Letters to the Editor: Kushagan & Bhuban Roy

The great Kushagan artist Bhuban Roy’s demise is an irreparable loss to the cultural world of Assam. He was one of the expert artists of “Kushagan” of modern times. Kushagan is a traditional programme of thousands of years old songs, dance, drama and dialogue of Koch Rajbongshi community. Especially, the episodes of Labo-Kush of the Ramayan are presented in dancing gestures.

It’s known that a Kushagan programme was held three days and three nights earlier. There was a person called “Gidal” to portray the story through song and dance. The “Gidal” is not elected, but selected from amongst experts by the Guru or Mentor. The selected “Gidal” is conferred a title of “Kushani”. Late Bhuban Roy was a Kushani. The importance of Kushagan is not concentrated among the Koch community in the south-western Assam only.

Mahapurush Sankardeva borrowed many dramatic ingredients of “Bhaona” from Kushagan. So Kushagan is undoubtedly a living tradition of Assam, enriching Assamese culture from time immemorial.

Nowadays, performers of Kushagan are diminishing day by day. It’s the duty of people as well as the government to revive the hidden talents of Kushagan artists to enliven our traditional culture. Otherwise the basic golden treasure of Assamese culture will be lost permanently. No race or community is built on alien or borrowed culture or ideology. Adieu Bhuban Roy. But may Kushagan live long.

Arup Saikia

(arupsaikia07@gmail.com)

Nipah Virus

The world has often been devastated by viruses. Who can forget the Corona pandemic? Nowadays, once again, the Nipah virus has started spreading in Kerala. If it is not stopped in time, it can become a problem for the government as well as for the people. ICMR DG said that 20 more doses of monoclonal antibodies will be purchased from Australia for treatment. This medicine has not been given to anyone in India till now, but it is necessary for the medicine to be given in the initial stage of infection only. He said that 14 patients infected with the Nipah virus outside India were given monoclonal antibodies, and all of them have survived. Only phase 1 trials have been conducted to establish the safety of the drug. It can be given only to those patients for whom there is no satisfactory authorized treatment method. People should be alert and take precautions, and the government also needs to keep taking the necessary steps to deal with the Nipah virus.

Jahangir Ali,

Guwahati

Surya shines

Nothing succeeds Iike success and failure is an orphan. Every batsman has had a lean patch in his career. However, a great batsman is one who galvanizes focus, energy and talent at his command to convincingly beat his batting blues. But when a top player repeatedly flops, critics and trollers are hell bent on making his life all the more tough, which Suryakumar Yadav, arguably one of the best world T20 batsmen, must have realised till first Mohali and then Indore happened. The Mohali knock against Australia should silence all critics who doubted Surya’s ability to play a patient game. Fully justifying the faith reposed in him by the team management, Surya let go his trademark strokes for the cause of his team.

The stylish player joined skipper KL Rahul when India still needed 92 runs to win and, by the time he departed, he had taken the game away from the Kangaroos. At Indore, he blasted away as only as he can, proving how well he can quickly adapt. Throughout his innings at Mohali, Surya’s cover drives exemplified his class. Of course, he is custom made for the shortest format of the game. That does not preclude the possibility of his finding a permanent spot in the 50- over international, although it may be tough for him to break into the final eleven early in the upcoming World Cup unless there is an injury to key players.

Dr Ganapathi Bhat

Akola