The charging rhino painted on the sides of ASTC buses had just about died: the corporation had outstandings amounting to Rs 120 crore, and was bogged down with a workforce that translated to 74 employees per bus. That was on May 21, 2001, when Anjan Dutta took over as state transport minister, as part of the newly installed Tarun Gogoi government. Hardly two years down the line, Assam has a success story that is the envy of many. "Satisfactory," is how Dutta describes ASTC?s turnaround.

While the Centre, after prolonged consideration, recently gave its nod to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation’s (NEEPCO) 500 MW mega power project to be set up at the cost of Rs 1,800 crore in Monarchak in the Sonamura sub-division of West Tripura, the project itself presents a diagonally opposite set of possibilities.

Discover the research and deveopment process of classical xattriya (sattriya) dance during last 4 decades by internationally reputed dance artist and pioneer of classical sattriya dance Indira P.P. Bora. It traces the process of revival of sattriya dance from the sattras (monasteries) to global platforms and includes unique information regarding female adaptation from male oriented traditional dance form. Find out how Indira develops the ritualistic dance form of Assam to a sophisticated classical dance form of India within the framework of Assamese culture and tradition.

We are in the process of bringing out the yearly magazine Asomi, published by Assam Society of America. This year, the magazine will be distributed in Assam 2003 to be held on July 4 and 5.

He leaves behind his wife, three sons and two daughters. Dr Das took his PhD degree from London School of Economics in 1953. He authored several books and was involved with various socio-cultural and sports activities. He was a former treasurer of Assam Sports Association and founder secretary of GU Sports Association. He was cremated at Bhutnath crematorium on June 4, 2003.

The message, has, hopefully, been sent out loud and clear to the state’s political parties: that the government of the day cannot ride roughshod over people’s sentiments and rename institutions after its leaders. On this occasion, the Congress government in Assam has been forced to reconsider the issue of renaming the Gauhati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) after former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, following protests by various of the public, including the medical fraternity.Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has now said that he prefers an amicable solution to the problem.

Nor the constant downpour of that day could dampen the spirits of the bihu enthusiast and people were delighted by the presence of old friends and well wishers from distant Montreal, Philadelphia, as well as Assam in addition to the Boston Assamese community.

Even as the 12-hour bandh called to protest against the killing of 32 people by insurgents of the banned All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) and National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) ended peacefully this evening, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar chose to lay the blame for the latest round of militant violence at Bangladesh’s door, brushing aside questions regarding the alienation of indigenous Tripuris in the state. “If you want to help, talk about the militants’ camps in Bangladesh. They (Bangladeshis) cannot play with our lives like this…” Sarkar said.

And this mean the state police force was biased? “Biased or whatever,” said the combative chief minister, “but there are facts and figures to prove the harassment in the absence of the IMDT, and even during it.” The Congress has for long been accused of exploiting illegal migrants from Bangladesh as their pet vote-bank. The latest developments on the Act are expected completely polarise the political forces of the state.

New Delhi, May 6, 2003,11pm IST: