Eventful Sunday: Painting, Rains And Bipul Deuri Gets Assam Translation Literature Award-2013!

 22nd Death Anniversary of Amulya Kumar Chakravarty

We had the Sunday, the 6th of October, lined up with two back to back programmes. First at 10.30am, a Painting Competition for little kids organized for the first time by Shrutinaad, and then the main sixth Amulya Kumar Chakravarty Memorial Translation Literature Award-2013 Ceremony at 3pm at the same venue that is Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Guwahati. But Sunday morning brought us some disappointment. Heavy overnight downpour filled our campus. We hoped the day would light up later. Nature had other plans though. 

Rains started first with a drizzle and then pouring down. However we were ecstatic seeing huge groups of kids with parents filling out the forms defying rains. Due to the torrential rains that followed we were allotted an inner veranda. The start was a little delayed, but everything was in order with our dear friend and renowned sculptor Biren Singha as Chief Guest guiding the kids to perfection. 

Meanwhile it turned out to be an unprecedented downpour in these parts continuing with unabated fury till about 2.30pm and flooding the main road outside the venue and homes all around. We got the information that rain water was rushing into our home too and that we would not be able to return home after the programmes. We prepared emboldened by the grand success of the Painting Competition. Only prayed at least the Award winner would arrive for the Ceremony. 

Award Winner Bipul Deuri Felicitated

The award function was a dignified affair too. The President of Assam Sahitya Sabha, Imran Shah, formally presented the 6th biennial Amulya Kumar Chakravarty Memorial Translation Literature Award-2013 to Bipul Deuri, a very popular Author-Translator of recent times, for his brilliant rendering of Mark Shand's epic travelogue 'River Dog' into Assamese. The meeting was presided over by Urmila Chakravarty, President of Panzabari Sahitya Sabha-the joint organizer with Amulya Kumar Chakravarty Memorial Trust. Rousing and enlightening speeches were delivered by Professor Imran Shah and Special Guest ex-MP Jayanta Rongpi. Rongpi emphasized the fact that in today's times of rampant corruption the down to earth honesty of Amulya Kumar Chakravarty as a civil service officer must get highlighted along with his literary Translation genius. Speech by the convener and member of the Trust Chinmay Chakravarty (this writer) was also appreciated. Ragini Chakravarty presided over the Painting Competition awards distribution event for Shrutinaad, the joint organizer of the Competition. Three top awards and two consolation awards were presented.

As anticipated we could not return home that evening and spent the night at relatives' places. In our hearts we were very happy for the success and grateful for the audience who almost filled the auditorium despite calamitous weather. There were endless calls from all those who could not make it. 

We came home last evening and by late night could somehow control the 'flood' inside! We are still waiting for the 'outside' one to subside. There are some damages, but the spirit reigns supreme.