultivate rice and pulses,” says Niloy Bora, a farmer belongs to upper Assam, “But rice could not be produced as these seeds were blighted. Pulse seeds were distributed at the end of the season so it was also of no use.” A sum of `56.27 Crore was sanctioned under a sub-scheme to provide with the farmers, seeds that grows in rain-fed areas, high lands, low lands and in low-water areas. Under RKVY, expenditure is being shown by the department in the name of establishment of water reservoirs, rice extraction houses in the farming areas in each district of the state. Likewise, it also shows distribution of tractors among of the farmers of the flood hit areas of Assam. But field study shows that not a single rice extracting house has been built in any areas of the state. No water reservoir can been seen in any farm from across the region. Likewise, in the name of distribution of

tractors, officers are busy pocketing `30-40 thousand from each of the beneficiaries against the allotment of a tractor. “I belong to Narayanpur of Lakhimpur district. My name was in the list of beneficiaries. But I have not received a tractor so far as I am not a rich farmer and cannot manage to bribe the officers. I made several trips to the Khanapara office of Agriculture, but got no results.” says another farmer from Jorhat district of upper Assam It is also has come to the fore that these tractors have been allotted to some NGOs who are not directly involved with any farming activity. The

NGOs are earning money by renting out these tractors to the real beneficiaries. Some rich farmers are being able to afford it while others are continuing with the traditional methods of farming. Moreover, corruption is taking place in regard to the distribution of cello tube well, pump-set and borewell. The farmers say that these tools are being channelised to some non -existent farmers and are being used in purpose other than agriculture. The Horticulture department has also shown an expenditure of crores for the last few years under the RKVY. Under the scheme, in the year 201213, the department has shown an

`399.57 crore

400 350 300

Rkvy amount sanctioned to the state

250

`216.87 crore

`227.77 crore

200

`207.47crore 150

`142.62 crore

In the year 2007-08, no fund was shown as expenditure. Likewise, in the year 2013-14, `141.30 crore was shown as expenditure from `207.47 crore sanctioned to the department.

`79.86 crore

100 50 0

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

expenditure of `89 lakhs for the development of Farmers Interest Group and farmers producer Organisation. But there is no such organisation that really do exists in the state. In the year 2012-13, expenditure of 4.5 core was shown in the name of production of free pollinate and high breed crops by peasant groups. In the same year, a fund of `177.80 crore was shown to be given to beneficiaries in the Karbbi Anglong district of Assam to produce milk, which also includes the establishment of a milk production centre in Mangoldoi district of Assam. Again, in reality, there is no such centre established so far. Soil testing was also a sub scheme of RKVY and for this purpose, instrument worth crores were being procured and field officers were also deployed in the year 2009-10 under the supervision of Agriculture development officers. But till 2013-14, no work of soil testing has been started in any districts of Assam. Likewise, a sum of `10 crore was also released to modernise the Soil Testing Laboratory of Ulubari in Guwahati two years back. But, no change can be noticed to the age old lab in terms of modernisation. The Director of Agriculture Department of Assam, Dr. K. Borkakoty has intimated the Government of Assam of spending `1207.99 crore from the sanctioned amount of `1274.16 crore so far via letter no: Agri/ Rkvy/2(pt-iv)/ve/2012-13 and Agri/ Rkvy/2(pt-iv)/ve/2011-12/2012-13/186 ,dated the 19/11/2013. In the year 2007-08, no fund was shown as expenditure. Likewise, in the year 2013-14, `141.30 crore was shown as expenditure from `207.47 crore sanctioned to the department. This massive manipulation of central funds has been taking place since 2007-08 during the tenure of former Minister for Agriculture Pramila Rani Brahma and present Minister Nilomani Sen Deka. Allegations have been leveled against the Agriculture Development Officer (ADO) and the PRI leaders for misappropriating funds and agricultural assets granted to the beneficiaries under RKVY.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

In The News

THE STONEMAN RETURNS RAHUL CHANDA

Homeless woman found brutally murdered at Pandu under circumstances similar to case in 2009

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

n the 16th of March, 2009, the CID picked up Krishna Timung alias Bikram Timung (22), a drug addict and psychopath, from the Paltan Bazar area. The mysterious serial killer, dubbed as the ‘Stoneman’, had killed 7 beggars in that year. After his arrest, the Guwahatians were relieved from the threat of the stoneman. However, the threat has been revived again after 5 years, as recently there was a dead body of a beggar recovered from the city.

The murder

A body of a 40-45-year-old woman was recovered from the Pandu area in the early hours of 10th of August 2014. According to police sources, the face of the victim was brutally crushed by a stone and the suspected stone was recovered from near the body. The body was without any clothes which raised doubts about possible rape before murder. The body was recovered from an abandoned place behind the Railway Police Headquarters, Office of the Superintendent of Railway Police. The body has been sent for post mortem and the report is still awaited by the police.

The doubt

According to police investigations, the suspicions currently point towards a man who used to be seen pretty often with the lady before she died but the suspect is yet to be apprehended. Assuming the age of the woman, the suspicion of rape is being overlooked but the confirmation de-

“The body was recovered from an abandoned place behind the Railway Police Headquarters, Office of the Superintendent of Railway Police”

pends on the post mortem report. According to local residents, the abandoned place is very scary at nights as there are drunkards and drug addicts hanging out in the area. The police also know about the illegal activities happening there, but they do not do enough to guard the place from miscreants. There have also been many instances of violence reported before in the area.

Police inaction

It is to be noted that one and a half years back, there was a similar incident reported near the Adabari Bus Stand. The body of a man was recovered from the bus stand in a similar condition where the face was crushed by a stone and the stone was also re-

covered near the body. The case was registered under the Jalukbari Police Station and even after one and half years, the case has not yet been solved and the culprit is still missing. The recent case can be related to that case and both the cases fall under the Jalukbari Police Station. The timeframe of both the crimes are a bit lengthy, but the cases might be interrelated. But, the irony is that the speed of police action has proven to be slow. There are also assumptions that since the abandoned place behind the Government Railway Police headquarters is mostly used by the drug addicts and drunkards, there might have been a small spat between an addict and the beggar, which finally ended up in the murder of the woman. Whatever might have been the case, the cops should try and solve the case at the earliest before the culprit carries on with another deadly crime and some more people get killed brutally in the city. The lethargic post mortem report delivery system should also be done away with by the authorities as without the report it is difficult for the police to come to any kind of conclusion.

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G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

City

NO INDEPENDENCE FOR THE FLAG MAKERS Aditya Gogoi

I have been working here since 1983 but at present, I cannot leave this job. Our payment is already low yet they charge another 14 per cent on that. It’s terrible,” A lady tailor who did not wish to be named.

hey are the ones who provide the most important element to celebrate the Independence Day every year. But the irony is that these people themselves have no liberty. “Nobody dares to protest or raise a voice as we will be sacked for doing that,” rued Soneswar Das, an employee of the Assam Khadi and Gramodyog Board, busy making the national tricolours which are to be supplied across the northeast region for August 15. Das along with two other workers are working round the clock to meet the demand of completing 20,000 flags this session. “Earlier, there were around 15 people to stitch the roll of clothes and to put the Ashok Chakra mark on the flags besides other work, but now just the three of us are left to look after the entire process of work. Some people have retired, while others have left the job for failing to make ends meet as our jobs were not regularised,” Das, a father of two girls, who joined the board in 1987, said. Das who hails from the nearby Sualkuchi village in Kamrup district said that it has become impossible for

him to maintain the family with a sum of `6, 000 per month. “We cannot even protest. Many of the employees who dared to raise voice were punished in many ways,” he said. He also mentioned about urging the authority a number of times to make their jobs permanent, but in vain. The situation is the same for Ramakanta Deka and Chandradhar Das who are troubled by over burdened work yet low payment and that too irregularly. “Life has become extremely difficult for us. We make the national

flags but we do not have the feel of freedom. We always have to face rude behaviour and acute financial crisis,” Deka told G-Plus at the workshop as he puts a stamp of Ashok Chakra on the flag. Besides, a few ladies are engaged for stitching the flags on a contract basis. The eight weavers earn a paltry `21 per flag. “I have been working here since 1983 but at present, I cannot leave this job. Our payment is already low yet they charge another 14 per cent on that. It’s terrible,” said a lady tailor who did not wish to be named.

Gold’s Gym Football Cup

old’s Gym Ganeshguri organised a Friendly Football Match recently where a total of four teams participated. The winners turned out to be team Brazil captained by Sujit Baruah (Super premium Personal Trainer) with Team Germany captained by Kamal Sinha (Super premiumPersonal Trainer), coming out as the Runner’s-up.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

City

LOSING INTEREST IN I-DAY City freedom fighter feels that the day has lost its significance and become a mere holiday Aditya Gogoi

one are the days when 92-year-old Krishna Kanta Sharma would spend sleepless nights over the preparation to observe the Independence Day with great pride and joy. Now, at this age, it is a bit of pain and agony, which he undergoes during such especial days. “It was a different kind of feeling which is difficult to express in words. When were declared free from the British, our joy knew no limits especially after our prolonged struggle,” Sharma told G-Plus.

Willed by will power D N Singh

ill power has an important role in human life and those who have the stamina to fight all odds, set an example for others to follow for a successful life. Even disability can be defeated if a person has determination to lead a complete life. We find a number of cases in the world when people lose heart on their failures in life. At the same time, there are certain exceptions, who despite many odds in their lives, make it worth living by their strong will power. Here is an example of the life of a person who came out from a small village of Siyani Belchhi in the district of Jamui in Bihar. Born on January 2,1952, Rakesh Pathak became handicapped, suffering from paralysis in his right leg at a tender age of two. He passed his childhood and primary schooling in a small village in the Banka district of Bihar. Afterwards, he shifted to Bhagalpur and completed his matriculation examination from Bahadurpur High School. For higher education he had to go Patiala, where he graduated in Arts from the Punjabi University. In search of livelihood, he came to Guwahati in the year 1978. Life was tough, but he had to live it and so he started private tuitions and subsequently joined some private schools. He became very popular in the locality as a Hindi teacher in due course.

In the year 1947, it was douCongressmen. ble delight for Sharma as he also But the love and respect for graduated from Calcutta Univerthe national tri-colour keeps sity in that year after losing out Sharma go along with other conseveral years in the name of the temporaries. “The love of the Nafreedom struggle. He immediately tional Flag makes us move to the joined Puthimari High School as ground to pay respect to the flag. a teacher where he studied as well Otherwise, it means nothing to in 1947 and observed the first ever us. There is no freedom now in Independence Day with the country for the compride. mon people. It’s also “Thousands sad that these days “It was a different came out to the people do not kind of feeling which join us in the even want to is difficult to express open playknow about the in words. When we ground. We freedom movewere declared free had so many ment and other from the British, our prog r a m me s related things,” joy knew no limits throughout he said. especially after our the day and all S h a r m a prolonged struggle,” of us had a feelwho had come ing of pride in our across several top hearts. That day will leaders of Indian Inremain forever with us,” dependence movement added an emotional Sharma. said that those leaders earned The times, however, have huge respect and people blindly changed a lot since then. “It has followed their leadership. become a mere holiday now. We Though he has been recogcould feel what freedom meant to nized and awarded by the Presius. These days, the Congressmen dent of India for his involvement do not have the sense of patrioin the freedom movement, none tism unlike those days. At present, can be a greater feeling than to the greed and hunger for power feel the freedom in 1947. has ruined everything along with “Nothing can match that feelthe essence of the Independence ing of freedom,” said Sharma who Day,” said Sharma whose father lives a solitary life in city’s CheniUmakanta was also a dedicated kuthi area.

Rakesh Pathak’s translation of eminent Assamese writer Rajani Kanta Bardoloi’s novel ‘Manomati’ was published by Gyan Vigyan Samiti. The Sentinel Hindi newspaper also published Ranju Hazarika’s novel ‘Ek Dweep Sat Kabra’ in a series. The Sahitya Academy awardees novel ‘Abhiyatri’ written by Nirupama Borgohain was also translated to Hindi by Rakesh Pathak for Doordarshan. Rakesh Pathak can be contacted at +91-9864150953

Rakesh Pathak with wife and son

Meanwhile, he was offered a job in a local Hindi daily newspaper as a journalist and after working as a journalist for half a decade, Rakesh returned to the teaching profession and joined a private school as a senior Hindi teacher. Destiny had to test his patience further and in February 2000 his left leg and hand suffered heavy paralysis attacks. He lost his school job as he became completely invalid. He could not even perform basic functionslike going to the toilet without the help of his wife Rani and son Samir. As of now, he is completely bed-ridden. Some students come to him for tuitions, which is the main

source of his income and the rest of the time, he indulges in reading, writing and translating eminent Assamese writers’ books into Hindi. He has done a thorough study of Assamese literature and the Asom Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti got a number of history, geography and social studies textbooks from class seven to ten, translated into Hindi by him. Pathak has become a bridge between Assamese and Hindi literature. His translation of eminent Assamese writer Rajani Kanta Bardoloi’s novel ‘Manomati’ was published by Gyan Vigyan Samiti. The Sentinel Hindi newspaper also published Ranju Hazarika’s novel ‘Ek Dweep Sat Kabra’

in a series. The Sahitya Academy awardees novel ‘Abhiyatri’ written by Nirupama Borgohain was also translated to Hindi by Rakesh Pathak for Doordarshan. Besides this, he keeps himself busy in the translation works in Hindi from other languages. On January 3, 2014, Rakesh Pathak was felicitated by the Jahnavee Angika Sanskriti Sansthan for his Hindi and Angika writings. Since the year 2000, Rakesh Pathak has kept himself busy with independent writing, freelance journalism and Hindi teaching. He is not a beneficiary from the government agencies or other institutions. He needs cooperation not kindness.

Children’s centre for underprivileged

Child-Friendly Guwahati (CFG) centre with 30 underprivileged children was inaugurated on August 8 at Sarabbhati on the premises of Arya High School. CFG is a project initiative of the Archdiocese of Guwahati, Rotary Clubs of Guwahati, the official agency and other civil society groups of Guwahati in collaboration with the lead partner, Don Bosco Society. The inaugural ceremony was attended by school principal Biju Das, who cut the ribbon in the presence of CFG director Fr Denis Solomon. The centre was the outcome of the efforts of Gunamani Kalita and social worker Nirmala Rajak, who had done their survey in the slum areas of Sarabbhati and found that there were many children who were not going to school. In his speech, Fr Denis Solomon said, “I am happy to help these underprivileged children in whatever way possible so that they get their basic education.” On the occasion Fr Tommy also sang a song, while the little children performed songs and dances.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

City

IAS LOBBY DELAYING COMMISSIONERATE?

The formation of a police commissnionerate was announced during the last Republic Day but it is still to take shape

Rahul Chanda

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

very Republic Day and Independence Day, the Prime Minister, the President, the state Chief Ministers and the Governors get an opportunity to announce various schemes, plans and projects for the country and the states. But in reality, how many of these schemes and projects get implemented successfully? After years of will-it and won’t-it, the Assam government was all set to appoint a police commissioner for Guwahati. The announcement echoed from Governor JB Patnaik’s speech after the unfurling of the national flag at the Veterinary Playground in Khanapara during this year’s Republic Day. Patnaik said that the commissionerate would be set up soon to firmly deal with the rising crime graph in the city. But it has been almost seven months now and the city commissionerate still remains a dream. But where and why is it so tough for the state Chief and Home minister to form the commissionerate?

The delay According to GM Srivastava, former Director General of Police, Assam, the city of Guwahati requires a commissionerate. According to him it is already too late and Guwahati should have had it a long time ago. A

lot of people are not aware that this had been recommended in the Shanti Prasad commission report in the late 70s and attempts had been made since 1984 onwards for bringing the system in place in Guwahati. Subsequently, the police commissionerate reports of various po-

Foundation laid for city public toilets

he foundation stone for the new public toilets at Fancy Bazar, Paltan Bazar and Fatasil Ambari was laid by the city Mayor Abir Patra at a centrally-organised event on August 11. The event held at Fancy Bazar was attended by Additional Chief Secretary VB Pyarelal, Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Commissioner S Viswanathan and other senior officials. The public toilets will be constructed using the latest technology and will have facilities for both men and women. There will

be provisions for both western and Indian style of toilets and also bathing facility. Speaking on the occasion, Patra said that the GMC’s initiative is an effort to prevent the unhygienic practice of using open space for answering the call of nature and to provide facility to the general public. It is noteworthy that the Kamrup Metro district administration had last week announced that a number of locations have been selected across the city where GMC will build public toilets.

Women seek late night bus services

fter the launch of ten exclusive buses for woman passengers only by the DTO and district administration, the woman in the city are now pleading for a late evening bus service. As the main motto behind this woman-only bus service was to ensure their safety but it has failed to fulfill the purpose somewhere. Most of the woman who travel by bus to work, feel the need for buses which can provide services till late in the evening especially after 8pm is

important. But due to the lack of adequate drivers the late-evening bus service is not yet implemented. Bus owners and their associations said they faced trouble finding drivers to work late-evening shifts. It becomes difficult for a driver to work from 6am to 10pm. Many buses could not run due to lack of drivers. The DTO therefore has decided to train youngsters who have passed class ten as drivers, which may solve the problem and provide bus services after hours.

SGVG suggests methanol as fuel alternative

oluntary organisation Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has called for massive use of methanol as a fuel alternative. During the prebudget meeting it had with the Chief Minister on August 4, SGBG suggested that methanol from all places of the State should be carried through the 14-inch pipeline which was laid to carry two million tonnes of crude oil from Assam per annum, saying it should be used to carry 50 million tonnes of methanol per year. Metha-

nol can be converted into DME=LPG=diesel, and if this is done, it will be the greatest contribution of Assam to the economy of the country. This will provide an enviable solution to the fuel energy-related problems of the country. It will also offer a scope for solving the unemployment problem, said the voluntary organisation. It also pleaded for use of locally made bamboo furniture in the government offices and special incentives to the indigenous artisans engaged in this sector.

lice commissionerates in the country says that any city having a population of more than 10 lakhs should have a police commissionerate. Enquiring about the reason for the delay, he said, “The preparation and scrutiny to form the commissionerate is on. As it was announced by the Governor, the commissionerate will be soon formed in the city but there are some issues like the infrastructure. The infrastructure is being prepared for the commissionerate. The engagement of the police personnel is also important and the scrutiny with the cops is on. Most probably something positive can be expected after the assembly session.”

The twist According to highly placed sources in the police, the commissionerate will be surely formed as announced but the timeframe cannot be exactly assumed. It is said that there is an IAS lobby which is against the formation of the commissionerate and that the lobby is delaying the process. There are obviously certain extra powers which will be taken over by the city police, if it gets upgraded. The police have already submitted the required format to the Assam government and it is totally upon the government to decide on the powers. There are certain powers, which will certainly be taken over by the police like the CRPC section 144 and 107, which at present is implemented by the district magistrate. Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) empowers a magistrate to prohibit an assembly of more than ten people in an area. Section 107 is used for keeping the peace in other cases. So, all these powers will be taken over by the police which the lobby is reluctant to lose. Man power wise the source added that the Assam Police is not in a position to run a commissionerate before the infrastruc-

The preparation and scrutiny to form the commissionerate is on. As it was announced by the Governor, the commissionerate will be soon formed in the city but there are some issues like the infrastructure. The infrastructure is being prepared for the commissionerate GM Srivastava former Director General of Police, Assam ture is upgraded. The All Assam Students’ Union (Aasu) has opposed the state government’s decision of constituting a police commissionerate for Guwahati, demanding stronger infrastructure for the existing city police stations and increased deployment of forces instead. Whatever the scenario is, the city people require a secured city. Be it with the commissionerate or without it, safety and law and order is the main issue. People are generally speculative of police and some also look at them as criminals who can allow anything if they get their share, but it is true that Guwahati is growing, and population-wise it fulfils all the criteria to get a commissionerate. The cops too are doing their work in spite of getting slammed always, it’s just they cannot do anything without the order of the law of the constitution. There are lawyers too, who get the criminals safely out from the bars, and the blame goes to the cops. So, it is the entire system, which somewhere or other has too many loop holes. But the delay in the formation of the commissionerate has proven that government schemes and policies are always slow in the state.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

City

“It Has Turned Into A Dumping Ground. It Is Time To Wake Up.” Mike Pandey on Deepor Beel ADITYA GOGOI

reen Oscar winning conservationist filmmaker Mike Pandey has already been able to bring a huge change as far as conservation is concerned, especially in India. The African born Indian activist who was in Assam recently urged the Assam government to take proper care of the Deepor Beel and the rhinos before it’s too late. He also delivered the Padmashree Robin Banerjee Memorial Lecture, which was observed as Na-

ture Conservation Day by the Kaziranga Wildlife Society. Pandey said that it is high time to act for conservation. “It’s a shame seeing the Deepor beel, a ramsar site, in the present state. It has turned into a dumping ground. It is time to wake up. I urge the Assam government to clean up the Deepor Beel for the greater interest of Mother Earth. I also would like to appeal to the government to employ more forest guards at Kaziranga to safeguard the one horned rhinos,” said Pandey

“More than 80 per cent garbage is from our households. The government does not go and throw garbage there. So, it is us who are responsible for this and we have to learn it from our homes to love nature”

while delivering the Padmashree Robin Banerjee Memorial Lecture, a pioneer nature conservationist, in the city. Pandey has won over 300 awards across the globe for his work to spread awareness about biodiversity and species conservation, including helping conserve and protect key species such as whale sharks, elephants, tigers, vultures and horseshoe crabs. Interacting with the school students, he said that everyone has the potential to bring about a change towards the conservation of nature and urged the students to love nature. Expressing concern at the everrising human-animal conflict, he said that it has taken place due to the lack of management rather than the population. “In India, lack of awareness and proper education are the main problems in conservation. Even China has more people than India but we do not have any proper management to solve this problem. Nature has given us everything but in return, we have not given anything back,” said Pandey whose documentary ‘Shores of Silence: Whale Sharks in India’ led to the ban on the killing of whale sharks on Indian shores in 2000. In 1994, he became the first Asian producer / director to win the Wild screen Panda Award also known as the Green Oscar for his film ‘The Last Migration - Wild Elephant Capture in Surguja.’ On keeping the rivers and water bodies clean of garbage, the veteran filmmaker said that it is the public who pollute the rivers like the Brahmaputra or the Ganges. “More than 80 per cent garbage is from our households. The government does not go and throw garbage there. So, it is us who are responsible for this and we have to learn it from our homes to love nature,” he said. On Robin Banerjee, he appealed the state government to conserve Banerjee’s house as a museum through which the conservation works can be promoted. Robin Banerjee was a noted wildlife expert, environmentalist, painter, photographer and documentary filmmaker who lived in Golaghat. He also served with the British Royal Navy during the Second World War before moving to Assam. Banerjee had joined the Royal Navy in 1937 at Liverpool and saw action in World War II. After the war, Banerjee decided to move back to India. In 1952, he visited Assam with a Scottish doctor and in the same year he joined the Chabua Tea Estate as the Chief Medical Officer before moving to the Dhansiri Medical Association, Bokakhat as the Chief Medical Officer. And thereafter Banerjee settled down in Golaghat. He made 32 documentaries in his career as a filmmaker and was the recipient of 14 international awards. He dedicated his life to the conservation of nature. He was also the founder of the Kaziranga Wildlife Society, which actively protects the interests of the park. On the occasion, Pandey’s three critically acclaimed documentaries were also screened.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Business

GOGOI’S BUDGET

BY GPLUS BUSINESS BUREAU info@g-plus.co.in

hile freeing Chimney and kerosene lamp parts from VAT, Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi in his budget 2014-14, made writing instruments, sanitary napkins, parts of renewable energy devices, fabricated iron and steel goods and accessories of bicycle, tricycle and rickshaws cheaper. The VAT on these products have been reduced from 14.5 % to 5%. Gogoi, who holds the Finance portfolio however increased the VAT rates on motor parts (from 5% to 14.5 %), natural gas (from 12 % to 14. 5%) and smoking tobacco (from 25 % to 30 %), besides levying an entry duty on imported products from neighbouring countries. The budget also enhanced land revenue to `30 per bigha in case of rural areas and the land revenue of urban land too will be

SUGAR COATED WITH FREEBIES

Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state budget has proposed to put immovable property returns details of IAS/ ACS officers on the Government website. The Government has also made mandatory for all Class-I officer to submit their returns.

enhanced commensurately. Gogoi’s budget was laden with promise of setting up more development councils and he assured several schemes for the tea tribes. Presenting a `2357.91 crore deficit budget, Gogoi doled out freebies and proposed to make available yarn and blankets to 20,000 poor beneficiaries in each legislative assem-

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bly. He also announced concession for senior citizens in state run buses and promised 20 power tillers in each constituencies. The budget raised the minimum exemption limit of professional tax from `40,000 per annum to 1,20,000. In the 2014 -15 plan budget, an amount of `2015.74 crore has been earmarked for implementation of 13 Externally Aided Projects. Three new engineering colleges are also proposed to be established. A Cyber Tower will be constructed at Guwahati, to provide ready-to-operate space to the industries under one roof. The budget has made provision for inclusion of Women in the boards of the public sector units. Taking a cue from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state budget has proposed to put immovable property returns details of IAS/ACS officers on the Government website. The Government has also made mandatory for all Class-I officer to submit their returns. The industry bodies have by and large welcomed the budget. Abhijit Barooah, Co Chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) North East Council said, “The proposed increase in the VAT rate on natural gas will be detrimental for the industries in the region. Gas must be considered as an industrial input and taxed at not more than 5%. Major consumers including the tea, power and Assam Petrochemical Ltd. will be affected by this increase” Industry body, Federation of Industry and Commerce of the North East Region (FINER) are of the opinion that the increase in rate of VAT on motor parts and accessories will prove counter-productive and will lead to diversion of trade. Chairman, CII Assam State Council and ED, Digboi IOCL Refinery sai, “We are happy to note that given the current inflation rate the government has enhanced the exemption limit of Professional tax for the benefit of the lower and middle class of the state.” A long standing demand of CII for creating an industrial land bank for development of industrial clusters has been addressed in this year’s budget with assurance of work starting in this financial year itself.

Huge Trade Enquiries at Hong Kong Food Expo 2014, Assam Tea Pavilion

Tea stall at the Hongkong Food Expo with the Consulate General

or the first time the Directorate of Tea, under Industries and Commerce Department , Government of Assam is participating in the Hongkong International Food Expo organized by Hongkong Trade Developement Council (HKTDC). The Department in its endeavor to promote Assam Tea in the world arena has also selected few entrepreneurs manufacturiy export quality Assam CTC or Orthodox teas but also signature teas like hand rolled , white tea etc. The stall has been drawing

huge enquiries from different countries.Enquiry orders from Midland China to the tune of 25MT of CTC and Orthodox tea , from Malaysia for high end CTC, from Taiwan for green tea , from Belgium for Green and Orthodox tea and British enquiry for CTC tea has been received. The exclusive White Tea introduced for the first time by Aideobari Tea Estate has been a major attraction at the Tea Festival going on simultaneously with the Food Festival. Another big attraction is the hand made green smoked tea made Shri. Gobin Hazarikha of

Lakhimpur. The Indian Consulate General , Hongkong Shri Prashant Agarwal while visiting the stall today the 15th of August 2014 was all praises for the endeavor of the State Government . He proposed to have a tea testing session at the Indian Consulate prior to the Food Festival next year where the Consulate would invite tea buyers from different parts of the world. It is noteworthy to mention here that four of the entrepreneurs participating in the festival are small tea growers from Lakhimpur, Kokrajhar and Sivasaga

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

NEW STATE BJP PREZ SIDDHARTHA BHATTACHARJEE

Politicking

City Weather 24 / 29 °C Heavy rain. Mostly cloudy.

SYEDA AMBIA ZAHAN

op sources in the party disclosed to this correspondent that the new President of the Assam state BJP was going to be Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, thus aiming to end very soon the hurling of abuses at one another by the aspirants. Siddhartha Bhattacharjee, the dynamic leader of the party, presently serving in the post of vice president of the state committee will be declared as the President after the executive meetings of state BJP slated to be held from 22nd August. The rat race for the president’s post also exposed the clash and infighting in the party. Ranjit Das, present MLA of Sorbhog lost it to Bhattacharjee who was the other front runner in the race. It is well known that both the leaders have a section each in the party to work overtime so as to spell doom for their prospects of becoming the party president. Each section of party workers had also lodged a formal complaint before the high command against the leader of the other section. The complaints lodged by each of the two sections are virtual abuses against their rival leaders in their personal arenas.

Keeping in view the promotion of the Yuva Shakti program, the central BJP wants someone in the state who is dynamic and as well as energetic and Siddhartha Bhattacharjee seemingly ticking all the boxes, it is hoped that he would do justice to the post.

Other than Siddhartha Bhattacharjee and Ranjit Das, others who were in the race for the post were MLA Dilip Moran, Rajen Gohain and Pradip Thakuria. Although it is up to the party high command to decide on the new face of BJP leadership, it is almost final that Siddhartha Bhattachajee would be one who will have the final laugh. The term of Sarbananda Sonowal was supposed to expire in December, 2015. He has to quit the post before his completion of the term going by

the one-man-one-post norm the party adheres to. Keeping in view the promotion of the Yuva Shakti program, the central BJP wants someone in the state who is dynamic and as well as energetic and Siddhartha Bhattacharjee seemingly ticking all the boxes, it is hoped that he would do justice to the post. Though the BJP came out to be the single largest party in the Lok Sabha elections, political experts say, for assembly elections, the BJP has to be very well prepared and have to

strengthen the grass roots of the party. The party knows this well and thus selecting Siddhartha Bhatacharjee will do justice to the post as he was also a grass root worker of the party. According to party sources, the senior leaders of the party want someone senior to lead the party in the poll bound state. If the BJP comes to power in the 2016 Assembly election, the president will either get a chance to lead the state as the CM or he would get a very senior post in the functioning of the state.

24 / 30 °C Thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. 24 / 31 °C Thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. 24 / 28 °C Numerous showers. Mostly cloudy. 24 / 30 °C Strong thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. 24 / 30 °C Strong thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. 25 / 32 °C Thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Art

VIOLIN, FLUTE AND THE PIANO The 19th Annual Natasurya Theatre Festival

SHUBHRAJIT ROY

info@g-plus.in

mong the women theatre activists in Assam, Pakija Begum is a luminary. With many of her directorial presentations and acting performances across the nation, over the years, she has created a benchmark. Her recent powerpacked performance in the character of Menaka, a fisher-folk of Assam has no second opinion. The tale of Menaka got built up around the oppression imposed by caste based social discrimination. Although the socalled upper strata of society had declined her existence and survival, she was their first choice when it came to abort an unwanted foetus before marriage. Eventually her sister-in-law Kamala became pregnant after falling in love with a higher-caste Maniram. Keeping all constraints aside, the iconic firebrand Menaka handled the situation, both with emotion and vigour and finally brought a happy conclusion to their lives through moral humanity. Adapted into a play from Homen Borgohain’s ‘Matsyagandha’ by Jimoni Choudhury and Pakija Begum herself, ‘Menaka’ was staged recently at the 19th Annual Natasurya Theatre Festival, organised by team ‘Natasurya’ and Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Govt. of Assam from August 1st to the 7th at the Rabindra Bhawan. The mixed blend of tragedy, depression, outcry and a little bit of humour Pakija Begum brought on to the stage was commendable. The raw rural phonetics used in the dialogues and the madness of the character portrayed and directed by Pakija Begum were appropriate in the context of the plot. Produced under the name of ‘BA’ Theatre, the light, sound and fishing-net set designed by Anup Hazarika gave the play a metaphorical outlook. Another play in the festival which left a mark in the minds of the audiences here was ‘Piano’ by the Angana Theatre from Mumbai, starring Bollywood actor Raghuvir

Pakija Begum in and as ‘Menaka’

Raghubir Yadav in ‘Piano’. Yadav, Roshni Achreja and Abeer Yadav. A Hindi adaptation of Ferenc Karinthy’s famous play ‘Steinway Grand’ by Raghuvir himself, the play was a directorial premier by Ujjwala Barman and was also the concluding play of the week-long festival. The play talked about the issue of loneliness in the concrete urban environment, where an aloof lady named Roza D’sylva advertised in the newspaper to sell her beloved Steinway Grand Piano, which she got as a birthday gift at the age of three. Following the advertisement, a middleaged divorced library worker started ringing her repeatedly in different voices, sometimes as an aged lady as well as her grandson or sometimes as an army captain. Every time he brought in different characters through his voice

Raghubir Yadav, Abeer Yadav and Roshni Achreja in ‘Piano’.

The artist duo was remarkable in their performances as Roshni remained calm and intact as demanded by the character and Raghubir opened up layers after layers.

and tried to convince Roza as if he/ she would be the perfect buyer of the musical instrument. As the conversation continued, the curiosity also developed between them. But every prank should have a dilute conclusion as when she came to know about all these, she felt more disturbed. Similarly, the male protagonist also admitted his guilt and produced reasons behind such a deed as both of them were lonely in their own ways. He also believed in the fact that the telephonic conversation may wash away all the uncertainties in their lives that occurred due to loneliness. He suggested her not sell the Piano, rather to devote herself more into music as he was in love with his flute. In the end, the music bound them together. The artist duo was remarkable in their performances as Roshni remained calm and intact as demanded by the character and Raghubir opened up layers after layers. The humour elements supported by the voice modulation by Raghuvir left the audiences in splits. The play was ornamented with the multidimensional set design by Nuruddin Ahmed and assisted by Trishan Barman. Similarly, Abeer Yadav who played the role of the narrator in it, brought the message that music, be it Violin, Flute or Piano, can dispel all sorts of depression. Through the play named ‘Vivekananda’ by Tripura theatre, Agartala, director Bibhu Bhattacharjee tried to convey the ideals of Swami Vivekananda among the masses especially among the youth. Coincidentally, the presentation was quite similar with an earlier one staged by the Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari in 2012. As a part of their annual felicitation, team ‘Natasurya’ honoured eminent actress Arati Barua, wife of legendary musician Late Rudra Barua in the inaugural function. Apart from plays the festival also presented a magnificent jugalbandi performance in which actor Pranjal Saikia

recited a poem by Nilamoni Phukan, Sarodi Saikia described the same in Sattriya moves supported by Depak Sarma’s flute recital and all these were brought to life on canvas by artist Rabin Bar simultaneously. Apart from the three plays discussed above, all other plays staged in the festival by the local theatre groups of Assam were quite disappointing. In spite of having all the commercial elements, popular director Rajesh Bhuyan and playwright Pankaj Jyoti Bhuyan could not bring out any fruitful conclusion to their play named ‘Uma’. Similarly, in the play ‘Circus’, director Xapunjyoti Thakur had a big message to convey but failed in proper execution. The play criticised that even a trained monkey of a circus can have a better outlook than the so-called intellectual minds of our society. The inaugural play of the festival presented by Gobinda Kalakshetra, Kaliabor had a big confusion in its name. As per the advertisement and souvenir published by the organisers, the name of the play was ‘Chilarai’ only, whereas in the brochure distributed by the performing group, the name of it was ‘Chilarai- Kamalapriya’. So far as the performance is concerned narrator Jhunakankan Bhuyan played several roles as well as managed the live music in the play and tried his best to grip the audiences’ minds. Enriched with many folk elements in it the play, which was directed by Mahendra Kakoti, lacked at several other aspects. Although the play ‘Teamwork’ by North East Theatre Academy, Dergaon had questioned the present day academic pattern, it would have been better suited in a Children’s Theatre Festival. Year after year, The Natasurya Theatre Festival has brought in plays of different flavours and gives opportunity to the new performers as well, but this year as a whole, it has proved to be a disappointment in terms of quality plays.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

MS ROAD

Ward Watch

WARD NO 9

FORSAKEN FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS

Rahul Chanda

rahul.chanda@g-plus.in

t has been 20 years and the MS Road in Ward number 9 does not at all look like it is situated in the heart of the city. Adjacent to SRCB Road, Fancy Bazar, the Road starts from the AT Road Flyover Bridge up to the MG Road crossing Gate number 4. There are many business establishments located in the area and they face a lot of transportation problems because of the poor road condition. It is to be noted that the authorities have not touched the road for the last 20 years, but since a new council was formed last year, we went about asking the councilor about the scenario.

Sub Division 9A/ 9B/ 9C

Total voters 29444 (approx)

Falls under 9A

Total voters 1500 (approx)

Ward population 55000 (approx)

Concentrated region MS Road

Population 18000 (approx)

Area’s population 2500 (approx)

Councilor’s name

Rajkumar Tewari Address

First floor, tewari market, srcb road, fancy bazar Phone number

The challenges

According to the ward councillor Rajkumar Tewari, the main challenge he is facing in his ward since he became the councillor is the construction of the MS Road. He said, “I have written to almost all the authorities like the GDD, GMC, District Administration in the last eight months, but the road is yet to be looked at by them. I have also placed the request to repair the road to the Lok Sabha MP Bijoya Chakravorty, who is expected to get the MP fund to develop the constituency. It is sad that for the last two decades, the road has not been looked at upon the authorities.” The councillor then narrated the changes he has been able to make in these eight months.

The changes

According to Tewari, just after he became the councilor of the area, he used to receive complaints from people facing problems getting adequate drinking water. He said, “In this area, not all the households have their own supply, so people usually depend on the supply water. Before, the service was not proper, but I persuaded all the departments responsible for adequate water supply and now I don’t receive the complaints.” Similarly, garbage management was a major problem and hence the councilor made a garbage house, which is a first of its kind in the city. The garbage house is kept open from 5am to 10am, and from 5pm to 11pm. People dump the garbage in the dustbins inside the garbage house, which keeps the road clean. The councillor also planned to construct a public utility service and recently, the foundation stone of the public utility service building was laid by the city Mayor. The building

09435112493 Major issues

Poor roads, parking chaos, theft

“I have written to almost all the authorities like the GDD, GMC, District Administration in the last eight months, but the road is yet to be looked at by them.

will be constructed with a budget of `40 lakhs. The councillor has other plans of developing the area too. His dream is to develop the 34 bighas of the jail land, which is lying unused in the area. The jail was shifted from the area in 2003. In 2008 GMDA took over the land but since then the department has not done anything constructive there. The land is lying vacant and recently people have started parking the vehicles in front of it and the place looks like an old haunted building.

Local problem

The local residents of the area feel that the councilor is working and have resolved some problems like drinking water and garbage management, but still there are problems. As

there are many business establishments in the area, because of poor road condition and heavy traffic, parking is a major problem. The road is always congested. There are also instances of theft reported by the local people. As the jail area has become a place for people to drink at night, the area looks haunted and people are scared to cross by the jail boundaries. Taking everything into account, the councillor seems confident about changing the area within his five-year tenure and even people are positive about it. But, why are the 34 bighas of land still lying unused by the authorities? With the councillor confident about developing the area within five years, we have to wait and watch how developed the road becomes after 5 years.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Hangout

THE PICCADILLY SNEHA CHOUDHURY

sneha.choudhury@g-plus.in

LOCATION

Located at the centre stage, Panbazar and one of the oldest places of the city, the Multicuisine Smart dining restaurant itself is a pioneer on its own, serving food from 1975.The restaurant has been demolished and reconstructed in a new avatar and launched recently. With a very interesting name ‘Piccadilly’ which means ‘Pick A Daily’ comes from an old restaurant in a circus in UK, explained Mrs Niluttama Banerjee, the proprietor of the restaurant to G Plus.

Dining guwahati since ‘75

AMBIENCE/DECOR

In Panbazaar? Family dining? Yes , its possible! The moment you enter Piccadilly, everything around will start soothing you. With light music playing in the background, a subtle and cosy environment, it is apt for you and your family to enjoy and dine together. A well furnished dining hall, the lighting embracing your mood, a television for your entertainment and a lounge bar as the cherry on the top, gives you all that you wish for.

THE FOOD

The restaurant has a multi cuisine menu, which includes Indian, Chinese, Tandoor and Mughlai along with a wide variety of Desserts and Beverages. The chefs are from Kolkatta and both Veg and Non- veg items are served. For starters, soups are served in the Chinese cuisine. The main course has Rice and Noodles with a choice from crispy and panfried eggs, prawn, fish and chicken .Mashur Tandoori Khazana of the menu includes selections of Tikka and Kababs. The Indian cuisine has fun filled mouth watering dishes such as Laziz Tikka

SNEHA CHOUDHURY

sneha.choudhury@g-plus.in

SERVICES – Event catering, birthday parties and hospitality. The restaurant has further plans of arranging musical evenings and home delivery services TIMING - Sunday to Saturday : 11 AM – 10 PM ADDRESS - M.L Nehru Road, Panbazar, Guwahati781001, Phone- 98540-51999 MUST TRY- Happy Hour Snacks, Main Course: Handi Biryani, Malai Kabab, Murgh Musallam, DessertsGulaab Jamun, Caramel Custard Rating-3.5/5

JONBIRI DELIGHT ‘Jonbiri – A house of Assamese Traditional Jewellery’ has been launched. Located in the Hatigaon Road it has a fresh variety of both Ranthali and Barpeta Gold. With increasing response in its second week, it has catered to many jewellery lovers and enthusiasts. Designed and run by entrepreneur Mrs Kalpita P Barman, Jonbiri is a store house of varities such as Gam Kharu, Muthi Kharu, Dhanseera , Dugdugi, Moni mala, Gagori, Lukaparo, Dhulbiri, Jonbiri , Xilikha, Keru, Thokxun set. A new venture in its field, opened in this part of the city where it would be the single in its kind in the locality, much business and response is expected , added Mrs Barman. It remains open from 10am to 8pm in the evening except on Sundays.

masala, Murgh Khurchand, Bengali Fish Curry. Desserts are fresh and straight from the chef ’s magical fingers. Gulaab Jamun is said to be prepared by the restaurant chefs themselves and the Caramel custard is a must try if you look forward to visit it.

BAR- The bar has a variety of Rum, Gin, Vodka, Tequila, Beer, Wine, Breezer, Scotch Whisky, Babourne Whisky, Classic Cocktails and Mocktails. It also has an imported collection of wine, which is expensive but worth a try in such an amiable ambience. PRICE

The prices are the most affordable and welcomes every class of

people to visit the place at least once. You will get everything within your budget .With a range of dishes, it will only cost you `50 – 150 for starters and snacks, `145 - 400 for the main course, `70-150 on desserts and `30 – 70 for beverages. The bar includes brands ranging from `100 – 350 on an average, which are inclusive of taxes.

RESPONSE

There has been a consistency in response by the diners. As the food and the service along with the ambience are much compatible for the diners, most of them have been seen coming repeatedly. The interesting fact is that there is not much promotion being done and the popularity, which it has gained is only through word of mouth.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Hangout

Bookworm’s delight THE BIBLIOPHILIA CAFE

SNEHA CHOUDHURY

sneha.choudhury@g-plus.in

of creativity, innovation and discussions. In our Panbazar campus, we have readers coming in from different places of the city and of different age groups.

henever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.–Vera Nazarian This quote is explained by a city based entrepreneur – Imran Hussain. An innovative idea and a motive to create a book culture from the basic level is the vision of Imran Hussain , the founder of ‘The Bibliophilia Cafe’. Living in the centrecore of books and having a family business of the same, he relates himself much closer to the traditional mode of reading . Talking to us , Imran explains his initiation of the idea from where it all started.

Future prospects of this book culture? Creating such a culture in Guwahati and the state so to say is a big challenge and we need support from the authorities of the educational institutions. To provide the students something beneficial, the college authorities have an important role in sowing and shaping up their knowledge tree .Ours being neither a profit or non-profit initiative is just a vision for a better tomorrow .And for a better tomorrow, we need to mould it from its base. We want our readers to be benefitted and tell others about what good it may spread further. And also create and retain a rich culture in the land where legends like Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, Navakanta Barua, Mamoni Raisom Goswami, Bhabendra Nath Saikia have left us with evolutionary literature in our hands.

How it all started?

It was a few years back when my cousin asked me a few names of journals she required while pursuing her higher studies outside the Northeast. And the thought that indeed, most of the younger generations are unaware of the basic knowledge comprising of knowing that which is out of their academic curriculum, came into my mind. So, in 2011, it was put into practice. The book culture is quite prevalent in Delhi and Kolkata but we don’t see it here. Panbazar being the only hub of book in Guwahati , I started sowing it right from here.

Who do we cater to ?

The Bibliophilia Cafe is a campus book store, lending library and e-content service provider. People can browse through the internet, get a print out of reading materials and also get photocopies in the document centre. The Cafe in Panbazar holds many books on fiction, non-fiction, academics and some reference books are also available for readers to sit and enjoy with a cup of coffee. Initially, the idea was to help the students of rural areas to be more familiar with reading books

“Students in colleges either loiter around in their free time, so instead of that they can have an ‘adda’ inside the college campus where people can learn with fun along with an environment full of creativity, innovation and discussions” - IMRAN HUSSSAIN (Founder, Bibliophilia Cafe)

apart from those under their course curriculum and so, we approached few colleges, and now we have our reading space in colleges such as K.C Das Commerce College, Darrang College, D.K.D College, Sibsagar Girl’s College. For students, we store and sell textbooks, reference books and provide them discounts.

The response

Initially the response was good and the colleges have shown much interest. They have known about us from other colleges and let us be a part of their campus. Students have shown a positive response as we wanted them to read, being comfortable in their own campus. Also

the e-resource which we provide is helpful to let them cope up with digitisation where traditional way of reading is fading away. Students in colleges either loiter around in their free time, so instead of that they can have an ‘adda’ inside the college campus where people can learn with fun along with an environment full

Visiting hours

Catering to many coveted colleges of the state, the aim is to have a platform for the students to have access to such amenities provided by the ‘Enterprise Venture.’ A junction to read, buy and enjoy books, journals , e-resources (paid websites) inside the college campus. He added, “We are not making any profit out of it, rather it’s a good thought put in practice.” The Cafe inside the colleges have their own timings as per to the respective college timings. The one in Panbazar under renovation is set to re-open after 15th August and is open from Monday-Saturday 10 am - 8 pm and 11 am – 7 pm on Sundays.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Reviews

GAME REVIEW

EA Sports UFC

Director: Rohit Shetty Cast: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anupam Kher, Amol Gupte

ohit Shetty, after roping in SRK in his production last year, soar his level up in his style of working. Now after a year the director is back with Ajay Devgn who tagged himself in Rohit’s most number of flicks. And nonetheless Ajay and Rohit are once again unbelievably glorious with their beloved work of action in Singham Returns. However, sequels in Bollywood have rarely worked but it seems favorable for Rohit Shetty yet again. Looking back at his Golmaal series we may get a clear stance. Singham’s sequel is yet another example and cements Rohit’s successful streak in Indian cinema. Singham Returns roars louder that before with its action and oneliners. This roar is surely to receive loud screams, high-pitched whistles and applause in packed theatres. However, it would be quite early to predict whether this could turn a gold-digger at box office. But after witnessing this blasting drama one would say it’s going to bring moolah. Director keeps the premise similar to what he had in 2011 hit but Singham Returns is more realistic however, nothing compared to Bollywood’s hard-core satirical flick. He goes a step ahead and tries to expose the political underbelly and corruption which could have been more refined. But neither have we expected a Rohit Shetty flick to be so nor the director considers panning the political deeds and changing his own image. You get what you expect before entering the theatres. Choreographed by Rohit Shetty himself alongwith Jai Singh Nijjar and Suniel Rodrigues, the power-packed action sequences are two times bigger than Singham Returns’s prequel. One of them shot on a bridge is the

jaw-dropping and the show-stealer. While the narration is fast-paced, such thunderous action stunts keep you engaged throughout. The raging interaction between Swamiji and Bajirao is captivating and amusing with some witty dialogues written by Sajid-Farhad duo while the cute romance between our male protagonist and Kavya Bhosle (Kareena Kapoor Khan) too has some good moments. What could have been minimized is the length which is extensive. Moreover, the complete law enforcement coming together to support Singham looks a lot dramatic. But let me remind you that it’s a masala entertainer and we let Rohit enjoy the cinematic liberty. He fits in the role of super cop in the flick. Ajay brings in the frustration and anger which he has been maintaining in many of his political satirical flicks. With it he makes his character larger than life. Kareena Kapoor Khan is like breath of fresh air. She is notorious and blatant in her character. Her way of flirting with Ajay provides a comic relief. Amole Gupte as an antagonist is marvelous. His presence has a required weight-age and he sends tremors down when comes on screen. Dayanand Shetty as an inspector carries the same persona for which he has been known in one of the longest running shows on TV ‘CID’. Anupam Kher as a righteous politician is good too. Compared to flick’s first installment music is better here. Composed by Ankit Tiwari, Jeet Gangulli, Meet Bros Anjjan and Yo Yo Honey Singh, the songs have a decent shelf life while they gel in the movie comfortably. Background score by Amar Mohile is superb.

f you based quality strictly on appearance, EA Sports UFC could be a lock for the top spot, because EA Canada’s first crack at a mixed martial arts project captures the atmosphere of a real event. Hard liver shots mirror a pebble being thrown into a still pond, the impact causing skin to ripple across the body. Bruises

For PS4

and cuts form and worsen over the course of a fight, and veins bulge as fighters desperately work to break out of tight guillotine chokes. It’s beautiful violence, but once you grab a controller, the wonder of the gorgeous character models and stomach-churning thuds of punches and kicks quickly wears off. That’s because one of the most essential elements of the sport is almost nonexistent inside this virtual Octagon: tension. Where THQ’s UFC series allowed each moment of a fight to seem equally dangerous for both combatants, EA Sports UFC’s poor balancing makes the moment-to-moment action feel too safe, too often.

Unforgettable Fiction, Non- Fiction, Poetry & Humour

YouULD O SHread

Author: Khushwant

9 collects in a single volume the finest pieces Khushwant Singh published over the course of a long and prodigiously creative life. The essays, extracts, stories and poems (one for each year of his life) have been chosen for their excellence or because they represent an aspect of the author’s versatility and range. Some of the selections are well known. Others have never been published in book form. The book is divided into fifteen sections and showcases his exceptional achievement as a writer.

LP1

You SHOULD LISTEN

Artist: FKA Twigs

KA Twigs’ early EPs were such jewel-like statements of purpose, delivering songs full of sensuality and heartache so economically, that an album almost seemed superfluous. None of these songs appear on the simply titled LP 1, a bold move that extends to the rest of the album. Tahliah Barnett opens up her sound by working with a host of producers: along with previous collaborator Arca, indie darlings Paul Epworth and Dev Hynes contribute their sound-shaping skills, along with Emile Haynie, whose contributions to Eminem’s Recovery earned him a Grammy. They help give LP 1 a lusher sound that’s more accessible, and more overtly R&B, than FKA Twigs’ earlier work but maintains its ethereal sensuality. It’s an approach that shines on the lead single “Two Weeks”: the flipside of songs like “Papi Pacify” and “Water Me,” where pain was suffused and eclipsed desire, it finds Barnett powerfully in control of her sexuality, rooting out doubt and infidelity over the verses’ underwater beats and soaring on the ecstatic choruses. The album’s other singles are just as charged.

NOW SHOWING Singham returns

Entertainment

Apsara Cinema

Daily at 11AM, 2, 5 & 8 PM

Anuradha Cineplex

Daily at 10.45 AM , 2, 5.15 & 8.15 PM

Fun Cinemas

Daily at 9.30 AM, 12.10, 5.40 PM

Daily at 3.00 AM & 8.45 PM

Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazar)

Daily at 11, 11.30 AM, 2, 5, 8 & 8.30PM

Daily at 2.30 & 5.30 PM

Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar)

Daily at 11, 11.30 AM, 2, 5, 8 & 8.30PM

Daily at 2.30 & 5.30 PM

Gold Cinema (Narengi)

Daily at 11 AM, 2, 5 & 8 PM

Telebooking numbers: Anuradha Cineplex; 03612656968, 9954544738, Fun Cinemas: 9864800100, 9864800200, Gold Cinema (Fancy Bazaar): 03612735367, 9854077177, Gold Cinema (Paltan Bazaar): 9854066166, Gold Cinema (Narengi): 8811001898

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Irctc now capable of handling 7,200 ticket bookings per minute

he tedious experiences of booking train tickets through the IRCTC website may have become a thing of the past, as the Indian Railways on Wednesday launched its next-generation e-ticketing system that features an enhanced booking capacity of 7,200 tickets per minute, and is said to be both faster and easier to use. The new system developed by Centre for Railway information Systems (CRIS) with an estimated cost of Rs. 180 crore would allow booking of 7,200 tickets per minute against 2,000 tickets per minute possible with the old

Hackers tweet resignation of Russian PM

system. Also, with the launch of the system, 120,000 concurrent users can book e-tickets simultaneously now, against the earlier capacity of 40,000 concurrent users at a time. Online system like e-Demand and e-Diversion for freight service was also launched by Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda to enable the booking of wagons and making of payments without going to counters. “Railways is part and parcel of development. It is in the mind of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM said all

Tips and Tricks for

Google Chrome Indrajeet Bhuyan

Google Chrome has a built-in PDF writer. Open any web page, press Ctrl+P on Windows and choose ìSave as PDFî from the list of available printers to download that page as a PDF file.

Fake your location Certain websites, may ask the browser for your geographic location. Using google Chrome you can fake your current location. Go to Tools -> Developer Tools and press the Esc key to open the console. Here switch to the Emulation tab and enter any value for latitude and longitude. card reader that attaches to a smartphone, Kindle or tablet. The reader processes credit or debit card payments via a secure Amazon network, the same one that processes Amazon. com purchases. The service is de-

signed to serve on-the-go small business owners who might otherwise only accept cash or checks, including massage therapists, food truck operators and artists who sell their work at outdoor fairs.

Gmail now rejects emails Reversible USB with suspicious character cables are here combinations n the effort of making ‘global email’ spam free, Google on Tuesday announced that its Gmail service will now begin rejecting emails that contain misleading combinations of accented or non-Latin characters. Notably, Google had last week announced support for email addresses that contained such characters last week. The search giant on Tuesday said that it is rolling-out some changes to ensure that spammers or scammers cannot use accented or non-Latin characters in suspicious combinations in emails, as similarities between character sets can be exploited to send misleading or harmful messages. Google said that it is filtering emails for such domains using an open standard, the Unicode Consortium’s “Highly Restricted” specification, considering it will strike a ‘healthy balance between legitimate uses of these new domains and those likely to be abused.’ “To stay one step ahead of spammers, the Unicode community has identified suspicious combinations of

Web Watch

Save web pages as PDFs

Amazon introduces ‘local register’ mobile payment app and card reader mazon is taking direct aim at mobile payment systems such as Square by introducing the Amazon Local Register, a credit-card processing device and mobile app designed to help small business owners accept payments through their smartphones and tablets. The move places the largest U.S. e-commerce retailer in competition with Square and other established mobile payment processing systems such as PayPal Here and Intuit’s GoPayment. Shares rose 3 percent early Wednesday, the biggest percentage gainer on the Standard and Poor’s 500 index. Amazon’s technology includes a

ackers broke into Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s Twitter account on Thursday, tweeting his resignation and criticising President Vladimir Putin. “I’m resigning. I’m ashamed of the government’s actions. Forgive me,” said Medvedev’s Russian-language Twitter account. “I’ve wanted to say this for a long time: Vova you’re wrong!” said another tweet, using the nickname for Vladimir. Medvedev, even when he served as president, was considered the second fiddle to Putin. Medvedev’s “Twitter account has been hacked, the messages are not genuine. We’re working on the problem,” a government spokesman told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency. However, hacked messages continued to appear, and his account quickly became the top trender in Moscow, with the number of followers of his account swiftly rising by 10,000 to over 2.5 million. Many of the hacked tweets criticised Russian government policies.

operational part of railways should be covered through online system,” the Railway minister said. Emphasising state-of-the-art solution in rail sector to bring about operational efficiency, Gowda said “I have envisaged hospital management information system for the railway staff.” He also suggested education to children of railway staff through optic fibre cable network. Gowda also announced cash awards of Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 2.5 lakh for CRIS and IRCTC respectively for their commendable work.

letters that could be misleading, and Gmail will now begin rejecting email with such combinations,” said Mark Risher, Spam & Abuse Team, Google. Google last week announced support for non-Latin characters in email addresses, calling it the ‘first step toward more global email’. The company is trying to make the adoption of email addresses containing accented or non-Latin characters widespread by providing partial support in its very popular Gmail service. Google said, “The technology is there, but someone has to take the first step. Today we’re ready to be that someone.” The first step as per Google was allowing Gmail to recognise addresses that contain accented or non-Latin characters, and thus giving Gmail users the ability to send emails to, and receive emails from such email addresses. Google added that it would soon bring Calendar support for email addresses with accented or non-Latin characters, and also make it possible in the future to create Gmail addresses of the same type.

eversible USB ports are finally a reality. The USB 3.0 Promoter Group has announced the completion of the USB Type-C specification. This essentially means that new, reversible connector equipped cable and connectors would be available for mobile as well as other devices. The new connectors are not directly compatible with their older counterparts, however, the group has detailed adapters for existing connectors. The new cable and connector standard supports USB performance at super speed USB 10Gbps (USB 3.1) and USB power delivery up to 100W. The connector supports scalable power charging. It would have 3A power delivery capacity for standard cables and 5A for connectors.

Take notes inside Chrome By Using a little JavaScript hack you instantly turn your Chrome into a text editor. Open a new tab and paste data:text/html,<html contenteditable> into the address bar. Click anywhere inside the tab and start typing.

Use Chrome as a media player You can drag audio files, videos, images, text files and even PDF documents from your desktop into the Chrome video and view them without opening a dedicated viewer application.

Switch to Google Cache instantly Google Cache is very useful if a web page you are trying is open is offline , and Chrome makes it really easy for you to access the cached version of any page. While you are on a page, click the address bar, type cache: before the URL and hit Enter. Youíll be taken straight to the Google Cache Indrajeet Bhuyan is a 16 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

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Life

A Way To Always Win

Life is a journey ritu gupta gritu21@yahoo.com

ife is very short, live it. We see so much of misery around us - everybody is fighting his/her battle to survive. All of us are stuck in the rat race and I hear many young children saying, “Life sucks.” Isn’t this totally shocking? Life is taken for granted, but ask those for whom life has been so precious or the ones who know that their life will end anyway, anytime. Life is a beautiful journey and like each journey, even this one has a lot of bumps in between. But rather than focussing on the bumpers, let’s focus our attention on the beautiful experiences we have witnessed during this journey. We all have a lot in our hands - the blessings, which can motivate us to move forward. Our dear ones whom we love so much. The journey of life is between life and death. So many strangers become an essential ingredient for our survival. Life seems so effortless. “The best phase of our life is our childhood.”- Have we ever thought why we always say so? It’s very simple; because at this stage we are away from all the hardships - protected by our parents, away from the ego game. For us, friends at this

stage are people with whom we like to play. We don’t analyse them as being good or bad. Friends means they are very good. Then comes adolescence . A lot of changes take place , physically as well as mentally. We come closer to human nature. Start assessing. Start forming an opinion about friends and friendship, differentiate as being best or mere acquaintances. Within the family - as close or distant. We start developing views about people. When youth arrives, we are prepared to enjoy life. We already have learnt the art of forming our own picture about life and then we start analysing it. For some, life takes the shape of a beautiful music for some, a war. For some it is just a casual way to live and end. Life for some becomes so busy that they hardly have time to breathe - stressed about the future, trying to save for bad times. So

much so that, while doing this they forget to live life. When they wake up, they realise they have lost so much. Those moments, which they have never enjoyed. Holding hands of their children, going for a long walk with their spouse, the evening tea with the parents, catching up for a cup of coffee with old friends. Till the time they realise, it is time for the eternal sleep. So many moments not lived, so many unspoken feelings, deep within and then just repenting. So before such things happen with us, live life to the fullest as there is no tomorrow. Meet up with people you would love to be with. Laugh and dance to the fullest. Rather than looking for choices, just accept what comes your way and do your best. Let that child in you enjoy! Always remember - life is a journey not a destination. Enjoy it.

Pretty woman, walking down...

was born when the Moon was shining; bright beautiful in the dead of night! My mother held me in her arms and cried, “Oh my princess! You are a beauty! You will bloom into the most wonderful woman. I have a bed of dreams spread out for you.” My father was elated. I cried! One night, when I was only 6 months old, I felt an excruciating pain in my groin or was it my throat, chest, hands? I couldn’t scream because I didn’t know how to. I thrashed in the dark but someone was muffling my voice, pinning me to the bed. There was darkness all around me and I floated into oblivion! I was born a 6 year old little girl to poor parents in a dusty village somewhere. My father worked in the fields and my mother would go to him with his lunch. One day, when I was all alone at home, my neighbour, came to our home, gave me some chocolates, tore my frock and then.......! I screamed, thrashed, spat blood but he gnawed at my mother’s ‘pari’ (princess) and left. My mother found me in a pool of blood on her bed and cried. I cried too! My mother said I was ‘not to mix’ with the boys now that I am ‘of age’. I was 11 and I loved playing with my friends. One day, while some of our friends and I were playing near the river; five unknown men came to us. They said they were lost and would like us to show us the road. We did but now we are far from our village in an unknown place, where everyday my body is defiled by more than 10 different men. I wish I could run away from here but I know I will be killed if I try. I cry every moment. I want to go home to you, mother! You had told me not to be close to boys! At 18, I fell in love with my class-mate. He and I would spend time together and dream of getting married someday and having lots of

I didn’t know The Moon would Tell me stories In a different language In his mother’s tongue? We both knew Though there was a space In between the hills Where the snake lives To slither over the Seeds? We had sown the seeds In the fields One mystic night But with our hearts Abandon... Moon said, “If only you knew.” I knew, I know babies. But how would we have known that the ‘morol’(the village headman) would summon us and pass a decree. While my friend was tied to a tree and my parents stood outside the morol’s house, the villagers and the morol took turns to rape me the whole night. Though I went to the police and hospital later and my father lodged an FIR, can I be the same girl again? Will my friend love me anymore? I cry alone! Recently, my friend and I turned 21. But we never should have been born. Isn’t it a sin to be born a woman; to have men hounding you at every corner? And when we couldn’t fight the bullies, they decided to snuff out our lives. We couldn’t even keep count of the

number of men who raped us that night, time and again, gruesomely, till we fainted. Next day, we were dragged to the huge banyan tree and hanged. We couldn’t even cry on our death! I was so happy I was going to see him again after a long span of time; my husband, you know! He is an absolute darling, doting on me and spoiling me to no end. When I told him about the baby, he was all excited to come see me and ‘talk to his child’, he said with tears in his eyes. I had to tell him that he had to hold on for another one month and he can talk as much as he wants. But the day he was arriving, I had to go to the local hospital in a rented rickshaw. And now how can I tell you what happened on the way? The insidious, evil man driving me to the hospital took me through a lonely path and then......! How will I face my husband now? Help me, Oh God! I cannot live through this torment! We are celebrating the 68th Year of Independence in 2014. And then we will be celebrating the 69th and the 70th and the 71st. But the most pertinent question is, “Is there any sense of joy for any woman across the country?” Yes, there is, for the protected ones. As long as it is not in my backyard, why bother? What about the woman on the street; the one who commutes everyday for some reason or the other? Is she safe from the wrath of the insidious-minded men? Not really! Every woman lives in the fear that someday she will face the wrath of a man and her life would turn around 360 degrees. Or worse still, would she even live to tell her tale? Makes me wonder, who will cry when she dies!

tinat ATIFA MASOOD

Will the world financial crisis soon be over? Will global corruption diminish and will our dream of a new world become reality? Yes, when you become active all this is possible. India had the same problem for last 10 years, scam after scam after scam, and corruption hit the ceiling, rather went beyond the ceiling. People thought change is not possible and this will continue. Many of our people, Art of Living volunteers, they worked very hard to bring change. Thousands of our volunteers in India went door to door and did the Happiness Survey and asked people to wake up and vote. All our Swamis participate in Vote For Better India, It is a huge campaign. Today there is such a big change and a stable government has come. A government which can take decisions. In the previous government they made a council in each department with 5-7 ministers in every department being decision makers, and so if they make any wrong decision no one person will be held responsible for it. They took group decisions. To cover up corruption they made groups of people ministers in every department to take decisions and nobody took decisions. The country was in paralysis. From 10 percent industrial growth, India went down to - 2.5 percent. Poor people were suffering. It was the good work of volunteers that increased awareness in people, though we never said which party they should vote. I thought it is not ethical for me to say that, so I remained completely apolitical, but for me it was like walking on a razors edge. I cannot say which party they should vote for, but I have to tell people to bring a change. It’s not an easy job, not at all because if we say vote for this party or that party you become political, you become one among them. I never want to be that because we have our place, we have to inspire people. We are for everybody. I have always said that I’m for everyone. Not one party or one ideology in the world; not one race, religion or community. I would go even further to say I don’t belong to one nation, I belong to the whole world. Whenever you feel that in your country corruption is a problem like in Greece, Italy and many European countries, all that you need to do is work together with everybody and make people understand. This can only happen when human values come up. Without a rise in human values, without a rise in consciousness this problem is not going to get solved. In South America violence has become an issue. Argentina lost in soccer and there was street violence. My dear, it’s only a game! How does it matter who wins. Games are to enjoy whether you lose or win. If you take game as a war or contention then you have to bring the police into the celebrations. So many people got hurt. This happens even here in Germany. Whenever games happen people hit each other; they get violent. This is simply lack of human

values. I say you should have this attitude: Either I win or I make others win. Then you are always winning. When you play a game with a 5 year old boy or girl, or with your kids, do you always win? Is there joy in winning over your children? No, you get happiness when you give up and make them win. They are happy, you are happy. You should have the same broad mindedness all the time. Then you will say, ‘This time I make you win, next time I will win’. Then it’s a win-win situation and in either case you are happy. This should be the attitude in games. Today we have made games like war like and wars like games. War has become a game. We are having a conference at FIFA (International Federation of Football Association) in September. I am addressing them. Somebody today asked me, ‘Now that Federation of Football is under lot of scams and some corruption charges, what is your take on it?’ I said , ‘That’s good, that’s why I am going’ (laughter from the audience). Some told me not to go there because there is corruption. A doctor’s job is where there are sick people. Similarly, there is no job for me to do if FIFA was free from corruption; there would be no need for me to go there and talk. We don’t need an ethics conference in a place where there is already lot of ethics. We need to bring ethics to places where you find it is eroding. A doctor has no job in a burial ground, or in a place where everybody is healthy. His job is there when people could be made healthy. We all have that job to do. We all must reach out to people, and the best way to do it is through the Happiness Survey. Nobody ever asks another if they are happy, what their problem is. That is why people are getting into depression. 40 percent of Europe is suffering from depression. It’s a huge number. A few of you join together and go to all your neighbours with the Happiness Survey form. Knock on the door and say we have come to do a survey and want just two minutes of your time. Ask them if they are happy. If they are not happy then ask, ‘Are you not happy all the time, most of the time or sometime’. And if they are not happy what are the reasons: financial, relationship or health. If it is anything else, note it down. Do the survey, and ask them how we can help. Nobody objects to a survey. If one or two do object never mind, move on. Many people have said that for the first time somebody has come and asked me if I am happy, and what do I need to be happy. That care and concern, that itself will make many people feel better. Their life becomes better. This is needed. We all have to do some such work. Do you agree? Yes!

His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Ji

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

G-Talk

Should people be allowed to live in city hills? N Manoj Kumar Singh

Chirojyoti Bhattacharjee

Doctor

Artist

POINT

t cannot be denied in an instant that people are not being allowed to live in the hilly areas located in and around the city. The state government, in the ongoing budget session, decided that people residing in the hilly areas of the state cannot live in these areas anymore stating the reason of the 18 hills being under the reserved forest areas. But this is in contrary to the assurance made by the government itself in September last year when it had promised the 85 thousand families residing there to be provided with land patta. This unstable decision of the government leads its citizens to have no faith in it. On the other hand, the government has been taking land taxes from this people since decades and so they cannot just overthrow them whenever they want. So, it is the responsibility on their part to provide an alternative so that people don’t suffer. After the state budget, a city based organisation, BASS (Bhumi Adhikar Sangram Samiti) too had protested against the government’s decision not to give land pattas to the people living in the hills of the city. During the protest, the organisation had said that many tribal and non-tribal people have been residing in the hills for many years before the birth of Tarun Gogoi’s father. Today too, many people are residing in the hills by doing cultivation and have been there since before the independence. It was after the separation when Guwahati became the capital and as the government had no hous-

COUNTERPOINT ing plan, the people with the permis-

There is always allegation that instead of taking steps to reclaim the land and making it fit for agricultural use, the government is trying to hand it over to business groups. sion of the then government had to establish their own residence in and around the hilly areas. There is always allegation that instead of taking steps to reclaim the land and making it fit for agricultural use, the government is trying to hand it over to business groups. Also the agitations and rallies carried out by KMSS, BASS and residents of such areas have protested against such decisions but the government has not shown any humane reaction to it. Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people – but our government is not acting as such. This step might have been taken quite earlier during the land allotment or issuing of these lands to the people but after a person or a family has resided and owned it for several years, they can’t be made to leave it and seek refuge in another place and altogether start with a new establishment.

he need of the hour is to protect and preserve natural lands and forests and in order to ensure that, people should not be allowed to live in the reserved hills and forests. The decision taken by the government in the budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly is the one that was needed long time back. Assam is a state prone to floods, earthquake, storms and landslide besides manmade disasters. We face acute flood & erosion problems. We have a history of disasters ranging from large earthquakes to severe floods. There are many issues related and we mostly hear about landslides a lot. During monsoons, every heavy shower buries and claims hundreds of human lives every year. The Kalapahar hill is one of the major landslide prone areas and it has a steep slope with loose unconsolidated soil, which leads to frequent landslides. Though there has been many analysis done by the government on landslide susceptibility, but it has been seen that if the population doesn’t reside, then there could be human loss Assam is a state prone to floods, earthquake, storms and landslide besides manmade disasters. We face acute flood & erosion problems. We have a history of disasters ranging from large earthquakes to severe floods. There are many issues related and we mostly hear about landslides a lot.

as well as less landslides caused due to human habitation and construction on such areas. The hill cutting leads to flash floods which has been one of the major causes. At least 10 people die in every heavy shower. Besides, as our state falls under the seismic zone 5, earthquake being common in this area, it is quite risky for human dwelling. An earthquake above the Richter scale of 5, leads to landslides and humans loss. Combined with this hazard, is the vulnerability profile of the towns and cities where the growth is haphazard and uncontrolled. Huge urban population combined with poor quality and ill-maintained infrastructure, low quality building stock, and lower resilience of the high–density society increases the risks to earthquakes The illegal encroachment in many areas of the city is another matter of concern. After protesting for a long time by different sections of people, the authority too has blamed illegal encroachments across Guwahati for the flash floods, which choked the natural outlets for the gushing water and took as many as eleven lives in the month of June this year. The encroachment drives carried last month has alienated many people from their own place but it has restored some systematic changes in the administration of the city as a whole, which should not be abandoned at any cost. And, the residents of the city too should cooperate the authority instead of carrying out protest to hinder the eviction drive.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, My office is in Chatribari and I have been coming to this road since 8 months. While the road condition of this area is quite good but I would like to bring your attention to problem related to the environment. There is only one garbage bin for the entire locality and one can always see a big mound of garbage piled up right in the middle of the road. The existing bins are broken and garbage flows out from the perforated bins. And it feels ashamed to say that the people of that area do not hesitate to dump their sleeping mattress even into the bin. To add to this, there are plenty of stray dogs that eat the garbage from the open dustbin and spread it on the road, and on top of it there are crows and other rodents that spread it further. The yard around the garbage bin is never swept or cleaned by the corporation leading to plenty of hygiene issues. Although there is a renowned hospital (Christian hospital) situated on that road. Please help in correcting the situation. Thanks for your time. in this matter. Dear Editor, Sir, I would like to bring to your notice about the inconvenience caused by the auto drivers to the common man. No auto driver agrees to run on meter. Each has their own rates when asked to come to a particular place even after the administration has asked them to ply on meters. Specially in and around the railway station, where there is always rush and people coming from outside are frequently being harassed and misbehaved and most importantly are forced to pay exorbitantly high fare. And the irony is that they go on strike to increase the meter fare every now and then. Kindly spread awareness regarding this and let us find a solution to stop this menace. At least administration must make the auto drivers to display the updated fare chart inside the autos compulsory, so that the passengers can have an idea of the actual fare.

Public Notice

Manav Deka, Panjabari

B. Sonowal Boragaon

I have changed my name from Nitashree Das Shah to Nitashree Das by an affidavit before the Notary Kamrup (M), Guwahati; Date – 12/08/2014.

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Fun

Your weekly dose of Aries Arguments take up more of your time than you’d really like on Monday and Tuesday, but there’s more to them than you may realize at first, so engage with your usual vigor and gusto. After they are settled, you should be able to fly through work or chores midweek — stuff at home is especially appealing and easy to take care of. Early this weekend, you need to make the call about what you and your people are doing, and your initiative should help everyone get the most out of their downtime. Reserve judgment on Sunday.

Leo Talk with people — especially, but not exclusively, friends — about what you want to do next month or next year. You should be able to articulate your dreams in a new way, and thus bring them a little closer to reality. Midweek is quiet time for you, though there may be some drama around the home to deal with. Your low-key energy is the answer, and at least one person should find a new kind of respect for you. On Friday, you should wake up feeling like a million bucks, and even total strangers will look twice when you stroll by.

Sagittarius You need to make a decision early this week, which shouldn’t be too hard, but may have profound implications for your people. The outcome is entirely up to you, even if it feels as if you are constrained somehow. Try not to worry too much if you and a family member are at odds on Wednesday or Thursday — it’s just a short phase of being out of synch, and as long as you don’t take it seriously, it passes quickly. Your natural advantages are accentuated this weekend, and your fiery energy should make everything more fun!

SUDOKU

TIMEPASS

Taurus

HOROSCOPE

Gemini

This week is heavy on listening and observation — you can learn a lot! Slow down on Monday and Tuesday, and make sure you’re not jumping into any large or long-term projects without thinking them through quite thoroughly, getting all the information you can about them. Midweek sees your intuitive side opening up in a big way, and you should be able to read your friends and family quite easily. Though you know what’s going on, avoid the temptation of saying ‘I told you so’ this weekend, as most people are ready to slide into resentment at a moment’s notice!

Virgo

Cancer

Your fun, flirty energy is a joy to behold early this week, and you should be able to charm anyone from new clients to potential dates — even if they pretend to themselves that they can resist! Lay the groundwork for good times to come, but don’t be too surprised if a bit of mental fatigue hits you on Wednesday. You should shake it off pretty quickly, but your thinking is a bit fuzzy and confused for a day or two in the meantime. At some point on Friday you sharpen right back up, and may find yourself taking sides in an argument you never really cared about before.

You need to examine the little details of your work or home life on Monday and Tuesday, even if you thought they were already under control. It never hurts to double-check, and you’ve got the mental focus to really nail them. Midweek is much more personal for you, and your great emotional energy should help you pursue whatever interests or projects you have been putting off for a little too long. Make sure that the weekend’s activities include at least some in which you excel — the impulse to show off is irresistible, and you may as well feel confident while you do so!

Libra

You are feeling pretty skeptical of most people’s claims early in the week — and that’s a good thing, even if they don’t like it. Use that logic you’re so famous for to get at the root of the matter, no matter where it leads. Spend extra time with your family on Wednesday and Thursday; it may be a good time for you to all get together and make plans or just enjoy each other’s company. As the weekend approaches, you may feel that you’re too far behind to really enjoy yourself, but by Sunday, at the latest, you should find yourself exactly where you want to be!

Capricorn

Scorpio

Your great mental energy helps you make plans and develop new ideas on Monday and Tuesday, and you also ought to impress someone with the quality of your thinking. Keep up the patter, and make sure others are involved! You hit a slow patch midweek, but if you turn your attention outward, you can help your friends or family with their simpler needs. It’s a good time to think about changing home arrangements. Your hopes are out in the open this weekend, and if you remain optimistic, you may find a friend who can help you with what you need.

Something small but important pops up early in the week, and you might be the only person who recognizes it for what it is. Don’t waste any time explaining to others — just deal with it as quickly as you can and then move on. Let go of your worries on Wednesday and Thursday, as they should prove unfounded soon, and are certainly keeping you from realizing your full potential. You don’t have to control every aspect of the situation! Work problems may arise this weekend, and your boss or primary client is almost certainly to blame.

Aquarius

Things may seem a bit off-kilter this week, so at least have some fun during the wild ride! On Monday and Tuesday, you’ve got more to do than time to do it, and might find yourself unable to focus on any one task for very long. Just try to do your best. Your emotions range a lot higher and lower midweek, which could be exhausting, but shouldn’t last for so long that you want the ride to stop. Work-related issues pop up on Friday and stay with you for a bit; it seems that at least one person (maybe a competitor) will do anything to get ahead.

Pisces

The week starts with a bang, as your mental and romantic energies are in near-perfect sync; you may find yourself drifting into a new love connection. If that’s what you’re looking for, go for it of course! It’s a good time to strike up new friendships, as well. On Wednesday and Thursday, your dealings with people you know well could become quite heated, so try to make sure you aren’t overreacting. It’s hard to get much work done on Friday, what with the constant interruptions — just about everyone has something to tell you, and that could last through the weekend.

You’re of two minds early this week, and that could make it hard to be sympathetic with those who have made their choices. You’re still on the fence, but eventually you need to join one side or the other. Wednesday and Thursday bring a surge of fun energy, and might make your choice clear. If not, you’re more than content to simply enjoy the vibe and postpone everything else for a while. Someone important loses their patience on Friday, though, so you should probably flip a coin or do whatever it takes to get them off your back at that point.

recipe

Bread Upma Recipe

Method 1. Cut bread into squares or tear it into small pieces. Heat 2 tsp of ghee and roast the bread until golden brown. Switch off and let the bread be in the heat of the pan. (Removing the outer brown crust is optional) 2. Cut onions lengthwise.

JUST FOR LAUGHs • Bread - 5 slices (brown or white bread) • Onion- 1 big or 2 medium • Tomato - 2 • Green chilli - 2 slit • Ginger -1/2 tsp finely chopped • Turmeric powder - a pinch • Sambar powder - 1 tsp • Ghee or oil - 2 tsp for frying bread • Salt to taste

3. Heat oil in a pan, add mustard seeds, when it splutters, add onions, ginger, green chillies, curry leaves and saute until onions turn transparent. 4. Then add chopped tomatoes, turmeric powder, sambar powder, salt needed

and cook until tomatoes are soft. 5. Then add bread pieces and toss until bread is well coated with the masala. 6. Serve hot.You do not need any side dish for this upma. You can have this even as a tea time snack.

After a very busy day, a commuter settled down in her seat and closed her eyes as the train departed Montreal for Hudson. As the train rolled out of the station, the guy sitting next to her pulled out his cell phone and started talking in a loud voice... “Hi sweetheart it’s Eric, I’m on the train - yes, I know its the six thirty and not the four thirty but I had a long meeting - no, honey, not with that floozie from the accounts office, with the boss. No sweetheart, you’re the only one in my life - yes, I’m sure, cross my heart etc. etc....” Fifteen minutes later, he was still talking loudly, when the young woman sitting next to him, who was obviously angered by his continuous diatribe, yelled at the top of her voice, “Hey, Eric, turn that stupid phone off and come back to bed!” Eric doesn’t use his cell phone in public any longer.

Solution (Last Issue)

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

BATTERY STORES G Plus will keep on publishing such relevant and useful information in this page in the coming issues.

Compiled by Mautapa Dhar

ALLIED INTERNATIONAL Address: Near Railway Gate 7, Bharalumukh, Ghy-1 Contact: 9435041101 AUTOMECH SALES Address: Opp Jain Complex, Chatribari Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2733800 BINOD AUTO AGENCY Address: AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2547253, 2546015

NATIONAL MOTORS Address: AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 9435404930 RIDHI SIDHI EMTERPRISES Address: AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2518087, 9435104032 SYMBIOSIS MERCHANDISE Address: Rajgarh Road, Byelane 3, Ghy-3, Contact: 9864116517

DIGITAL HOME Address: TarunNagar, ABC, Ghy-5 Contact: 943504871

SAM COMMUNICATIONS Address: Ashram road, Ulubari Bazar, Ghy-7 Contact: 0361-2466179, 9954498288

EXIDE INDUSTRIES LTD Address: Ganeshguri, Ghy-5 Contact: 9706043003

SARAF MOTOR COMPANY Address: AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2511771, 2547849

ELECTRIX Address: Near Zoo Road Tiniali, Ghy-3 Contact: 9864040474

SUNDARAM ENTERPRISE Address: Behind Andhra Bank, AT road, Ghy-1, Contact: 0361-2608147, 9435044024

GROUP COMMUNICATIONS Address: Sarania Road, Ulubari, Ghy-7 Contact: 9435144981, 9864020187 GOPAL TRADE AGENCY Address: Sri Om Plaza, Chatribari, Ghy-1 Contact: 2733781 GLOBAL POWER SYSTEMS (INDIA) Address: Imran Market, Ulubari, Ghy-7 Contact: 9864018124

SAI TECH SOLUTION Address: Kedar Road, Fancybazar, Ghy-1, Contact: 9435011391 SAMS MARKETING CORPORATION Address: Shima Plaza, Ulubari, Ghy-7, Contact: 0361-2521588 SARGAM DISTRIBUTORS Address: B Baruah Road, Ulubari, Ghy-7, Contact: 9435526195

HOWRAH MOTORS (ASSAM) Address: Asian Complex, GS Road, Ulubari, Ghy-7 Contact: 0361-2462306

SCM INDIA & ASSOCIATES Address: Opp AIR, Chanmari, Ghy-3 Contact: 9435146487

INTERCOMMERCE INDIA (P) LTD Address: Lakhtokia, Ghy-1 Guwahati Contact: 0361-2605744

TI TRADE Address: GNB Road, Silpukhuri, Ghy-3 Contact: 0361-2667843, 2666534

KD ASSOCIATES Address: RK Plaza, Chatribari Road, Ghy-1, Contact: 9435014125, 9706098501

TECHNICAL TRADE & SERVICES Address: AKAzad Road, Rehabari, Ghy-8 Contact: 0361-2637721, 2733438

KRISHNA AGENCIES Address: RK Plaza, Chatribari, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2608141 MARS INFOTECH Address: GS Tower, AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2730217, 9864152177 MORE MOTORS Address: AT Road, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2515808 MONIKORNICA Address: Bhetapara Chariali, Beltola, Ghy-28, Contact: 9864075668 NIDHI SOLUTIONS Address: Parameshwari Building, Chatribari, Ghy-1 Contact: 0361-2608144, 9435019866

TRADEMORE Address: A-DhanukaComplex, Athgaon, Ghy-1, Contact: 0361-2737359

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Citypedia

AMBULANCE

Ambulance 102 Arya Hospital, Ulubari 2606888, 2606665 Downtown Hospital 9864101111, 9435012669 GLP Social Circle 2737373 GGUMTA (Mirza) 03623-227109 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251

BLOOD BANK

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

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

International Hospital 0361-7135005 Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital (2541477, 2543998) Marwari Hospital & Research Centre 0361-2602738/39 Marwari Maternity Hospital 0361-2541202/01 Nemcare Hospital 0361-2528587, 2455906, 2457344

Pratiksha Hospital 0361-2337260, 2337183/84 Basistha Military Hospital (2304617/0351) Railway Central Hospital Casuality (2671025) Redcross Hospital (2665114) Sri Sankardeva Netralaya 0361-2233444, 2228879, 2228921 TB Hospital (2540193) Wintrobe Hospital 0361-2519860, 98647-77986 GNRC Hospital 0361 2227702 GNRC Life First Ambulance 9401194011

24-HOUR PHARMACIES Arya Hospital, Ulubari (2606888, 2606665) DEAD BODY CARRYING VAN GLP Social Circle 2737373, 9435047046 Marowari Yuva Manch 2542074, 2547251 GGUMTA 98640-16740 ELECTRICITY SUPPLY Call Centre – 9678005171

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

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

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

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

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

G PLUS AUG 16 - AUG 22, 2014

Catching Up Saradha Scam: CBI raids 28 places including former minister Matang Sinh

entral Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted raids across 28 locations including the office and residence of former minister Matang Sinh in connection with the multi crore Saradha chit fund scam. The searches were done in Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati and Odisha at the official and residential premises of former IPS officer Rajat Majumdar, East Bengal club official Debabrata Sarkar, journalist Manoranjana Sinh and residence of Sudipto Sen. So far, CBI has registered a total of 48 cases in the Saradha chit fund scam bringing under its lens regulatory body like the Securities Exchange

Board of India (Sebi) and corporate affairs ministry although none of these bodies have been named in any of the FIRs. The agency has named Trinamool Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Kunal Ghosh in one of the FIRs along with Sudipta Sen, chairman of the Saradha Group.

Phoolan Devi’s killer gets life imprisonment

hirteen years after banditturned-politician Phoolan Devi was killed outside her official MP’s residence, a court recently sentenced convict Sher Singh Rana to life for her murder. Additional Sessions Judge Bharat Parashar awarded the life term to 35-yearold Rana, and also slapped a fine of Rs one lakh on him. “However, keeping in view the overall facts and circumstances of the case, when the incident resulted not only in the murder of Phoolan Devi but grievous and serious injuries were also caused to constable Balender... so, I am of the considered opinion that the interest of justice will be suitably met if convict Sher Singh Rana is sentenced with rigorous imprisonment for life,” the judge said.

Pic of the week

Humaima Malick Who’s she?

She is a Pakistani actor and model who appears in Pakistani and Bollywood films and serials.

So what?

Malick was born in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan. She started her education in Quetta and graduated from Government Girls College Quetta. She then moved to Karachi along with her family following her father’s retirement. She has five siblings, two brothers and three sisters.

Now what?

Humaima Malick is finally making her much awaited Bollywood debut with Raja Natwarlal opposite Emraan Hashmi. In the film which is a cat-n-mouse chase between Emraan and Kay Kay Menon, Humaima has an important part to play as well a part of a bar dancer.

Apex court suspends Bombay HC order on dahi-handis

T Oh, such a nice weather to stay wrapped up in bed. When is this going to get over.

he Supreme Court suspended a Bombay High Court order restricting the height of human pyramids to 20 feet and did not bar persons above 12 years of age from participating in the popular dahi-handi festival celebrated on Janmashtami Day. The suspension of the high court order is in place for this year. The Supreme Court said the suspension is subject to the condition that the State government ensures that the festival organisers comply with the safety guidelines framed by the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.

Printed & Published by Sunit Jain on behalf of Insight Brandcom Pvt. Ltd. and Printed at Arkashish Publications (P) Ltd., Katahbari, Garchuk, Guwahati and Published at H/No. 34, K. C. Choudhury Road, Chatribari, Guwahati - 781008, Editor: Koushik Hazarika. Phone: 0361 2737737, Email: info@g-plus.in, RNI No: ASSENG/2013/52641