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A New Web site SupportAChild-Assam.com Started Asoftware engineer, a doctoral student and a tireless social worker, Ankur Bora of Dallas, Texas, has started a new Web site called SupportAChild-Assam.com with a view to helping children in Assam and Northeast India financially in pursuit of education. He has also started a group called SupportAChild-Assam@yahoogroups.com for the same purpose. According to the Web site, Ankur started the endeavor inspired by many examples of generous individuals who have taken initiatives in “embracing impoverished children, showing kindness and compassion, bringing back hope and joy in their little innocent hearts by opening their own.” Ankur’s goal is to find individuals to support the educational cost of a child, which along side can also provide for emergency food and clothing, and medical and dental care. The initial plan will be to find between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 per child per year. The money will be used in meeting with their basic requirements like expenses of books, clothing and nourishment. The sponsor will enjoy being a visible supporter of the child by receiving photos, personal letters, e-mails, progress reports and the like. The sponsor will be able to watch the child grow and flourish, knowing that he or she is making it all possible. The sponsors will be encouraged to send letters, cards and photos from their country of residence which besides building a bond between them will make the child feel cared for and loved. By providing help and guidance of a supportive adult early in their life, the sponsor will be making perceptible difference in a child’s life by 16 · Keeping a child off the street, · Helping a child understand their future may be different from their parents · Breaking the cycle of poverty, · Visiting the child during trips to Assam and showing that someone successful cares. According to the Web site, there are also other ways to contribute to this effort: · Volunteering: An NRA or his or her children can volunteer to teach in one of the schools during vacations in Assam. The teaching can include areas of spoken English, basic computer training, art and music, computer animation using audio and video, and others. The long-term objective is to impart marketable skills to these children - enhancing their prospects of employability - hence guiding them on path to a dignified living and self-reliance. · Leadership and Personality Development: For older students, one can also arrange workshops, training camps to be conducted by the visiting non-residents. These can be in the areas of public speaking, interpersonal communication, group discussion, the technique of power point presentation and interview techniques. · Joyful Learning: An NRA can also donate storybooks, audio video CDs, coloring books and other resources to the school libraries. The Web site can also arrange art exhibitions by the participating non-residents and local artists. Ideas like “charity walk and run”, “art and craft auction” to raise funds for these schools can also be arranged. Ankur Bora is working with many individuals and organizations in his selfless quest. It must be noted that Assam Society of America has had a similar program called “Adopt-A-Child” for more than a decade, spearheaded by individuals such as Vijeet Sarma (New Jersey), Geeta Chowdhary (New York), Jugma Bora (California) and Bonti Mahanta (Missouri). In this program, approximately $100 was given to schools in Assam to provide for educational expenses of each selected student. Winners were chosen from a pool of applicants after announcements and reports were published in newspapers in Assam seeking applications. The program was discontinued a few years ago due to non-receipt of timely records from schools on time. In addition, a few years ago, Assam Society of America, decided not to have its yearly convention and donated several thousand dollars to the Blind School for Children in Guwahati for educational and other expenses at the school. Posoowa admires Ankur’s record in bring together people from various backgrounds, organizations and continents for exemplary philanthropic activities and wishes this endeavor great success. Jugal Kalita, Colorado Springs POSOOWA May 2009
Once a Cottonian, Always a Cottonian! During my visit to Guwahati each time, I take a walk from my family home (Barpetia Para) passing Harisava, Gauhati Dairy, Mahamaya to the New Cotton College Administrative Building – to revive my cherished old memories. The entire route to my college had a different kind of spirit at 8:30 am, marked by the eager faces of school and college going students and gentle yet brisk rhythm of the movement of office goers. The noise and bustle of an unorganized shopping area has by now overwhelmed the elegance of the road to my favorite alma mater. Still this is my favorite route, one that reminds me of my teenage days. • • As an Ex-Cottonian, we still cherish with profound pride in the innermost depth of our minds the sweet memories of our Cotton College days. We also hold the values that the College symbolizes very close to our hearts. Once a Cottonian, always a Cottonian! This can-do spirit in us continues to contribute towards further enhancement of the brilliant traditions of the alma mater through one’s conscious efforts. Cotton College, which has thus become a part of the consciousness of generations of Cottonians, is now 108 years old. We are all product of this college and would like to share with our present younger generation what gives us the sense of belonging to our much-loved College and to our Sikkha Gurus. • • General Secretary. Today we want that kind of spirit and enthusiasm from our younger generation. We want to see another Nripen Goswami amongst our student community today. • • During our student life at Cotton College, we were mostly into cultural activities and music. We still remember the well-known names and the kinds of spirit they had shown. The names like Lalit Shyam, Ramen Choudhury, Dost, Habibur Rahman (Louis) Dilip Barua (Ruby) JP Saikia, Yamini Phukan, Kaushalya Kanaga, Charu Seleng. The sports personalities included Dr. Arunima Barua, the Secretary of the Girls’ Common Room and the NCC advisers in organizing any cultural event. Students were not interested in politics. We only used to invite ministers as chief guests to our function. • During my sojourn to Guwahati this time, I had an opportunity to join the Cotton College Alumni Association general meeting on Sunday, 29 March 2009. To me it was an emotional occasion for a journey down memory lane to relive once again our memorable days in Cotton College. • • But the experience of attending the meeting that day has created a kind of unrest in my mind. As an ex-Cottonian, I have felt the impulse of expressing this The Cotton College Union Society is a most prestigious organization, which not only reflects the interest of the college but also expects to provide the role models for the future generations in Assam in every aspect of life. In the 1963 general election, Indra Gogoi took over from late Nripen Goswami, the lion voice of student community at the time who had the talent to create awareness and pride. The student community of whole Guwahati used to come together to Goswami’s beck and call. He had that much power and authority, could mesmerize by his heart-warming speeches and gather the student community for any cause of Assam. He used to visit the schools and other colleges of Guwahati to create social and cultural awareness amongst the students. When I joined Cotton College in 1962, he was our 17 leader of Cotton College. I had given up the proposal to be a cultural secretary not to contest in support of Akon Barua, my classmate, now the Retired. Prof. (Eng) of Jaysagar College, Sibsagar. Dost was Music Secretary in 1964.• • In our days teacher student relationship was confined to lessons and books. To go to principal’s room was only for an emergency. Our principal was Nurul Islam Sir.• • In the college, Mahesh Bhuyan Sir and Upen Sharma (Eng), Hemanta Sharma (Assamese), Narayan Sharma were our fact of my unrest. I know that the old days cannot be revived. Changes would come naturally and the society and particularly younger generation would, in their behavior, reflect such changes. But to my mind the changes are far too rapid. • • Somehow or other I am prepared to reconcile myself with some such changes. But the whole scenario of that meeting did put me in a state of shock and surprise and spoiled the joy of attending the alumni meet. • • Continued on page 15.. POSOOWA May 2009
Page 1 and 2: NON-RESIDENT ASSAMESE (NRA) MAGAZIN
Page 3 and 4: You are cordially invited to attend
Page 5 and 6: Padmapani: For my Optionals I have
Page 7 and 8: Sattriya Dance Workshops in France
Page 9 and 10: Rongali Bihu celebration in Bahrain
Page 11 and 12: Rongali Bihu Celebration by Asom Sa
Page 13 and 14: NE USA Bihu Celebrates Tradition an
Page 15: Bikul Das at Stanford awarded Gates
Page 19 and 20: Letters to the Editor Re: Power Cri
Page 21 and 22: Rongali Bihu in Pune The advent of
Page 23 and 24: 23 World champion Archer Jayanta Ta
Page 25 and 26: international player. He belongs to

Vedajyoti Ozah of Houston, Texas, has embarked upon the - Posoowa

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