It was a handful of Assamese families, who were residents of the national capital just after India attained its Independence, who got together to form “ASOM SANGHA”, an informal organization basically meant to be a platform to occasionally get together on social occasions and help one another to keep in touch with their home state. At that time, there were hardly about a dozen Assamese families in New Delhi. The first president was Mahendra Mohan Choudhury, who later became the Chief Minister of Assam, and the general secretary was Debendra Pal Das.
It’s been 60 years since then, and the NCR region’s Assamese population that includes permanent residents, employees of various government & private sector organizations and students, have gone up to over 75,000. Over the years, the ASOM SANGHA continued to be the platform for the growing population of people of Assam, on the way changing its name to “ASSAM ASSOCIATION, DELHI” during its registration as a society in 1967. And over the years, several sister organizations have enlarged the vision that is the Assam Association, Delhi.
They are: the Delhi branches of Asom Sahitya Sabha (the highest literary body of Assam) and Sodou Asom Lekhika Samaroh (a highly regarded body of women writers from Assam), Uruli (a women’e organization), Kirtan Sangha (to highlight the works of Assam’s 15th century social reformer-cultural visionary-Vaishnavaite saint-litterateur), Pragjyotishpur Sanskritik Kendra (a cultural organization named after the ancient capital of Kamrupa Kingdom of the yore), and Luitporia (a cultural organization of the students from Assam), apart from Assam Association-Gurgaon and Assam Association-Faridabad, the last two emphasizing the fact that the Assamese population is growing to a significant number in the NCR region.
A cursory glance at the Association’s membership list brings up several prominent names, the most prominent being Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, a life member, who is currently having a unbroken fourth term as a member of Rajya Sabha from the state.
The bustling community from Assam in the capital comprises several prominent names, such as Delhi High Court Chief Justice Dr Mukunda Kam Sharma, Director General of Civil Aviation Kanu Gohain, Union Ministers Santosh Mohan Dev and B K Handique, Air Officer commanding-in-chief of the Western Air Command Air Marshal PK Barbora, noted painter Col Jiten Hazarika, Sahitya Akademi award-winning writer Moloya Khound, Director (Onshore) of ONGC Ltd Ajit Kumar Hazarika, former ONGCL CMD Bikash Chandra Bora, Mr. N M Bora, Director (Operations) Oil India Limited, Mr. Jayanta Bhuyan CEO, India Brand Equity Foundation and many more. Jnanpith awardee and one of the country’s foremost writers, Indira Goswami, who is known popularly as Mamoni Raisom Goswami, was a long-time resident of the capital till when she shifted recently to Guwahati. Further, in recent years, the number of media personnel hailing from the region and working in various print and electronic media houses in the capital have
gone up to nearly 100, no way an insignificant number!
The Association is in the process of completing the construction of the Srimanta Sankardev Bhawan, a cultural complex named after the 15th Century saint-social reformer-cultural icon Srimanta Sankaradeva and located at the Qutub Institutional Area near Jawaharlal Nehru University in South Delhi. Once fully functional, it will offer courses in Assamese language and the classical dance form Sattriya, apart from having an auditorium and a dispensary through which doctors from the community aim to offer voluntary primary health care facilities to the needy. It already has a functional library, accommodation facility and a restaurant offering Assamese cuisine.
The Assamese community has been regularly observing four events – the Rongali Bihu festival in April heralding the Assamese new year, the post-harvest Bhogali Bihu coinciding with Makar Sankranti, Sankardev Tithi and Idd Milan. It has also been taking up social causes like collecting financial and material help for flood-affected people back home.
Quite naturally, it’s a great moment in time for the organization as it celebrates its Diamond Jubilee this year. And to make the occasion memorable, a series of programmes are being lined up, showcasing the diverse culture of the state and also bringing up amidst the people of the capital some important issues concerning Assam and the larger North-East region.
Porograms
| Date | Time | Venue | Programme | Remarks | |
|
1 |
08/02/07 |
1930hrs |
Siri Fort Auditorium |
Fund raising Concert by Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan , Ayaan &Amaan Khan – Strings for Peace |
Entry for two by invitation only. Invitation cards available at Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhavan Children below 8 not permitted |
|
2 |
21/02/08 to 24/02/08 |
1730hrs daily |
Dilli Haat |
North East Cultural festival and fashion show
|
A) 150 artists from NE to take part. B) Entry open to all C) Guest of honour for final day Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar |
|
3 |
06/04/08 |
1730hrs |
Sai Baba Auditorium, Lodhi Road |
Plenary session and cultural evening |
A) All ex Presidents and GSs will be invited and felicitated B) Cultural show by local artists C) Open house discussion |
LITERARY ACTIVITIES
| Date | Time | Venue | Programme | Remarks | |
|
1 |
16/02/08 |
1630hrs |
USI Auditorium, RaoTularam Marg |
Lecture on Assam's Glorious History By Lt Gen S K Sinha, PVSM, Governor of J&K |
A )Entry by invitation only. B)Invitation cards available at Srimanta Sankaradeva Bhavan C)Each lecture will be preceded by high tea and followed by an interactive session. |
|
2 |
01/03/08 |
1630hrs |
Speaker's Hall, Constitution Club, Rafi Marg |
Lecture by Mr Manishankar Aiyar, Union Minister on Opportunities and Roadblocks : Look East |
Same as above |
|
3 |
08/03/08 |
1630hrs |
Venue will be announced shortly |
Lecture by Sir Mark Tully on Telling the North East Story: The conflict and the media |
Same as above |
|
4 |
15/03/08 |
1630hrs |
Deputy Speaker's Hall Constitution Club, Rafi Marg |
Lecture by noted Filmmaker Sri Jahnu Barua (tentative title: A United North East- My never ending dream) |
Same as above |
|
5 |
29/03/08 |
1630hrs |
Speaker's Hall Constitution Club, Rafi marg |
Lecture by Dr Ramchandra Guha on the History of independence as if the North East mattered. |
Same as above |
OTHER ACTIVITIES PLANNED
(1) An All India College Students' essay competition on Sankaradeva: a Saint-Poet-Artist- and Scholar: Last date for entry 1st Mar ''08 to reach General Secretary, Assam Association, Delhi, Sankaradeva Bhavan, A14B, Qutab Institutional Area, SatSang Vihar Marg, New Delhi 110067.
(2) A grand cultural show to coincide with the Rongali Bihu celebrations at Laxmibai Nagar, Samaj Sadan, open air theatre on the 20th April 08. Mr Zubin Garg and Mr Devajit Saha will be the main attractions.
ALL ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN IN THE CELEBRATIONS