(From left) Nagen Sharma, the publisher and Suresh Sarma, the translator, at the release of Mission India in Guwahati on Sunday

Translated: Kalam’s book into Assamese

The man who has inspired countless young men and women in the country to dream big will now share his thoughts with the Assamese youths in their own language; thanks to the efforts of Suresh Sarma and Jyoti Prakashan.

Sarma, the chief translator of Gauhati High Court, has translated a book by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, entitled Mission India, into Assamese.

The book was unveiled in Guwahati recently.

The book, considered an important guide for the present as well as future generations, envisages catapulting India into the legion of the economic superpowers by 2020. The book analyses the merits and weaknesses of the country and discusses at length the ways by which the destiny of India can be changed.

Sarma, who has till now translated five books by Kalam into Assamese, feels Mission India would motivate the youths to face the challenges and move ahead in life. He has also taken up the job of translating two other books by Kalam — Children Ask Kalam and Indomitable Spirit.

Music magic

DoNER minister Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was in Aizawl recently, was so impressed by some of the Mizo crooners that he descended from the podium and sat among the audience, mesmerised. The minister was in the Mizo capital to attend a Congress workers’ meet.

“When singing sensation Mami Varte came on stage, Aiyar came down from the podium and sat in the aisle. He did the same when another singer, Michael M. Sailo appeared on stage,” a party worker, who was present at the meet, said.

“I would like to sit here with you and listen to these singers the whole day long ,” the minister told the audience.

When he had accompanied former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to Mizoram as his personal secretary in the aftermath of the Mizo Accord in 1986, Aiyar had evinced the same fascination for Mizo singer Vanlalruati. Twenty years on, he could still remember the Mizo singer’s name.

Snaky affair

For fisherman Hemen Duwarah, it was another ordinary day as he sat for hours at Napukhuri, a pond in Lalimchapori village at Amguri.

To his surprise, it was not a rou that took the bait, but a strange-looking snake. That was enough to create a sensation in the village.

The snake was about one metre long and its body resembled a flexible tube, the size of a pen refill.

“We have never seen such a strange creature. We were a bit petrified when we saw it for the first time. We want experts to come to the village to ascertain its identity,” village headman Pulok Das said.