Revolveror Hanhi
By Khobir Ahmed

Publishers: Bani Prakashan Private Limited

Price: Rs 30

Dear Ex-Cottonian,

The Cotton College Centenary Celebration Committee offers its belated New Year greetings to you and your family.

Probably you are aware of the Centenary Celebration of Cotton College, which was started on 27 May 2001 and to be completed on 26 May 2002. Already three phases of the celebration have been successfully completed – the inaugural phase (27-29 May 2001), the second phase (6-8 Sept 2001), the third phase (20-22 Jan 2002).

Because, for Shabnam Hussain, life was a journey towards fulfiling her goal. And she did. She became a fashion designer.

Born in Jorhat, Shabnam realised in the early part of her life that her calling lay in dressing up people albeit in her own creations.
Armed with a degree in designing from the South Delhi Polythechnic, Shabnam set forth to prove her worth to the world. After working and training under experts she stepped into the real world to carve an identity for herself in the world of haute couture in the year 1997.

Arguably, I started too early to fall for a sweet young thing in the year of the moonlanding. Not surprisingly mama had once remarked, "Can’t tie his shoe laces and he is in love!" At kindergarten, my sister’s friend Dolly and I were the only ones in school who came closest to what I was to learn later, teenagers proudly called 'going steady'.

The subject is quiet old from his student days he said, but one that is too dear to his heart. And, I guess none of us could deny its importance as we have always been looking towards it at times of both joy and pain. As crying babies we used to seek our parent’s shoulders…as youngsters we seek friends… as grown ups we look for lovers….and as adults we look for self-reliance……and the list is endless till we finally seek God.

But for those living in the heartland it is a forbidden land, a land of no return. The Northeast is an ethno- cultural frontier encompassing much of India’s rich but lesser known Mongoloid heritage, a transition zone of linguistic, racial and religious streams.

The students' 'dirty teeth', however, was not a product of poor hygiene. The dental problems were instead a consequence of the high level of fluoride now known to exist in their local ground water.

Water which contains a high level of fluoride creates a disorder known as fluorosis. While there is no doubt that fluorosis affects the teeth, that is not the end of the tragedy, for fluorosis may also affect the functioning of the bones, joints, stomach and kidney.

Assam Province - Endemic to Fluorosis

The celebrations were held at Jumeira Beach Park, Dubai, attended by a group of about 50 from the Emirates of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The program was also enjoyed by a few guests from Assam who were in UAE visiting their relatives.

The presence of 'Doi-Chira' along with 'Gur' took quite a few by surprise who could not resist the temptation of relishing these traditional Assamese snacks in a foreign land, that too on the occasion of Bhogali Bihu. Everyone also got treated with 'Til Pitha' and ‘Narikolor Laru’ brought all the way from Assam specially for the occasion.

It was spread further by the movies and soaps released in the following months making life gloomy for singles. Especially on February 14th every year. And it’s time that we prepare ourselves for the same fateful day this year too.

A short pause and the old chap slowly turns with quiet an effort. The lady’s sight turns his face into full bloom! The last part of the ad-line ends with “Almost!” Was the chap thinking of com’on baby light my fire as he smiled? Nope… it’s just all-boys stuff of appreciating beauty that never really says goodbye. It’s their true soul mate actually…. or the little devil inside them.