Global NRA Engagement Initiative : The first Global NRA Convention 2026
Buljit Buragohain
Thematic Brief
The three days long convention serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and commitment towards preserving Assam’s historical tapestry, sustainable development and engagement of the Global Assamese diaspora. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aims to create a unified and actionable strategy that honours the state’s rich past and ensures its legacy for future generations in a fast changing world.
Thematic Brief
The three days long convention serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and commitment towards preserving Assam’s historical tapestry, sustainable development and engagement of the Global Assamese diaspora. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aims to create a unified and actionable strategy that honours the state’s rich past and ensures its legacy for future generations in a fast changing world.
The three days long convention serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and commitment towards preserving Assam’s historical tapestry, sustainable development and engagement of the Global Assamese diaspora. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aims to create a unified and actionable strategy that honours the state’s rich past and ensures its legacy for future generations in a fast changing world.
Day 2: Sustainable Development Strategy in Assam
Thematic Brief
The three days long convention serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and commitment towards preserving Assam’s historical tapestry, sustainable development and engagement of the Global Assamese diaspora. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aims to create a unified and actionable strategy that honours the state’s rich past and ensures its legacy for future generations in a fast changing world.
The three days long convention serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and commitment towards preserving Assam’s historical tapestry, sustainable development and engagement of the Global Assamese diaspora. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, it aims to create a unified and actionable strategy that honours the state’s rich past and ensures its legacy for future generations in a fast changing world.
Day 3: Engaging the Global Assamese Diaspora for Assam's Development
THE TEAM
CONVENERS
- Jayanta B Sarma (UK)
- Vavani Sarmah (USA)
- Srimanta Bhuyan (Europe)
- Abhimanyu Talukdar (South East Asia)
- Mahmudul Hoque (Middle East)
SECRETARIES
- Utpal Bora, Joint Secretary, IIT (Guwahati)
- Chiranjit Bordoloi, Joint Secretary (USA)
- Anjana Bordoloi, Joint Secretary (USA)
- Vaswatii Sarmah Barthakur, Joint Secretary (Canada)
SUBCOMMITTEES
Diaspora Recognition & Outreach Committee
- Madhurjya Neog (Italy)
- Hedayet Ali (USA)
- Mayashree Baruah (USA)
- Srimanta Bhuyan (Germany)
- Nixon Medhi Rwanda (Africa)
- Baikuntha Deori (Saudi Arabia)
Convention 2026 Local Host Committee
- Professor Utpal Bora (Guwahati)
- Mrinal Hatkhowa (Guwahati)
- Jayanta Barman (Guwahati)
Convention 2026 Programme Committee
- Prof Santanu Borah, Alabama State University (USA)
- Prof. Hemanta Doloi, Melbourne University (Australia)
- Prof. Utpal Bora, IIT (Guwahati)
MEMBERS
Srimanta Bhuyan (Europe)
Srimanta Bhuyan (NRA) is a leader in the European finance industry. His core competencies include AI for Business, software product development, digitalization, implementing agile methodologies, programme management, project management, change management, and presale activities in fintech, international trade finance, and supply chain finance. He is a very active NRA based in Hamburg, Germany, involved in many projects benefiting Assam.
Madhurjya Neog (Italy)
Madhurjya Neog is a pharmaceutical research and development professional employed at an Italian pharmaceutical company. He oversees the Analytical Science department at Evotec, where he leads a team of scientists. Madhurjya is also an active member of the Italian Non-Resident Assamese Association. He is a Chemist by education and holds a PhD in Chemistry. He is originally from Amguri Sibsagar.
Dr Arindam Bharadwaz
Dr Arindam Bharadwaz is a Senior Consultant and Associate Professor at Aarhus University, chairman of the CIRSE 2023 local host committee, Ex-President of the Danish Society of Interventional Radiology, and Danish IR representative at UEMS. He graduated from Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Assam.
Jayanta B Sarma (UK )
Jayanta B Sarma (NRA) is a Medical Microbiologist and Infection Control Specialist by profession based in Newcastle, UK. Still, he is more of a social entrepreneur working on many social projects in Assam. He is a writer and has published many books. He is also the chairman of Assam Co-operative Health Care Society, spearheading a movement in Assam leveraging citizen power to negotiate discounted healthcare services from established hospitals and diagnostic centres to its members.
Dr Jagannath Biswakarma
Originally from Nagaon, Assam, Dr Biswakarma is a senior researcher currently working at the University of Bristol in England, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI)-endorsed Global Talent. He worked at the world-leading Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology earlier. He earned his doctorate from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, where he spent a decade learning his water and environmental sustainability expertise. Dr Biswakarma is keen to address and provide solutions to the serious challenges that climate and environmental change pose for public and ecological health through his commitment to research, communication, and advocacy. His vital research on iron cycling and the contamination of arsenic and mercury has recently been highlighted in renowned outlets, including Forbes, The Diplomat, MIT News, and the BBC.
Shri Diganta Malakar (Ireland)
Diganta Malakar is a highly experienced marketing professional with 15 years of international expertise, currently based in Dublin, Ireland. His professional focus encompasses Marketing Automation & Technology, AI, and Digital Marketing. As the founder of the Assam Association of Ireland, he has played a pivotal role in bringing together the Assamese diaspora in Ireland.
Dr. Hemanta Doloi (Australia)
Dr Doloi (NRA) is a Civil Engineer and worked as Director of Smart Villages Lab at the University of Melbourne, Australia, extensively in the areas of Construction Economics and Management, Project Management and Infrastructure Planning and Management; he is leading the Smart Villages Lab (SVL) for building capacities in housing and infrastructure and empowering rural communities in Assam, India. He is a social entrepreneur involved in many projects, particularly those of Assam and Majuli.
Vavani Sarmah (USA)
Vavani Sarmah (NRA) is a visionary technology professional and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, USA. He first started an Indian Grocery Store (Rangoli Bazar) in Philadelphia and later Co-founded Clearwin Technologies. After exiting ClearWin, he worked for a Semiconductor company and got an IPO. He is co-founder and CEO of xRobotix, an Autonomous Cleaning Robot distributor in North America. He is also President and Chairman of Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) and is involved in many social projects and activities in Assam and beyond.
Mayashree Baruah (USA)
Connecting Assamese communities from abroad, Mayashree Baruah NRA lives in San Francisco, Bay Area, is a social influencer and activist, and is the Director at Beatie Street Preschool and Kindergarten in Oakland, California.
Anjana Bordoloi (USA)
Mrs Anjana Bordoloi is a Health Care Executive, entrepreneur, and community leader focusing on bridging culturally diverse communities. As a first-generation Southeast Asian immigrant, she has worked extensively across Maryland, Virginia, and North America to promote education, empowerment, and cultural enrichment. She was appointed Commissioner for South Asian American Affairs in the Maryland Governor’s Commission. Anjana is a Peace Ambassador appointed by the United Nations. Mrs. Bordoloi is the Executive Vice President of the National Council of Asian Indian Americans, Inc. She served as the General Secretary of the Assam Association of North America (AANA).
Prof Santanu Borah (USA)
Mr Nripen Baruah (USA)
Nripen Barua is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in the food and beverage industry and has held leadership roles at companies like Kraft and General Foods. With a strong academic foundation in Dairy and Food Science and technology, he has pioneered innovations such as high-protein aseptic shakes and shelf-stable apple juice, earning multiple patents. Originally from Jorhat, Assam, he now divides his time between the USA and India.
Hedayet Ali (USA)
Mountaineer Hedayet Ali (NRA), who hails from Assam’s Hajo, added another feather to his cap by climbing Mount Everest. Ali is the eighth mountaineer from Assam to summit the highest peak in the world. Earlier, the feat was achieved by Tarun Saikia, Manish Deka, Henry David Ingty, Khorsing Teron, Naba Kumar Phukan, Nanda Dulal Das, and Kunchuk Tempa. He lives in Fremont, California, USA.
Chiranjit Bordoloi (USA)
Chiranjit Bordoloi (NRA) is the current President of the Assamese Association of North America (AANA). He lives in Michigan with his wife, Anjori, and our two adorable children. He is very active in many things, including founding OAKOKHO, the first Assamese Digital platform to learn and teach the Assamese language using various interactive online apps. He has already written and edited more than 50 digital flipbooks in Assamese. He has taught Assamese to young children across North America every Sunday since 2018.
Vaswatii Sarmah Barthakur (Canada)
Vaswatii, a Technology Executive with ADP, is an accomplished Product & Technology “Woman in STEM” leader with nearly two decades of experience driving transformational initiatives across global markets through multinational firms. Her branding is building and leading high-performing cross-functional teams, shaping product strategies, and spearheading large-scale global initiatives to optimize client experiences. She is the current Chair for Assam Sangha Canada (ASCCA). She also sits on the Board for Halton Learning Foundation and Achev to contribute to the betterment of Canadian society. She loves to travel and play golf. She lives with her entrepreneur husband in Oakville.
Nirmalya S. Kalita (Canada)
A seasoned global professional specializing in developing, implementing, consulting, reviewing, and continuously improving management system standards. His expertise spans food safety, regulatory compliance, auditing, and quality management across diverse corporate, supply chain trade, and manufacturing channels. On the socio-cultural front, particularly in connection with Assam and the NorthEast region of India, Nirmalya has had the privilege of collaborating with accomplished senior leaders and well-wishers within the global diaspora across the UK, Singapore, and Canada.
Mahmudul Haque (Saudi Arabia)
Mahmudul Haque (NRA) is an engineering professional working with Khusheim since 2008 and introduced various MRO business Models to maintain MRO business for Khusheim & customers. He lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has a big heart and has always wanted to do something for his land (Assam/India) by helping and promoting many social and entrepreneurial activities.
Basab Sarma (Kuwait)
Basab Sarma has lived in Kuwait (since 2001) and hailed initially from Mangaldoi, Darrang. He is associated with a Real Estate farm and is simultaneously involved in the financial sector. It has been an incredible journey so far. His wife, Dipika Sarma, is a Computer Engineer & works for Kuwait Petroleum Corporation & 8 Yr 8-year-old daughter, AARHIE. He is the General Secretary (2023-24) of the Asom Association of Kuwait (AAK).
Kaiser Ali (Oman)
Abhimanyu Talukdar (Singapore)
Abhimanyu Talukdar is a professional with over 25 years of experience in management, fundraising, marketing, strategic alliances, and corporate communications. He is the Secretary-General of Smile Asia, a global alliance of charities, where he leads the international secretariat based in Singapore, overseeing programme across 20 countries. As a co-founder of Smile Asia, alongside Dr Vincent Yeow and James Fox, he has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s mission and impact. Previously, he served as Head of Fundraising at NKF Singapore. He holds a Post-Graduate Diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.
Professor Utpal Bora (Guwahati)
Professor Bora is a professor in Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati. His research interest is indigenous biomaterial (silk) to develop various scaffolds for tissue engineering and medical applications. In addition, he is associated with the Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems Centre for the Environment and various social projects.
Dr Samir Baruah
Dr Baruah is a specialist in banking operations, having served in almost all parts of India and holding important assignments as regional head. I also served as the principal of the Indian Overseas Bank Staff College in Chennai. Authored a Business model for the Bank on developing village network economy with an extended role of the Bank as a funding agency and as a Facilitator in networking and leveraging the core competency of various organisations under Corporate Social Responsibilities. I am a Key Mentor, accredited by City & Guilds, London. Associated with BYST (Bharat Yuva Shakti Trust), a Trust floated by the Tatas, Bajaj and other leading Industry houses with a strategic partnership with CII (Confederation of Indian Industry). I am the vice president of the Rotary Club of Guwahati, Assam, India, and Director of Assam Power Generation Corporation. I advise several start-ups and mentor several mentees.
Mrinal Hatkhowa (Guwahati)
Border Trade Promoter of North East Region of India Hatkhowa, based in Guwahati, Assam, owns a travel and tourism company. He travelled extensively throughout the North East of India and the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan and the ASEAN nations. Mr Hatkhowa is a member of the North East Federation on International Trade. He also organises a North-East Car rally every year and promotes people-to-people connections in neighbouring countries.
Jayanta Barman (Guwahati)
Jayanta Barman is a serial entrepreneur based in Guwahati, Assam. He is a real estate developer, a renowned tea planter who owns tea gardens, and a very active social activist. He took the initiative of organizing, managing, and sponsoring many Health camps and educational camps for disadvantaged children from various parts of Assam.