Editorial

Letters to the Editor: Promote the Assamese language

There have been frequent complaints that the number of readers of Assamese newspapers and magazines has come down.

Sentinel Digital Desk

Promote the Assamese language

There have been frequent complaints that the number of readers of Assamese newspapers and magazines has come down. The main reason for this can be said to be the gradual decline in the number of people who can read and write their mother tongue. Therefore, it is important to take measures to ensure that every person living in Assam can read and write the Assamese language correctly regardless of the medium of study. It is worth mentioning that some readers cannot afford to buy newspapers and magazines. In addition, the magazines are not available in all regions of Assam. I want to express what comes to mind. If possible newspapers and magazines can make available old issues in PDF files, then those who are not able to buy and will get the opportunity to read. On the other hand, even some of the Non Resident Assamese (NRA) may be interested in buying magazines. This can be thought of by the authorities concerned.

Dr Buljit Buragohain,

Assam Don Bosco University,

Guwahati.

War of words

The ongoing war of words between the Chief Minister Assam and the general secretary of AASU is unfortunate. It has become the habit of people like Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjya and Sankor Jyoti Barua to intervene in each and every issue. It is obvious that the present general secretary of AASU is taking more like a politician rather than a student leader, the same characteristic which was earlier shown by AASU's former general secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi. The leaders of AASU want the government to run on their whims. The government's decision to introduce English from class-III in subjects like Science and Mathematics in government-run schools is a welcome step, but senior-citizen leaders of AASU, who have no role or knowledge about educational matters, are voicing concern against the government's decision. The president of AXX Dr Kuladhar Saikia, too, has protested against the introduction of English medium in government schools. I want to ask the former DGP and present president of AXX why he chose to admit his son in an English medium school instead of an Assamese medium school? Now when the pupils of the poor segment of society are getting a chance to learn English in their schools, the so-called guardians of Asomiyas like Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjee, Akhil Gogoi, Dr Kuladhar Saikia and Sankor Jyoti Barua are jumping to the protest site. Will learning a new language demean the mother tongue? Well, definitely not, rather it will be an added knowledge. Secondly, in higher studies the Assamese medium students feel pressure to cope up when the lectures are given in English.

The white shirt and black trouser-wearing overaged leaders of AASU should refrain from unnecessarily poking their noses in every matter. If they are serious about the welfare of the students, then they should organize free coaching classes for the poor, distribute study materials to the needy and wage a war against the private tuition. Alas! They are silent on these matters.

Pratap Dutta,

Tezpur.

Using the sidewalk to ride

The majority of Guwahatians have undoubtedly seen bikes riding on the sidewalks of the city's main thoroughfares. If I may speak for myself, I am having problems because two-wheeler riders are trying to beat the jam and slow-moving traffic by riding on the pedestrian-only lane. I reside in Zoo Road Tiniali. On the Zoo Road Tiniali, it has also been seen that a number of vendors have set up shop alongside the pavements, clogging the walkways. In this scenario, bicycle riders on the sidewalk pose a serious threat to pedestrians' security. Since it is against the law to ride on the sidewalk, I would like to suggest that the relevant authorities take necessary action against the offenders. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma laid the cornerstone for a brand-new, 580-meter flyover at Zoo Road Tiniali, which will cost about Rs 79 crore. The flyover is anticipated to be finished in 18 months. Construction of the flyover is intended to lessen traffic congestion. It has, however, led to substantial traffic congestion, which has turned into a daily event. Due to the closure of half of the roadways on either side during the flyover's construction, congestion cannot be avoided. The main factors driving two-wheeler riders to the sidewalk are congestion and shrinking road space. As a result, I urge that the authorities deploy more well-trained traffic police officers at congested traffic junctions and roads for improved traffic management, as well as raising awareness about riding on the sidewalk through social media.

Shatabdi Khatoniar,

(shatabdikhatoniar863@gmail.com)

Selective secularism?

Going by the present trend in the nation, in the name of secularism it has become very apparent that secularism in India has become very selective. Starting from Nupur Sharma to Raj Singh, it is very apparent that it is only one religious community who is enjoying the fruits of secularism and another religious community is the victim as seen in the leniency shown in case of Asaduddin Owasi, a law maker from AIMIM who openly was demanding Nupur Sharma's public hanging and some clerics belonging to one religious community demanding beheading of Nupur Sharma. The utterly communal slogan shouting by a frenzied mob shouting "Sar Tan se Juda" in Hyderabad in front of a police station has made us believe that India in no time is going to be a theocratic Islamic state where Caliphate law will be above our Constitution. Very soon Jinnah's name might be considered for Bharat Ratna in place of Veer Sarvakar to the utter glee of our secularists like the Congress, AIMIM, SP, Leftists etc.

What about the Jihadi epidemic in our own backyard? Time seems to running out.

Joel Gayari,

Tangla.

Kohinoor Theatre event

On August 23, Kahinoor Theatre, the leading and heritage mobile theatre group of Assam, launched the 47th theatre year under the production of Tapan Lahkar at the Bajali Higher Secondary School ground. On the opening day, the theatre group staged a play 'Bishnupriya' directed by young playwright and poet Rajdweep and produced by Jatin Borah. In the last two days, this play has managed to win the hearts of the theatre-loving people of Pathsala. The story of the play is full of love, sadness, honesty, action. In the play, the playwright has highlighted how much people have to struggle in the name of love, in the name of honesty.. Also in the play, you will see how Priyotoma takes revenge after losing her beloved. Krishnamani Nath, Ankita Saikia, Siddhant Kalita, Girija Mahanta, Gaurang Sharma, Dulumani Deka, Jayanta Jeevan Baruah, Jayanta Sharma, Moon Kalita and many others will be seen on the stage of 47th Kahinoor Theatre year.

Sanjib Das,

Bhawanipur, Bajali.

Remembering the atomic blasts

August, 1945 will ever be remembered as one of the most dramatic months in the history of mankind when nuclear weapons were used in warfare for the first time. Known as 'Little Boy' and 'Fat Man', the two atomic bombs completely destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9 respectively. The massive blasts that wreaked havoc on these two small, yet beautiful cities of Japan, changed the way war is waged and heralded the dawning of the "nuclear age." While the exact number of deaths from the bombings of these two cities is still not known, or perhaps will never be, as per the World Nuclear Organization at least over two lakh civilians had died from the immediate blasts or from the effects of radiation sickness. Times rolled by, both Hiroshima and Nagasaki have flourished in many ways. Though the two cities preserve and portray glimpses of the huge destruction, they don't have the traces of tragic victims of the atomic bombs anymore. These two cities are an open book about a revived Japan - an example of rising from the ashes while embracing history.

Ranganathan Sivakumar,

Chennai – 600 091.

DA&FW needs to speed up

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare should come up with answers for difficult questions on farming as soon as possible, including measures to make Minimum Support Price (MSP) more effective and transparent. DA&FW needs to develop ways to support farming with very less money, including organic and natural farming practices and also make micro irrigation farmer-oriented. Additionally, crop trends should be studied, and directions provided to farmers for the crops which have to be changed so as to reflect the changing needs of the nation. It also needs to develop ways to diversify crops in difficult terrain and dry lands as well. It should continue to look for ways to achieve nation farmer's consensus.

Vijaykumar HK,

Raichur .