Tagore Literature Award to Debabrata Das

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 4 – Eminent writer Debabrata Das of Assam has been chosen for the prestigious Tagore Literature Award 2010. The honour recognizes his Nirbasita Galpa, published in 2007, which has already attracted critical acclaim.

The award, with which Sahitya Akademi is associated, comprises a plaque and a cash prize of Rs 91,000, an official statement mentioned.

Das, who has to his credit 23 books along with scripts for cinema and TV, will be presented with the award instituted by Samsung India on May 5 at the Rabindra Natya Mandir at Dadar West, Mumbai. A number of distinguished personalities from the area of art and culture will be in attendance.

The writer's foray into literature started in 1972, and he has so far authored six short story collections, three novels and several novellas. His literary column Hiyar Pokhilabor earned him admirers from Assamese readers in India as well as abroad.

It may be mentioned that the Tagore Literature Awards is a Samsung Hope Project, part of the company's corporate social responsibility. The honours are bestowed annually in eight Indian languages and judged by a jury selected by Sahitya Akademi.

Project helps prevent train-elephant collisions

Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 4 – Assam which is amongst the states with highest elephant mortality due to train hits has succeeded to a certain extent in preventing train-elephant collisions since 2008 by implementing the Train Hits Mitigation Project.

This project is being jointly implemented by the Assam Forest Department, Northeast Frontier Railways and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) with support from the UK based charity Elephant Family (EF).

It needs to be mentioned here that prompt action by members of the joint patrolling team deployed to prevent train-elephant collisions along the critical Deepor Beel railway stretch near Guwahati recently averted an accident saving a herd of about 15 wild elephants.

According to an official of WTI, patrolling along railway tracks in Assam has prevented more than 80 accidents till date. The official said that about 65 elephants have been killed in train accidents in the State since 1987. The frequency of accidents saw a steep increase in the late 1990s and 2000s.

"Alarmed by these deaths, WTI supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) carried out a rapid survey to identify the accident prone areas in 2006. This was followed by an intensive year-long study of these sites to identify the causes and to develop site specific mitigation measures for implementation," said the official.

The study identified about 23 accident-prone sections in eight forest divisions in Assam. On priority basis, currently, patrolling is carried out in seven of these 23 sites including Deepor Beel.

A joint patrolling team comprises six members, two each supported by the Forest Department, Railways and WTI-EF. The teams walk along the tracks at nights keeping watch for elephants among other animals. On sighting, the information is conveyed to the drivers of the approaching trains through the nearby railway control rooms.

Apart from patrolling, the project is also implementing other recommendations of the study including installation of signage along the track, conducting awareness workshops for the railway staff and exploring possibilities of leveling some steep embankments along the tracks to prevent accidents.

Bulu named Assam captain

GUWAHATI, May 4 – Frontliner Bulu Jigdung of Assam Rifles will lead the 20-member Assam team in the 65th edition of the National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy.

This year the premier football championship of the country will be hosted by Assam Football Association (AFA) at Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Mangaldai, Nagaon, Tinsukia, Sivasagar and here in Guwahati.

Apart from the Cluster I and V the city will host the final round matches. AFA secretary Ankur Dutta today named the squad along with other team officials. Assam will open its campaign in Cluster I match against Pondicherry on May 6 at the Nehru Stadium here.

The team: (Goal keepers) Jitu Chetry, Marcus Basumatary, Daoga Brahma. (Defenders) Raju Konwar, Mitradev Swargiary, Maneswar Swargiary, Jyotish Basumatary, Sishuram Chutia, T Bipin Singh. (Mid-fielders) Mintu Boro, F Wary, K Priya Kumar Singh, Sibra Narzary, Sanjoy Boro, Nitu Narzary. (Forwards) Thomson Langthasa, Akum Ao, Bulu Jigdung, Dipankar Sarkar, Jayanta Basumatary.

Coach - Prasanta Banerjee, Assistant coach-Kamala Kanta singh, goalkeeping coach-Bidhan Das, physio-Dr Sambit Kesori, manager-Manoj Kumar Patra.

‘9/11 victims will now rest in peace’

IMPHAL, May 4 – The Yambem family in Manipur who lost their son Jupiter in the 9/11 World Trade Centre attack a decade ago will be observing his death anniversary this year too.

Observing the death anniversary has become an annual ritual for the family, with his American wife and son taking time out every year to attempt to fill in the void left by his absence in their own small ways.

Jupiter Yambem, a native of Imphal’s Uripok Yambem Leikai, was among the 3,000 people killed in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre, leaving behind his American wife Nancy McCardle Yambem and five year-old Shanti (now 15 years old).

Born to the Yambem family of Uripok, Jupiter left India when he was selected as a coordinator at Camp America, a youth exchange programme in 1981. With the expiry of the project, Jupiter found himself a job in the US and settled down, going on to marry a music therapist American girl Nancy. The 42-year-old was a banquet manager with Windows of the World, a restaurant spread across 40,000 sq ft on the 107th floor of the World Trade Centre. Among the dead that day were 34 Indians.

Reacting to the news of the death of Osama, Yambem Laba, Jupiter’s elder brother said, “This is one of the greatest day for the family and all those against terrorism. Now justice has been done after 10 years, my brother’s soul can rest in peace in his heavenly abode”.

Laba, journalist and a former member of the Manipur State Human Rights Commission said, “Allah is merciful to my brother Jupiter and others who died in the attack. Justice has been done to the victims of the attack.”

“Killing of Osama is a new chapter in the fight against terrorism”, the elder brother said. “Now Al-Qaida will not be the same force as when he (Osama) was alive”. Laba informed that one of his friend from Delhi had broken the news about the death of Osama Bin Laden via a sms.

Khandu’s death mourned in Meghalaya

Correspondent
SHILLONG, May 4 – The tragic death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Dorjee Khundu and four others in the chopper crash in Arunachal Pradesh have been widely mourned here in Meghalaya.

Secretary North Eastern Council, UK Sangma said Dorjee’s untimely death is a personal loss for him as the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister was close to him.

“He was a just and kind man and his untimely death is a personal loss for me. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and also those killed in the chopper crash.” Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Eastern Frontier Chief, Inspector General, Maninder Singh Bhurji said he is personally saddened at the untimely death of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

“I met him only few months back. He was a dynamic leader and was very supportive of the armed forces. He, moreover, understood the problems faced by the people of Arunachal Pradesh. I pray that his soul rests in peace,” Bhurji said.

Director General Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Rameshwar also extended his condolence. “On this sad and unfortunate occasion I share the grief of the families who lost their dear ones. I also share the grief of the people of Arunachal Pradesh,” Lt Gen Roy said.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in his condolence message said: “It is with a deep sense of grief that the people of Meghalaya have received the news of the tragic death of Khandu, the beloved Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. He was a leader who was well regarded all over the North East.”

“While his death is a deep personal loss, it is also a great loss for the country as a whole. The people of Meghalaya join me and my colleagues in extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of Khandu and the others who have died in this tragic accident.”

Meghalaya’s Leader of the Opposition, Conrad Sangma also extended his condolences to the family of the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister on behalf of National Congress Party.

“We extend our condolences to the family of Khandu and others who were killed in the chopper crash. May the divine grant strength to the family on this tragic moment,” Sangma said.

Meghalaya Pradesh Congress held a condolences meeting and expressed profound grief and shock at the untimely death of Khundu and other passengers.

Dorjee – a grassroot activist who rose to become CM

ITANAGAR, May 4 – A military intelligence man who participated in the 1971 Bangladesh War, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu had worked his way up as a local politician helping set up schools and organising drinking water supplies in far-flung areas of the mountainous State.

Fifty-six year-old Khandu, who became the Chief Minister twice, was with the Indian Army’s Intelligence wing for seven years and received a gold medal for rendering meritorious services during the Indo-Pak War that led to the creation of Bangladesh.

Becoming an Anchal Samiti member in 1980, he turned his focus to social work in far-flung villages. He helped arranging drinking water supplies, electricity and communication and also setting up schools in remote areas of Tawang, his home district. This helped him consolidate his standing among the masses when he replaced Gegong Apang as Chief Minister of the State in 2007.

Born on March 3, 1955 in Gyangkhar village in Tawang district, Khandu belonged to Monpa tribe and was a Buddhist with little formal education. He has four wives, four sons and two daughters.

His political innings started in 1983 when he was elected uncontested as the District Vice President of the West Kameng District Zilla Parishad.

In March 1990, he was elected uncontested to the Assembly from the Mukto constituency. Khandu was re-elected to the Assembly in March, 1995 from the same constituency and was given the portfolio of Minister of State for Cooperation. On September 21, 1996, he was elevated to Cabinet rank.

In 1999, he was elected to the Assembly and served as the Power Minister from 1998 to 2006.

Khandu revolted against Apang in 2007. After taking over as the Chief Minister on April 9, 2007, he promised to reopen the State-owned Apex Cooperative bank lying defunct for two years after an over Rs 200 crore loan scam was unearthed.

Within few weeks, Khandu secured a loan of Rs 225 crore from NHPC and invested it into the bank, enabling it to reopen. In 2009, he was again elected unopposed to the Assembly and became the Chief Minister for second time on October 25, 2009.

The Rs 24,000-crore special package announced by Prime Minister here on January 31 last year made Khandu’s popularity soar even further. – PTI

PM condoles Khandu's death

NEW DELHI, May 5 (PTI): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed sadness over the tragic death of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, saying the late leader served the state with distinction and worked tirelessly to promote its interests.

Khandu was a veteran politician "who worked tirelessly to promote the interests of the state," Singh said in a condolence message to Rinchin Drema, wife of Khandu.

"Khandu worked hard for the development of Arunachal Pradesh and served the state with distinction after being appointed the 5th Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in April 2007", the Prime Minister said.

The Chief Minister worked for the state's development with dynamism and energy, while holding a number of ministerial positions in the state government including power, he said.