The Assam Agricultural University launches e-learning project

The Assam Agricultural University will launch e-learning in classrooms with a five-day training programme for teachers from today.

Resource persons from Sathguru Management Consultants, Hyderabad and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, US, will impart training to the teachers in different phases.

Vice-chancellor K.M. Bujarbaruah said the colleges under the university were well equipped and it was time to inculcate change and carry knowledge to those who were devoid of it through this process.

“In India in 1951, there were 30 universities and 634 colleges to cater to a 351 million population, in 2011 it rose to 635 universities for 1,300 million. At present, the student strength is 1.69 crore and the gross enrolment ratio is 15 to 16 per cent and is predicted to be 22 per cent in the 12th Financial Plan but this is very poor. In such a scenario, it would not be viable to open up more colleges and universities and e-learning could be an alternative,” Bujarbaruah said.

Saraighat bridge completes 50 years

The Saraighat Bridge over the river Brahmaputra, which is the vital link between North East region and the rest of the country, has completed 50 years of its existence and according to the experts of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati, the bridge is still fit enough to serve the region for the days to come.

The idea of construction of a bridge over the river Brahmaputra was first mooted in 1910 and the thought gathered momentum during the Second World War. But there were doubts over the stability of the Railway line between Bongaigaon and Amingaon following devastating floods in 1942-43. However, the then Railway Minister announced the decision to construct the bridge in the Budget session of the Parliament in 1958 and the construction work formally started in January, 1959. The bridge was completed in September, 1962 by the Hindustan Construction Company and the first engine plied over the Saraighat Bridge on September 23, 1962, followed by Goods Train service from October 31 that year.

Voice of humanity binds all Region pays tribute to its dear Jajabor

It was relevant when he first wrote and lent it his rich baritone. It is relevant now when that voice has fallen still, been digitalised for the archives and put online for the world.

A chorus, running into thousands across the hills and valleys of Assam, sang Manuhe Manuhar Babe. They sang the song in several languages, holding hands and forming human chains or groups, in a tribute to its creator, Bhupen Hazarika, on his first death anniversary today.

Indeed, the immortal Manuhe Manuhar Babe turned into the theme song for the occasion as the music maestro’s death anniversary came close on the heels of the BTAD violence. The song’s yearning for humanity had been forgotten in a two-month-long frenzy of violence and death.

It was only fitting and poignant then that the song was played over and over through the day in Kokrajhar. Disturbed Dhubri, too, remembered the significance of the song as its residents took out a peace procession.

Film institute to be renamed after Bhupen Hazarika

The State Government today announced that the Regional Government Film and Television Institute would be renamed as Dr Bhupen Hazarika Regional Government Film and Television Institute as a mark of honour to the cultural icon.

This announcement was made by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on the occasion of the first death anniversary of the bard whose songs captured the hearts of millions.

Speaking at the Dr Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Lecture and Cultural Programme organized jointly by the Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations and the Directorate of Cultural Affairs at Rabindra Bhawan here, Tarun Gogoi said that Dr Bhupen Hazarika was a real mass communicator and that the government would fulfil the vision of the music icon by transforming society through mass communication tools particularly music. “Dr Bhupen Hazarika showed us the way and we will usher in the positive developments in the society through use of mass communication tools,” said Gogoi observing that the Assamese society will overcome all the obstacles and ills through the vision of Dr Bhupen Hazarika.