Vol 6 Issue 10 by G Plus

@guwahatiplus www.guwahatiplus.com

INSIDE

Volume 06 | Issue 10 Dec 29, 2018 - Jan 04, 2019 Price `10

No Assam police station on MHA top-10 list; Guwahatians not surprised

2018: The year Assam made news that were good, bad and ugly

Technology, human skill, empathy all coming together make a police force modern - Harmeet Singh

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PG. 4

PG. 9

Jan-Oct 2018: Ghy guzzles over 1.35 Cr litres of liquor G Plus News

howing an increasing trend in liquor consumption of the city, the data procured from the Superintendent’s office of Kamrup (Metro) Excise reveals that the city has consumed 1,35,50,405 bulk litres of liquor between 1st January and 30th October this year. One bottle measures 750 ml and in one case there are 12 bottles. Thus, one case is measured as 9 bulk litres which is nine litres. The superintendent of excise, Kamrup (Metro), Debojit Nath,

talking to G Plus said, “There is an increase in the consumption of liquor in Guwahati.” He revealed that there is a 17.46% increase in the consumption of Indian made foreign liquor (IMFL) and around 50% increase in the

consumption of beer. Between 1st January and 30th October 2018, Guwahati gulped down 84,91,733 litres of IMFL and 50,58,672 litres of beer. In the current financial year (April to October), the source revealed that the city consumed 1,01,31,518 bulk litres, i.e., in just 7 months. But comparing the data from the previous financial year the excise department discovered that consumption of beer is increasing in Guwahati. (see chart below) The data shows that the consumption was more in 201516 and 2016-17 but it reduced in 2017-18, but this year there is an increase once again. n

Liquor consumption data of Guwahati April to March

IMFL (in litres)

Beer (in litres)

Total (in litres)

2015-16

7908052

3216690

11124742

2016-17

7972513

3157267

11129780

2017 -18

5053739

2783685

7837424

2018 – 19

5936259

4195259

10131518

Around 60 bars to serve liquor till 12 midnight on 31st Dec

round 60 bars in the city will be serving liquor till 12 am on 31st December for the New Year celebrations. A source in the excise department said, “There are 35 bars which have permanent license to serve liquor till 12 midnight every day.” For the

New Year celebrations around 30 bars have applied for special permission and around 25 bars will get the temporary license. There are 313 wine shops and 179 bars in the city. The excise department has asked all the bar owners to install CCTV cameras and the entry

and exit points of the bars should not be chaotic. Four teams have been formed by the district administration to keep patrolling the city on 31st December. People drinking in public places will have to pay a fine of Rs 5,000 if caught, revealed the excise source. n

2 Lead Story Snippets Grand Christmas celebrations at ‘The Square’, Novotel

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

No Assam police station in MHA top-10 list; Guwahatians not surprised Nehal Jain jain.nehal@g-plus.in

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hristmas celebrations at ‘The Square,’ in Novotel were held in a grand manner. The hotel hosted a lavish Christmas Eve gala dinner until midnight, which was followed by a delicious Christmas brunch the next day. A number of handcrafted dishes of Indian and Continental cuisines were included in the grand buffet spread during these Christmas day celebrations, including tempting and picturesque desserts. An exclusive chef’s special, Christmas menu was also available for the Christmas brunch. On both occasions, unlimited wine, beers and cocktails were served and there were live performances by ‘Phantom Sky’ and popular band, ‘Soberly Drunk.’

Excise dept issues order for New Year celebrations

n view of the New Year celebrations on 31st December the excise department has issued an order where it has laid down rules and regulations for New Year celebrations. As per the order, four teams of excise personnel will conduct patrolling and inspection of licensed premises. The order prohibits consumption of liquor in public places and violation will lead to a penalty of Rs 5,000. No liquor shall be served to someone already drunk and serving of liquor to people below 21 years of age is punishable. Parties have to end in bars, restaurants and hotels by 12.30 AM and the last order for liquor has to be by 10 PM for normal opening hours and 12 midnight for those who have taken closing permission. Those organising parties will have to obtain license from competent authority. For bigger parties, sufficient numbers of security guards have to be arranged and female bouncers have to be appointed. Also, playing loud music should be till the allowed time and should not disturb the neighbourhood, says the order.

o police station from Assam features in the list of top 10 police stations in the country. The list was released recently by the union home ministry. Union home minister Rajnath Singh released the list of top 10 performing police stations across the nation during the annual DG and IG conference held in Gujarat on December 20. The home minister awarded the police officers of the three bestperforming police stations in the country during the conference. Interestingly, Assam had failed to feature in the list in the previous year as well and Guwahati citizens couldn’t agree more with the list, putting the blame on the allegedly corrupt police officials. “The main priority of Assam police, specifically Guwahati police, is to make money out of challans. So I guess it doesn’t really matter which police station the award goes to. However, compared to the male cops, I feel that the female ones are doing a far better job,” expressed Debojit Das, a resident of Guwahati, speaking to G Plus. In the same vein, another resident of the city, Nishikanta Chakrabarty said, “Our police stations are like corruption houses. If there would have been

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at the award ceremony | G Plus Photo an award for the most corrupt police stations, we would have definitely won.” Reports stated that the list was prepared by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) after careful scrutiny of the work done by the police stations to judge the best and deserving ones in the country. The IB collected data from state agencies to judge the bestperforming police stations before filtering and picking the top 10 in the country.

Commenting on Assam police stations not making it to the list, Guwahati Commissioner of Police, Pradip Saloi told G Plus, “They have different parameters for judging police stations’ work. Maybe we could not fulfil some of the parameters and hence could not get selected. We are trying our best to make it to the list for the next time.” The Kalu Police Station (Rajasthan) grabbed the top spot on the list and inspector

Parmeshwar Suthar, the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kalu Police Station collected the top honour from the minister. The second spot on the list was secured by Campbell Bay (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), followed by Farakka (West Bengal), Nettapakkam (Puducherry), Guderi (Karnataka), Chopal (Himachal Pradesh), Lakheri (Rajasthan), Periyakulam (Tamil Nadu), Munsyari (Uttarakhand) and Churchorem (Goa). n

Over 80% Guwahatians feel city police is corrupt, reveals survey

n the month of July 2018, G Plus had conducted a survey

titled “Let's Talk Guwahati” in which over 10,000 respondents took part through both online and offline mediums. When asked, "Do you think city police is corrupt?" 81.2 percent of the total sample had said that the city police is corrupt, according to them. Among these 81.2 percent a total of 15.6 percent of the respondents had said that city police is completely corrupted. Further, 22.4 percent of the respondents had said that most of the police is corrupt and the remaining 43.2% had said that some of the city police officials are corrupt, not all of them. Merely 18.8% of Guwahatians feel that the city police is not corrupt, revealed the survey. Many of the respondents alleged that corruption is most prevalent in the sectors of traffic and passport. “I believe that most of the city traffic cops are unaware of the

sections and rules under which fines should be charged. So they end up demanding eye rolling fines,” Aditya Saraf, a resident of GS Road expressed. “Recently, when I got my bike from Delhi to Guwahati, I had to face a similar incident. Although the High Court has directed that any private vehicle can ply on the road without an NOC for 11 months, the city police demanded a fine of Rs 3,000 which I refused to pay. Later, I had to collect my bike from the police station after producing all valid documents and also had to inform them of the High Court’s

order with proof. I’d say that this is nothing but an excuse to loot the citizens in any possible way,” he further informed G Plus. Residents are facing a tough time with the passport verification process in the city. They have alleged that bribes are being taken for police verification across different police stations in the city. A city resident, Yash Jain, informed G Plus that after a smooth verification process at the regional passport office, the police verification process took a lot of time for him. He said that at the police verification stage, when

he went for the verifications of his documents at the Bharalumukh police station, the police officials demanded a bribe. “When I went for police verification, they asked for Rs 500 to verify the documents for each passport but I did not pay them. I suspect that because I refused to bribe the police they delayed my passport,” said Jain. Jain received his passport 40 days later, after approaching the Kamrup Metro SP office with his query. When approached, officer-incharge of Bharalumukh police station, Manikant Chamuah, said that they will now conduct the passport verification online which would be a huge relief to the residents. Further, regarding the alleged bribes being asked for by the police officials, he said that he has instructed the personnel in his police station not to take any bribe from anyone. n

In The News

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Top events Guwahati played host to in 2018

ssam played host to a number of prominent events in 2018 which helped boost the state’s image in the country. The government tried its best to portray itself in various fields by hosting several different programmes. Here is a look at some of the major events in 2018:

Mankachar incident an ‘unintentional aberration’: Ajmal

fter widespread criticism, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief and MP, Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, tweeted an apology on Wednesday after he threatened a journalist during a press briefing in Hatsingimari, South Salmara in Mankachar district. Ajmal shouted abuses, yanked a journalist’s mic and threw it at him when he was asked if his party would go with Congress party or

Compiled by Saumya Mishra

Cricket ODI

Advantage Assam Guwahatians got a chance to witness a one-day international (ODI) cricket match held in October. The match proved to be an enthralling one with the two teams scoring three centuries. India beat West Indies by 8 wickets.

GIFF

The state hosted its first Advantage Assam Global Investors’ Summit in 2018 on February 3 and 4. More than 4,500 delegates had participated in the event which included representatives from 16 countries. Around 200 MoUs were signed during the summit and an investment proposal of Rs 1,00,000 crores was committed.

Ambubachi Mela

As many as 108 acclaimed films from over 50 countries were screened in the second edition of the Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) which was held in October. A total of nine films from northeast India were also screened at the festival. The seven-day film extravaganza saw participation from nearly 35 film personalities from abroad with their movies.

IAF programme

The yearly religious festival was organised this year too with great fervour. Dharmagurus of Akhadas, satradhikars and spiritual gurus of Assam and north east attended the event this year.

President Ram Nath Kovind attended a special programme of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Borjhar, near Guwahati airport on November 29. The President presented the Standard and Colours Award to 118 Helicopter Unit, Air Defence College, in acknowledgement of service to the nation. n

remain with the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday. Ajmal also threatened to smash the head of the reporter who asked this question. This incident has created a lot of anger among journalists across the nation after the video footage showing Ajmal behaving unprofessionally, calling a reporter names and trying to hit him went viral. “The incident which took place

today was not intentional. The concerned reporter used to ask silly question every time. Media is the fourth pillar of democracy and I have always respected media persons and everybody knows that I have sincere regards for them. The Mankachar incident was an unintentional aberration and I sincerely apologise for that to all concerned,” tweeted Ajmal on Twitter using his official handle.

4 Look Back

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

2018: The year Assam made news that were good, bad and ugly

018 has been an eventful year for Assam. The state has seen a lot of ups and downs and witnessed the brutal killing of two young men at Karbi Anglong. At the same time it also saw Hima Das rise as a sports star in her own right. There were many such moments that marked 2018 as a historic year for Assam and here’s a recap of the year, in photos.

Thousands of Guwahatians gather at Chandmari flyover to protest against the mob lynching of Abhi-Neel

Students and civil rights activists took out a massive protest rally in Guwahati against the killing of two young men by a mob at Dokmoka, Karbi Anglong, Assam. Abhijeet Nath and Nilotpal Das were suspected to be child abductors and their brutal murder was captured on camera. The nation was taken by storm after this heinous incident.

Hima Das arrives in Guwahati to rousing reception after winning gold in Asian Games

Sprint sensation Hima Das returned to her home state Assam to a rousing reception, following her exploits at the Asian Games.

Prior to this, the ace sprinter had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championship earlier this year, bringing laurels to Assam.

NDRF carrying out a rescue operation after the North Guwahati boat drowning

Tallest National Flag at Gandhi Mandap

A historic moment of the midnight press conference of NRC Assam to announce the 1st NRC draft

Virat Kohli celebrated his century during the first One Day International cricket match against West Indies, at ACA Cricket Stadium, Barsapara in Guwahati, Sunday, Oct 21, 2018.

The much-awaited first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published with the names of 1.9 crore people out of the 3.29 crore total applicants in Assam recognizing them as legal citizens of India. This was announced in a press conference at the intervening night of December 31 and January 1.

A mechanized country boat carrying 40 passengers capsized in September. Three NDRF teams with nine boats, 11 deep divers, four deep diving sets, underwater communication set, underwater torch and other life-saving aids from the first battalion carried out the search operation.

Rima Das and her Village Rockstars team after the film was nominated for Oscars

The National Flag atop a 310foot mast made of galvanized steel on Sarania hills near Gandhi Mandap was unfurled on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on 2nd October. Guwahati Smart City Limited was entrusted to supervise the implementation of the project.

Air show at Borjhar by Indian Air Force to welcome the President of India

Guwahati’s Binita Jain becomes first crorepati in current KBC season

Assam Excise Department demolishes illegal liquor bottles with a roller

Ram Nath Kovind attended a special programme by the IAF at Borjhar with a colourful event featuring 118 helicopters.

Protests against Citizenship (Amendment) Bill

Excise minister Parimal Suklabaidya took the lead in the ongoing state government’s crackdown against illegal liquor syndicate when he ordered to smash hundreds of liquor bottles under a road roller in Lokhra area on August 10.

Rima Das’s movie Village Rockstars was India’s nominee this year for the Oscar Awards in the “Foreign Film” category. It won over critics and the public alike. While it was out of the Oscar race after the first round, it continued making waves as it was picked by American Cinematheque, Los Angeles and Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), New York, as part of their annual Oscar contender screenings.

Binita Jain, a resident of Guwahati, became the first winner to take home Rs 1 crore in this season of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC). A tutor and teacher by profession, Binita teaches at Namann Educations, Athgaon, Guwahati.

Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli waves his bat towards Guwahati crowd after scoring a century at Barsapara Cricket Stadium

Members of various organisations protested against granting Indian citizenship to Hindu foreigners on the grounds that it will threaten the existence of indigenous people of Assam on the day the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) began its hearing.

City

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

A sneak-peek into the Most Exclusive New Year’s Party at Novotel, Guwahati all set to rock the night with commercial tunes from your favourite movies. The entry for this venue starts at Rs 1,999 per person and bar service is cash-based for all drinks. The Drawing Room and Forum at the hotel, which will require private booking, has a set menu and a la carte liquor for Rs 75,000. This would offer guests a more defined and elegant experience to bring the best start to the New Year. n

G Plus News

ovotel, Guwahati is hosting one of the biggest and most exclusive New Year’s Eve parties in town. It will feature three different venues inside its premises, all of which will host unique parties and entertainment options. The Malt lounge is going to serve a la carte finger food and drinks, while DJ Lain will enthral audiences with Latin jazz to ring in the New Year. The tickets for this event start at Rs 5,000 inclusive, per couple. At the same time, the Private Dining Room at the Malt has tickets starting from Rs 50,000 all-inclusive for a more private experience. Another fantastic event is being held at ‘The Square’, Novotel. The venue is hosting a gala dinner with a lavish buffet that will feature dishes from many world class cuisines, unlimited drinks and packages based on preference of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The package is for Rs 4,999 inclusive per couple for the non-alcoholic package and Rs 6,999 inclusive per couple for the

Snippets Hotel Palacio’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

otel Palacio presents one of the craziest New Year’s Eve in Guwahati with 4 levels of entertainment to choose from. Each venue has something special to offer in terms of food, drinks and entertainment.

Symphony

The couple entry in Symphony is Rs. 6000 and for stag entry it is Rs. 5000. The package includes unlimited liquor and starters.

NYX

The premium is NYX with couple entry at Rs. 9000 and stag entry at Rs. 7000. It includes unlimited liquor, starters and hookah.

Legacy

alcoholic package. The private dining room at The Square is also hosting a Gala Dinner with the same packages. The entertainment would feature bumblefoot-acoustic music, that will soothe your ears and help you bring in a relaxing start to the New Year. Celebration, the Grand Ballroom at Novotel is serving a la carte finger food and is hosting a

New year special gala buffet with a complimentary glass of wine Rs. 1400 per person and live band for entertainment. Entry for children below 8 years is free.

Rooftop

Bollywoodthemed DJ party, with DJ Niyor

New year special gala buffet at Rs. 1400 per person and live band for entertainment. Entry for children below 8 years is free. For Bookings: 9508555554, 7086063881, 9508555553

6 City Snippets Ten things you need to know about Bogibeel Bridge in Assam

rime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s longest railroad bridge, “Bogibeel Bridge” in Assam. With its proximity to the China border, the bridge also has tremendous significance for India’s defence. 1. The Bogibeel bridge is located in Assam and increases access to Dibrugarh via the mighty Brahmaputra River. 2. The bridge is 4.94 kms long (was revised from the earlier planned length of 4.31 km). It is Asia’s second-longest rail-road bridge. 3. An engineering marvel, the bridge is expected to have a lifespan of about 120 years and is fully welded, along with European standards, thereby entailing a lower maintenance cost. 4. The bridge will have a threelane road on its top deck and a two-line railway track on the lower deck. The girder has a steel floor for the railway track and a concrete surface for the road. 5. Eighty thousand tonnes of steel plating, including 35,400 tonnes of steel from Maharatna SAIL were utilised for constructing the bridge, plus a 1,000-tonne hydraulic jack and the use of pipelines to pump concrete. 6. Travel time from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh will be reduced to four hours as a 170km detour via Tinsukia would become superfluous. The DelhiDibrugarh train journey will also be reduced from 37 hours to 34 hours. 7. The bridge also has strategic importance and is likely to play a crucial role in defence movement along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. Travelling from the furthest-most point on India’s border with China will be shortened by several hundred kilometres. It will also facilitate swift movement of defence equipment to the bordering areas. 8. The foundation stone for the project was laid by former PM HD Deve Gowda on January 22, 1997, while work began on April 21, 2002, when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister. The UPA government had declared the construction of the bridge as a National Project in 2007. 9. Construction of the bridge cost Rs 5,960 crores versus an estimate of Rs 3,230 crores. 10. The Bogibeel bridge is part of a number of infrastructure projects planned to improve logistics along the border in Arunachal Pradesh. This includes the construction of a transArunachal highway on the north bank of the Brahmaputra, and new road and rail links over the mighty river and its major tributaries such as the Dibang, Lohit, Subansiri and Kameng. (Inputs: Republic World)

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Ghy based start-up taking Assam’s cultural products to the world

outside the state and so began the journey of inception of Brahmaputra Fables. “I along with my friends used to organize the northeast fest in college where we received tremendous response for our indigenous products. People belonging to other states used to ask us where to buy handicraft items from and that triggered me to promote our culture nationwide in forms of traditional attire and handicrafts,” said Dhruba, speaking exclusively to G Plus. He further added that just like the mighty Brahmaputra River is the lifeline of Assam and impacts the people of the state, he wishes to impact the lives of artisans of the region through his start-up and hence the name Brahmaputra Fables which literally translates into “tales from the river.” Brahmaputra Fables, by the end of its first year in business, reached a turnover of Rs 25 lakhs. Dhruba was bestowed with the “Top 10 Under-30 Entrepreneurs Awards 2017” by The Indian Awaz and his startup also made it to

products worth below Rs 10,000, Brahmaputra Fables does not keep a single penny of profit and the entire amount goes to the artisan. We start taking a cut only after the artisans cross the Rs 10,000 mark,” Dhruba informed G Plus. The highest selling product on the website, however, is the gamocha umbrella made by Pathshala resident Akshendra Kalita. This is followed by organic tea and vegetables, bamboo handicraft and Indo-western dresses. While over 90% of the customer base is located outside Assam, the highest demand for products come from southern parts of the country like Bangaluru and Hyderabad, followed by Maharashtra and Delhi. Brahmaputra Fables also ships worldwide and its products have been delivered to parts of United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia and Italy. So far, the website has over 2,500 registered customers out of which about 50% of the customers have made multiple purchases, stated Dhruba.

Nehal Jain jain.nehal@g-plus.in

ssam is known for its rich cultural heritage and a textile legacy that has been handed down through generations. The intricate weaving patterns and exquisite designs of the Assam handloom have been praised by many over the years. However, the talents of the Assamese artisans have failed to reach the greater masses. With the aim to commercialize the authentic, indigenous products manufactured by the state’s artisans and make it accessible to people located outside of Assam, 26-year-old Dhruba Jyoti Deka launched Brahmaputra Fables in June 2017. “There is so much more to the northeastern states about which the rest of the country has no idea. In my endeavors, I hope to shed a better light on our diverse and eclectic culture through these locally handcrafted products,” said Dhruba. Dhruba started out with his own hometown of Sarthebari, a village located in Barpeta district in Assam which is quite famous for its brass and bell metal handicrafts. Interestingly, nobody in Dhruba’s family has ever engaged in

Brahmaputra Fables ships worldwide and its products have been delivered to United Arab Emirates, United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia and Italy.

Dhruba Jyoti Deka an entrepreneurial venture. “My late father was a teacher, while my mother is a homemaker who weaves clothes at home and promotes local handicrafts and textiles. Maybe that’s where the appreciation for my culture and traditions took form,” Dhruba recalled, speaking to G Plus about his fondness for the culture of Assam. Brahmaputra Fables is an online shopping portal entirely run and managed by a small team of people devoted to taking the authentic traditional products from Assam to the world - digitally - and easing the process of shopping for traditional handicrafts. While Dhruba was pursuing MSc in Chemistry from Pondicherry University, he realized the inquisitive craze for Assam’s culture and tradition

the list of top 3,000 startups in India, a recognition given by the IIM Calcutta Innovation Park. The venture has gained massive recognition over the past year for making the indigenous products of Assam available online. Currently, there are over 3,500 artisans registered on the portal, who get a platform to display and sell their products. From handicraft to handloom and ethnic musical instruments to cuisine, all things traditional are available at this online store. These products are bought from artisans from across Assam, residing majorly in places like Sualkuchi, Jorhat, Barpeta, Sivasagar and Lakhimpur. What makes the enterprise unique is that it aims at uplifting the artisans rather than profit-making. “If the registered artisans sell

The young and talented entrepreneur now wishes to expand his venture by opening offline stores across the country, starting with Hyderabad in March 2019. He’s also working on increasing the export of products. Dhruba’s entrepreneurial journey, like most others, was fraught with challenges. “The most difficult challenge was surveying the market and organizing the initial funds for starting up,” he recollected. He further stressed on the “yet to evolve startup ecosystem” of the region and said that it’ll take at least 5-10 more years for the people of northeast to adapt to the startup culture and invest in them because he feels that it’s almost impossible to raise funds in Assam. n

In The News

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Assam cable TV operators ask TRAI to reconsider new rules Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

“Out of the total revenue collected, 80 percent will go to the broadcaster and out of the rest; the control room will get 20 percent while the other 20 percent will be shared by the operator,” informed Rajesh Sarma, of the Guwahati cable TV operators’ association. He added that with merely this much share, the cable TV operators will not be able to survive. Assam cable TV operators have demanded that the revenue sharing formula should be reviewed. They have also urged the TRAI to amend the Cable TV Act to recognize offences of broadcasters and multiple system operators as

able TV operators in Guwahati and the state have voiced their concerns about the new regulatory framework brought in by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) in television viewership. The TRAI recently sought to introduce a few regulations in the broadcast industry in order to ensure “transparency, nondiscrimination, protection of consumer interest and enable orderly growth of the sector.” The new cable TV tariff system was set to be implemented from December 29. However, TRAI has now postponed its implementation by one month in order to ensure smooth transition of customers. The rules will now be enforced from February 1, 2019. As per the new norms, the broadcasters have been asked to fix the price of each Out of the total revenue of their channels collected, 80 percent will and also to declare their maximum go to the broadcaster retail price (MRP). and out of the rest; Further, under the new tariff system, the the control room will customers will have get 20 percent. the liberty to choose the channels they Rajesh Sarma would like to watch Guwahati cable TV and will now only pay operators’ association for the channels they require. This apart there are 100 channels which are free-to-air and are to be provided compulsorily cognizable offence. to the viewers. For these 100 The state TV channels, a total of Rs 130 plus GST operators are also will be charged. For any additional pushing for setting channel, the customers will have up of branches of to pay extra per channel. TRAI and Telecom The regulatory authority feels Disputes Settlement that the new rules will make and Appellate television viewing easier on the Tribunal (TDSAT) customer’s pocket as they will in all existing high now have the liberty to curate courts to enable channels according to their consumers and preference and will only pay for small size operators the selected channels. to get benefit of the However, on the other hand, dispute resolution cable television operators said that mechanism. the rules will become more costly “With the new for the viewers as they will have to tariff rules in place, pay for additional channels apart we will only be liable from the free-to-air ones. to get a share which will be equal to a commission. This Negligible share in revenue will will not be enough wipe us out: Cable TV operators for us to survive and the cable operators According to the cable will not be able TV operators, the new tariff to maintain their framework will leave them a business,” said comparatively lesser share of the Sarma. total revenue.

Iqbal Ahmed, general secretary of COFA addressing the media | G Plus Photo

Customers unhappy with new tariff rules G Plus spoke to a few cable

TV viewers and found that a majority of them were unhappy with the proposed changes in the rules which will be implemented from February 1.

Chirag Goswami, a resident of Chandmari, said that he has recently shifted from watching television on the DTH subscription to local cable providers due to the high taxes levied by the DTH service providers and costly packages offered by them. “I am not at all happy with the TRAI’s decision to charge us for individual channels as it will prove to be costly for the customers.” Another cable TV subscriber said that she earlier had to pay Rs 250 for viewing unlimited channels but now the customers will have to shell out extra for getting access to the channels of their choice. n

8 Look Back

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

The Final Goodbye: Notable people we lost in 2018 Nehal Jain jain.nehal@g-plus.in

Simanta Bhagawati

018 was an emotional year of saying goodbye as it marked the loss of several inspiring and hardworking individuals from Assam belonging to the worlds of entertainment, literature, journalism and politics. As the year comes to an end, G Plus remembers the famous faces of Guwahati who passed away this year and looks back at their lives, careers and the lasting memories they left behind.

Munin Barua

Veteran Assamese filmmaker Munin Barua died in Guwahati on April 7 at the age of 72. The award-winning director’s credits include Hiya Diya Niya (2000), Nayak (2001), and Dinabandhoo (2004). He is survived by his wife Manjula, son Manash, and daughter Mayurakshi. Born in 1947 in Golaghat district in Assam, Barua set out as a scriptwriter and assistant director in the 1970s in such films as Ghar Sansar, Sonmoina, and Bowari, among others. He made his directorial debut with the 1987 movie Pratima. He then went on to direct television serials, including Papu Nikur Xongbad, and a tele-film titled Rudra. Popularly known as Bhaimon Da, Barua wrote scripts for at least 21 films in his career. Barua received the State award for Best Director for his romantic drama Nayak. His film Dinabandhoo also won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Assamese.

City-based journalist, Simanta Bhagawati, who suffered a stroke on April 19, passed away on April 21. Bhagawati, who was working as a senior editor with The Assam Tribune until a few months ahead of his death, was also an excellent tennis player. Bhagawati suffered a stroke while playing recreational tennis at India Club, and was immediately rushed to the hospital and put on ventilator. Very coincidentally, Simanta Bhagawati’s father Late Biren Bhagawati, who was a former state champion in table tennis, also died of a heart attack right after a game of tennis at the same India Club. Bhagawati is survived by his wife, Banashree Bhagawati and a college-going daughter.

An eminent theatre personality and founder of ‘Under The Sal Tree Festival’, Sukracharjya Rabha passed away on June 9 after suffering a massive stroke. Rabha was known for regularly organizing workshops for rural artists and the very successful theatre festival ‘Under The Sal Tree Festival’ annually with his group, Badungduppa (1998). Rabha used forests and bamboo groves as his stage and toured various places with their innovative drama that required no light, sound or music. He had directed 12 plays in Rabha, Bodo and Nepali languages. Some of the plays were Tikhar, Changkoy, Rupalim, Hati aru Fandi, Lovita, To'Poidom, Madaiah Muchi, Dangai and Damukchi and these were performed widely. Sukracharjya Rabha was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2009 for his notable talent in the field of theatre direction.

the society needs 'gaan' (songs) instead of gun. He was often seen on the streets of Guwahati, strumming a guitar and singing or raising his voice against the many evils that plague the society.

Chandan Kumar Sarkar

Noted theatre director and novelist, Giasuddin Ahmed, who was also a leading organiser of the amateur theatre movement of the state, died in a city hospital on November 30 following liverrelated complications at the age of 56. He was suffering from nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis. Also known for his stage direction, short stories and novels, Ahmed was the founder general secretary of the Natasurya Phani Sarma Sowarani Samiti, Assam (Natasurya Memorial Celebration Committee). Ahmed was the main pillar of the Natasurya Phani Sarma Sowarani Samiti, which has been organising a week-long drama festival in the memory of the Natasurya every year for the past 23 years since 1995. He was also a trade unionist and led the NE Regional Central Bank Employees’ Union as its president since its inception in 1989. He leaves behind his wife, a daughter and a host of relatives.

Dipali Borthakur

Kishour Giri Former Assam minister and senior Congress leader Chandan Kumar Sarkar died on November 19 following a cardiac arrest at Bongaigaon. Sarkar was 65 and is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. Chandan Sarkar was elected to the legislative assembly thrice in 1991, 2001 and 2011 from Abhayapuri South constituency and served as the irrigation minister in the third term of the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government.

Giasuddin Ahmed

Sukracharjya Rabha

Assamese singer and music director Kishour Giri, who lent his voice to various social issues, passed away on October 7 at his residence in Guwahati. The eminent activist was 63 and is survived by wife and two daughters. He suffered a heart attack and breathed his last at his Kharghuli residence, his family said. Giri, who could play a number of musical instruments, including the guitar, violin and mandolin, composed music for a few Assamese films and television serials. Like the legendary Bhupen Hazarika, Giri, too, believed that

Assam’s eminent vocalist, Padmashree Dipali Borthakur, passed away on December 21 at the age of 77 at Nemcare Hospital, Guwahati after a prolonged illness. She is survived by her husband, eminent painter Neel Pawan Baruah. Popularly known as the "Nightingale of Assam", Borthakur's death has left a vacuum in the state's cultural circle. A Padma Shri awardee, Borthakur has lent her voice to several popular Assamese songs. Born in 1940, Borthakur started her musical career in 1958. She sang her first song when she was a student of class IX. n

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

In Conversation

Technology, human skill, empathy all coming together make a police force modern - Harmeet Singh Swapnil Bharali caught up with Additional Director General of Police (Security & Modernisation), Harmeet Singh (IPS) at his residence to understand the state’s police system better. Presenting excerpts from the conversation. What exactly does modernisation of police mean? When earlier people spoke of modernisation of the police they would only look at adding some technology, some equipment and so and so. You cannot modernise with just equipment and buildings and uniforms and weapons. We are going in for an entire soft skilling programme so that the policeman on the ground can provide much better citizen-centric delivery of services to the people.

How does Assam Police compare with police from say, New Delhi or Mumbai? I will give you one example which is not a normal policing example. A few months ago at around 11:30 at night we got an information from Facebook saying that a girl somewhere in Assam has written on her Facebook that she is going to commit suicide. Within 30 minutes - she was in a rural area - the girl was traced, the police reached her family, she was counselled and the family was counselled and we were happy we saved a life. So, technology, human skill, empathy all came together to save a precious life.

Can you explain the other side of your responsibility which is security? Let’s not talk only of the word “security” because it encompasses both safety and security. We actually got a commendation from FIFA for being the best, safe and secure stadium in the country. The FIFA headquarters sent a message and said that Assam or rather Guwahati is the only incident-free stadium vis-àvis the entire FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Whether it is big events, whether it was Advantage Assam - the global summit or the safety of individuals or the safety of our oil and power installations, that’s what security encompasses.

You are currently running a very creative social media campaign. Who is doing it? Is there an agency involved? There are a couple of designers from Delhi who help out. I do a lot of the copywriting myself and the conceptualisation. There are couple of others who come in and out and help us. They tell me you are like those old editors, from

the old days. So, it’s actually a joint effort. The Think Campaign was started with the Think Before You Post series. That was the first one that was picked up and got national traction. Then came Think Before You Stalk and we carried on. We have done fake news, cyber security, women’s security. We have done cyber security particularly with attention to children, cyber bullying. We work basically on three aspects: sensitisation, ensuring law and order which involves getting information from people and handling public grievances.

What is the Assam Police doing to tackle cyber crime? We have boys at the Guwahati Crime Branch who are trained for this. We have some projects with the Central Government agencies which we are working on. I cannot give you the details as these are operationally sensitive.

What is the strength of the Assam police and how many are attached to VIP duties? A lot of our manpower goes into protecting vital installations. Shortage of manpower does not mean that they are deployed on providing security to someone. That’s actually not true. People to police ratio in our country is much less than the rest of the world which is why there are two initiatives of the government: one is step up recruitment and second it to set up a worldclass facility. Because when you recruit you need to train.

What can the man on the street expect and hope from Assam Police? Better delivery of citizen services, making use of CCTNS (Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System) platform more open so more people know about it. We are bringing in an emergency response system that should be up by the middle of next year. So, the whole idea is to be able to be available to the public as much as we can.

How about making the police station more approachable? That’s what Moitri is all about. The Moitri police stations, apart from having facilities for the

policemen, will actually have a reception area. You will have a sitting area for people when they come in. There will be a children’s corner as well. The ladies’ entry will be separate. These are all mandated parts. These police stations will be cleanliness-wise upgraded, they will have landscaping and water harvesting. This is all work under progress and given our weather conditions it takes times to construct something. Moitri is a five year project and we have completed a year so far. After all we have more than 340 police stations, so it will be done phase by phase. n

10 Look Back Snippets 3rd Dwijing Festival begins on bank of Aye river at Chirang

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

5 movies that sparked a revival of Assamese film industry in 2018 Nehal Jain jain.nehal@g-plus.in

he 12-day Dwijing Festival began on Thursday and around 15 lakh tourists are expected to participate in the festival this time. Assam PHE minister Rihon Daimary inaugurated the festival in the presence of several dignitaries. Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal will attend the event on 29th of December. Adventure sports, food mart, cultural events, traditional games are being organized in the 12-day long event. Participants from Thailand, Bhutan and Bangladesh are also taking part in the festival. “This festival was started in the year 2016 with an aim to promote the local tourism and culture of BTC. The government plans to make it one of the biggest ever and establish it as an annual calendar event at the national and international level,” said Daimary. The festival provides livelihood opportunities for the local people and focuses on business activities for better economic generation through rural tourism. The Dwijing Festival this year also showcases various activities such as display of ethnic food and culture, adventure activities, ethnic games and more.

Kamrup (M) Dist Admin bans picnickers on Brahmaputra banks

he Assamese entertainment industry is finally enjoying a stint of success. Be it actors, filmmakers, lyricists or musicians – people from Assam are making a name internationally for their quality work this year. Specifically, the Assamese film industry thrived beautifully and we were successful in producing quality movies that are reaching global audiences, being screened at international film festivals and receiving innumerous awards. Interestingly, while the Assamese film industry had struggled to make its mark amidst the big-money Bollywood and Tollywood productions for decades, there seems to be a new surge of enthusiasm around Assamese cinema now, making Bollywood A-listers to invest in them (case in point: Priyanka Chopra’s Purple Pebble Pictures producing Jahnu Barua’s Bhoga Khirikee that premiered in October this year). Here’s the thing about Assamese cinema - they’re simple and beautiful. Our filmmakers do not need big budgets to make artistic and realistic films that tell a story to one and all. As we bid goodbye to 2018, G Plus looks back on the Assamese films from the bygone year that were successful in making a global impact!

Ishu by Utpal Borpujari

Village Rockstars by Rima Das

he Kamrup Metro district administration, in an order, prohibited picnic like activities at all locations along the Brahmaputra riverbank in the entire district with immediate effect. The order further stated that at picnic spots other than the riverbank, all picnic activities must be completed strictly by 4 pm every day till the end of the picnic season. It has also been observed that the soil existing by the side of the river is generally loose and wet in nature, due to which the wheels of vehicles may get stuck in it. Such an incident occurred on the evening of December 23 at Hatisila, Chandrapur, in which around 100 vehicles were left stranded for the entire night due to the presence of loose soil on the riverbank.

in more than 70 international and national film festivals and won 44 awards, including four national awards - Best Feature Film Award along with Best Child Artist Award for lead actress Bhanita Das, Best Audiography Award for Ambient Sound and Best Editing Award for Rima Das. Set in Das’s own village Chhaygaon in Assam, Village Rockstars is the story of poor but amazing children who live a funfilled life. It revolves around the lives of a little village girl, Dhunu, who dreams to have a real guitar and forms a music band with her friends in the village. The film narrates the day to day struggles of common villagers and the way they deal with poverty and natural disasters. In the film, Dhunu’s family that consists of her widowed mother Basanti and her elder brother Manabendra represents the life of the villagers.

India’s official nomination for the Oscars in the ‘Foreign Language Film’ category, Village Rockstars has achieved heights that very few Assamese movies could. It has put Assamese cinema on the world map, once again! The film, which had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and India premiere at the Mumbai Film Festival 2018, has been screened

The feature film debut of critic-turned-filmmaker Utpal Borpujari, Ishu is a national award winning Assamese film. In the same year that Village Rockstars won the national film award, Ishu won the award for the Best Assamese Film from the President of India. The film is a big screen adaptation of Manikuntala Bhattacharjya’s children’s novel with the same name. It addresses one the most disturbing social issues in the state - witch-hunting. The film, which marks the screen debut of Kapil Garo from Sonapur Barosojiya village on the outskirts of Guwahati in the title role, has travelled to several places and won many accolades in the past. The film has been screened at multiple national as well as international film festivals, including New York Indian Film Festival, Toulouse Indian Film Festival in France, Bengaluru International Film Festival, Kolkata International Film Festival and International Children’s Film Festival.

Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) by Bidyut Kokoty

figures out who she really is. The writer-director-producer has made the film independently, in the same way as her earlier film Village Rockstars. Not much after its international premiere, Bulbul Can Sing made its Indian premiere at the Jio MAMI Film Festival in Mumbai, where it was screened in the Indian Contemporary section.

Alifa by Deep Choudhury

Assamese film Xhoihobote Dhemalite, which portrays children growing up in violent times and witnessing brutality around them, has made as much impact in the United States as it did in India. The film not only released commercially in US, it also got nominated in eight categories at the Love International Film Festival (LIFF) in Los Angeles, US. Xhoixoboite Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) has been winning awards and acclamations world-wide. In 2017, it won the Best Foreign Film Award at the Hollywood International Cine Fest. Earlier, the film was appreciated at the screening at International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. It was also screened at the Catoosa Country Film Festival, USA. In 2018, it released at the Cine Grand Cinema Fremont (California) and Cine Grand New Jersey. It also bagged five nominations at the Treasure Coast International Film Festival (TCIFF), Florida best film, best director and best screenplay, best editing (Pallavi Kotoky) and best cinematography (Satya Prakash Rath). Semi autobiographical in nature, Xhoixobote Dhemalite is inspired by true incidents from director Bidyut Kotoky’s life and features among others, actors like Victor Banerjee, Dipannita Sharma, Nakul Vaid, Naved Aslam, Nipon Goswami and Nikumoni Barua.

Bulbul Can Sing by Rima Das

Rima Das’ latest movie Bulbul Can Sing recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in the competition segment ‘Contemporary World Cinema’ where it received huge acclaims. Bulbul Can Sing, according to its official synopsis, is a visceral coming-of-age drama about a teenage girl, Bulbul, living in a village in Assam, fighting her way through love and loss as she

Deep Choudhury’s national film award-winning Alifa, which was released in March 2018, carries the story of a couple and their daughter Alifa as they had lost their home to soil erosion by the Brahmaputra River and settled down in Guwahati for their livelihood. Although set entirely in Assam and in ways more than one a reflection of Assam’s several complex socio-economic questions, Alifa is officially listed as a Bengali film. The film premiered at 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival in at Kolkata, West Bengal in November 2016 and has since been screened at multiple film festivals across the country, including the Ottawa Indian Film Festival Awards 2017 held in Canada. Casting some of the biggest names in Indian Cinema including Baharul Islam, Victor Banerjee Prasun Gain and Jaya Seal Ghosh, the film has gained critical acclamation worldwide. A national news website has described Alifa as “one of the bravest films to have come out of Assam in recent times.”

Look Back

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Sportspersons from Assam who made the state proud in 2018 Saumya Mishra saumya.mishra@g-plus.in

018 can be termed as the year of sports for Assam. Sportspersons from the state proved their mettle in various international events and brought laurels to Assam. For the first time this year, Assam had six participants in the contingent for the Asian Games which were held in Jakarta, Indonesia. From athletics, badminton to cricket and bodybuilding, 2018 saw Assam taking the lead in a variety of sporting disciplines.

cap, Hima was also conferred the Arjuna award by President Ram Nath Kovind in 2018 and became the youngest Assamese to be honoured with the award. The 18-year-old racing champion is now the brand ambassador of Assam sports and has been offered a job in the sports department by the Government of Assam. Following her stellar performances in various sporting events in 2018, Assam’s golden girl Hima Das was given an endearing name ‘Dhing Express’ by the people of the state.

team when he was 13. The cricketer was the third-highest run scorer in the Cooch Behar Trophy under-19 which was held in 2012-13. Further, he proved his mettle in the under-19 challenger trophy by scoring 207 runs in four innings. This excellent display of skill ensured that he was selected in the under-19 world cup.

Ashmita Chaliha

started winning tournaments in the state and national levels. It was then that a sense of professionalism set in. Having participated in and won many national as well as international championships, Ashmita says that representing her land at such platforms gives her utmost pleasure. She also wishes to represent her country at the Olympics in the near future.

Golap Rabha

10 years now. Rabha hails from Kaliabari village in Boko under Kamrup district and started his bodybuilding career in 2003. Golap, 35, who started bodybuilding in 2000 under the guidance of Jiten Kalita, started competing in championships in 2003. In his first professional competition, Golap lost terribly. Instead of quitting then, he started training more aggressively, researching about the field and learning new techniques.

Hriday Hazarika

Riyan Parag

Hima Das

The ace-sprinter from Assam needs no introduction. Hima Das, having won three medals at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta, including two silvers and a gold, made international headlines and put Assam on the world map. Prior to her achievements at the Asian Games, earlier this year the ace sprinter had scripted history by becoming the first Indian woman to win a gold medal at the IAAF World Under-20 Athletics Championship held in Finland. Adding another feather to her

In cricket this year, young cricketer from Guwahati, Riyan Parag made his mark as he was selected for the IPL-2019 season in the latest auctions held on December 18. Parag was picked up for Rs 20 lakhs by Rajasthan Royals. Son of former Ranji player Parag Das and national record holder swimmer Mithoo Baruah Das, Riyan is a hard-hitting batsman and a spin bowler who was selected for ICC under-19 Cricket World Cup. Riyan started playing young. He made it into Assam under-16 team aged 12 in 2013 and subsequently, he was selected for the under-19

The 19-year-old shuttler from Guwahati has had an eventful year. Her first major win was the All India Senior Ranking Tournament 2018 which was held in Hyderabad. The left-handed-player had also reached the semi-finals of another all-India tournament and her Hyderabad win boosted her chances of getting selected for the 18th Asian Games which took place in Jakarta. She then earned her place at the Asian Games to represent India in badminton along with badminton stars Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu. This young prodigy started playing badminton at the early age of six and has been thoroughly engaged in training and practice ever since. Ashmita, who started playing badminton out of passion, decided to pursue it as a career when she

Assam’s Golap Rabha is a bodybuilder who bagged the title of Mister World under WBBF held at Lithuania in Europe on October 19 and 21. Golap, who participated in three events namely Men Bodybuilding, Men Muscle Model, and Pro-Mr World in 80 kgs category, bagged gold in all the three events. He further won two golds in the Mr Universe and pro Mr Asia 2018 held in Thailand on November 24 and 25. Golap, however, is not a new name in the world of bodybuilding. He already has made a niche for himself in both national and international bodybuilding. A member of World Body Building Federation (WBBF), he has been participating in and winning competitions for over

Hriday Hazarika, the young shooter from Assam, made sure that the state did not lag behind in shooting championships in 2018. Hriday clinched a gold medal in the Men’s 10m air rifle event at the ISSF World Championship in Korea. He nailed a decisive 10.3 in a shoot-off against his Iranian rival, Amir Mohammad Nekounam. The shooter had previously also won a gold medal in the team event in the youth category in the 10 meter air rifle event at the 10th Asian Air Gun Championship held at Wako Tokyo, Japan earlier this year. Hriday hails from Narayanpur in Lakhimpur district. n

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14 G Talk E

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019 T

Procrastinating then, sulking now

araighat, Dhola-Sadiya and now Bogibeel! All these bridges bear testimony to the improving infrastructure of the state of Assam besides also improving the country’s defence assets in each case. But eulogising on these infrastructural improvements is not the intent of this piece. Rather, I would want to focus on the current dispensation’s intent of completing work that had remained incomplete and dragging under the UPA regime. The first clear indication that the BJP government means business when it comes to finishing off work that was dragging was in the case of the second bridge at Saraighat linking Guwahati with Amingaon. Initiated by the Congress government that was in power under Tarun Gogoi, the bridge was taking a tad too long to complete. I am even aware of children studying in a premier school across the river spending their entire school life and not getting to witness the bridge being completed. And yet, when Sarbananda Sonowal assumed power, the intent and commitment towards work was immediately visible. Much to the relief of Guwahatians, the bridge was commissioned to traffic within a year of the state BJP government taking charge.

Given this work culture, the Congress leaders and spokespersons should not, in melancholic tones, sulk publicly on TV that these completed works were their initiatives. Nor should they thereafter lament at the snub of the current government which did not bother to send invitations to them during the inauguration ceremonies of the bridges. Doing so is behaving childishly. The Congress government has been known to drag its feet in almost all instances of development works, leave aside defence deals. Yes, I will be talking about the Rafale deal and the current brouhaha over its quick closure some other time. Perhaps this practice of procrastination has been part of the Congress Party’s governing policy and too deep-rooted in its genes. Look at how it is heading into the crucial 2019. The elections are just 5 months away and the Congress seems to have no discernible strategy in place to win it so far. If antiincumbency factor helps, it will be a different issue. But procrastinating is a sin that has its own effects. It’s time Congress realizes this and changes itself in both work ethics and strategies. No point sulking and blaming EVMs later. Swapnil Bharali Editor

Happy New Year ke Resolutions – ek fake katha! Enthusiastic ladka: Eyy Happy New Year! Balanced dost: Thanks man same to you Enthusiastic ladka: And belated Merry Christmas! Balanced dost: Ou thanks, to you too! Enthusiastic ladka: So… What are your New Year plans? Balanced dost: Nothing much. Possibly staying in, keeping it lowkey. Enthusiastic ladka: And… what about your New Year resolutions? Balanced dost: Well, nothing much. I think I’ve been keeping stuff very balanced. Not really looking to make revolutionary decisions in my life. Enthusiastic ladka: … *gawking* how can you say that? Abey, olop intense resolutions lobo lage otherwise life is just dull. I’ll tell you mine… First, I’ll wake up early everyday this year; work out and lose about 20 kilos. Also, I promise to touch mom’s feet every morning and offer God my prayers. I will not stay up late nights and fiddle with my phone and go to bed by 10:00 pm and definitely no PUGB! Ooh! I forgot to mention, I will completely give up smoking and alcohol. Balanced dost: Wow that’s a lot. You sure you can process all that? Enthusiastic ladka: Pfft. Easy-peasy. I am appearing for APSC this year, so God ka saath toh chahiye hi *grins* *later that night the clock hit 12:00 at the New Year party* Enthusiastic ladka :Hey bro! Happy New Year! Chal ek sutta maarke aate hai, aur phir shots lagayenge! Balanced dost: But…what about your resolutions? Enthusiastic ladka: Arrey, woh to kal aayenge, pehle aaj ki socho.

Sidharth Bedi Varma

Women – an eminent power in the Indian society

omen play an important role in society today. As we all know, India is reckoned as one country in the world for its great tradition and culture where women are accorded high respect. Women in Indian society are given the status of ‘Goddess Lakshmi.’ Indian women are found working in all fields like politics, banking, school, sports, defence, business and many more. In every sector women today are shining bright. Our county India is also known as ‘Bharat Mata’, which means it is a country where a mother is considered Goddess. But this term is being misused by our people today; the word is just used for showing off. Women today are harassed so badly that often it is beyond our imagination. Being witness to the crimes perpetrated against women in India such as rape, acid attacks etc the safety of our women comes into doubt. Safety of women matters a lot whether at home, outside the home and at the work place. Crimes against women, especially rape cases, are stories that are filled with fear and dread. Because of such crimes, safety of women in

omen constitute almost half the population of the country which make them equal participants in the growth and development of India. We are living in the 21st century, an advanced era. However shamefully, safety of women in India remains an unfulfilled dream.

rJustice delivered at last

“S

India has become a doubtful topic. Crime rates in New Delhi have increased a lot. We are indeed very shameful that a place which is supposed to be the capital of our country where safety of women should be of paramount importance has such a high crime rate. Despite India being a powerful nation and a virtual world leader being the largest democracy in the world, backwardness of women is also very obvious in the Indian society because of the social issues, problems and huge restriction against women. Women in Indian

society generally face problems of discrimination, high percentage of illiteracy, female infanticide and foeticide, dowry system etc. Taking birth as a girl in the Indian society is often regarded as a curse. Women in India face a lot of social issues and problems all through their lives making life itself a massive struggle for them. Every day and every minute, women of all walks of life (be she a mother, a sister, a wife, a young girl and or a baby) are getting harassed, molested, assaulted and violated at various places all over the country. Streets, public spaces, public transport, etc have become territories of woman hunters. Girl students studying in the schools or colleges have to shield themselves with their books and bags while they have to wear clothes that cover them completely. In some cases, a girl child is sold off by her parents to shed off a “burden” and earn some money in the process. Girls have faced acid attacks on the streets and have been kidnapped for purposes of sexual gratification by strangers. According to statistics, it is found that a woman is raped in India every 20 minutes. Women constitute almost half the population of the country which

O pinion Hrishikesh Sarma

make them equal participants in the growth and development of India. We are living in the 21st century, an advanced era. However shamefully, safety of women in India remains an unfulfilled dream. In some place of Assam like Tihu, Baksa, Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao and Kokrajhar extremist groups are more in number. In these places women and girls are not safe at all. They are being kidnapped and the terrorist groups demand a huge amount of money as ransom. It is indeed a pathetic state of affairs. Some tips regarding women safety: yy They should be careful while communicating with someone on internet and this includes social media on cyberspace. yy They must have all the emergency phone numbers with them. yy Self defence techniques are the first and foremost things to which each and every girl as well as woman must be initiated to; they should get proper self-defence training. A number of laws have been passed by our government for the safety of women but we the people should change our mindset towards them. Only then women can be much safer in our country. Instead of blaming the government it is the responsibility of each and every Indian citizen, especially man, who needs to change his mindset and attitude towards women. At the same time, our government should lay paramount importance on women safety and introduce some severe punishments against culprits. Presently our BJP government has given great importance regarding this matter. It has come up with advertisements and slogans like Beti Bachao Beti Parhao etc. Also there are many new some schemes for them. But raising slogans is not enough; there needs to be a marked change in attitude. Respect women, respect nature and only then we can expect respect for India from the world thereby making our country truly independent in every field and proving it as the best country in the world. hriskikeshsarma@gmail.com

Letter to the Editor

ajjan” in Hindi language means “honest.” That same meaning cannot be equated with Congress leader and Rahul Gandhi loyalist Sajjan Kumar. People still remember three names Sajjan Kumar, Kamal Nath and Jagdish Tytler for their grave role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. After years of dilly-dally in the judicial courts one of this notorious trio has finally been convicted by the Honorable Delhi High Court. The other two who are roaming freely under the sun must be spending sleepless nights. Though it is said that justice delayed is justice denied, at least the kith and kin of the victims will breathe a sigh of relief and contentment after Sajjan Kumar has been convicted. One can only hope that justice is delivered completely even though 34 years have passed.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury, Ambari, Guwahati

In Focus

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Resolutions

2019

Prominent Guwahatians express their desire for change, do better and make life more meaningful

Virendra Mittal

Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Metro) “Every year on 31st December, the current year ends to give way to the New Year. Everyone thinks and plans to do some new things or to accomplish the unfinished ones. My New Year resolution for the coming year would be to keep myself healthy and motivated internally so that I can perform my professional duties as well as personal responsibilities efficiently and effectively. I will also try to remain calm to the extent possible irrespective of the situation. I will try to instil the sense of belongingness in each and every employee of my office and district working in various government departments. This will help in improving the work culture and would increase productivity, reduce the delays and dissatisfaction among the public. I will also make sincere efforts to grow and concretise the feeling of responsiveness towards fellow citizens among the public. Last but not the least, I shall try my best to develop civic sense among the public for keeping their surroundings clean and urge them to refrain from indulging in any activities which are detrimental to the environment and ecology.”

Monalisa Goswami

GMC Commissioner “I want to see Guwahati clean. Everyone should be aware of their responsibilities and should take part in keeping the city clean as we owe this to our future generations. My New Year resolution therefore would be to give the “I Love Guwahati” campaign my 100 percent and make Guwahati the cleanest city in India.”

Anand Prakash Tiwari

MD, Assam State Transport Corporation “My New Year resolution would be taking Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) to next generation. I will try to provide transparent and quality services to the citizens. A lot of emphasis will be given to the online system.”

Ashutosh Agnihotri

Commissioner and Secretary, Industry and Commerce etc “My New Year resolution this year is to write a novel.”

Prateek Hajela

NRC Coordinator “My New Year resolution this year is to spend as much time as possible this year with my daughter.

Kopil Bora

Actor “In 2019, I plan to have some more fun, explore new places and do more experimentation with theatre. As we step into the New Year, I would like to wish Guwahatians a very happy new year. May the year bring good health and prosperity for all.

Zerifa Wahid

Actress “I don’t really do resolutions, but this year, I resolve to become disciplined – sleep early and wake up early. I also want to be diligent and regular in my duty of taking my mother for morning walks because it’s very important for her health.

Samujjal Kashyap

Filmmaker, editor “In 2019, I’d like to start shooting for my first fulllength feature film and execute my ideas instead of just thinking about them. I’d also like to devote more time to my family. “Wishing a very Happy New Year to all the readers of G Plus. May G Plus continue to present worthy news to the people of Guwahati and keep growing in the minds of Guwahatians.”

Zublee Baruah

Singer “I have never made any New Year resolution. I just love to go with the flow and that’s what I will be doing in the coming year too. May Guwahatians have a positive, creatively productive, peaceful year full of love and happiness.”

Assam puts its ‘Stamp’ on the Bogibeel Bridge with Paan Stains

It was an eyesore to see red paan spit stains on the spanking new Bogibeel Bridge immediately post its inauguration. The photograph published by G Plus on Facebook with the headline above went viral prompting critical comments. Bublu Bhuyan That’s because we lack basic human decency. Would those people do the same inside their home? No, they won’t. How hard is it to realize that this place is our home? I guess some people are too dense to understand it. It’s ridiculous to see such things and this is a serious social issue. There should be a proper campaign for this. Also punishment should be given to people if caught spitting on the streets.

Deep J Baruah Not sure what’s the major problem with our people but this is something which we have to change. There are some morons who really don’t give a s*** what’s developing around them. Only thing they know is to make the country dirty. It seems like littering and spitting are in their blood. It’s shameful! Today we can’t even educate others to not spit on the streets as in return we will get a scolding from the other person.

Bhaskarjyoti Mukherjee Don’t blame others, blame yourself if you take paan, gutkha or anything like this and have a habit of spitting anywhere. Control your own bad habits and then take stern action against those who are still doing this. Don’t spare anyone. Strict action should be taken immediately and also CCTV cameras should be installed at the bridge.

Amitabh Sarma Frankly speaking a lot of us do not deserve to be in a civilized world. I am sure a lot of us noticed, but if you are waiting in front of the departure and arrival gates at Guwahati Airport, a ridiculous smell of ghutka and dust awaits you. Forget a smart city, we don’t even deserve to be in a city or for that matter any place on earth. Might as well paint all our civil structures red, at least it won’t be an eyesore as its very hard to change these habits of people of Assam. And for the people who are having a vision of a smart city, please forget about it as it will take another 50-100 years to see that change.

Bikram Nath No one could change the habit of people spitting in public places no matter how beautiful the place is. Even if the government places a criminal offence on the person littering or spitting in public places, it will not be the sufficient step to stop such kind of nonsensical activities. The government needs to put a ban on sale of guthka or paan and also keep dustbins in areas where there is a chance of getting littered by people mostly. And most importantly, education on cleanliness is a must and should be considered very important as we Indians don’t take that thing seriously. Keeping our own city clean is very important just as we keep our home clean.

16 Feature

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

An ode to the kids

The author writes on how Christmas Day has been observed differently and dedicated to the health of children for 15 years now in the Kharguli locality of Guwahati Dibyendu Goswami

hristmas Day is celebrated the world over every year with much pomp and gaiety. However, in Kharghuli area of Guwahati, this red letter day is being celebrated in a different way for the last fifteen years without break. Anchor India Foundation, now renamed as X-mas India Foundation, in collaboration with Kharghuli Retired Employees Association, has been credibly organizing a free medical health camp for children below 10 years of age with the motto to offer free medical check-ups mainly to those of the under privileged sections of the locality. This mission of sorts has been an annual affair since 2003 giving treatment and free consultancy services relating to the general syndromes with which minors usually

get afflicted like acute dental problems, nutrition disorders, eye sight complications, loss or over weight etc. The number of beneficiaries has been increasing every year at the rate of around two hundred and the total turn out has been around eight thousand plus till last year. In its sixteenth year during this last Christmas too, the event was held at the Lal Singh Primary School with equal pomp

and activities and a little more than exactly two hundred pupils have attended the fair. Graced by eminent persons right from senior policeman Prasanta Saikia to corporate heads and other well wishers, the organizing members present reaffirmed their spirit to continue hosting the programme in the years to come. The entire project is

the brainchild of pediatric practitioner Dr Dibakor Kalita who has been engaged in various other such non-profitable activities centering the children. Having obtained his medical degree from Warsaw Medical University of Poland and being a regular practitioner of pediatrics at Guwahati, he however was keen to do something for the society at large and this inner urge his brain ticking until one fine day

he sat down and finalized his motto to organize a free health camp coinciding with his son’s birthday which incidentally falls on Christmas Day. A Rotarian himself, the Rotary Club of Gauhati West is constantly supporting this cause along with reputed pharmaceutical brands like Cipla, Aristo, and Alchem to

name a few. Said Dr Kalita, “One of the greatest achievements of this fifteen-year journey of ours has been the detection of a rare case of cardiac disorder called

Tetralogy of Fallot found in a seven year old child, Rahul Boro. Our voluntary outfit along with immediate financial support from the Rotary Club of Gauhati West made it possible to provide adequate necessary treatment to the victim who otherwise belongs to a very poor family. He

was given treatment at the National Institute of Heart, New Delhi and today he is 15 years old and doing fine.” As for Dr Kalita, he has been into many things at a time and is probably getting an intangible inner satisfaction which prompts him to keep going. He runs a free school for school dropouts irrespective of age and

sex at his professional chamber after business hours. Dedicated to the memory of Dr Janusz Korczak, a Polish pediatric practitioner, the school named as The Infinity School has eighteen pupils so far since its inception in August 2017. Besides, he also distributes study and learning materials to the needy students belonging to other schools and awards merit scholarships. Last but not the least, the ever busy man also nurtures a vegetable and fruit garden with organic manure in the backyard of his residence called Kampinos named after a sanctuary in Poland for promoting pure green vegetables and varieties of fresh fruits. Dr Kalita was awarded the Telegraph School Award in 2018 for initiating a movement called Monsoon Fruit Festival with the motto of providing awareness of nutrition deficiency amongst school going pupils since several years. Started in 2006, the school level programme giving lectures, demonstrations and serving fruits to the children has been carried out in various institutions in greater Guwahati like Cotton Collegiate School, Tarini Choudhury Girls’ School, Arohan, Holy Child School, Hindusthani Kendriya Vidyalaya, Lal Singh High School etc. The key resource persons so far have been Prof Nirmali Medhi, presently retired professor of Zoology at Handique Girls’ College, Dr Gayatri Bezbarua, Professor of Pediatrics at Gauhati Medical College, Dr Rosna Das Hazarika, Dr Rajkumar Kayal etc. besides honorary members of Rotary Club of Gauhati West. A happy family man and a father of two, Dr Kalita owes his abstinence to his late father Comrade Dhireswar Kalita who was a parliamentarian and a social worker as well. n dibyendugoswami21@gmail.com

Trotter

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Simple shaadi of Rs 20,000 winning over Twitter

Russian pollution prompts dirty snow to be painted white

n a video posted by local media, a Russian woman reaches out her hand to brush a snow bank in the town of Mysky, Siberia. She comes away with white sticky paint coating her fingers,

surrounded by coal mines so they had to resort to modern technology.” The head of the town of Mysky, in the Siberian region of Kemerovo, has now apologised and said those responsible have

which had apparently been used to hide the soot and ash dirtying the snow. “You can see the stains. It even sticks,” she said while demonstrating the substance on her fingertips. Coal is big business in Russia’s far east but it is having a devastating environmental effect. The painted hill was outside a municipal recreation centre, where many children go to play in the snow. The local news website said: “Apparently, no white snow could be found around the city

been reprimanded. Dmitry Ivanov said, “I apologize to the townspeople whose New Year’s mood was spoiled by this.” Black snow is not uncommon in parts of Russia, which is the world’s sixth largest producer of coal. The coal industry regularly releases large amounts of black dust into the air which, when it mixes with moisture in the atmosphere, causes black snow to fall. (Source: metro.co)

t a time when more and more extravagant weddings are becoming the norm, a Pakistani man’s story of his sweet and simple wedding has found a lot of fans. Twitter user Rizwan Pehelwan took to the micro blogging website to share his experience of organising a simple wedding and his Twitter thread has now gone viral with thousands of likes. In his thread, he describes how he set a budget of 20,000 Pakistani rupees (approximately Rs 10,000) for the wedding, before moving on to the details. Finishing his popular thread with some heartfelt advice, he wrote: “Be happy. Big or small, all weddings should just be HAPPY.” “My guest list had 25 names: friends and parents,” wrote Rizwan, adding that the wedding venue was his terrace. Since being posted on-

line, his thread has collected over 3,500 likes and has even been turned into a Twitter Moment. Many agreed with his

philosophy and congratulated him for pulling off a simple yet heart-warming wedding. (Source: younews)

18 Review

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Starring: Ranveer Singh, Sara Ali Khan, Sonu Sood, Ashutosh Rana, Ajay Devgn Director: Rohit Shetty

Cinepolis

05:00 PM

Christian Basti 09435025808 Simmba 08:45 AM, 09:15 AM, 10:25 AM, 12:15 PM, 12:45 PM, 01:55 PM, 03:45 PM, 04:15 PM, 07:15 PM, 07:45 PM, 08:35 PM Aquaman-English,3D

Movie Review

05:25 PM

Anuradha Cineplex Noonmati 0361 2656968

Simmba

immba is an action film written by Yunus Sajawal and Sajid-Farhad. The movie is a spin-off of the Singham series, starring Ajay Devgn and has been produced by Rohit Shetty under his banner, Rohit Shetty Picturez and by Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar and Apoorva Mehta, under the Dharma Productions banner. The soundtrack was composed by Tanishk Bagchi, Lijo GeorgeDJ Chetas and S. Thaman. Shabbir Ahmed, Rashmi Virag, Kumaar and Kunaal Verma wrote the lyrics for the soundtrack. Some action sequences of the film were based on Telugu-film, Temper, but the story is original. The film has an estimated budget of INR 80

aunched in September of this year, the Innelo 1 is being sold exclusively on Amazon for INR 7,499. The company that makes the phone, iVoomi hasn’t had much importance on the Indian market as some of its competitors, but it hopes to change that with its “premium” brand, Innelo.

Design:

The phone has been on a tight budget. The phone does not have any noticeable flex in the body and has a plastic texture exterior. Its body has a semigloss finish which does attract fingerprints and smudges. It’s fairly slim at 7.4mm, and at 154g, is not too heavy. It has a 5.85-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 1520x720 pixels. It has a pretty wide notch on the top, and noticeably thick borders on all sides of the display. The buttons are placed on either side of the phone and the power button has a lot of play. The SIM tray is placed on the right and is upside

Simmba

crores. The movie follows Sangram ‘Simmba’ Bhalerao (Singh), who is a kid from the same town as Singham, Shivgarh. However, he is the anti-hero of the movie and a corrupt cop. At the beginning of the film, he wants nothing to do with ideals and morals that come with being a man of the uniform. He lives in his own world, takes bribes, and thinks the meaning of becoming a cop is being able to live a comfortable life. He also in the process, forms a close connection with a local goon, Ranade (Sood) and starts making money left and right, with no regard for anything and anyone. We see the ideal, adarsh cop in the second half of the movie when

some of Ranade’s men rape a girl who Simmba sees as a young sister. Struck by a change of heart and sudden realization of his morals, Simmba becomes a changed man. He vows to avenge the girl and her honour and the rest of the story follows his journey. This film, as Filmfare has quoted, is an “over-the-top” film that rides on the shoulders of Ranveer Singh. He adds to the flamboyant character with his eccentricities and flair. Sara Ali Khan also supports the lead actor to the best of her ability, and adds to the film. It is a full masala and entertainment film and like all of Rohit Shetty’s movies, leave your head at home and just go for a good laugh. n

Innelo 1

MT6737H quad-core CPU. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It has 8GB of space for apps and other files. There is also an option to format a microSD card as part of the internal storage. The phone runs on Android 8.1 Oreo with a custom skin called SmartMe OS 3. This singlelayered interface comes with a unique set of icons for the default apps and a theme store for changing the look of the UI.

down. is a hybrid tray, which can accommodate two Nano-SIMs or a microSD card (up to 128GB) in the second SIM slot. The listing on Amazon suggests supported formats include dual 4G, but in our experience, only one SIM connects to 4G at a time while the second defaults to 2G. The phone does not have a 3.5mm headphone socket on the phone. Instead, it ships with a headset that has a Micro-USB plug. Inside the box, the phone is sold with a Micro-USB headset, a Micro-USB cable, a 10W charger, a SIM eject tool and a screen guard.

Specifications and Software:

The Innelo 1 has a MediaTek

10:45 AM, 01:45 PM, 05:00 PM, 08:15 PM

Grande Cines Paltan Bazar 09854017771 Simmba 09:45 AM, 11:00 AM, 02:00 PM, 05:15 PM, 08:30 PM, 09:15 PM

Aquaman-English,3D 03:30 PM Zero 06:15 PM

PVR Cinemas Dona Planet 08800900009 Simmba

Gold Cinema Paltan Bazaar

09:00 AM, 02:05 PM, 05:30 PM, 08:55 PM

09854066166 Zero

Galleria Cinemas

11:00 AM

HUB

Simmba

09706989143

11:15 AM, 02:00 PM, 02:15 PM,

Simmba

05:15 PM, 08:00 PM, 08:15 PM

08:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 02:30

KGF

PM, 05:40 PM, 09:00 PM

Some other common features of the phone include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, an

However, the phone lacks a compass, which means you can’t tell the direction you’re facing in Google Maps, and there isn’t even support for USB-OTG.

Performance, Battery life and Cameras The phone has a rear fingerprint sensor, face recognition, a 13-megapixel rear camera which has decently quick autofocus under good lighting, a front 5-megapixel camera, video recording maxes out at 1080p and a 3000mAh battery.

Verdict:

accelerometer, an ambient light sensor, and a proximity sensor.

For the price range the phone is making a debut in, the phone lacks in almost all areas of its design and function, if you need a phone that is so-so and you may only use it once in a while, then you can buy this. However, if you’re looking for a durable phone, this is not the one for you. n

Entertainment

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Xhoixobote Dhemalite wins international Best Narrative Feature award

idyut Kotoki’s film, Xhoixobote Dhemalite (Rainbow Fields) has won the award for ‘Best Narrative Feature’ at the 2018 Erie International Film Festival (EIFF) in Pennsylvania, USA. This film, released in July, is also the first Assamese film to be commercially released in the United States. Prior to this, it has won a number of international awards, including ‘Best Film’ at the Hollywood International CineFest, ‘Best Film’ at the Love International Film Festival in Los Angeles, USA and ‘Best Script’ at the Veritas Film Festival in Florida. It was nominated for Best Feature Film, Director, Screenplay, Actor (Nakul Vaid), Actress (Dipannita Sharma), Supporting Actor (Victor Banerjee),

Cinematography (Satya Prakash Rath) and Score (Anurag Saikia) at the Love International Film Festival (LIFF), Los Angeles. The director and writer of the film, Bidyut Kotoky, said that he was always sure that he was making world cinema in the Assamese language. He also mentioned that emotions are the same everywhere, and are not restricted by geography. He is very happy and proud of his achievements. The film is based on true events and narrates the psychological trauma children had to go through during the Assam Agitation period in the 1980s and how growing up in violent places and witnessing brutality around them affected these children deeply leaving a mark on them in their formative years.

Lata Mangeshkar receives Mekhala Chador as gift from Assam

and healthy, by the grace of God. Currently, she is eagerly waiting to record her next masterpiece. Recently, there were some posts online that claimed that the singer was unwell. However, that was all fake news. This information was shared by Samujjal Kashyap on his Facebook page.

inger Lata Mangeshkar was recently gifted a Mekhala Chador from Assam. The present was given to her by film editor Samujjal Kashyap, who wrote on his Facebook page that he was honored to share this gift with the singe r and that she is very happy

Hima Das featured on the Femina India cover

ima Das was selected as one of the prominent figures and featured on the cover of Femina India Magazine. Hima bagged the silver medal in the 400 m women’s race at the Asian Games 2018. Apart from Hima, three other sportswomen who excelled in the Asian Games 2018 feature on the cover of the magazine. The other sports stars include Rahi Sarnobat, the first Indian woman shooter to win an individual Asian Games gold in the 25 m pistol event and Vinesh Phogat who clinched India’s first gold medal in women’s wrestling at Asian Games 2018. Also on the cover is Swapna Barman, who bagged gold in the challenging track and field event,

Heptathlon. This latest issue of Femina pays a tribute to these women and also gives a little sneak-peek into their respective lives.

Guwahati youngster is 2nd runner-up in kids’ reality show

Romantic melody with 70s’ feel ‘Maaz Nixa’ released Kalyan Kumar Kalita

newly released Assamese audio-video song titled Maaz Nixa has been able to garner huge popularity on social networking sites like Facebook and YouTube due to its completely different concept and technique. The song has been written and composed by Namrata Baruah and musically arranged by Rohan-Vinayak. It has also been beautifully rendered by Namrata Baruah. The recording engineers for the song are Smitesh Joshi, Kunal Dabholkar and Anish Nair (Sound Good Studio, Mumbai), whereas it was mixed and mastered by Kunal Dabholkar of Mumbai. The song is a romantic melody with a 70s’ feel. The song taps into the emotion of ‘birha’(longingness). The music video has been conceived keeping the essence of the song in mind. It takes every music lover back in

the time, when movies like Chameli Memsaab and Rajnigandha used to grace the silver screen. The young and talented director Anuprash Das and his creative team have created a simple yet endearing story. The key roles in the music video have been

played by Namrata Baruah and Hemanta Debnath. The backdrop of the music video features tea planters of Assam, particularly of those times, who were known for their luxurious yet secluded lifestyle. Be it the long verandahs that ran around the bungalows, a butler attending to their whims or sipping freshly brewed tea out of spotless white cups, everything

was filled with panache. Namrata Baruah, a singer, songwriter, based in Bangalore, is a Sangeet Visharad in Hindustani classical music and is currently undergoing advanced training under Vidushi Poornima Bhat Kulkarni of the Kirana Gharana. The Bangalore based musician recently released two of her original compositions on online platforms. Laapata, her first single in Hindi and Maaz Nixa her second single and her first in Assamese. Hemanta Debnath has already worked in various singles, short films and was able to garner attention of Assamese audiences with his unique roles. Some of his popular music videos are Raanjhana, Jhumuri, Tuhu Deeno, Bohu Nixa etc and some of his short films include Xekh Oidhyayi, Joubone Amoni Korei, Not My Thing etc. Recently, he has proved himself as a producer with the song Xaratar Xondhiya and very soon he will debut as an actor with the Assamese feature film, Ji Golpor Xekh Nai.

arshita Bhattacharjee, a 7-year-old from Guwahati, is the second runner-up in the kids’ reality show, ‘Love Me India’ which aired on &TV. The grand finale of the show was held on Sat-

urday, 22 December. Harshita was one of the four finalists in the show along with Mohammad Faiz, Stuti Jaiswal and Guru Kiran Hegde, who was the winner of the show. This show was the only live singing reality show for children in India.

7-year-old from Guwahati selected for Super Dancer,Season 3

ayashree Gogoi, a 7-year-old from Guwahati, has been selected for Super Dancer, Season 3 which is a dance reality show for children. A total of 12 dancers, aged 4-13 years old will take part in the show and display their dancing prowess in different forms of dances. Three judges, actress Shilpa Shetty, director Anurag Basu and choreographer Geeta Kapoor will judge the show.

Auditions for the show began in late October and the show is now on Sony TV.

20 Fun

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Horoscope of the week Family matters are likely to keep you occupied and on toes, as the week begins. You need to handle the situation with utmost care and due delicacy. Although it may be against your principles, you may be tempted to adopt an unethical way to increase your bank balance. This may not be advisable looking at the current position of malefic, says Ganesha.

A mix of personal and professional stress is a heady concoction; it may ruin healthy equations. This week, you need to be very calm and polite while making a point, at workplace. There may be situation wherein you may flare up, get into a verbal spat with a fellow worker and cross the line. Control your emotions; use your persuasion skills to convince others.

You may experience some disturbances through the week as the ruler of your Sign in the 6th House is afflicted by two malefic, wily Saturn and Ketu. Here, you need to be extra cautious about your physical as well as financial health. Neglecting the obvious may spell trouble for your health. Visit your doctor and take quick remedial measures.

You may be in a mood to give back to the society, and in the process, indulge in charity for a social cause. In return, you stand a chance to benefit monetarily, assures wellaligned benefices. Here, you may want to utilise the money in the best way – uplifting the exteriors of your home. In case you are on a look out to buy a new house/property, now is the right time.

According to Ganesha, your ambitious streak is likely to come to the fore, this week. However, as Saturn is combust and Sun afflicted by wily Saturn and malefic Ketu, your professional dreams may take some time to become a reality. This may, in turn, affect your pace of work, efficiency and performance. Be kind to yourself and avoid damaging your own image at work.

Appearances are often deceptive; many times things do not turn out as they appear. In your case, such a situation may cause a minor setback this week. However, a native of your Sign is never deterred by adversity. Hence, you may emerge stronger than before and are back with a bang to face the challenges head on. Employees stand a strong chance of relocating abroad.

The initial phase of the week may find you in a dull, sad mood. Thoughts of a loved one or memories of an unpleasant experience may haunt you, draining your energies. However, Wednesday onwards you shall be your usual self – cheerful, optimistic and raring to go! Businessmen will enjoy a profitable time as planets here favour striking a lucrative deal.

Some disturbance in the cosmos above may reflect on your personal relationships as the week begins. Married ones may have to give in to an unusual demand of their spouse in order to maintain peace and harmony at the home front. Singles may feel a strong urge to get intimate with a person of opposite sex.

Health and related issues may form the crux of the week. Neglecting even a minor symptom or signal can have dire, long-term consequences on your health. Instead, visit your doctor and treat the trouble by taking prescribed antidote. Benefices seem well-aligned to create umpteen opportunities to make it big in the market.

You are likely to come across many opportunities to gain monetarily due to well-aligned benefices in your chart. As Moon connects with malefic Rahu in the 5th House, you may be in a mood to do a ‘luck by chance’ and make notable gains through speculative activities like trading.

Which 20th century landmark building designed by Jorn Utzon was opened in 1973 and is located in Bennelong Point?

Karnataka, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, all have Nelumbonucifera as their state flower. By what common name do we know it as?

curio-city

What was established by Birpal in 1187 AD in the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River?

Which sporting institution was founded by John Houlding in 1892?

Which famous beach literally means “spouting fresh water” in its native language?

Identify this traditional dance from Nepal. Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

Garfield By Jim Davis

2 9 5 6 7 3 7 9 8 4 5 8 5 4 2 7 1 6 9 5 2 3 5 6 4 3 8 1 1 3 2 5 8 8 8 1 4 6 9 2 Daily Sudoku: Fri 28-Dec-2018

7 3 4

4 5

1 1

2 8 9 7 4 3 6

1 3 9

7 2 9 5 3 1

Daily Sudoku: Fri 21-Dec-2018

3 last 7 2week 6 8 solution 9 1 4 5 1 5 6 7 2 4 9 3 8 2 3 4 8 7 9 1 5 6 8 9 4 5 1 3 6 7 2 7 8 5 1 6 4 3 2 9 2 3 5 8 9 7 4 1 6 1 6 9 5 2 3 7 4 8 9 4 1 2 3 6 5 8 7 9 5 6 4 3 7 2 8 1 6 8 7 1 4 5 2 9 3 4 7 8 9 1 2 5 6 3 7 2 3 4 5 1 8 6 9 6 56 88 97 72 44 53 11 92 3 7 87 12 43 95 51 46 62 83 9 8 4 1 2 9 5 6 3 very7hard Daily Sudoku: Fri 28-Dec-2018

5 9 7 3 4 6 8 1 2 Daily Sudoku: Fri 21-Dec-2018

easy

http://www.dailysudoku.com/

1. Sydney Opera House 2. Lotus 3. The Chutiya Kingdom which ruled northeast Assam for over 400 years 4. Liverpool FC 5. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii 6. Lakhey

curio-city

Sudoku

Although things may go haywire and confuse you during the week, the blessings of divine power are with you. Rest assured, if nothing good is coming your way… nothing bad will happen to you either. Let this week just pass by. There may be times when you feel disillusioned and get discouraged by the sudden turn of events.

You shall be occupied by domestic commitments as the week begins. Eager to own a house to reside, you shall be busy with the house-hunting process. According to Ganesha, this is a suitable time to buy a property as benefices seem well-aligned to aid you in the cause. Businessmen are likely to make a steady progress here.

Word of the week memorist noun [mem-er-ist] a person who has a remarkably retentive memory.

Crossword Across

Down

1 The spearfish (anag) — mythical being that can change its form (5-7) 9 Castrated chicken (5) 10 Temporary encampment (7) 11 Swear word (4) 12 Fur — lean kiss (anag) (8) 14, 6 Light open lorry with low sides and a tailboard (4-2,5) 15 Inhabitant of the country at the southern end of the Arabia (6) 18 Wedged together (8) 20 Weighty book (4) 22 Touched — held (7) 23 Relinquish (5) 24 Perceive the difference — show prejudice (12)

2 Of the liver (7) 3 Yearn (4) 4 Rent all or part of a rented property to another person (6) 5 Complex (8) 6 See 14 7 Assessed once more (12) 8 Expert — done (12) 13 Strong (8) 16 Self-centred person (7) 17 Not often (6) 19 Useless — underwear (5) 21 Whooper or trumpeter? (4)

Last week’s solution

Lifestyle

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

How to stick to your New Year Resolutions Harshita Himatsingka

aking a New Year resolution? That’s easy. But where most of us fail is

make the necessary changes to accomplish your goal even if you temporarily can’t follow through.

2. Pick one thing

This way you ensure that you are making progress as you only need to take care of one thing. Also, you might be able to tackle more of your goals this way and move from one goal to the next.

sticking to it afte r the first week or first month. To ensure that this doesn’t happen in 2019, we at G Plus have made a list of the things you can do so that you are just as successful on the last day of the year as the first.

1. Set a very specific goal When thinking of New Year resolutions, most of us make the mistake of thinking about it in broad terms but the trick to actually ensure that we follow through with our resolutions is to set a very specific goal. For example, “I want to lose 20 kgs in three months,” and not “I want to work out more.” Setting specific goals helps you keep track of your progress and

3. Make a plan or to-do list If you even a bit of like me, should making

have little OCD you love lists.

ADD ONE MORE To the multitudes arising from the past, A past unreasonable, as it is unfathomable, Reason enough to lay down all arms

need to do. This method also helps you track your progress and see where you are with achieving your goal.

For peace is a longing all hearts feel Somewhere in a hidden corner unexplored, Is that longing, since birth been stored...

4. Take that cheat day

There might be days when you might not want to follow through your plans or take a cheat day. Do it. You’re human after all and you deserve a break once in a while. Taking the break will make you more focused the next day and even energize you to give your best in attaining and completing your new year’s resolution.

To those that give voice against all war, To those who make it their calling to give The ones who decide that we’ve had enough Of the deaths, of the pain, of innocent blood, Those with the broken, the people without voice

5. Get a resolution buddy

One of the most common reasons that New Year resolutions fail is that people try to do too many things at once. Instead of choosing to do many small things, why not focus all your energies on one thing? Pick something that is most important to you or maybe start with something small, and once you accomplish the first task, move on to the next thing.

So, why not plan and make a list of the steps you need to take to achieve your goal? This way you can check off the things you have done and look forward to the things you still

If your resolution involves something that can be done in pairs, go for it. Having a partner in crime, literally, will make you more accountable. You will have someone you need to answer to and since their progress will depend on your continuity with the chosen task, you’ll strive to be even better at it.

With them, those numbers, add one more...

Time for a revolution, time for peace enforced, Enough ‘higher causes’ have been seen here If peace was a cause, it would rank higher Than the bloodshed that is allowed by others To all who number together for the dove, Add one more to your numbers, with love...

Arunav Barua

MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL Hemanta Sarmah

t is very common for people to rearrange their house, especially before any major festival or occasion like a wedding in the family. However, while doing so, the Vaastu can get disturbed. Mirrors and articles containing glass can upset the Vaastu if placed incorrectly. Positioning of mirrors in a house is very important for the peace and health of the house residents. If not placed facing the proper direction or at the intersection of negative corners, the residents may face difficulties of some sort. Mirrors have the power to reflect negative and positive energies around the house, based on its positioning. SHAPE OF MIRRORS A square shaped mirror is the best for home. According to Mirror Vaastu, round, triangle and oval shaped mirrors should be avoided. Lot of people use broken mirrors or glasses for decorative purpose and

this should be strictly avoided. POSITIONING Vaastu advises not to position any kind of mirror facing the bed. In doing so, it may cause health issues. Any part of the body which is reflected in the mirror while sleeping, may suffer severe health ailments in future. That is why TV is also forbidden in the bedroom because it can reflect the bed when not in use. When this becomes unavoidable, cover the mirror when not in use. According to Vaastu, a mirror should never be left in darkness,

regardless of wherever it is placed in the house. The mirror has the

power to absorb and therefore, it will retain all the negative forces and darkness inside the house. That is why breaking of glass is considered auspicious, as it nullifies all the negative energy stored. A mirror must always be placed facing the toilet door so that whenever the toilet door opens, all the negative energy is retained in

the mirror. If it is placed on a wall sharing the toilet door, it won’t ever take in the negative energy, thus letting it flow through the house. Often people place a mirror facing the main door, which is not advised according to Mirror Vaastu. If the mirror is placed facing the door, it will reflect away all the incoming positive energy and would retain the negative energy. Make sure not to place a mirror right above the study of your kids as it tends to make them lose their concentration and get distracted. Also, do not place two mirrors facing each other. It causes impatience among family members and increases restless energy. No mirror should be placed facing the stairs, as it would reflect the positive energy in upward direction out of the house. If the window panes and doors of a home are made of glass, make sure they are not transparent. Always replace broken window panes and mirrors as soon as possible.

22 Buzz

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

Stage set for Junior Tennis Tourney from Jan 6

he 3rd Guwahati Open Junior Tennis Championship, 2018-19, which is one of the flagship tournaments of the state, organised by Guwahati Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA), will be held at RG Sports Complex, Nehru Stadium, Guwahati from January 06-11, 2019. The tournament will be held for Boys’ and Girls’ Singles – Under 12, 14 and 18 years respectively. All winners will be awarded with cash scholarships. The championship will carry a total of Rs 2.20 lakhs as scholarship. The Boys’

and Girls’ Singles under–18 category will receive Rs 10,000/- and runner will receive Rs 7,000/- as scholarship money while in the under–14 winner will receive Rs 7,000/- and runner-up will receive Rs 6,000/-. In the under-12 category winner will receive Rs 6,000/and the runner-up will receive Rs 5,000/- respectively. Scholarship money will be awarded to the players from quarter finals stage in all categories. The tournament will feature more than 200 players from various parts of the region. An organising committee has

been formed with Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, Pronoy Bordoloi, Kishore Jayanta Madhab and Anirban Das as advisors, Kalyan Kumar Das as Chairman, Nabajyoti Kalita as Organising Secretary, Rishi Das as Tournament Director, Rupam Gogoi as Chief Referee and Dilip Pathak as Treasurer to run the championship smoothly and successfully. Interested participants are requested to send their entries to the Organising Secretary n (9435559885 / 910126449) or emailguwahatilawntennisassociation@gmail.com. n

Film and TV course academy inaugurated in Guwahati

-series Stageworks Academy (TSA), an academy that offers courses in film, TV and the performing arts was inaugurated on 22nd December. This branch of the academy in Guwahati which is under the Noida-based Gulshan Kumar Film

director Hitesh Raldhan, DH Productions director, Nita Sharma and Assamese music director, Bhupen Uzir were present at the inaugural function. This academy will offer courses in acting, singing, dancing, modelling, news reading, anchoring, camera and lighting

& Television Institute of India (GKFTII), in association with Dream House (DH) Productions, is located on the 4th floor of Guwahati Central mall near the Assam State Zoo. T-series director, Sudesh Dua, Gulshan Kumar’s daughter, a singer and director, Tulsi Kumar,

techniques, video editing and sound recording, direction, production and TV journalism, explained Dua. The institute will have the latest instruments and equipments that have been installed to provide modern technology. n

Assam Down Town University felicitates retired academics

ssam Down Town University (ADTU), in association with the All Assam College Teachers’ Association (Jorhat Zone) and Jorhat Teachers Meet organized an event, “Making the Difference” on 22nd December last. The event felicitated all retired academics along with colleges and junior colleges who have made remarkable achievements in the field of education. More than 50 senior academics were felicitated along with 15 colleges and institutes. The chief guest for the event was Dr Diganta Sharma, Dean, ADTU, who emphasized on developing a skill-based education system which also inculcates spirituality and human values in its curriculum. Gautam Kumar Bordoloi, President ACTA, Jorhat Zone, who spoke at the event thanked the host university for creating

the platform for learning and experience sharing among fellow academics.

The event also had cultural performances throughout. It was hosted by Prarthana Bora and other officials of ADTU. The experience sharing programme

was hosted by Pranjal Borbora and the event ended with Dr AnanataTamuli, professor of

Central College, who thanked everyone for their participation and hoped that more such events would take place in the future as well. n

City school hosts TedXBetkuchi

n December 22, Royal Global School hosted TEDxBetkuchi which saw a number of distinguished guests, eminent speakers and excited audience members. The program started with a performance by a group of Axomiya Sattra Ministrels who performed a soul stirring recital. The first speaker, the founding editor of Sanctuary Asia, Bitoo Sehgal, spoke about the concept of boundaries that divide humanity and that one should think of only two political parties in present times, ‘the bachha party’ and ‘buddhas.’ The second speaker was Padmapani Bora, renowned economist and author, who discussed the cultural and

ethnic similarities between northeastern states and southeast Asian countries, making a statement that it is of the absolute importance

to make a social, economic and cultural technology that would bridge the gap and break boundaries between these neighboring countries. The next speaker, Parvati M Krishnan, a travel writer, yogini and editor talked about what being an independent woman in India

means. She urged the audience to fall in love with themselves, flaws and all included. And the last speaker of the evening, Avijit Dutt spoke about boundaries and how we should break them to become global citizens of the world. The event also saw two

performances by students, a Bharat Natyam dance recital and a Xattriya recital as fillers between events. In addition to that, Joshua Kevin Queah along with his band members, Jonal and Raju, also delighted the audience with a musical performance. n

32nd Book Fair in Guwahati to host a platform for young writers in Assam

he 32nd Guwahati Book Fair is all set to host the All India Young Writers’ Meet, a platform for young writers. The meet will see 100 young writers from Assam and 30 more from all over India engaged in a twoday conference that will be held at the venue of the fair at the

Assam Engineering Playground. The meet will feature interactive sessions among authors in addition to academic discussions. The book fair, which began on 22nd December, has reported more than 50,000 visitors until now. The book fair is a 10-day event and will conclude on 2nd January, 2019. n

Fiction

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019

The Flood (part 2) So far: In Kaliabor, Deepika and her infant son Niyor were woken up at the dead of night by neighbour Jagat with a last minute warning of the fast-approaching flood. Deepika’s husband, Dilip, was away in Guwahati. Jagat managed to free the tethered cow Damayanti (Dilip and Deepika’s only prized possession) as well. And now… Nisha Mahanta Bordoloi nishabordoloi@ yahoo.com

eepika started running out of the door towards Jagat’s house. She had just reached the gate when a cold sensation stroking her feet stopped her in her tracks. She knew there was no use trying to run. With profound sadness, she looked into the sleeping Niyor’s face. The serenity on his face transmitted some amount of determination and courage into her sagging spirits. As rushing water rose over her heels, up her ankles to her calf, trying to dislodge her, she caught hold of the gate fence post, holding Niyor tightly to her bosom. Something hard struck her legs and she looked around her. Utensils, stools, chairs, trunks, TVs and other knick-knacks came floating by. Water had, now, reached up to her waist. Then she saw something that sparked some more hope into her. It was Damayanti. Jagat had probably released her and the waters now carried her along with its speeding current. She raised Niyor onto her shoulders, to keep him above water level, and waded cumbersomely towards Damayanti. As Damayanti was about to float past her, Deepika caught hold of Damayanti’s neck and held onto her firmly. Holding Niyor with one hand and clinging on to Damayanti’s neck with her other, Deepika allowed herself to be swept away by the force of the water. Losing all sense of time and what seemed a few moments later or maybe hours later, Deepika felt Damayanti struggling to keep afloat. Fortunately, both Deepika and Damayanti were good swimmers and they somehow managed not to drown. The rushing waters hurled them along ferociously. Her left arm, with which she held Niyor securely, felt numb. Still holding onto Damayanti’s neck, Deepika managed to manipulate Niyor from her shoulder on to Damayanti’s back, praying that someone finds and rescues them before they drown. She kept her energies focussed on Niyor and continued calling out to Lord Krishna to come to her aid just as He had come to Draupadi’s. Her breath was sagging and her eyelids were beginning to droop. She stroked Damayanti’s neck, thanking her for her efforts to keep them safe. As if hearing

her, Damayanti mooed softly. Thoughts of what might have happened to Jagat and of the others flickered on her mind for a moment and wandered towards Dilip. Remorse filled her with thoughts that she might not see him again and she regretted that she was unable to even bid him the final goodbye. Fatigue and hopelessness gripped her

The renewed energy lent voice to her parched throat and she shouted, “HELP!” with all her might. But her voice did not carry over to the noisy crowd. She and her baby were unnoticeable amongst the water hyacinths.

again and she let her eyelids drop. She shut her eyes and let her mind float with the rushing waters. Damayanti mooed again. Deepika felt as if Damayanti was making her final struggle, knowing that she was carrying a huge responsibility and she could not give up yet. Suddenly she felt as if the waters had stopped moving. The sight she saw on opening her eyes brought out a smile on her lip. The sun’s soft rays lit up the river bank. She realised that she was entangled in a mass of water hyacinth and the waters were moving far more slowly. Damayanti lay still. On her left she saw the river bank and people lined up along it, trying to capture on their mobile phone cameras the revival of the Kolong River, along with the destruction that the river had wrought. Seeing a second chance at life, renewed energy flowed through every cell of her being and she struggled to rise above the water hyacinth which was rising up at an alarming rate almost threatening to suffocate

her and her son. The renewed energy lent voice to her parched throat and she shouted, “HELP!” with all her might. But her voice did not carry over to the noisy crowd. She and her baby were unnoticeable amongst the water hyacinths. Then, from out of nowhere, she saw a Bhel (a contraption made by tying 3 to 4 banana stems and used as a raft) coming towards her, tearing through the water hyacinths. As the Bhel approached, she saw there were a young boy and an old lady clutching on to a goat on it. Maybe they had lost their home in the flood too but managed to escape with their lives. It felt as if Lord Krishna had really heard her call and sent this Bhel to rescue her. She called out again with all her might. But when it was apparent that she was neither being seen nor heard, she picked up the now awake and shrieking Niyor and raised him up above her as far as her arms would reach. This time the boy heard the baby’s shrieks and turned towards their direction. Seeing them, at last, he turned the Bhel towards Deepika, rowing with all his might. Within seconds he reached her and caught hold of Niyor.

Placing him securely on the raft, the young lad caught Deepika’s slender wrist and pulled her up. She looked towards Damayanti and then up at the boy with pleading eyes. The boy reached out and touched Damayanti’s limp body and immediately realised that Damayanti had given up her struggles some time ago - maybe when they had got entangled in the mass of the water hyacinth. “It’s no use, Baideo,” he said to Deepika. Deepika’s eyes filled up with tears and she thanked the brave soul for keeping them safe throughout the ordeal. Deepika lay down on the raft, letting the relief engulf her, savouring every breath she took. The boy then rowed them out of the mess towards the bank. Niyor’s cries brought her out of her limbo and she picked him up and hugged him gently to her bosom, sobbing copiously. Soon they reached the banks of the river and eager hands pulled them out of the raft and led them to dry grounds, to the makeshift shelters that had been made for the flood affected people. Someone took hold of Niyor and led Deepika to a secluded place for her to change into dry clothes. Deepika went through the motions

feeling nothing. She was dog tired. Someone tried to feed her something but she refused. She just wanted to lie down for some time. To be alone. But this was a relief camp. Different people from different villages who had managed to survive the flood people like herself - had sought refuge here. Some had lost their dear ones along with their property. Some had lost only their property. There was wailing and weeping everywhere. Some people just lay stunned wondering how to resume their lives once again. Deepika looked around at all the hopeless people around her. A feeling of gratitude overcame her. She was safe, Niyor was safe and they had Dilip safe somewhere in Guwahati. They will find each other and be together again. She had full faith in her hard working husband. They’ll build their lives from scratch once again. At least they still had the land to rebuild their home. The old home was badly in need of repairs anyway and now they’ll have the chance to build it up once again. A smile brightened up her tired face. They still had tomorrow which seemed to beckon her. (Concluded)

24 Catching Up

G PLUS | Dec 29, 2018 - JAN 04, 2019