Vande Mataram

Mother, I bow
Rich with thy hurrying streams
Bright with orchards gleams
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might Mother face,
Glory of moonlight there dreams
Over the branches and Lordly streams
Cloud in thy blossoming tree,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet
Mother I kiss thy feet
Speaker Sweet and low
Mother, to thee I bow
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands.
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million voices roar.
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and Save!
To her I cry Who ever her foeman drove.
Back from plain and sea
And shook herself free
Thou art wisdom, thou art law.
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath.
Though art love divine, the awe.
In our hearts that conquers death
Thane the strength that nerves the arm,
Thane the beauty, thane the charm
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thane
Thou art Durga, Lady and queen
With her hands that strike and her
Swords of sheen
Thou art Lskshimi
Lotus –throne
And the muse a hundred –toned
Pure and perfect without peer
Mother lend thane ear
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleams,
Dark of hue o candid fair
In thy soul, with jeweled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands showering wealth from
Well stored hands
Mother Mother Mine
Mother Sweet, I bow to thee
Mother great and free.

Guwahati,, Gateway of Assam

The former capital of Assam-a land of bewitching beauty-Guwahati unfolds a panorama of green paddy fields, dense rain forests teeming with bird and animal life, and vast tea gardens along hill slopes. At its site flourished Pragjyotishpur, the Eastern city of Astrology-a city lavishly praised by the 7th century itinerant Chinese chronicler Hieun T sang. Today, Guwahati is an important business and commucation centre. Situated on the southern bank of Brahmaputra, it is also the cultural and educational nerve centre of east India, besides being a place of pilgrimage. Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Tantric energy (shakti) cults and Buddhism co-exist here in harmony with Islam, Christianity and the “Namghor”-an open hall where devotees merely chant verses of the 17th century reformist, saint Shankar Deva.

The foremost shrine of Assam that attracts devotees is Kamakhya temple, cresting the sacred Nilachal Hills. Dedicated to goddess Kali, it is visited by believers of the Tantric form of Hindustan. In the heart of the city atop Sukleswar hillock, stands Janardan temple. It contains an image of the Buddha representing the assimilation of Hindu and Buddhist. Situated on Peacock Island in the Brahmaputra River, Umananda temple enshrines Lord Siva. Its pictureue location is the site of annual Sivaratri festival.
West of the Chitrachal hill is the temple of Navagraha (nine planets).once it was the seat of astronomy and astrology.The hermitage of sage Basistha the “ Basistha Ashram” is a pilgrim centre of Guwahati.

SIBSAGAR, the glory of assam

Sibsagar was the capital of the mighty Ahoms kingdom, who ruled over the Assam more than 600 years. The town, dedicated to Lord Siva. Literally the meaning of Sivsagar is ‘the ocean of Siva’ is strewn with tell-tale ruins of a Powerful empire. The most remarkable landscape of the town is the 200 year old Sibsagar Tank. Its covering near about 130 acres of land .the water level of the tank is above the level of the town. On the banks of the Sibsagar there are three temples--- the Sivadoul, the Vishnudoul and the Devidoul. All three temples were built by wife of the empire Siva Singha, queen Madambika in the year 1734. The Sivadoul is believed the highest Shiva temple in India. It is 104 feet height and the parameter is 195 feet at the base.
ARROUND SIVASAGAR
RANG GHAR::
Rang ghar is a two storied oval shaped pavilion from which Ahom royalties watched various sporting events. It is built by King Pramatta Singha in 1744. It stands close to the Kareng Ghar.
KARENG GHAR AND TALATAL GHAR::
It is a seven stories palace having three stories in underground. The underground part was called as Talatal Ghar and the upper stories known as Kareng Ghar. It was built by Great Ahom King Rudra Singha (1696-1714). There were two underground tunnels from the Talatal Ghar connecting to Dikhow River and Gargaon palace. Its only 6 K.M. from Sibsagar Town.
GARGAON PALACE::
Gargaon was the principal town of Ahoms built by the king Suklenmung in 1540. The old palace was destroyed and the present seven storied palace was rebuilt around 1762 by the King Rajeswar singha. It’s only 13 K.M. east from the Sibsagar town.
JAYSAGAR:
The tank was digged by the king Rudra Singha in the memory of his mother, Jaymoti, a patriotic martyr in 1697 at Rangpur. It covers an area of 318 acres of land. In the banks of the Jaysagar he built three temples in 1698 by the same monarch .these were the Jaydoul, the Shivadoul and the Devidoul. Its only 5 K.M. from Sibsagar.

BOHAG BIHU...... assam

The word Bihu from Bishu, reminiscent of Bishwa Singh, the legendary king of Assam of long years ago. It runs through the emotional and cultural life of Assam like the strains of a beloved song. Bihu dances are the spontaneous expressions of the joy of life of the simple and easy people of Assam, in which everybody participates, irrespective of religion and race.There are three Bihus in Assam. The most attractive being the Baisakh Bihu. The other two Bihues are Kati Bihu and Magh Bihu celebrating in those two Assamese months.
Bohag Bihu starts on the last day of the last month of the Assamese calendar, ‘Chaitra’. It is in the middle of the April. By bidding farewell of the old year and welcoming the New Year they celebrate the festival for one week. It’s an event that marks the onset of the agricultural season, and joyous mood of spring that prevails naturally pervades the dance and music.
Largely a dance of the young people, boys and girls dance and sing of love and yearning. Buffalo horn pipes play hauntingly and drums (Dhol) build up a steady crescendo, while people from neighboring places come and stand around in the glow of touch, clapping in rhythm in enthusiastic participation.

Urmimala (Manipuri Dance)
Urmimala is a proficient student of Indian classical Manipuri dance. Born in 1990 Urmimala is training ‘Manipuri Dance’ in well known dance school of Assam ‘PREANA’ of Maligaon, 3 no gate under the Guru Rekha Talukdar Kalita from 2000. Now she studies M music course under Bongio gharana. she now starts the course of Bhatkhande also. She has received the all India talent scholarship of cultural affairs ministry of Indian govt (C.C.R.T.) for Manipuri dance from 2005.
The only daughter of Mr. Jadav Kalita and Mrs. Kalpana Kalita of Mirza, (Kamrup, Assam) Urmimala is now studying B.A. degree (Major in English) from Dakshin Kamrup college, Mirza with a good academc career.
Urmimala have performed widely in Assam and National level and get awarded many times.

khanamukh , my khanamukh

Khanamukh… my khanamukh
Khanamukh…. A delightful word, attractive name, a charming location. Khana means feast and mukh means mouth in Assamese language. In ancient time it’s the place where people can enjoy every item of food easily. From fish to potato, from chili to rice. The soil of khanamukh was very much fertile; the small tiny tributary khana was full of tasty fish and pure water in each month of the year. So that in ancient time people may be selected the name khanamukh for this refreshing place.

LOCATION– khanamukh is not a village or a town. It’s the mixture place of urban and rural area. The west side of the tributary khana is in dharapur village (under rani development block) and the east parts are in the ward no 1 & 2 under the Guwahati municipality. Khanamukh is only 12 K.M. West from the central Guwahati (Panbazar) and only 10 K.M. East from Guwahati airport. In the east side of Khanamukh there is the popular religious temple Lankeswar hills and in west its Dharapur village. In the north the village Boripara and the south the world famous bird sanctuary DIPOR BILL.
HISTORY- There is not much historical evidence of khanamukh. In 1792 the king of aahom, Gourinath singh arrived khanamukh with the captain of East India Company K. Walash. They came throw river Brahmaputra with 7 companies of British Army. They leave King Gourinath Singh in the camp of Khanamukh and left to Guwahati. In 1613 Mogul king Jahangir equipped Kamrup and stayed permanently in Pandu. But the King of Darang Dharmanarayan and the King of Rani attacked Pandu for several times. So the officer in charge of Pandu Mirza Nathan reattacked Rani. In the first attempt they had loose the war. So they decided to attack by Navy force. They clear and dig the tributary khana and send skilled Navy force to attack Rani throw Khana and equipped Rani.
ANCIENT KHANAMUKH- Gunji Kalita (bayan), Maheswar Kalita (grandfather of this author), Matiram Thakuria, Niloy Ojha, Padma Baishya, Bhadra Kakoti, Sathia Bhakat, Netho Kalita, Sonaram Kalita, Katia Namasudra, and Sadha Kalita etc were the ancient rehab tent of khanamukh. They came from the different places of Kamrup to cultivation in this fertilized place and settled here permanently. They were cultivators and were good social worker. They developed the place and lived peacefully here. Religiously all peoples were from Hindu religion. There was no educational institute here in that time. So maximum peoples were illiterate. Before independent there were big farms of Mango, Betel Nut, leaves Banana, Coconut, and other fruits and vegetables in every house of khanamukh. The Potato, Cabbage, and Jute of khanamukh were famous in market in that time. Various kind of tasty and oily fishes (Rou, Bhakua, kurhi, Puthi etc) were available in the tributary Khana, in every channel, and Dipor bill.
After independent all situation had changed. The earth quick of ’50 filled a large part of Khana and the channels by the powder of Zinc sulpher with the mire. This posinised metal molecule killed the all fishes of khana and Dipor bill. The fertility of soil of Khanamukh had also distempered. Productions from the paddy field also dis ruptioned.
Now cultivation is not the prime income source for the villagers of khanamukh. Some of them have government services, some are involved in their own business, some starts their own profession etc. Literacy rate are also go high in these days, near about 90% of the population. There are a large numbers of small scale and big industries now in khanamukh.
Three big and well decorated NAMGHARs (temple) and a LAXMI MANDIR (temple of goddess Laxmidevi) are in khanamukh. Peoples of khanamukh offer worship to god in these namgrahs. The celebration of the worship of Goddess Laxmidevi celebrated in October/ November every year. It is a big function here.bihu also celebrates in khanamukh in very festive mood. Bohag bihu is celebrating by hosting a big and colorful cultural night of song and dance in April / may. In Kati bihu every male of the village being the guest of every houses of the village .all villagers travel the village from one corner to other on foot. The magh bihu the villagers get together in public field and take public feast of various kinds of tradional foods. There is a public club in khanamukh, which is established in 1956. It’s the Khanamukh Milan sangh. The youth members of sangh play various games i.e. Football, Volley ball, Cricket, etc in the play ground of club. They have play full length drama and one act drama throw the club.
People love to live in society; no matter it may be a village, town or a big city. Khanamukh is not any one among them. But all the peoples live there peacefully and trying to help each other.

Silver Jubilee of Drama in Khanamukh

In 1956 the youth of Khanamukh had an idea to play full length social drama in Khanamukh. But in that time drama was very difficult to play in stage. There were not easy to use electrical lights, sound system; and other technical equipment in that time here. Other main problem was facing on the female characters. There was no co-acting system in the villages of Assam in that time. But if there is a will, there is a way. So some beautiful youth came forward to make and play the female characters. The respected youth who played the female character were Late Satish Thakuria, late Paresh Barman Late Dina Sarma, Late Parmesh Kalita and Sri Govinda Kalita. From collection of sleeping bed from domestic houses make the stage .For lighting they used the harican light (the light using form kerosene). From the lights of bicycle of Sri Krishna Thakuria, they used the special effects of light.
From 1956 to 1965 the members of milan sagha played eight full length drama in khanamukh and other places of Assam. The name of the dramas of that time were... ‘AGRAGAMI’, ‘GORAKHAHANIA’, ‘GHAT-PRATIGHAT’, ‘SAMADHI’, ‘FEHUJALI’, ‘SAMAJAR ABHISAP’, ‘DOSH KAAR’ and ‘NATUN SAMAJ’. The actors who played the different characters in drama were Late Padmeswar Kalita (father of this author) ,Late Keshab Kalita , Late Mahidhar thakuria, Barada Kalita, Suren Kalita , Late Soaram Kalita, Late Gopal Baishya, Gajen Kalita , Late Satish Thakuria, Banikata kakati, Rajat Baishya, Dr. Sabharam Kalita, Late Marmeswar Kalita, etc.
From the year 1965 the Cultural Revolution stopped for several years.
From 1977 the next generation of Milan sagha decided to revival of cultural atmosphere once again in khanamukh. The co-acting system also started in Assam and the light, sound and the other equipment also available that time. So on the 17sept 1977 they played a successful family drama ‘EMUTHI POHAR’. After that they had played another 12 full length drama in every conjugative year. The dramas they had played were ‘NILA AKASH’, ‘PUTRA-BOWARI’, ‘FASSI’, ‘BRATH-SWAPNA’, ‘SIRAR SENDUR’, ‘EKURA JIYA JUI’, ‘MORISIKA’, ‘AVISAPTA LAGNA’, ‘BOWARI’, ‘DAAG’, ‘RONGA BELIR POHOR’. The actor and actress who acted in that all dramas were Satya Bharali, Biren Thakuria, Jadab Kalita, Keshab Kalita, Manik Kalita, Dilip Kakoti, Sarat kakati, Sarat Kalita, Gopal Kalita, Dhaneswar Kalita, Kanak baishya, Badan Kalita, Kameswar Kalita, Umesh Kalita, Himamoni Kalita, Padumi Kalita etc. Miss Nilima Kalita was the female singer in that time.
In 1993 the new generation of Milan sangh takes the duty to play the dramas from the seniors. From 1993 to 2002 they have played 11 numbers of full length dramas in khanamukh. In 2003 they have celebrated the silver jubilee of drama by playing the social drama ‘DALIL’ of Chandan Kalita. The dramas they have played in these 12 years are ‘MUKHYAMANTRI’, ‘MAHARAJA’, ‘AONGIKAR’, ‘GOLAPAT BARUDR GONDH’ ‘SIRAJ’, ‘BOLIA HATI’, ‘AARTANAD’, ‘MAAJ NISHAR CHIYAR’, ‘SADMABESH’ and ‘DALIL’. The actors and actresses who played the dramas in that 12 years are Utpal Barman, Chandan Kalita, Chabin Thakuria, Dipak Kalita, Ratan Kalita, Jugal Kalita, Satyajit Kalita, Bipul Barua, Dipmoni Kalita, Hemanta Kalita, Dhiraj Kalita, Dhiraj Kalita (1), Late Girin Kalita, Gitanjali Kalita, Monita Baishya, Aliva Baishya, Swapna Kalita, Rekha Kalita, Ujjala Barman, Shyamali Thakuria, Tagar Kalita, Gayatri Thakuria etc.
The drama of khanamukh has got a fairy and explanatory position in Assamese drama history. They performed drama widely in Assam and get awarded many times. They played drama in Ravindra Bhawan, District library of Guwahati, Kumar Bhaskar Natya Mandir, Rang bhawan of Maligaon, and Natya Manch of Puranigudam, Ranga manch of Palasbari, Mirza and Chaygaon, Guwahati University, Azara, Dharapur, Mongaldoi, Sualkuchi, Bamundi, Jagiroad etc. some of Milan sangh’s artist are now working in different channels of T.V., V.C.D. and Cinema. Ujjala Barman is now graduate degree holder from national school of Drama of Delhi and playing drama in all over the India from Repertory group of N.S.D... Nilima Kalita is a reputed female singer of Mobile Theatre now. Monita, Rekha, Badan are also busy in mobile theatre. There is a long list of evidence of success of the dramas in khanamukh.
After silver jubilee of 2003 they have played another five dramas till 2008.