Enajori 2018
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A MIX OF CULTURES An inside story on the cover shoot COUPLECOUPLE OFOF INTEGRALINTEGRAL THINGSTHINGS Vicassam couples talk of why their partners are better than them ANAN ACTOR’SACTOR’S CONFESSIONCONFESSION SOAR HIGH An exclusive interview SOAR HIGH Our little ones talk with Urmila Mahanta of their ambition of Kothanodi fame EDITOR’S NOTE RING OF CHANGES hen I was asked to head Enajori for this year, I'll tell you I was more nervous than I was excited. Writing has been my passion and jour- nalism my profession, but it is quite a different ballgame when you are working for a community magazine. I was told I had a free hand to turn the magazine whichever way I wished. This, was an exciting Wopportunity for me because sometimes we don't need rules to follow. Sometimes we just need to follow our heart. Enajori felt that to me, I was to work with my people, it felt spe- cial. My goal was to bring the community together through Enajori. A small yet such a spread out community. Bringing to focus on some of the seemingly obvious yet special parts of our lives, our people and our homes was something I wanted to bring forth in the issue. Some of the accented features of this edition are the news section I have tried to inform and highlight the achievements of Assamese people around the globe and Assam in the past one year. Also, there is an an exclusive interview with Urmila Mahanta who starred in movies like Kothanodi and Padman among others. It's sometimes important to sit back and take notice of your partner for life and ask yourself why you love him/her so much. I got some of our wonderful couples to do just that in the story Couple of integral things. In another feature, Cross Connection I asked our non-Assamese partners to talk about their Assamese better half and their opinion about our culture. A fashionable bunch we are, I, unfortunately couldn't get everyone on board but tried, check out the streetstyle fashionistas sharing some really cool style inspirations. Lest not to forget is the cover shoot and all the fun we had while doing it. Do read the inspiration behind it. In the Young at Heart segment I have let the little humans of VicAssam share their views, their knowledge et al among other stories. Last but not the least is SESTAA being the real hero of this edition with their tireless yet quiet efforts to better the life of disabled children of Assam, also the good news is that the ATO has granted deductible gift recipient (DGR) status to SESTAA which means that all donations over $2 are tax deductible. We are proud of the efforts put by the team. I would like to extend my thanks to the VicAssam committee for believing in me with Enajori, I tried my best to bring out the community spirit in the magazine and thank all the people who made it possible for me despite my unreal deadlines. My ex-colleague and now a dear friend who made this magazine look the way it does, thank you Sandeep for your creativity, sincerity and patience! Lastly, Mudasar, my husband, my pillar of support, my best critic and my best friend for his constant support. On this wonderful occasion of Bihu, I wish each one of you a wonderful and a pros- perous Rongali Bihu. Hope you enjoy reading this issue of Enajori. SANDEEP VEER PRINCIPAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER Nagma Hasan PHOTO: ERKIN KALAYCI & TALIA CAGLAYAN MESSAGE FROM VIC ASSAM COMMITTEE Convention in Melbourne on ic Assam 28 September and 29 Committee was September 2018. The Vic extremely Assam committee has started delighted to be working for Assam Convention able to welcome while simultaneously working so many new members to our V for Bohag Bihu. The venue for community on Magh Bihu this the event is booked, the pho- year. The new members not tographers and the videogra- only attended Magh Bihu, they phers are finalised too. President : Sundar Sarma also made the event a big suc- Preparations for cultural activi- cess with their huge contribu- ties and for the Convention tions in preparing the yummy publication Xomonnoy will start delicacies, in festooning up the after Bohag Bihu. The first hall, in arranging the children Assam convention in Sydney in activities as well as some sports 2016 was a big success. activities. The new arrivals Delegates from various states have demonstrated their talent in Australia had attended the in cooking, in literature, in convention. This year del- Vice President : arts, music and dance. egates from New Rangam Rajkhowa We are always Zealand are also appreciative of attending the members who take Assam on a proactive Convention. stance and willing Support and co- to give their valuable operation from every time and energy for the one of our community in welfare of our small communi- Melbourne is earnestly request- ty. Every one of us here is time ed to make the 2nd Assam poor but fortunately is blessed Secretary : Convention a big success. We Ritu Raj Rajkhowa with a skill or talent of some shall come with details of how kind. If we can share it with you all can contribute to the others, the whole community Assam Convention 2018 after can benefit from it. the Bohag Bihu celebrations. We are celebrating Bohag The Assam Convention com- Bihu on 14 April 2018. It is mittee has two delegates from our most important function of each participating state and the year and preparations for they are busy working out the Bohag Bihu had started in full various aspects of the conven- Treasurer : Kurnic Barua swing in February 2018. With tion which includes the budget, the added support and talents fees of the delegates, time that of the new members, no doubt may be given to each state for Bohag Bihu this year will be cultural activities etc. even better than the past years. Let us all look forward to a Greetings and best wishes to very successful Assam all our members for a very Convention in Melbourne in happy Bohag Bihu. September 2018. Also, this year is a very Members : Jonali Handique Gogoi and special year for us in With best wishes, Mridusmita Haloi Melbourne. The Assamese Vic Assam Committee community of Melbourne is 2017-2018 hosting the 2nd Assam Melbourne will be the proud axomiya lettering. host of the 2nd Assam Convention ACA's Facebook page is Australia (ACA) on 28th and 29th https://www.facebook.com/assam- Sep 2018. This event will see peo- convention.au/ and the Website ple from all over Australia come link is https://ozassam.org/. For together to celebrate our rich more information and updates, Assamese culture. The New Zealand please visit these pages. community will also join us for the Here's hoping that we will meet first time in this event. To add to you in our 2nd Assam Convention our joy, Yarra City Council has Australia! become a major sponsor of our Best wishes, event by covering 90% of the hir- ACA Coordination Team (Vic) ing costs towards the historic Rangam Rajkhowa and Jonali Collingwood town hall for the Handique Gogoi event! The 1st Assam Convention was held in Sydney on 1st October represent Assam. The blue repre- 2016. ACA is held once in every 2 sents Australia - with the kangaroo, years. which is found only in Australia. The ACA logo was designed by The intersecting A&A represents a Melbourne's talented Rashmita meeting ground or interaction. A Bardalai Chelleng. This logo signi- convention is a starting place for fies AA (Assam & Australia). The discussions hence the 'aa' was also red A stands for Assam - Muga silk used as an Open Inverted Coma (") and the one horned rhino which is - the starter of a conversation. The found only in Assam in the whole lower-case lettering of assam was world, hence it has been used to used as it gave a feeling of the Contents 1 NEWS 19NOOK AHEAD 35COUPLE OF INTEGRAL Know what Assamese people Vic Assam women talk of their THINGS are doing around the globe favourite corner in their house Vic Assam couples talk of their partners and why they are 3 CAN ASSAM REGAIN ITS 20CROSS CONNECTION better than them GLORY? The non-Assamese partners talk of their Assamese better halves 4 ONE STEP AT A TIME ASSAMESE CORNER 30USUPONI 5 AN ACTOR'S CONFESSION Momi Syed's short story An exclusive interview with Urmila Mahanta of Kothanodi 32WHAT IS YOUR CASTE? fame An Assamese Poetry YOUNG AT HEART 39SOAR HIGH Our little ones talk of their ambition 22SPORTS DAY 2017 24AWARENESS ON NEURO-REHABILITATION 25BID ADIEU Prashanti recalls her times with Pranjal Bora 26GOURMET'S NOOK Some delicious recipes to savour 8 HEAD TURNERS 42SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL Streetstyle fashion of Assamesetas 43DARKNESS 12 BOHAG BIHU 2017 44A MEMORABLE TRIP 14 BEING ASSAMESE 45FUTURE OF SPACE X Jennifer Zaman's experience in representing her roots 47PIZZA MAYHEM/ ROBLOX 16 A MIX OF CULTURES 48TALE OF MY CHILDHOOD An inside story of the cover- 33MAGH BIHU 2018 shoot A COLLAGE 49BLACKBIRD 1 Forbes recognises Pitoloi B'TOWN uwahati-based Assamese designer Ranjan Bordoloi has been selected for the Forbes India 30 under 30, 2018, a G prestigious list of achievers award across 15 categories. EYES ASSAM Ranjan is a founder and creative director of Studio Bordoloi and specialises in reviving the ancient craft of brasswork dominant riyanka Chopra's love for among Assamese artisans. His collection Pitoloi includes small Assam is getting stronger, stools and barstools by cutting sheets of brass and shaped by after becoming a brand wooden moulds with a floor-based welding technique.