Hello again, Everybody:
While describing the fun that we had at the Orlando get-together, I left
the names of the organizers of the event.
See what I mean! These organizers did not make us feel that
they are the ones who were instrumental in making this happen. They
are: Mrs & Mr. Sunil B. Nath, Sanjib Bhuyan, Abani Sharmah,
Kanika Sharma, Ganesh Bora, Samarjyoti Kalita, and Nilakshi Thakuria.
I am pretty sure Ihave missed somebody, then again, that is 'coz
they were really working hard for the event to go smoothly without
being noticed by the regular people like us. Like I said earlier, it
was truly a "community event" for the people and just not for the
organizers.
Mrs. Sharma took the extra effort to teach the Chef of the resort center to
make quite a few Assamese dishes like, Dail, Maasor tenga, Porotha,
Paleng-xaakor bhaji, Poduna Satni, etc. - Assamese style, then
providing desserts like Jilepi, Rosogullah, Lal-muhon, etc., (even the
cucumbers were cut in Assamese style - you know! not in round circles, but in
small chunks, I was touched :), really!)
Also, I now realize that a big percentage of the people in the get-together
were the members of the Assam Society of America, but not a single soul asked
us to be members of the Society, neither did they make us feel like
"outsiders", even for a second. I truly commend their gracious hospitality and
thank them for a job well done.
Anyway, just thought would try to cover all the good things that I noticed
there. Thanks for reading and am glad to know that you liked the earlier
description.
With best wishes,
- A. Sarangapani
>From: "Rajen Barua"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To:
<assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Assam] Assamese
get-together
>Date: Tue, 5 Jul 2005 10:36:13
-0500
>
>Congratulations to the host committee and the organizers
and the silent workers behind the scene for what seem to be a very successful
Assamese Get Together.
>It proves that even one kharkhwa Assamese host
family is enough to organize a successful Get Together when there is a
will.
>This is an encouraging news for the small town Assamese American
families for future Get Togethers.
>It is also encouraging to see that
we have in the community enough highly talented local artists to patronize two
Assamese Get Togethers at the same time: In Orlando and Calgary. Keep up the
good work, and
>I wonder if the audience asked any questions to Dr.
Birendra Gohain, Commissioner to the CM of Assam, who was the keynote speaker
on Sunday?
>Best of Wishes to the organizers of future Get
Togethers
>Rajen Barua
>
>
> ----- Original Message
-----
> From: Alpana B. Sarangapani
> To:
assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, July 05, 2005 1:08 AM
>
Subject: [Assam] Assamese get-together
>
>
> Hi
Everybody:
>
> We just got home from the great Assamese
get-together at Orlando, Florida held at the beautiful and elegant setting at
Disney Coronado Springs resort, which we enjoyed thoroughly.
>
>
Here are some of the highlights of the event (from my point of view as a
member of the audience):
>
> There was no small-time politics and
upstaging one another at all. Thus there was no tension and each and everyone
was having plain and simple fun. It was truly a "community event" where the
community was the focus, as opposed to a convention which is consumed by
itself.
>
> Even though there is only one Assamese family in the
Orlando area, there are many out-of-town Assamese Floridians (and also from
other states) who organized or helped in this great event for the guests to
have some down to earth fun. It made us feel like it was taken care of by
'local people' - we were totally "at home".
>
> Some from the
crowd like, Ganesh Bora, Utpal Brahma, Partha Gogoi, Prakash Deka, Abani
Sharma, Jukti Kalita, Priyankoo Sharma, Jugal Kalita, Kamal Sharma etc., made
the event much more livelier by their frequent jokes and the use of their
sense of humor at the right times.
>
> Both professional artists
(Elora Bora Singh and Jitul Sonowal) from Assam gave great performances as
expected. We had the experience of personally talking and dining with them -
never get this opportunity even back home. The guest artists were not just
great performers, but were also able to mix and mingle with us
freely.
>
> Before going to Orlando, we had often heard of many of
the names involved and thought they were larger than life, but were pleasantly
surprised that none of them had any airs about them.
>
> To add to
this, we enjoyed and were extremely proud to be able to enjoy the performances
of great artists from the US itself. To mention some are: Rabin &
Arundhotee Goswami, Abani Sarma and his granddaughter little Ranikiran, Priya
Saikia, Anjana Bordoloi, Umesh Tahbildar, Biraj Bhuyan, Chumki Gogoi, Ruprekha
Bhuyan, Lona Sarma, Leoni Borkakati, Preetha Kamath, Priya Saikia, Bihu -
wonderfully danced by little Jahnabi Das, Rick Bhuyan, Nick Bhuyan, Nikumani
Bhuyan, Surabhi Kalita, Jukti Kalita, Nilakshi Thakuria, Jayanta Thakuria,
Malabika Brahma, Moushumi Chatterjee, Anuradha Deka, Please forgive me if I
missed any performer's name. MCs: Rick and Nick Bhuyan, Pari Saikia, Santanu
and Moushumi Chatterjee kept the show moving at a good pace.
>
>
Rabin Goswami's presentation was just mesmerizing. His personality filled with
humility and politeness won't give you a clue that he possesses a great voice
and the quality of a professional singer, unless and until you hear him
singing.
>
> The food was just great. The host families went out
of the way to provide the whole gathering with sumptuous, nutritious meals of
a medley of American, Italian, Indian and Mexican (as opposed to the regular
oily Indian restaurant food) dishes. They even paid attention to the details
where vegetarians like me had a wide choice - gestures like this reinforces
the feeling that each and everyone is welcome.
>
> Then there was
this unique arrangement where guests were taken by bus (a nice scenic drive)
to a local Indian restaurant for a grand dinner. It was like fun mixed with
food.
>
> Before I forget, we also had the pleasure of viewing a
short film by Ms. Sanchayita Sharma, "The Passage", about a poor family and
their life "amidst the crisis of insurgency". The film is bases on the award
winning short story by Dr. Indira Goswami.
>
> We also got to see
Sanjoy Hazarika's A River's Story, the Quest for the Brahmaputra, directed by
Jahnu Barua. It depicted the everyday life of all the people of the countries
through which the great river flows.
>
> The gathering was also
able to enjoy some of the outstanding paintings of Mahesh da (Baishya) and Ms.
Jupi Tara Das' art (paper cutting) creation. Mahesh da also took the extra
time to educate us to the essence of water-color painting. The discourse was
not just educational but also enabled many of us to appreciate painting and
art in a more knowledgeable way. There was also a beautiful exhibiton of Some
of you missed the event because of some reason or another, but we really wish
you all had been there. Like us, I am sure you too would have throughly
enjoyed the fun-filled events. We made many new friends, and touched base with
a whole lot more.
>
> One thing other meets in future might want
to learn from Assam 2005 is the spirit of comradrie and kinship and the utter
lack of groupism, that was felt throughout the 3-day event. Its not just
enough to put up a lot pomp and glitz, but the main reason we need to
gettogether once in a while whether it's for Bihus or for other events is to
develop and enhance the coheshiveness of Porbaxi Oxomiya.
>
>
Young children too had their share of fun in the sports and picnic - many of
them were also enjoying it in a grand way at Disney.
>
> Dr.
Birendra Gohain, Commissioner to the CM of Assam, was the keynote speaker on
Sunday. He touched upon a number of important issues involving
Assam.
>
> We heartily congratulate all the people involved in
Assam 2005 for making the event a grand success.
>
> Thank
you.
>
> - A. Sarangapani
>
> Houston, Texas.
USA.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
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