Height of optimism vis-a-vis over ambitious CM
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I extend my appreciation to Ms Lunu Dutta Choudhury for the well-articulated letter titled, 'Over Ambitious CM', published on 9th December.
It is indeed ridiculous to watch 'DIDI' running around various states to mobilize support to form a 'KHICHRI' front against the ruling dispensation having been bolstered by her victory in the Assembly poll in West Bengal. The reality is that to form a political outfit at all Indian levels to challenge BJP is a different ball game than winning in the Bengal poll with the help of doubtful voters who had voted en masse for DIDI. Moreover, empirical experiences reveal that to become an alternative leader, one must have the 'NATIONWIDE ACCEPTABILITY'. With DIDI's brand of Hindi, there is no reason why the Hindi-speaking states will accept her. Plus less said about her English is the better. Assam in Brahmputra valley has no followers of her even among the Bengali-speaking people. Even in Barak valley, her support base is near negligible.
She is yet to spell out her agenda on the economic front. She is all confused about any other national issues that concern the nation. Mere effort allying against raising slogans against the BJP won't yield results. Ms Choudhury has cited the example of an abortive attempt of Chandra Babu Naidu in the past. Even Sharad Pawar is yet to be recognized as a national-level leader.
The likes of Mamata Did dreaming about forming an opposition front can be best described as 'height of optimism' not grounded in reality. She should try to give a facelift of her image of being an emotional, quarrelsome lady. She may concentrate on Bengal to stop its deadly deterioration in all aspects.
I am also stunned at the same breath at the hope of Mayawati. Even after being in public life for the last four decades or so, the poor lady cannot speak two lines in extempore in her MOTHER TONGUE!!
What an ambition of two of our respected sisters!!
Gautam Ganguly,
Guwahati.
Loss of a great soldier
The sudden death of India's first CDS General Bipin Rawat in a helicopter crash, along with his wife and some senior staff officers and PSOs near Coonoor in Tamil Nadu, is a great loss to the country. He was known as a jovial and straight-talking officer. He initiated the re-organization of the great Army of the country. After his tenure as army chief from December 2016 to December 2019, he became the first CDS of the country heading the Navy, Air Force and the Army. Commissioned in the army in the Fifth Battalion of the Eleven Gorkha in 1978 after graduating from the IMA as the head of his batch with a sword of honour, he had received many medals, including VSM during his career of forty-three years. May his soul Rest in Peace.
Bikash Barpujari,
Guwahati
.
GU and students
On 7 October 2021, there was an examination of writing for media, a paper of the BA fourth semester. The examination was from 1 pm to 4 pm. As this examination was held on online mode, according to GU guidelines, the question paper was supposed to be available on the examination website before half an hour of the exam time. On that day we students waited from 12.30 to 2 pm, but the paper wasn't available. We called the helpline number of Gauhati University but got a rude response from them. On 8 October, we had an exam of Print Journalism Production paper and the same thing happened on that day as well. We waited the whole day, tried to contact them and even e-mailed them but neither the paper was available, nor got any response from them. They didn't even notify us if the examination will be cancelled or postponed.
It has been two months now and no notice has come from them. And now they are conducting the fifth-semester session examination. Without conducting our fourth-semester final examination, they are conducting the fifth-semester session examination. We, students, have no clue what is happening with us. We don't even know if the examination will be conducted or not? What if they don't conduct the examination? How will we get results if the examination is not conducted and how will we graduate? Because of all these, we students are suffering mentally. GU negligence is affecting students' mental health. Students are getting panicked because of their irresponsible behaviour. They should take responsibility for their irresponsible behaviour and notify us of what will happen with our examination. And also they should stop taking students' life and education for granted, and be more responsible.
Parilina Das,
Mirza.
CDS Gen Rawat
The whole nation becomes mum to hear the sad and stunning news that the first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, died in the IAF Mi-17V5 helicopter crash near Ooty, with his wife Madhulika Rawat and 11 soldiers and defence officers. General Rawat was on his way from the Sulur IAF Station to the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington in Coonoor when the chopper crashed in a forested area in the Nilgiris district. The lone survivor is Shaurya Chakra awardee Group Captain Varun Singh in critical condition with 80% burn injuries. After a true investigation, one hopes that the government should be banned for VIP's such insignificant sessions of giving lectures in jungles with family. I strongly believe that it's a freak accident of the Balakot surgical strike fame Mi-17V5 helicopter, even though General Rawat could have done it over a zoom call. There are many obstructions and enemies of such important people. The truth about who did it will be hard to establish. Better than such type of Defence Staff and the top political leaders only travel to places where there is a real need of physical presence and stay away from rhetoric. Remember, it's not always easy to fill the gap created by their absence.
As the CDS on December 30, 2019, Rawat was appointed the first tri-service chief. The CDS is a one-point advisor to the government on matters related to the military and functions with the main aim of integrating the three services - the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. General Rawat has been decorated with the Param Vishisht Seva Medal, Uttam Yudh Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal, Yudh Seva Medal, and Sena Medal. An alumnus of St. Edward School, Shimla, and the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. By his death, the nation has lost one of its bravest sons. His four decades of selfless service to the motherland was marked by exceptional gallantry and heroism. My condolences on the sad demise of Madhulika Rawat and 11 other Armed Forces personnel. Also wished speedy recovery of Varun Singh.
Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,
Faridabad 121005