19th February, 2012 (London): A successful half day symposium was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Hall, Indian YMCA, London on the 19th February 2012 convened by Dr Jitendralal Barkakati and under sponsorship of the UAAUK. The Assamese Diaspora discussed selected economic problems of Assam. There was a congregation of more than sixty Assamese people from all over the UK. The meeting, chaired by Dr. Ranjit Baruah, President UAAUK, started with the Inaugural speech by Mr. Jitendra Kumar, First Secretary at the High Commission of India, London. Mr. Kumar extolled the virtues of Assamese culture and spoke about the potential for the economy of Assam.

Dear Friends
UAAUK is organizing a half-day conference on economic development of Assam. It is open for all, and hence we call it Assam Forum. This will take place on 19th February 2012 (2.30-5.30 PM) at the Mahatma Gandhi Hall, YMCA Indian Student Hostel, Fitzroy Square, London WC1T 6AQ. We cordially invite you to grace the occasion and participate in the stimulating discussions. There will be tea and snacks between 2.30pm and 3.00pm, and the meeting will start at 3.00pm.

I am pleased to inform you of the results from the General Election of the United Assam Association of the UK (UAAUK) 2011. The new office bearers will be:

President: Dr Jitendralal Borkakati
Vice-President: Dr Shyam Saikia
General Secretary: Dr Nripen Barkataki
Assistant General Secretary: Mr Rishi Kakoti
Treasurer: Mrs Julie Bora
Cultural Secretary: Mrs Chinu Kishore

Apart from the post of Vice-President, no other position was contested. In the case of the Vice-President, a vote took place to choose between two candidates: Dr Shyam Saikia and Mrs Rini Kakati. Dr Saikia received 50 votes, while Mrs Kakati received 14. Therefore, Dr Shyam Saikia will be taking up the post of Vice-President. The results of the election has been independently checked and verified by Dr Chadma Deka. The out-going office bearers will continue in their posts until the next Annual General Meeting of the UAAUK. At the AGM, they will hand over to the newly elected officers. Thanks to all members who voted in this year’s election and, also, I would like to wish the new UAAUK officials well for their term in office.

Yours sincerely,

Jan Goswami
Election Officer, United Assam Association of the UK

This video was taken on 20th November during the immersion of ashes of Bhupen Hazarika to river Tyne in the north east of England by a small community of Assamese people. The background music was composed and sung by Bhupen Hazarika during his visit to the region in 1999 in admiration of river Tyne which he found flowing in harmony with 'Luit'. The full text of the song that he composed while he was in Newcastle-upon-Tyne expressing feelings about the Tyne River, comparing it with the mighty Brahmaputra, in his own handwrting can be downloaded here.