GAUHATI UNIVERSITY, ENTRANCE AND ME

As soon as you complete your under graduation program, a big question arises as to ,"What's next?" Not only the people around you ask this question but the mind also requires clarity for this. Especially, if you have to choose one out of so many uncertainties. I completed my graduation in the year 2021 in English Major but then by the end of this course, I realised that it's wasn’t my cup of tea. The 2 years of the pandemic shattered my confidence and I decided to take another course of action in the last semester. The classes were conducted on an online basis and as my hometown had very poor internet connectivity, one can imagine how tough it was for me to tackling all the semesters. Although I scored enough marks in all the papers but according to me it was not enough. Finally after many do's and don’ts , I made a list of what I liked and what I didn't, understood what qualities I had and what I didn't. Finally the internet helped me zero down on, "Mass Communication" Yes the turning point of my life. Searching for a good institution from where I can pursue the course .I listed so many universities and then I filled up the entrance forms of two Universities , yes of course Gauhati University was my first preference. I had no idea about the course and then when the exam came tunately I was not selected. I wanted to join the department of Communication and Journalism in Gauhati University, after a year finally Gauhati University announced its upcoming entrance exams notification that to be held . I filled up the form in only Gauhati University because it appeared as the most viable and practical option. And then I appeared for the second time, this time it was very tough for me different thing was hitting in my mind . I sat for the exam. And then on 2nd August 2022 a mail popped up from the HOD of Communication and Journalism Dr.Ankuran Dutta Sir inviting me to appear for the second stage of the entrance that was our viva session. I was so happy getting the mail , I can't explain my happiness at that moment I felt that I got the seat . Then I finally appear the viva session and it went well,waited for almost 5-6 days for the final result to come ,the final cut off and The seat holders. On 9th August 2022 around 9 pm I got my results and finally this girl secured the 11th rank among all the 300 aspirants who appeared for the entrance in the subject of Communication and Journalism in Gauhati University. Finally I was able to grab the seat after a wait of 1 year and now as a 1st semester students of the department here I shared my whole experience of entering to the department . Yes it was a beautiful and tough journey. It made me realise that nothing is easy, to get something you really have to work hard for sure. 

 Jini Disha Kapil,1st semester, Communication and Journalism

How Do You Start a Career as a YouTuber

YouTube is a global platform for those who love to create content. YouTubers share their passion and knowledge with the world, whether it be through gaming, vlogging or any other field of interest. There are many ways to become a YouTuber: start with your channel or try out some other methods of getting people interested in your content. If you're looking for a career on YouTube, there are a lot of things that one needs to take into account. While it may appear challenging but there are easier and smarter ways to increase viewership or get noticed. Some of them are: ●Choosing an apt the Genre and Motive for your Channel The first step in creating your channel is deciding what kind of content you want to create. Is it going to be funny? Serious? Will it be informative or entertaining? Once you've decided on a genre, the next step is figuring out why you want to make videos and what message or point of view you want to express. ● Determine Your Style and Voice Next, decide how much personality or individuality you want in your channel. Do you want it to feel like every other channel out there or do you want something unique and different? And how do you think people will react when they see your content? Are they going to love it or hate it? ● Develop and Polish Your Content Once you've decided what kind of content makes sense for your channel, the next step is developing it — both visually (using footage from other sources) and verbally ("talking" in front of the camera). This is called "polishing". ● Be frequent and regular Your followers would want regular content and any break in the momentum of upload will make them lose interest in you channel and move to another. Consistency is the way ahead Starting out as an online brand can be overwhelming, but don’t let that stop you from giving it a try! ●Engaging with the audience It’s important to remember that being a YouTuber requires constant work from both sides of the equation. As a creator, you must create content that will keep viewers coming back for more and encourage them to subscribe to your channel so they don’t miss any new uploads. As a content creator, listen to your audience share any positive feedback. ●Avoid being offensive As an audience member, you need to understand that you have to be sensitive and cannot afford to be offensive to anyone’s sentiment. This may create a negative impact. YouTubers are a relatively new phenomenon, but their popularity is growing rapidly. With the rise of online video, it’s easier than ever for anyone to get started with their own channel. It’s not as hard as you might think to build up a following and make money as a YouTube personality. If you have an interest in video production, then there is no better time than now to start your own YouTube channel 

 Prachujya Protim Borah, Ist Semester

Zubeen Garg: The Rockstar

He calls himself the moon in the sky as there are millions of stars in the sky but only one moon, which makes it unique in every way, so he is, the king of this northeastern region, who sang over 30,000 songs till date, yes, Zubeen Garg, whose voice resonates in everyone’s heart. The legend has turned 50 now having thirty years long musical career. When the Assamese music was evolving slowly into soft Rock genre, Zubeen Garg came into force and gave a new dimension to the Assamese music culture. Previously Arun Das, Jitul Sonowal was ruling the modern Assamese Music industry giving it a modern sound and musicality, but vocally they were not doing anything that could be recognized as something crazy like rock. While analyzing the songs of Zubeen Garg from his very first album to his last released songs, we can find that he could not hide the influence of rock style singing in his songs. So, he’s a true rockstar. Zubeen Garg’s voice attracted every ear immediately after releasing his first album “Anamika”, because, it had the unique elements of western style of vocal projection. Zubeen Garg’s best advantage was his voice, which is of tenor type yet having a little bit depth like a baritone type. And that’s, what made him use his voice to such an extent where others couldn’t even reach. While listening to songs like ‘DukharXagor’, ‘Jolila’ ‘AmanikhaSareAsu’, it is seen that he knows how to command the vocal cords to run the riffs, use vibrato, give rasp and distort at certain places. He did even growling which is so terrible and risky at the same time. And he also sings ‘Ya Ali’, ‘BedardiDuniya’, songs having Arabic music intonation, folks of different communities across the state of Assamand most importantly Borgeet. But still everywhere the tinge of rock could be felt listening to these numbers as well. So, ZubeenGarg undoubtedly is a real Rockstar. Arup Jyoti Das 1st semester Department of Communication and Journalism

Green Book : A friendship beyond color

America has witnessed another bloodbath induced by Gun violence and stories of such mindless violence continue to bring out larger issues of mental health, gun regulation and racists discrimination. Though racism is not always primary the resentment towards people of color is evident even now and though the Film , the Green Book was released in the year 2018, yet its is in resonance to the current happenings. All movie lovers would be familiar with this movie as it caught the attention due to the controversies surrounding it. But against all odds, this movie proved to be beautiful yet simple and most importantly taught us the meaning of true friendship. The titular name “ Green Book” not only refers to the guidebook for African- American travelers in the mid 20th century but acts as medium to connect the two protagonists . This movie is about two completely opposite people; an African American Jazz and classical pianist Don Shirley who prefers living his life with a straight face and no personal emotions to share, on the other hand there is Tony Lip; an Italian American bouncer who is a no nonsense person and prefers his fists over words. Their story starts when a jobless Tony is offered a job by Don, a job to be his driver and bodyguard for his two months concert tour through the Midwest and Deep South. Due to different personalities and ideologies, they always ended up in an uncomfortable and difficult situations. Since the beginning of the movie we realize that Tony personally had no affection towards colored people and had some prejudice against them which also included Don. But over the course of time, Tony realized that there are so many people like him who look down on people just because he/she is colored. As he was getting to know Don more, the more he was realizing how hard it is for the colored people to survive in the world. No matter how you are as a person, they would never consider them as same. As we proceed with the story, we see the two characters bonding over a chicken, an exchange of letters between Tony with his wife and as Don would say ‘ eyes on the road’ to Tony whenever he turns around to talk to him. They both started to realize that what they think is right for their life, is not necessarily always correct. They learned that each and every person teaches us something as they enter our life. Tony learned how to express himself with words while Don started opening up to people more. This is based on a real life story and actor Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen who portrayed the role of Don and Tony respectively pulled it off in the most realistic way possible. Also both Don and Tony remained life long friends in real life. Although there were many people who criticized the movie for many reasons, but this movie was totally worth the time. It had a lot of humor in it and the jokes were actually quite funny. The scenery of the places were beautiful and acting was on point. People who haven’t watch it yet, should give it a try and write more about it. Udeeta Pegu, Ist Semester

Drishyam 2: A review

The sequel to Drishyam, which is adapted from a Malayalam thriller of the same name, begins where the 2015 film had left off Vijay Salgaonkar emerging from a police station carrying a shovel. Seven years ago, the almost perfect crime had a witness, and that's what gives the police impetus and ammo to revisit the Sameer Deshmukh missing-case investigation so many years later. Vijay is now a theatre owner who dreams of making a film based on a story he has written. His elder daughter Anju is still reeling from the shock of the traumatic events, while his younger daughter Anu is in her teens. Every member of the family including his wife Nandini is moving on with life as usual but always on guard. And with a haunting sense of fear which never leaves them. A series of unexpected events turn the Salgaonkars lives upside down when a truth threatens to change everything. Vijay Salgaonkar and his family are still haunted by the fear and trauma of what happened seven years ago with the police employing new ways and tracks to uncover the case. Even the support Vijay received from his community seven years ago, begins to dwindle as the plot unfolds and they begin to question if he actually committed the crime. The film gathers up steam when the police investigation led by Inspector General of Police Tarun Ahlawat and Sameer’s mother, former IG Meera swings into action. This time they follow the leads without underestimating the protagonist. Ajay Devgn shines as a protective father who loves his family unconditionally. He is a simple man with a razor-sharp mind. Tabu is simply outstanding as Meera, a mother seeking justice for her son. Rajat Kapoor shines as her husband who eagerly wants everything to be settled soon. Kamlesh Sawant reprises his role as Gaitonde who is still ruthless and bloodthirsty for revenge. Shriya Saran, Ishita Dutta and Mrunal Jadhav who play other Salgaonkars have almost similar roles as they had in the previous part. Saurabh Shukla as writer Murad Ali plays his part well to resolve the mystery. Jeethu Joseph’s original story is skilfully adapted by Aamil Keeyan Khan and Abhishek Pathak. They deftly weave in multiple threads leading to a stellar climax packed with numerous twists that are as good as the first film. While the first one undoubtedly had a certain novelty to it, the sequel stands strong too, it intrigues and entertains. The story here remains unpredictable for the most part. However, some of the setups seem contrived and some situations too far-fetched. Having said that making a sequel to a very successful first part wherein most of the characters are the same is quite a challenge. Overall, Drishyam 2 dishes out plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked throughout just like its predecessor. And the story of the Salgaokars will continue to remain in public memory. Pooja Maibangsa Department of Communication & Journalism, Gauhati University

PEACE AND WELLNESS:THE REHAB CENTERS

3 months ago,Assam Social Justice and Empowerment minister Piyush Hazarika paid a sudden visit to a private Rehabilitation centre in Guwahati and noticed anomalies at the centre. The Rehabilitation centres were in utter chaos and was the hub of many anti social activities. The current crackdown of the Assam Government on the drug mafias and drug overhaul has generated awareness among the people about the ill effects of Drugs. Many youths are apprehended over the possible possession of drugs however very little is found in media on rehabilitation centres and the aftermath of leaving drugs. Rehabilitation is the process to help an individual improve or recover from an event, illness, injury, and addiction that has caused practical limitations. Rehabilitation centers are the places that offer this assistance to the individuals. Many different kind of rehab centers have opened to offer many benefits to the individuals who seek its help.But what happens in these centres? According to many reports these kind of Rehab centers run drug rackets inside their centres. Drug and alcohol rehab programs are beneficial for the addicts in many ways through which individuals can not only become complete again but can live their lives to its fullest without any support from drugs or alcohol. Is it possible without any health services to conduct a health check-up of the inmates at the earliest? If so many people are kept in an unhealthy environment,the physical and mental condition of drug addicts will only get worse.Government should frame a policy to run the Rehabilitation centres in the state so that they would not be allowed to function only for commercial purposes. Each centre should have proper infrastructure, health facilities and necessary facilities for counselling while delivering their services for the victims of drug addiction. In such programs, group therapy and counselling are administrated for individuals because they are mentally well and can handle rational decisions better as compared to drug addicts. In addition, rehab centers can help in making certain changes in an individual’s lifestyles in terms of eating and drinking habits as well as help in overcoming any emotional, physical or mental strain causing that individual to depend upon alcohol. The programs of both drug rehab and alcohol rehabs are designed in such a way that it is made sure that no individual relapses to their former condition. Given the benefits, the success rate of the rehab centers for treating drug addiction and alcoholism is high now-a-days as the consumption of both is increasing. Anisha Baruah Ist Semester

Indian Hip - Hop Revolution

Hip - Hop is a culture. A culture , a unique culture , an art movement . The Hip - Hop scene emerged in the mid 1970's , that was created by African Americans , Latino Americans and Caribbean Amricans in the Bronx , New York City . Hip - Hop is characterized four main ket elements , that's are ‘Deejaying’ , ‘Rapping’ , ‘Graffiti’ , and ‘B – boying’ . In India , Hip - Hop was introduced by a Punjabi rapper named Harjeet Singh Sehgal , he is better known as Baba Sehgal . The true birth of Indian Hip - Hop happened in early 2000's . This is amazing to know that , a non - Indian man provided Indian Hip - Hop with the spark it so badly needed . Bohemia , a Pakistani - American rapper , living in California , released his debut album ‘Vich Pardesan De’. After that, his rap album ‘Pesa Nasha Pyar’ , became a sensational hit in India . After that , Hip - Hop began to grow in India . Some rappers named , Yo Yo Honey Singh , Divine , Naezy , Emiway , Raftaar and many more have contributed a lot in the revolution of Indian Hip - Hop . In 2018 , Indian Hip - Hop got a large number of attention primarily due to the fact that an artist gets to tell his thoughts directly in his tracks , that particular track is known as Diss track . In 2018 , a very big battle , Diss took place between Emiway Bantai and Raftar . Both were good Artist , Raftaar is from mainstream Hip - Hop and Emiway representing the underground Hip - Hop Scene . So , Raftaar had spoken in a interview, “Emiway is not earning as much right now , he'll earn when he'll get a push " . After listening to that Emiway relatiliated in his own style and released a Diss track for Raftaar named "Samajh Mein Aya Kya ? " , and suddenly his Diss track crossed 50 + million views on YouTube , and after that Raftaar also released a Diss track for Emiway which recieved 100+ million views on YouTube both within few days. Indian Hip - Hop got a push . Right after that , Zoya Akhter has released first Indian Hip - Hop based film named ‘Gully Boy’ and the film ‘Gully Boy’ became a box office super hit . After that Indian Hip - Hip got a push like never before. Right now , India has its own genre of Hip - Hop , better known as Desi Hip - Hop . Indian Hip -Hop is now going to next level . India has many Graffiti Artists also . Some of them are Zake , Krtikey Sharma and many more , representing this culture very well . Nuclea and many artists have their contribution in representing Deejaying globally for India . B - boying is also going well and artists doing great work . Indian Hip - Hop is going global with it's Rap genre , Deejaying , Graffiti and B - boying . People should know about the great culture named " Hip - Hop " . In short if people ask " What is Hip -Hop ?" , answer will be .. " A culture , a great culture , a unique culture , for somebody Hip - Hop is passion , for somebody Hip - Hop is life , for somebody Hip - Hop is feeling . " Arif Hussain Mir Ist Semester

The most awaited Hostel life

A number of iconic films have been based out of the experiences of hostel life, starting from Three Idiots, to Chitchore. Most of these films have a slice of life and tries to deliver an honest update on this. For me, Hostel life is the best part of life. I always wanted to experience hostel life as I have grown up hearing a lot many stories about it. It is often said that when you learn to live in a hostel,you learn how to face half of the struggles in life. Kanaklata Baruah RCC 7 Girls'Hall is the name of my University Hostel. Ours is 1st floor - "Junaki Kareng". For the first time in my life I experienced living together with a senior who made me feel welcomed and treated me like a sister. Suddenly from being a messy girl piling up a stack of cloths upon a chair to being very particular and disciplined with time and arranging things was one of the first lessons that I learned living in the hostel. It is here that I learned how to become sincere. Waking up at the morning, having quick breakfast, going for classes from 10 Am to 4 Pm, coming back to the hostel, waiting for the pray bell's sound at 6pm to have tea, followed by study hours and dinner brought in the much needed discipline. In between, there are a lot many suprising cultural events which brings everyone together and breaks the monotomy. The continuous extracurricular activities interests me to perform passionately and sometimes as a human being I feel I need rest too. ‘GM’, the word which instils the hostellers with the sense of fear means ‘General Meeting’. This happens usually at the late hours and continues upto early morning leads to rebuking of juniors by the seniors. But this also leads to a number of important decisions. In the race of all competitions, I don’t know how I ended up being one of the finalist on the Best freshers of Gauhati University. Before stepping onto the stage, the nervousness was too overwhelming, my heartbeat was loud but the moment I saw my hostellers standing infront of me, cheering my name loudly gave me the strength and confidence to perform. I felt a bit emotional by seeing the happy faces of my hostellers. Here I witnessed the bonding of hostel life which I often heard off. I received the crown of "Best Fresher's of Gauhati University 2022" (inter hostel). As a boarder, I have experienced only four months of hostel life which can't be enough to describe how you feel and what you learnt by living in a hostel. But it surely develops a sense of courage within us to fight for our people and our family that is our ‘Hostel’. Spaini Barman, Ist Semester

কেনেধৰণৰ কিতাপ পঢ়িব বিচাৰোঁ

   কিতাপ পঢ়াটো এক সুকীয়া নিচা। নাটক, চিনেমাত কৈ এখন উপন্যাসৰ কাহিনীয়ে আমাক দিব পাৰে  বেছি পৰিমাণে কিতাপৰ  সোৱাদ। কেনে কিতাপ পঢ়ো বুলি কবলৈ গ'লে উত্তৰ বিচাৰি কিছু অসুবিধাৰ সন্মুখীন হবলগীয়া হয়। সচৰাচৰ তথ্য সমৃদ্ধ কিতাপ আমাৰ বাবে অধিক প্ৰয়োজনীয় বুলি মানুহে ক'ব খোজে, কিন্তু প্ৰতিটো সময়তে মানুহে তথ্য সংগ্ৰহৰ বাবে কিতাপ নপঢ়ে। উচ্চ প্ৰযুক্তি সমৃদ্ধ ম'বাইল জাতীয় সামগ্ৰীৰ প্ৰতি অভ্যস্ত হোৱাৰ পূৰ্বে মানুহে অন্য এক জগতত বিচৰণ কৰাৰ মাদকতা প্ৰদান কৰিছিল। বৰ্তমান সময়তো বহু পাঠকে নিজৰ ব্যক্তিগত জীৱনত কিতাপ পঢ়াতো এক নিয়মৰ দৰে পালন কৰি আহিছে। কিতাপ পঢ়া মানুহে কেতিয়াও নিসংগ অনুভৱ নকৰে। সেয়েহে বহু পণ্ডিত সকলে কিতাপক মানুহৰ আটাইতকৈ ডাঙৰ বন্ধু বুলিও অভিহিত কৰিছে।

      সাধাৰণ পাঠক হিচাপে কবলৈ গলে যি কিতাপৰ কাহিনীয়ে এটা সময়ক উপস্থাপন কৰি সেই সময়ৰ এক কাল্পনিক দৃশ্য মনোজগতত উদ্ভাসিত কৰিব পাৰে তেনে কিতাপৰ প্ৰতি মই অধিক আকৃষ্ট হওঁ‌। সেইয়া লাগিলে উপন্যাসেই হওঁক, ৰাজনৈতিক উত্থান পতনৰ বিৱৰণেই হওঁক বা বুৰঞ্জীমূলক ব্যাখ্যাই হওঁক। এটা নিৰ্দিষ্ট সময়ক কেন্দ্ৰ কৰি চকুৰে নেদেখা ঠাইৰ পুংখানুপুংখ বিৱৰণে সদায়ে কিতাপৰ প্ৰতি মোৰ আকৰ্ষণ বৃদ্ধি কৰি আহিছে। কিতাপ পঢ়ি ভালপোৱা অসমীয়া মানুহৰ মনোজগতত বিচৰণ কৰা এখন কালজয়ী গ্ৰন্থ হৈছে, "অসীমত যাৰ হেৰাল সীমা" এজন সাধাৰণ পাঠক হিচাপে উপন্যাসখনৰ ৰোমাঞ্চকৰ কাহিনীয়ে আমাৰ আকৰ্ষণ বঢ়াই তোলে। কিন্তু ভালকৈ অধ্যয়ন কৰিলে বুজা যায় যে কাহিনীৰ লগতে এক তথ্য সমৃদ্ধ পদ্ধতিৰে এৰি অহা এটা যুগৰ জীৱন প্ৰণালীক লেখকে অতি সুক্ষ্ম দৃষ্টিৰে অধ্যয়ন কৰি পাঠকৰ মন জয় কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হৈছে। কাল্পনিক যদিও বুৰঞ্জীৰ ঠাঁচ থকা যুদ্ধ - প্ৰণালী, ৰণ -কৌশল, নগৰ প্ৰণালী, ৰাজনীতি, প্ৰেম আদিৰ এক অনবদ্য মিশ্ৰণ উপন্যাসখনত দেখিবলৈ পোৱা যায়। স্বাধীন অসমৰ স্বপ্নৰ বাবে চলা বিদ্ৰোহ, স্বাধীনোত্তৰ অসমৰ ৰাজনৈতিক, পৰিস্হিতি আদিক লৈ ৰচিত 'চাংলট ফেননা' নিৰ্যাতিত বড়ো মহিলাৰ জীৱনক লৈ ৰচিত, "সিহঁত" আদি উপন্যাসৰ লগতে 'অগ্নিৰ ডেউকা' "আধা লিখা দস্তাবেজ '' "মোৰো এটা সপোন আছিল'' আদি আত্মজীৱনীমূলক গ্ৰন্থও পাঠকৰ মাজত সমাদৰ লাভ কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হৈছে। আহোম বুৰঞ্জী পটভূমিত ৰচিত 'ভানুমতি' 'পাটকাইৰ সিপাৰে মোৰ দেশ' আদি বুৰঞ্জীমূলক উপন্যাসেও পাঠক সমাজৰ মাজত বিপুল সমাদৃত।

   

   এখন কিতাপৰ ভিতৰুৱা বৰ্ণনা কি সেইয়া গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ নহয়। সেই বৰ্ণনাই পাঠকক কিতাপখনৰ জৰিয়তে লেখকে দিব খোজা বাৰ্তা বা তথ্য পাঠকে গ্ৰহণ কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হৈছে নে নাই সেইয়াই গুৰুত্বপূৰ্ণ। কিতাপ মানে কেৱল তথ্যৰ সমাহাৰ নহয়। এনে হলে ছাত্ৰ - ছাত্ৰীৰ অথবা পাঠকৰ মনোযোগ আকৰ্ষণ কৰিবলৈ লেখক সক্ষম হব নোৱাৰে। উৎকৃষ্ট লিখন পদ্ধতিৰে আকৰ্ষণীয় কাহিনী বা বিশ্লেষণৰ জৰিয়তেহে প্ৰয়োজনীয় তথ্য সমৃদ্ধ পাঠকৰ বাবে খোদিত কৰিব পাৰে।

      কিতাপৰ প্ৰতি পাঠক হিচাপে মই সদায় আকৃষ্ট হওঁ, তেনেকৈয়ে বহু লেখকৰ লেখনি পঢ়ি যথেষ্ট পৰিমাণে তথ্য পাবলৈও সক্ষম হৈছোঁ। মই ভাবো অধিকাংশ পাঠকে এইয়াই বিচাৰে। কিতাপ এখন অদৃশ্য দুৱাৰৰ দৰে, যি দুৱাৰ অতিক্ৰম কৰি পাঠকে লেখকৰ মনোজগতত বিচৰণ কৰি তেখেতৰ দৃষ্টিৰে এটা সময়ক,  মানুহক, এখন ঠাইক অন্তদৃষ্টিৰে চাবলৈ সক্ষম হয়। নিজৰ লেখনিৰে পাঠকক সেই স্বাদৰ গৰাকী কৰিব পৰাটোহে প্ৰকৃতাৰ্থত এজন লেখকৰ বাবে প্ৰাপ্তিৰ সফল সংজ্ঞা।

                                                                          +++++++++

সংগীতা বৰা

যোগাযোগ আৰু সাংবাদিকতা বিভাগ,

গুৱাহাটী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়

লাম্পি: অসমৰ আটাইতকৈ ঠাণ্ডা গাঁওখন

 অসম-মেঘালয় সীমান্তৱৰ্তী, প্ৰকৃতিৰ মনোমোহা সৌন্দৰ্য্যৰে ভৰপূৰ, প্ৰতিটো ঋতুৰ মনোৰম আৰু স্বাস্থ্যকৰ জলবায়ুৰ অৱস্থিতিৰে এখন পাহাৰীয়া ঠাই হৈছে লাম্পি। লাম্পি অতীজৰে পৰা অসমৰ কামৰূপ জিলাৰ বকো সমষ্টিৰ অন্তৰ্গত এখন ভিতৰুৱা গাঁও । 

এই ঠাইখনৰ এটা বিশেষত্ব হৈছে যে বছৰৰ বেছিভাগ সময় ইয়াৰ জলবায়ু শীতল অৱস্থাত থাকে; বিশেষকৈ জুন জুলাই মাহত এই ঠাইলৈ পৰ্যটকৰ আগমন ঘটে । এই ঠাইত বিশেষভাৱে খাচী, নেপালী, গাৰো সম্প্ৰদায়ৰ লোকসকলে বসবাস কৰে। তেওঁলোকৰ প্ৰধান জীৱিকা হৈছে কৃষি । লাম্পিৰ মাটি খুবেই সাৰুৱা হোৱাৰ বাবে ইয়াত কৃষিজাত সামগ্ৰী উৎপাদন খুবেই ভাল ।

গ্ৰীষ্মকালত বৰষুণৰ বতৰত এই ঠাই অতিক্ৰম কৰাটো এডভেঞ্চাৰৰ দৰে হয় যদিও জুন জুলাই মাহত গ্ৰীষ্মৰ উৎকত গৰমৰ প্ৰায় ৰক্ষা পাবলৈ, আৰামদায়ক সময় কটাবলৈ পৰ্যটকে যাত্ৰা কৰে লাম্পিলৈ । চহৰ অঞ্চলৰ পৰা যথেষ্ট দূৰত কম জনবসতিপূৰ্ণ এই ঠাইখনৰ স্থানীয়লোকে যিকোনো লোকক সুন্দৰ খাদ্য-সম্ভাৰ পৰিৱেশনেৰে সন্তুষ্টি প্ৰদান কৰিব পাৰে ।

অৱশ্যে খোৱা বোৱাৰ ব্যৱস্থাৰ লগতে নিশাটো কটাই গাঁওখনৰ প্ৰাকৃতিক সৌন্দৰ্য্যৰাশি উপভোগ কৰাৰো যদি ব্যৱস্থা কৰিব পৰা যায়, তেন্তে স্থানীয় লোকৰ পথ মুকলি হোৱাৰ লগতে লাম্পি পৰ্যটনস্থলী হিচাপে অধিক জনপ্ৰিয় হোৱাৰ সম্ভাৱনা আছে ।  

নামনি লাম্পিৰ পাহাৰীয়া টিলাত প্ৰতি সপ্তাহে বহা পুৰণি বজাৰত উজনি লাম্পিৰ পৰা বহুতো লোক সপ্তাহৰ বাবে প্ৰয়োজনীয় সা - সামগ্ৰী বজাৰ কৰিবলৈ আহে । এই বজাৰত দৈনন্দিন কাম কাজত লগা বিভিন্ন সামগ্ৰী পোৱা যায় ।

খুব কম জনসংখ্যাৰ বসতিস্থল লাম্পিত আছে প্ৰকৃতিৰ অভূতপূৰ্ব সৌন্দৰ্য্যৰে সুশোভিত এটি জলপ্ৰপাত, যাৰ নাম  নীলগঙ্গা । মূলত খাচী, নেপালী আৰু গাৰো সম্প্ৰদায়ৰ বসতিস্থল লাম্পিৰ সৌন্দৰ্যবৰ্দ্ধন কৰি আহিছে এই নীলগঙ্গাই ।

চাৰিওফালৰ পৰা মেঘালয়ৰ সেউজীয়া পৰ্বতৰাশিয়ে আৱৰি ৰখা লাম্পিক পৰ্যটনস্থলী কৰাৰ ইমানবোৰ যে কাৰক আছে, যদিহে বিভাগীয় কৰ্তৃপক্ষই এই কথাষাৰ গুৰুত্বসহকাৰে গ্ৰহণ কৰে , তেন্তে ইয়াৰ থলুৱা লোকসকলৰ সংস্থাপন, শিক্ষা আৰু অৰ্থনৈতিক দিশৰ উন্নতিত যথেষ্ট সহায়ক হব । লগতে অসমৰ অন্যান্য পৰ্যটনস্থলীৰ দৰে প্ৰকৃতিৰ অনন্য সৌন্দৰ্য্যৰে ভৰপূৰ লাম্পিও হৈ পৰিব পৰ্যটকৰ আকৰ্ষণথলী । প্ৰতিজন পৰ্যটকক বাৰে বাৰে আহিবলৈ বাধ্য কৰিব ইয়াৰ মনোৰম জলবায়ু , পাহাৰৰ নান্দনিক দৃশ্য, জলপ্ৰপাত আৰু ইয়াৰ সহজ সৰল গাঁওবাসীয়ে ।

                                                       +++++++++++++++++++++++

দীক্ষামণি দাস

যোগাযোগ আৰু সাংবাদিকতা বিভাগ 

গুৱাহাটী বিশ্ববদ্যালয়

ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ আৰু কিছু কথা

অসমত নাট্যকলাৰ ইতিহাস সুপ্ৰাচীন আৰু ঐতিহ্যমণ্ডিত । আজিৰ পৰা প্ৰায় বহু বছৰ আগতে শ্ৰী মন্ত্ৰ শঙ্কৰদেৱে 'অংকীয়া নাট' ৰচনাৰে অসমীয়া নাট্য সাহিত্যৰ আৰম্ভণি কৰে। 

   লাহে লাহে সময় বাগৰাৰ লগে লগে নাট্যজগতত বহুল পৰিৱৰ্তন সাধন হয়। অসমত আৰম্ভ হয় ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ । অসমৰ সাংস্কৃতিক ক্ষেত্ৰখনৰ এক অতি উজ্জ্বল নক্ষত্ৰ হৈছে ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ। এই ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰৰ জন্ম পূৰ্বৰ পৰা প্ৰচলিত যাত্ৰা পাৰ্টিৰ বিকাশৰ ফলতেই হয় বুলি বহুতে কব খোজে।

   ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ নাট্যদল হিচাপে পোনপ্ৰথমে ১৯৬৩ চনত নটৰাজ থিয়েটাৰ নামেৰে আত্মপ্ৰকাশ ঘটিছিল। এই নাট্যদলটি জন্মৰ আঁৰৰ মানুহজন আছিল অচ্যুৎ লহকৰ। এই নটৰাজ নাট্যদলটিৰ পিছলৈ অসমত আৰু বহু নাট্যদলৰ আৰম্ভণি হয়। নটৰাজ থিয়েটাৰৰ সমসাময়িক সুৰদেৱী থিয়েটাৰও অন্য এক আশাৰ ৰেঙনী কঢ়িয়াই আনে। ১৯৬৬ চনত এই নাট্যদলটিৰ আৰম্ভণি হয়। 

     ৰতন লহকৰ আৰু কৃষ্ণ ৰয়ৰ প্ৰচেষ্টাত ১৯৭৬ চনত পাঠশালাত এক নতুন নাট্যদলৰ জন্ম হয় নাম কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰ। কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰৰ অভিনেতা-অভিনেত্ৰী সকলৰ অভিনয় আছিল অতি উচ্চখাপৰ । তেওঁলোকৰ অভিনয় শৈলীয়ে কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰ তথা সমগ্ৰ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ জগতলৈ এক নতুন দিগন্তৰ সূচনা কৰে বুলি কব পাৰি। সেইসময়ত কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰে কেইবাখনো অসমীয়া উপন্যাসক নাট্যৰূপ দিছিল । যি নাটকৰ দৰ্শকসকলক খুব আকৰ্ষিত কৰিছিল।  কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰেই অসমৰ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ জগতত প্ৰথমবাৰলৈ টেকনিক কাৰুকাৰ্যৰ প্ৰৱেশ ঘটাইছিল বুলি কব পাৰি। 

 বৰ্তমান সময়ত অসমত বহু ন পুৰণি নাট্যদল আছে , যি অসমীয়া সাংস্কৃতিক জগতখনলৈ অনৱদ্য অৱদান আগবঢ়াই আহিছে। বৰ্তমান অসমত প্ৰায় শতাধিক সৰু বৰ নাট্যদলৰ জন্ম হৈছে। যি নাট্যদল সমূহৰ লগত জড়িত হৈ প্ৰযোজক , নাট্যকাৰৰ পৰা আৰম্ভ কৰি কুৰীৰো অধিক  অভিনেতা-অভিনেত্ৰী, বাদ্যযন্ত্ৰী,নৃত্য পৰিচালক, সাজসজ্জা, পোহৰ, শব্দ,প্ৰচাৰৰ লগত জড়িত লোক তথা একেবাৰে গাড়ী চলোৱা অথবা চাহ দিয়া মানুহজনলৈকে । এই নাট্যদল সমূহৰ অসমৰ বহু পৰিয়ালে দুবেলা দুসাজ সুখেৰে খাই আছে বুলি কব পাৰি। 

   এই নাট্যদলসমূহৰ নাটকসমূহে অসমৰ সমাজজগতলৈ বহুখিনি অৰিহণা আগবঢ়াই আহিছে। নাটসমূহত সমাজৰ ঘটনা - পৰিঘটনাবোৰে প্ৰাণ পাই উঠে। 

    উজনি পৰা নামনিলৈ, নামনিৰ পৰা উজনিলৈ নাট্যদলসমূহে  জনপ্ৰিয় হয় যে এটা দিনতে প্ৰায় চাৰি-পাঁচটা পৰ্যন্ত দৰ্শনী অনুষ্ঠিত হয়। বৰ্তমান অসমৰ কিছু কিছু ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰৰ নাম এনেধৰণৰ- কহিনুৰ থিয়েটাৰ, হেঙুল থিয়েটাৰ, ৰাজতিলক থিয়েটাৰ, আৰ্শীবাদ থিয়েটাৰ, বৰদৈচিলা থিয়েটাৰ, আৱাহন থিয়েটাৰ, শ্ৰীমন্ত শংকৰদেৱ থিয়েটাৰ, চিত্ৰলেখা থিয়েটাৰ, ৰাজশ্ৰী থিয়েটাৰ ইত্যাদি ।

    অসমৰ বিশিষ্ট সাহিত্যিক সকল যেনে ড° ভৱেন্দ্ৰনাথ শইকীয়াৰ নাটকো বহুকেইটা নাট্যদলে পৰিৱেশন কৰা পৰিলক্ষিত হয়। যিসমূহ অসমৰ ৰাইজৰ মাজত বহুলভাৱে জনপ্ৰিয়। 

ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰৰ জনপ্ৰিয়তাক কেতিয়াও আমি নুই কৰিব নোৱাৰোঁ। কিন্তু বৰ্তমান সময়ত কিছু কিছু ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ  থিয়েটাৰৰ  দুই-এখন  নাটক ইমানেই নিম্নখাপৰ হৈ পৰিছে যে সেই সমূহে অসমৰ সাংস্কৃতিক জগতখনক কলুষিত কৰিছে বুলি কলেও হয়তু বঢ়াই কোৱা নহব। 

   আজিকালিৰ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ দলসমূহে নাটকৰ পৰিৱৰ্তে গ্লেমাৰ, আৰ্টিষ্ট ,টেকনিক আদিবোৰেহে বেছি গুৰুত্ব দিয়া পৰিলক্ষিত হয় ।  যদিও সময়ৰ আহ্বানত ইয়াৰ প্ৰয়োজনীয়তা আছে, তথাপিও অত্যাধিক যাক যমকতাই অসমৰ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ জগতৰ পূৰ্বৰ ধাৰাটোক কিছু কিছু ক্ষেত্ৰত চেকা লগাইছে যেন হে অনুভৱ হয়। 

   প্ৰায় এটা বৰ্ষ কভিডৰ বাবে এই থিয়েটাৰ সমূহ বন্ধ হৈ আছিল ফলত থিয়েটাৰৰ লগত জড়িত সকলো মানুহৰে পানীত হাঁহ নচৰা অৱস্থা হৈছিল। সকলোৱে ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ এৰি অন্য বৃত্তিত নিয়োজিত হৈ পৰিছিল।  কিন্তু পুনৰ এই বৰ্ষত  পূৱৰ দৰে নাট প্ৰদৰ্শন কৰিবলৈ আগবাঢ়িছে অসমৰ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ দলসমূহে । এইবর্ষত পুনৰ সাৱলীল অভিনয়, জনপ্রিয় নাটক লৈ আগবাঢ়িছে ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ দলসমূহ। ইতিমধ্যে নলবাৰী ৰাস মহোৎসৱত ইয়াৰ প্ৰমাণ পোৱা গৈছে। দলসমূহৰ নাটকে সকলো দৰ্শকৰ মন জয় কৰিবলৈ সক্ষম হৈছে। ইয়াৰ প্ৰমাণ প্ৰায় দুপৰ নিশালৈ চলা কেইবাটাও দর্শনীয়েই প্ৰমাণ কৰে।

       ভ্ৰাম্যমান থিয়েটাৰ সমূহে অসমৰ সাংস্কৃতিক, অৰ্থনৈতিক ক্ষেত্ৰখনলৈ বহুখিনি অৱদান আগবঢ়াই আহিছে।

   শেষত কব পাৰি যে, ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ অসমৰ এটা জাতীয় অনুষ্ঠান ৷ ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰে  অসমৰ নানা অনুষ্ঠান-প্ৰতিষ্ঠান গঢ়াত আৰ্থিকভাৱে সহায় আগবঢ়াইছে৷ জাতীয় জীৱনৰ লগত সংপৃক্ত এই অনুষ্ঠানটো  কেৱল ভাৰততে নহয়, সমগ্ৰ বিশ্বতে বিৰল বুলি কব পাৰি। এই ভ্ৰাম্যমাণ থিয়েটাৰ ভৱিষ্যত দিনত পূৰ্বতকৈ ও অধিক সৱলভাৱে আগুৱাই যাব বুলি আমি আশাবাদী। তাৰ বাবে লাগিব প্ৰতিজন অসমীয়া মানুহৰ দায়বদ্ধতা তথা সহায়-সহযোগিতা ।

  ঋত্বিজ ঠাকুৰ

    যোগাযোগ আৰু সাংবাদিকতা বিভাগ, গুৱাহাটী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়

সৰল জীৱন, উচ্চ চিন্তা ( Simple living, high thinking )

 সকলোৰে মূখে মূখে প্ৰচলিত  এটা অতি জনপ্রিয় খণ্ডবাক্য- 'সৰল জীৱন, উচ্চ চিন্তা" । ই এটা অক্লেশ জীৱনশৈলী, অৰ্থাৎ আমি আমাৰ প্ৰয়োজনবোৰ সীমিত কৰিব লাগে আৰু চিন্তাৰ পৰিসৰ বহল কৰিব লাগে।ইয়াৰ তাৎপর্য এয়ে যে  আমি এটা বস্তুবাদী, পাৰ্থিৱ জীৱনৰ পৰিবৰ্তে; এটা পৰিতুষ্ট আৰু সফল জীৱনৰ কিয়দাংশ হোৱাটো উচিত। ভলতেয়ৰৰ ভাষাত- "what I like is luxury, even the soft sort, every kind of pleasure, art of every description, cleanliness, taste and the amenities of life" ।অপ্ৰয়োজনীয় মানসিক তাৰণাৰ পৰা মুক্ত এটা সফল আৰু সূখী জীৱনৰ মূল চাবি-কাঠিয়ে হৈছে-সৰল জীৱন, উচ্চ চিন্তা। In a simple line simplicity is the final achievement । 

       

      আজিকালি প্ৰায় দেখা যায় মানুহে জীৱনৰ বেছিভাগ সময়ে নষ্ট কৰে  এটা "so called high standard" জীৱনৰ পৰিকল্পনা কৰাত। ইয়াৰ ফলস্বৰূপে তেওঁলোক হৈ পৰে অস্থিৰ, বিমৰ্ষ আৰু অসন্তুষ্ট। তেওঁলোকে জীৱনৰ সঠিক উদ্দেশ্য পাহৰি দিকভ্রান্ত পথিকৰ দৰে মৰিচিকাত পানী  বিচৰাৰ দৰে সূখ বিচাৰি মাঁথো অনাই বনাই ঘূৰি ফূৰে । প্ৰত্যেক মানুহৰ হাবিয়াস আৰু আকাংক্ষাবোৰ পূৰণ কৰিবৰ বাবে সামৰ্থ থাকিব লাগে;কিন্তু এনে প্ৰাচুৰ্যৰো প্ৰয়োজন নাই যিয়ে মানুহক বিলাসবহুল কৰি তুলে। জটিলতাই আমাক সমস্যাত পেলাই কিন্তু সৰলতাই আমাক সকলো সমস্যাৰ এটা সঠিক সৰল সমাধান দিয়ে আৰু প্ৰতিটো  সৰল সমাধানৰ বাবে উচ্চ চিন্তাৰ আৱশ্যক।আমি যদি এবাৰ সৰল জীৱন এটা উপভোগ কৰিবলৈ লওঁ, তেতিয়া আমি চিন্তা কৰিবলৈ অধিক সময় পাম আৰু আমাৰ চিন্তাবোৰ ক্ৰমশ উচ্চৰ পৰা উচ্চতৰ দিশে ধাৱমান হ'ব। উচ্চ চিন্তা  মানে এক উচ্চ পৰ্যায়ৰ জীৱন যাত্রাৰ চিন্তা নহয়, উচ্চ চিন্তাই আন ধৰণৰ চিন্তাৰ কথা  বুজায়। ধৰা হওঁক, এজন অতি দূখীয়া মানুহে চিন্তা কৰিছে-সমগ্ৰ অসমীয়া জাতিটো যদি অতি পৰিশ্ৰমী সুদক্ষ কৰ্মী হ'লহেতেন তেনেহ'লে অসমৰ চহকী প্ৰাকৃতিক সম্পদবোৰ নিজেই ব্যৱহাৰ কৰি অসমখনক এখন উন্নত ৰাজ্যত পৰিণত কৰি তুলিব পাৰিলে হেঁতেন। সৰল জীৱন, উচ্চ চিন্তাৰে পুষ্ট ব্যক্তিৰ উদাহৰণৰ অভাৱ আমাৰ নাই। তাৰ ভিতৰতে জাতিৰ পিতা মহাত্মা গান্ধী,লাল বাহাদুৰ শাস্ত্ৰী আদিৰ নাম আমি উনুকিয়াব পাৰো।  সদায়  সাধাৰণ ভাৱে থকা, ধুতী পৰিহিত শান্ত সৌম্য ব্যক্তিগৰাকীয়ে নিজৰ উচ্চ চিন্তা আৰু মহান আদৰ্শৰ জৰিয়তে বিনা যুদ্ধে অহিংসাৰ মাজেৰে কেনেকৈ ভাৰতক ব্ৰিটিছৰ হাতৰ পৰা স্বাধীনতা দিছিল সেয়া সকলোৰে জ্ঞাত।এনে আদৰ্শৰে লালবাহাদুৰ শাস্ত্ৰীয়ো  অনুপ্ৰাণিত আছিল বাবেই তেওঁৰ বাসভৱনৰ সন্মুখৰ মাটিডৰাত ফুলনিৰ সলনি ৰূপান্তৰিত কৰিছিল ঘেঁহু পথাৰলৈ।

                      সৰল ভাৱে চিন্তা কৰাতো কেতিয়াও সহজ নহয়, ই নিজে এটা জটিল  আৰু গভীৰ বিষয় । সেয়ে আমি বাহিৰা জাকজমকতাত গুৰুত্ব দিয়াৰ পৰিবৰ্তে নিজৰ আত্মতৃপ্তিত হে ধ্যান দিয়া উচিত। "Plain living and high thinking should be your goal. Learn to carry all the conditions of happiness within yourself by meditating and attuning your consciousness to the ever-existing, ever-conscious, ever-new Joy, which is God. Your happiness should never be subject to any outside influence. Whatever your environment is, don’t allow your inner peace be touched by it. — Paramahansa Yogananda"। "সৰল জীৱন, উচ্চ চিন্তা"- এই জীৱনশৈলী আহৰণ কৰা সহজ নহয়। কিন্তু আমি যদি মনৰ শান্তিৰ লগতে জীৱনটোক যথোচিত দিশত আগুৱাই নিব খোজো তেনেহ'লে এইটোৱে হ'ল উচিত জীৱনশৈলী। ইয়াৰ কোনো সাব্যস্ত সূত্র নাই, ই নিৰ্ভৰ কৰিব প্ৰকৃত সূখী আমি কেনেকৈ হওঁ বা কেনেকোৱা কামে  আমাক সূখী কৰাত অৰিহনা যোগায়। আমি জীৱনৰ প্ৰতিটো খোজত এটা কথা মানি চলিব লাগিব যে ধন-ঐশ্বৰ্য থাকিলেই মানুহ ধনী নহয়, সঁচা অৰ্থত ধনী ব্যক্তি সেইগৰাকীহে যিয়ে নিজৰ জীৱনক লৈ আত্মসন্তুষ্ট।

                                                                         +++++++++

আৰিফ হুছেইন মীৰ

যোগাযোগ আৰু সাংবাদিকতা বিভাগ 

গুৱাহাটী বিশ্ববদ্যালয়

'It ends with us': Domestic Violence and us

While the whole country is appalled with the gruesome murder of a young Shraddha Kelkar by her lover in the national capital and a similar high profile case of the murder of Instagrammar influencer Gabby Petito in America by her boyfriend, many are thinking about how women tend to address domestic violence and even educated girls are largely acceptable of the violence that goes on within the four walls of a house. Quite incidently I read Colleen Hoover's 'It ends with us' takes us through a woman's journey to break the cycle of abuse. Colleen Hoover broke my heart and then stitched it back together multiple times while reading this book. The entire book revolves around different scenarios of the protagonist's trauma of seeing her father being violent towards her mother. The author's brave attempt to bring forward a sensitive issue like this, which by the way isn't spoken as much as it should, is definitely commendable. At one point, Lily the protagonist, faces the same dilema her mother went through, and at that moment, I had this realisation that it's really easy to blame the victim for not taking any action against violence. But when you're being put on the same shoes and you experience it first hand, it's very very difficult. 'It ends with us' is a story about Lily and her relationship with two charming men, Ryle and Atlas. I loved Ryle and Atlas both but just one difference sets them miles apart. Lily's love for both were powerful but just one of them was the right kind. Hoover wrote Atlas in such a way that the readers have no choice but to love and adore him. Ryle's character is heart wrenching in every way possible. Can't hate him, can't love him. Hoover is although known for big plot twists in her books, the plot twist in Ryle Kincaid and Lily Bloom's marriage shocked me. One can never predict the final pages of the book, some might even need trigger warnings before starting this book, but then again, I find it almost necessary for everyone to read this book. I felt the need of more details to understand all the crevices in the protagonist's mind because I feel like 'It ends with us' is more than just a love story, or domestic abuse story, it's about choosing oneself over somebody you love. Domestic abuse is a lot more nuanced and critical than people talk about. Not to deny, while reading the book, I fell in love with the abuser, just the same way Lily did. I kept on making excuses on behalf of him. And at the end, I hate to say it but I had mixed feelings about Lily leaving Ryle. But, like Lily said, "Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.” It ends with us will mix your feelings, emotions and leave you with confused choices, goosebumps, heartbroken, but when you turn the final page, you'll realise that how much strength it takes for every abusee to actually make a decision. Submitted by - shabnam nehar, 1st semester, department of communication and journalism, Gauhati University.

My experience of Representing my State.

Since I was two and half years old, I was taken to a nearby Dance Institution. And it marked the start of wonderful journey that's going on till date. I have been fortunate enough to participate in various Dance Competitions locally and also State, National and International Levels till date. This blog is solely written to let you know about some of my bitter sweet experiences while representing my state in various National events. I would start from my first journey to Odissa along with my mother for a cultural competition where I was enrolled to participate in three categories of the Dance Competition. As we had very low finance from the State Government back then, we were kept at a local Dharmashala in Cuttack. My very first experience outside state was pathetic. While representing a state at my age of seven, I was really dissapointed as a kid, staying in a common hall room, sharing same toilet and eating food that was beyond my liking. Looking at my unhappy face and complains my mother had to personally book a hotel room. Though that experience of very first time representing state and improper management left me with a bitter taste, I was fortunate enough to win some of the prizes along with the prestigious Chairman's award. The second time was Mumbai where a Global Cultural Competition was organised by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) back in 2009 when I was in the third standard. While sitting on a local train in Mumbai I had encountered racial slur since we belonged to the north eastern state and I found out that there were very derogatory stereotypes that were used for representing us. This time I won a Consolation prize among dancers all over India and outside the country too. In the year 2019 while I was travelling to Bhopal for a National Level Drama Competition the response received gave me a marvellous experience . Kala Utsav was a festival in the Regional Institute of Education, Bhopal which is celebrated over a week. The hospitality was unforgettable. The team from Assam had won second best Drama team in the event and the Chairmen of NCERT Prof. Dinesh Prasad Chaklani willingly took pictures with us. Art has no language, colour, caste or community. Art is universal. My journey over the years made me realise that whatever stereotypes that we may be associated with, we have to understand that perfection and love of arts has no barrier and this makes me feel proud to be an Indian in General and Assamese in particular. Ajay Sarkar Department of Communication and Journalism Gauhati University

A helping hand: Importance of mental health

 

 

The recent murder of Mumbai based girl by her live-in partner in Delhi raised many angles. While many started moral policing, others gave it a communal angle  but the primary issue went under the carpet which was the absolute breakdown of mental health and counselling scenario in India.

Mental health is important and integrates a component of health. Mental health includes a person's psychological, emotional and social well-being. Proper mental health results in proper mental functioning that results in being productive in activities, having healthy and fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to cope and adapt to adversity.

Proper mental health is essential at every stage of life - from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. A person can experience mental health problems at any point in their lifetime. It not only affects their mood and behaviour but also changes the way they think, look at life and face challenges.

Even though mental health is a highly individual thing, what affects one person may or may not affect another person; However, some important factors contribute to mental health problems.

These factors include life experiences such as trauma or abuse, biological factors such as genes or brain chemistry, and even a family history of mental health problems that can affect a person. Poor mental health is also associated with stressful work conditions, rapid social change, gender discrimination, social exclusion, physical illness and human rights violations.

 

Mental health problems are common, but for the longest time, people have avoided the whole concept of it and taken mental health lightly. At one time, mental health was considered taboo, and anyone seeking help was labelled as mentally ill. Mental health and mental illness are not the same things.

 

For a long time, mental health has been defined as the absence of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Mental illness generally refers to all diagnosable mental disorders – health conditions characterized by changes in mood, thinking, and behaviour associated with impaired functioning or distress.

Mental health and mental illness go hand in hand. Individuals with optimal mental health conditions may also suffer mental illness, whereas people who do not have any mental illness may also have poor mental health. Although in the recent times, people have started taking mental health seriously and started taking appropriate steps to deal with any mental health problem. Help is available there; People with mental health problems can get better by seeking help. Like many Shraddha’s there are counselling centres that work on dealing with domestic violence and like many Sushant Singh Rajput's there should be steady help to deal with anxiety and stress.

 

People suffering from mental health issues show various symptoms such as little or no energy, withdrawing people and withdrawing themselves from regular activities, lack of sleep or desire to eat, smoking, drinking alcohol or doing drugs, feeling helpless, shouting and fighting, losing temper very quickly, harms himself and many others.

 

Taking care of mental health is not only getting help from professionals when needed but connecting with others, engaging in physical activities, helping others, getting enough sleep and staying positive that there is a way. Positive mental health allows people to realize their full potential, cope with stress in life, work productively, and make a meaningful contribution to the community.

 So for a better future addressing mental health becomes an utmost necessity.

Anisha Baruah

Ist Semester

The Hidden Beauty of Meghalaya- Nongkhnum Island

 

Meghalaya, which means "abode of clouds," is a haven for those who enjoy the outdoors. Tourists from all over the world have been mesmerised by a hill station that truly has a gorgeous, fascinating sky. With some of the most breathtaking waterfalls in the world, including Nohkalikai Falls, Elephant Falls, and Mawlynnong Falls, the longest caves in the world, including Krem Liat Prah and Mawsmai Caves, and the wettest locations in the world, including Cherrapunji and Mawsynram, Meghalaya is home to many well-known tourist destinations.

 

Nongkhnum island, on the other hand, is the spot for you if you enjoy adventure and unusual locations. The island is situated approximately 63 kilometres from Mairang Sub-Division and 15 km from the district headquarters in Nongstoin, West Khashi Hills.

 

The mighty Kynshi, the longest river in Meghalaya, divides into the Phanliang and Namliang rivers. A pristine river beach was produced as a result of this unique geological development. Popular annual festivals are held in Nongkhnum as well, where guests may sample regional cuisine and see how the community values entertainment and music. 

 

The mighty Kynshi, the longest river in Meghalaya, breaks into the Phanliang and Namliang rivers at this location. A pristine river beach was produced as a result of this unique geological development. Explore the island's many features on foot or take a relaxing boat trip in the brisk seas. The island is connected to the closest bank by a charming bridge, adding to the many photo opportunities offered by this location. With the assistance of local guides and operators, you may take part in a variety of activities at Nongkhnum. Camping is ideal in the winter and spring since there is little light pollution and you can spend a lot of time stargazing. Additionally, there is a waterfall called Kshaid Weinia, whose beauty will calm your mind and pleasure your soul.

 

One of the most amazing experiences you will ever have is travelling from Shillong to Nongstoin. The best months to travel to Nongkhnum are from October to April because these months coincide with the best hiking seasons and festivals. As you move closer to Nongkhnum, the road conditions aren't always the best, so monsoon travels can take a little longer and many parts are closed off for safety. You may, however, face these conditions to see the waterfalls at their most impressive and powerful. Additionally, you should leave early so that you may go home before it gets dark because there aren't many hotels or home stays available.

 

So this location is worthwhile a visit if you wish to escape the bustling city life.

 

   

Parilina Das, 1st Semester

Kalaripayattu, the martial art of India

Kalaripayattu, also known as Kalari is a martial art that originated in the 4th century in Kerala, India. It is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in the world. Historical believed that Kalaripayattu is the mother of all martial art forms. The word Kalaripayattu is a combination of two Malayalam words-‘Kalari’ means the battlefield and ‘Payattu’ means what are practiced inside the Kalari, which is roughly translated as “practice in the arts of the battlefield”.

     Lord Parshuram, the sixth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, is known as the father of this martial art. He started this art for protecting his land. He learned the art from Lord Shiva. The Hindu saints and monks practiced this out for self protection. It is taught following the traditional Indian guru-shishya system.

Kalaripayattu is mainly divided into three stages. ‘Meithari’ is the initial stage of the training which includes body control exercise. The student’s practices different types of body exercises, different jumps, leads, kicks, animal postures etc. ‘Kothari’ is the second phase of the training. It is practiced with wooden weapons which takes three to four years to complete. The final stage of the training is the 'Angathari' which includes the practice with a dagger, sword and shield, spear and with a flexible sword. Some of the choreographed sparring in Kalaripayattu can be applied to dance. There are two major styles that are generally acknowledged within traditional Kalaripayattu, the northern style or Vadakkan Kalari and the southern style or ThekkanKalari. There is also another style which is practiced and it is known as the Central Style or Madhya Kalari.

The Indian Kalaripayattu Federation (IKF) in Thiruvananthapuram is one of the primary governing body of Kalaripayattu. After completing the three stage training, the students practice human anatomy and the ‘Marmas’. Every human being has a hundred and seven vital spots in the body. It is claimed that  an experienced Kalari warrior could disable or even kill their opponents by merely striking the correct Marmam(vital point) on their opponent’s body. This technique is taught only to the most promising and level-headed students so that no one can misuse the technique.

In 1804,the British banned Kalaripayattu in Kerela in response to the Kothayathu War as they thought it is very dangerous for every individual. Later after the British left, the Kalaripayattu re-emerged.

Ruchira Seal

1st semester.

 

Parvati valley calls! - A trek to remember

 

“Let’s go on a trek!”, who knew these innocent words that came out of my mouth on April 2022 would land us in one of the most beautiful places on Earth and give us some of the most memorable experiences of our lives.

 

The trek to Kheerganga was one of those random treks that happened as a result of my sudden crave to breath fresh air amidst snow-capped mountains of Parvati valley after I was done with my  5th Semester under graduation exam. Believed to be a meditation place of Lord Kartikey, thousands of years ago, Kheerganga is one of the best treks with scenic and charming villages, quaint little cafes, gushing rivers, pine trees laden forests, and glittering snow-capped peaks that look vivacious under the moonlight.

Trekking is not considered suitable in extreme summer, monsoon or winter. So, it is recommended to make time during transitional weather. Keeping this in mind, I, along with a group of six people decided to go for this trek during spring amidst our  state festival Rangali Bihu. Barshaini, the starting point of Kheerganga trek is around 17 km from Kasol. It’s around 9-10 kilometres to the Kheerganga which can be covered in three different ways-Via Nathkan village,  Kalga  village  and the other one Tosh village. The best and the easiest route to reach Kheer Ganga is through Barshaini  crossing over a bridge which goes to the Nakthan Village. This is the most preferred route as it is the shortest one and takes only 3-4 hours to reach KheerGanga on average trekking speed. While on this route, you get to witness the pristine Parvati River on one side of the trek. We also took that route on our way back. While the route via Kalga goes through dense forests, it  becomes difficult to keep on track so it is advisable to take a person or a guide who is already familiar with the route. 

With no guides and arrangements for the journey ahead we took the route via Kalga on our way up. We were lucky to have met another group with a guide who happily accompanied us. Also, thanks to fellow travellers for the markings during Kheerganga trek helped us remain on the right track. We carried a light backpack with a bottle of water, light snacks and extra pair of clothes. Water and food, weren’t a problem because there were plenty of cafes on the way to Kheerganga with basic food options. In fact one can also drink water from the waterfalls on the way to Kheerganga and speaking from my own experience , I have never tasted water having such  sweet and delicate flavor, full of oxygen, naturally cold and digestible.

Talking about accommodations there are numerous private rooms, tented accommodations, common spaces like dormitories for a group of travellers and one can also pitch their own tents by renting a space at Kheerganga.

Located 2960 m above the sea level, Kheerganga is one of the easiest treks for beginners. Certainly a miracle , the natural hot water spring is like a cherry on the top. There are two sub-sections of the pool – one for the men and the other for the women. Scary and soothing at the same time, the Kheerganga trek is so mesmerising that exhaustion feels like breeze. The best of the journeys are indeed the ones that are least planned.

Ajanita Kalita

1st Sem, Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University