01-25-2004, 09:14 PM
The Sentinel
12th january 2004
Guawahati-Aassam
City set for treat on Vivekanandaâs visit
By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 11: A group of young film-makers, social activists and
noted intellectuals have made a documentary film on the historic visit
of Swami Vivekananda to Assam in 1901. The film will include footages
of locations at Dhubri, Guwahati and Shillong, where he had stayed, as
well as interviews of descendants of those few people with whom
Vivekananda was in close contact during his visit.
The 25-minute English language film, titled A Look Back in Wonder,
has been directed by Dilip Gosai, produced by the Sanskriti Vikas
Sanchar Kendra (SVSK) and presented by the Vivekananda Kendra,
Guwahati. It will be screened on the occasion of World Youth Day on
January 12 by the Kendra.
In 1901, Swami Vivekananda, at 38 years already Indiaâs leading
socio-spiritual reformer and the countryâs best-known cultural
ambassador abroad, reached Dhubri by steamer from Dhaka, accompanied
by his mother and disciples. After staying at the steamer ghat there,
the group proceeded up-river to Guwahati.
"He stayed at the Kamakhya temple for three days and prayed there.
The group stayed at the house of Sivakanta and Lakshmikanta Panda, two
priests at the temple," revealed Dilip Gosai, talking to The Sentinel.
The film contains a talk with Niranjan Panda, a descendent of the
hosts, as well as scenic shots of the ghat and the river at Dhubri. A
500 year-old Gurudwara and a 19th century Brahmo Samaj temple near the
ghat were also filmed.
"At Guwahati, Swamiji addressed four meetings including one at
Sonaram High School and another at the then newly-established Cotton
College," revealed Dr Dipankar Banerjee of the Department of History,
Gauhati University, who did extensive research on the visit, for the
documentary.
The great spiritual leader was much impressed by what he saw of
Assam. "Assam is the most beautiful place in India, next only to
Kashmir," he wrote in a letter dated July 5, 1901, to Mary, one of his
disciples.
Vivekananda then made an arduous journey over difficult hilly terrain
to Shillong, the then capital of Assam. The journey then used to take
three days by horse-drawn cart, according to Dr Banerjee.
"He stayed there for two weeks, and during this period came in touch
with Sir Henry Cotton, Chief Commissioner of Assam," Gosai added.
Another important aspect of Vivekanandaâs visit was the deep
impression he cast on his hosts, including Henry Cotton.
The film, besides containing footage of the places and institutions
during that historical visit, also have scenic shots of the area
around the Brahmaputra.
Prof. Dilip Kumar Barua, former Dean of Cotton College, has provided
the narration to the documentary, while the camera-work has been
executed by Jayesh Das, who has also written the script.
The screening of the documentary is a part of a slew of programmes
scheduled for World Youth Day on January 12, including a speech by Dr
Khound, who was a member of the team led by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam,
which had conducted the nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998
VKIC Guwahati
VKIC@p...
12th january 2004
Guawahati-Aassam
City set for treat on Vivekanandaâs visit
By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Jan 11: A group of young film-makers, social activists and
noted intellectuals have made a documentary film on the historic visit
of Swami Vivekananda to Assam in 1901. The film will include footages
of locations at Dhubri, Guwahati and Shillong, where he had stayed, as
well as interviews of descendants of those few people with whom
Vivekananda was in close contact during his visit.
The 25-minute English language film, titled A Look Back in Wonder,
has been directed by Dilip Gosai, produced by the Sanskriti Vikas
Sanchar Kendra (SVSK) and presented by the Vivekananda Kendra,
Guwahati. It will be screened on the occasion of World Youth Day on
January 12 by the Kendra.
In 1901, Swami Vivekananda, at 38 years already Indiaâs leading
socio-spiritual reformer and the countryâs best-known cultural
ambassador abroad, reached Dhubri by steamer from Dhaka, accompanied
by his mother and disciples. After staying at the steamer ghat there,
the group proceeded up-river to Guwahati.
"He stayed at the Kamakhya temple for three days and prayed there.
The group stayed at the house of Sivakanta and Lakshmikanta Panda, two
priests at the temple," revealed Dilip Gosai, talking to The Sentinel.
The film contains a talk with Niranjan Panda, a descendent of the
hosts, as well as scenic shots of the ghat and the river at Dhubri. A
500 year-old Gurudwara and a 19th century Brahmo Samaj temple near the
ghat were also filmed.
"At Guwahati, Swamiji addressed four meetings including one at
Sonaram High School and another at the then newly-established Cotton
College," revealed Dr Dipankar Banerjee of the Department of History,
Gauhati University, who did extensive research on the visit, for the
documentary.
The great spiritual leader was much impressed by what he saw of
Assam. "Assam is the most beautiful place in India, next only to
Kashmir," he wrote in a letter dated July 5, 1901, to Mary, one of his
disciples.
Vivekananda then made an arduous journey over difficult hilly terrain
to Shillong, the then capital of Assam. The journey then used to take
three days by horse-drawn cart, according to Dr Banerjee.
"He stayed there for two weeks, and during this period came in touch
with Sir Henry Cotton, Chief Commissioner of Assam," Gosai added.
Another important aspect of Vivekanandaâs visit was the deep
impression he cast on his hosts, including Henry Cotton.
The film, besides containing footage of the places and institutions
during that historical visit, also have scenic shots of the area
around the Brahmaputra.
Prof. Dilip Kumar Barua, former Dean of Cotton College, has provided
the narration to the documentary, while the camera-work has been
executed by Jayesh Das, who has also written the script.
The screening of the documentary is a part of a slew of programmes
scheduled for World Youth Day on January 12, including a speech by Dr
Khound, who was a member of the team led by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam,
which had conducted the nuclear tests in Pokhran in 1998
VKIC Guwahati
VKIC@p...