North East India Photography Competition Prize Winners A Brief Note on Trend MMS
Trend MMS is a Socio Cultural Trust, engaged in conducting various socio-cultural activities for the benefit of the society, National Integration and Communal Harmony. The objective of the trust is to Preserve, Promote and Propagate the rich culture, heritage and tradition of the region to other parts of the country apart from working towards economic development of the region. The Trust actively conducts programmes and events of cultural values and social reforms, economic development, measures for protection of environment and employment generation. The Trust believes that through culture, society could be united and message of Universal brotherhood, social equality could be propagated in amongst people.The Managing Trustee of the Trust is Mr. Shyamkanu Mahanta, an entrepreneur, a promoter of culture and tradition and also a writer, who has a rich cultural background. Mr. Mahanta's family is one of the premiers in propagating the rich cultural heritage of Assam by conducting various dance and drama events in this region. Mr. Mahanta is an Engineer with Management background and having around 17 years of working in Premier Organisation as Infrastructure Project Planner. He has worked in NEDFi, travelled extensively to the nook and corner of the region and has promoted many industrial & infrastructure projects. He has also worked in IL&FS;, India's premier Infrastructure organization and worked across India, based in Delhi and have been part of many landmark infrastructure projects. In the North East, Mr. Mahanta is a pioneer in successful implementation of Small Hydropower projects, have brought many investment to the North East including projects like Ginger hotel in Guwahati, Agartala, North East Mega Food Park and many more. Mr. Mahanta became an Entrepreneur since 2010 and started a Hotel, an Advisory Company called MMS Advisory and is presently handling many tourism, road and power projects in the North East.
Success StoryTrend MMS has successfully conducted many cultural events in Assam and other parts of India. Most popular among them are the musical opera "Parijaat" and dance drama "Chordhora Jhumura" in Guwahati, "Srimanta Sankaradeva Movement Programme" in Delhi and Bengaluru and "Samannay - A Musical Journey of Integration" in different locations of Assam.
"SRIMANTA SANKARADEVA MOVEMENT PROGRAMME"
To promote the unique culture of Assam, Assamese egalitarian society and Assam's greatest icon Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva across India, the programme "Srimanta Sankaradeva Movement" was conceptualized. The first edition of the Movement was held in New Delhi in September 2012 and the second edition was organized recently in Bengaluru in June 2013. The movement is considered one of biggest event of Assam outside North East. Both the events got huge media in both local and national media. Legendary actor Mr. Victor Banerjee is the brand ambassador of the movement.
The Bengaluru edition of Srimanta Sankaradeva Movement was more large and spectacular. The event comprised of a docu-feature on Srimanta Sankaradeva, dance-drama "Chordhora Jhumura", musical tribute to Sankaradeva by legendary sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, and musical performance by two popular Assamese singers Angarag Mahanta and Joi Barua. Attending dignitaries of the programme were Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dr. Veerappa Moily, legendary Kannada writer and Jnanpith Awardee Chandrashekhara Kambara, Hon'ble Ministers of Karnataka Dr. SR Patil and Mr. Gundu Rao, noted Assamese writer and Sahitya Academy Awardee Dr. Lakhinandan Bora, noted dramatist and 'Padmasree' Arun Sarmah. Dr. Veerappa Moily who was very impressed after seeing the dance drama 'Chordhora Jhumura' opined "these are the Cultural Ambassadors from the youngest one to the oldest one should be representing India across the world". He also appreciated the organizers for conducting such cultural event showcasing culture and heritage. He mentioned that Assam has a strong history of culture and social harmony which needs to be promoted across the country.
SAMANNAY, A Musical Journey Of IntegrationAt a time, when Assam was facing communal disturbances, ethnic unrest, Trend MMS had started 'Samannay' to build bridges amongst various communities and tribes through music. Leading musicians of all major tribes and communities joined together and started a State wise journey to promote peace and brotherhood. Samannay was successfully organized by Trend MMS in different locations of Assam like Nagaon, Guwahati, Sivasagar, Kajalgaon (BTC), Udalguri, Runikhata (BTC). In the second phase, this musical journey covered Jorhat and Dibrugarh. The main objective behind this journey was to spread the message of love and harmony amongst the people of Assam. The programme had performances by leading musical personalities of Assam like Sulekha Basumatary, Tridib Basumatary, Mr. Dowhang Mushahary from Bodo, Tarulata Kutum from Mising, Phu Ning Ding from Karbi, Sajjan Nayak from Adivasi, Zikir performance by Bulbul Hussain. The programmes also had performances by Ms. Priyanka Bharali and Mausam Gogoi, the upcoming young singers of the State. The Programme also contained an Audio Visual documentary on Assam - its history of social harmony initiated by leaders like Sukapha, cultural & societal fundamentals created by Sankaradeva, communal harmony strengthened by Ajan Pir and its cultural fabric taken forward by the icons like Jyoti Prasad Agarwala, Bishnu Rabha and Bhupen Hazarika. Leading personalities of various tribes, communities who have contributed towards social harmony through their works had been felicitated during the events.
