Assam

CAA Protest Scenario in Assam : The Facts and What the Political Parties Have to Say

CAA Protest Scenario in Assam : The Facts and What the Political Parties Have to Say

Written By: Pema Bhadra Guwahati, India Photo Credit: Pema Bhadra Case 1 One Mr Narayan, age 60 plus, charred to death while sleeping inside a hotel owned by a Bengali. The hotel, with 5 other shops were set on fire by the so-called anti-CAA agitators in Tinsukia District, Assam. By the way, his death did not find any space in the local newspapers, news channels. Case 2 An oil tanker heading to Numaligarh Refinery set on fire by six youths on three bikes. The driver of the Tanker Abdul Ali died inside the cabin. Helper Moslemuddin is fighting for his…
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Detention Centres in Assam: The Current ‘Home’ for Nationeless People

Detention Centres in Assam: The Current ‘Home’ for Nationeless People

Written By: Pema Bhadra Guwahati, India Photo Credit: Pema Bhadra A lush green field. Gentle bridge mixed with drizzle. A river flowing in the backdrop washing the feet of the hills. Everything around is so fresh, so green…. Ideal place indeed for a weekend trip. In fact, setting up a resort here won’t be a bad idea. Now, the feel-good factors end up here. Yes, a big complex is being built right there with multiple-storied buildings. But it’s not a resort, it’s a prison. A prison biggest in its class. World’s number two in status. The name we call it…
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NRC, Citizenship Amendment Bill: Where did it start?

NRC, Citizenship Amendment Bill: Where did it start?

Written By: Pema Bhadra Guwahati, India Photo Credit: Shutterstock.com, Pema Bhadra They were the first to export Assam’s Eri and Muga silk. Late Radhakrishna Saraswati formed an SHG four generations back near Rangiya, Kamrup District. The special saree for the goddess Kamakhya used to be made by his exceptionally talented weavers and the saree was called ‘Saraswati saree’. The present generation of Saraswati family owns a couple of multistoried buildings and runs an Ayurvedic shop at Panbazar in Guwahati. Rai Bahadur (a title given to influential persons, aristocrats by British Raj) Kali Charan Sen was one of the founders of…
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Rat-Hole Mining Story- Part 2

Rat-Hole Mining Story- Part 2

Written by: Pema Bhadra Guwahati, India Photo: Indian Navy, ChildAid Network 36 days passed. On 16 January 2019, after a joint operation of the Indian Navy and NDRF, it was confirmed that Indian Navy ROV had detected a body 160 feet deep inside the main shaft. The body has been pulled up to the mouth of the rat-hole mine and will be brought out of the mine under the supervision of the doctors. Living Dangerously According to the study done by Impulse NGO, over 10,000 people are estimated to have died in rat-holes between 2007 and 2014 in Meghalaya. Impulse’s…
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Rat-Hole Mining Story in Meghalaya

Rat-Hole Mining Story in Meghalaya

Written by: Pema Bhadra Guwahati, India Photo: ChildAid Network The date is said to be cursed itself, so as the mines. December 13, 2018. The doomsday at Saiphung, East Jayantia Hills, Meghalaya bears testimony to the disparity of existence. The existence of the state economy of Meghalaya, the existence of an ecological balance of the whole Jayantia Hills, the existence of the majority Bengali speaking, poor working class people of Garo Hills and minority dominated Chirang district of Assam and the existence of some filthy rich businessmen and coal mafia. The Accident On December 13, about 20 miners entered the…
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Village Rockstars: The film that gifts us blue skies and hope in abundance

Village Rockstars: The film that gifts us blue skies and hope in abundance

Written by: Shreya Seth Kolkata, India Film Review: Village Rockstars Country: India Director: Rima Das Cast: Bhanita Das, Basanti Das, Manabendra Das Seldom do we come across stories that can communicate to a wide range of audiences without trying too hard. Village Rockstars is one such organic and refreshing film that marks a departure from conventional forms of storytelling and consumes you if you allow yourself to succumb to the flow. Set in a remote village in Assam named Chayagaon, Village Rockstars is a coming of age story of a ten-year-old girl who dreams of owning a guitar and forming…
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