[asom] Assam's archer Ranjumoni - Telegraph June 03, 2006

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 20:50:04 -0700

if you would like to contribute little for a charitable cause please check with Dipankar Shonowal - [EMAIL PROTECTED]

thanks, -rabin

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060603/asp/northeast/story_6301084.asp
Beyond Headlines
Missed target
Not many years ago, Ranjumoni Barua was one of Assam's most promising sportspersons, an archer of magnificent calibre who won eight gold medals at the national level.
Ranjumoni had also won over 30 silver and bronze medals in different competitions at the national level, but now she ekes out a living selling vegetables.
Ranjumoni Barua at her shop in Dibrugarh. Picture by UB Photos
Hers was the "original act", long before Jayanta Talukdar conquered the world in one astounding feat of marksmanship at the World Cup.
Ranjumoni's dreams, however, died young, thanks to the lack of support from the powers-that-be which run Assam?s sports machinery.
Ranjumoni today is a roadside vendor in Dibrugarh?s Milan Nagar locality.
The archer says was forced to take up this vocation to look after her family as her father died recently.
The eldest of four siblings, Ranju expressed anguish that though she was promised help by the Congress government way back in 2001, "nothing has come my way".
Significantly, Anju honed her skills with the bow in her own backyard.

Backyard bonanza
Officials of the Assam archaeological department had a pleasant surprise recently when a resident of Dubarani, a locality in Dhansiri subdivision of Golaghat district, turned up with an inscription on a slab of baked clay. This is presumed to date back to the 9th century AD.
The finder, D. Gogoi, was quick to realise the importance of the clay slab, measuring 79x47 cm.
He had recovered it while digging in his backyard.
The slab is inscribed with just four sentences in the yet-to-be-deciphered script.
The archaeological department later recovered a large Shivalingam from the area, with the aid of the local people of Dhansiri.
Other archaeological artefacts, including a large stove and a pot with beautiful engravings, were also recovered recently.
The executive officer of the department visited the Nowjan area. Field executive officers undertook another investigation at Bongaon and Nabetiooni villages and found some brick statues, which are being considered valuable sources of information about Assam?s ancient history.

Artists' world
Of late, artists from Guwahati are making their presence felt at the art circuit in Calcutta.
After the Academy of Fine Arts honouring their works for two consecutive years, it is the turn of the renowned art gallery Chitrakoot known for exhibiting only the ?best works?, to host 17 artworks of Prabin Kumar Nath, Sobhakar Laskar and Monika Devi from June 4. Calcutta artist Debomitra Chakraborty will also showcase his latest collection at the exhibition.
Nath, winner of the national award at the 76th annual All India Art Exhibition, New Delhi, will exhibit five of his paintings from his 'Crisis' series.
All are works of acrylic on canvas. Laskar, a contemporary of Nath, has also chosen the same medium, while Devi's are done in mix media. "I will say that getting a chance to exhibit works at Chitrakoot art gallery is an honour in itself. My works reflects the conflicts plaguing the region," said Nath.
Echoing him, Laskar, whose works are mostly in abstract form, said, Such opportunities help us to widen our vistas. We have very few opportunities, getting one is always encouraging.? Monika, who has been working on subjects like nature and time, is also elated at the chance.
Various art societies of the region have also hailed the honour bestowed on the talented trio. In fact, the three are lifetime members of the Assam Academy of Fine Arts and Crafts, dedicated to the cause of popularising art in the region.
The other two members of the academy are Aditi Chakraborty and Abanto Bora.

Art for art's sake
It?s only two years old, and yet it is already a name to reckon with. The second edition of Thoh Shun, a workshop-cum-exhibition of some of the best contemporary paintings, woodcraft and sculpture, came as a rare treat for the connoisseurs of art.
Organised by the Riti Academy of Visual Arts at Hotel Orchid in Shillong, the exhibition attracted more than 35 participants from across India and the southeast Asian countries.
"The success of Thoh Shun last year had prompted and motivated the members of Riti Academy to venture into the project this time as well.
Here we have tried to synergise the contemporary with folk art by inviting traditional artisans to participate in the workshop," said Raphael Warjri, chairman of the academy, at the inaugural function.
The organisers observed that the art camp had served as a turning point for the development of visual art in the state.
Wood-carving and sculpture form an integral part of the Garo, Kima and Nokpante artistic traditions.
In the Khasi hills, most of the handcrafted objects are either utilitarian or religious in nature. In the Bhoi region of the state, certain forms of woodcraft are used for religious occasions.
"The state has a long and glorious history of art, but a lot needs to be done to promote and preserve our rich tradition," said Warjri.
While lauding the academy's efforts to encourage young artists from the region, a veteran artist rued that the university was yet to provide courses in fine arts

Footnote
Debut duet
Nothing can be more flattering, (or probably more unnerving), for young dancers than to perform on the same stage as their teacher.
But Birina Mahanta and Arundhati Bhagabati betrayed no sign of such nervousness at their debut duet recital at Rabindra Bhawan, Guwahati, recently. The duo, students of the Guwahati-based dance academy, Kalabhumi, enthralled the audience with their Bharatanatyam performance.
After the students, their teacher, Sangeet Natak Academy Award winner Indira P.P Bora, took the stage for a jhunuka pradan recital.
Dance exponent Jagannath Mahanta, who was the chief guest on the occasion, praised the young performers while advising them to concentrate more on the bhava.
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