Editor,
I wish to inform that The ICFAI University,Tripura is ruining the career of around 1200 students and 185 employees, of which around 80 students are from Meghalaya, studying in different departments. There was a strike by the employees of the university as 19 employees were terminated. After some serious drama on 16th January 2012, the authorities asked them to sign an agreement which will allow them to join their duties. The agreement letter was like a death warrant for them but they signed it in order to save the future of students. But even after the signatures were given the authorities are not willing to reopen the university, due to which classes have been suspended till date (the classes and university work has been suspended for last one month and five days starting from 2 January 2012). There is as yet no positive response about the commencement of classes.
The ICFAI University Tripura (IUT) is a private university which has been established by an act of State Legislature of Govt. of Tripura at Agartala,Tripura and is recognized by under section 2(f) of the UGC, Act 1956. At present the university is providing B.Tech (Bachelor in Technology) program in Civil Engineering Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, along with MBA, BBA, BBA-LLB, B-Ed and B.Sc programs . 1200 Students from 14 different states (Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal ) are registered in the different courses of the Varsity and their future is now at stake
The Varsity is providing wrong information to the local government and also to the students which has misled all. They had sent a reply to the letter from State Government in which they mentioned that the ICFAI Society is running into a financial crisis and they are finding it difficult to run the organization. We the students have written to the President of India, the Prime Minister and Human Resources Development Minister as well as to the Chief Ministers of different states including Meghalaya and appeal to them to resolve this issue at the earliest so that the future of students is not harmed.
Yours etc.,
RK Shabong and other students of ICFAI University, Tripura
Sohra restoration
Editor
Donbok Syiemlieh’s write up of the 2nd February, ‘Sohra restoration – another view’ does make sense. It seems that in the past, large areas on the top of the Sohra plateau were never covered by large tracts of forests apart from the place called Law Bah( which is now bare) and the south facing slopes. To back this up I quote what Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker the famous botanist who had visited Sohra in 1850, had to say in his book ‘ Himalayan Journals, 1855 ‘ – ” as bleak and inhospitable as can be imagined; and there is not a tree and scarcely a shrub to be seen, except occasional clumps of screw pine ” – this was the opinion of a scientific man and we have no doubt that it holds true. Syiemlieh’s suggestions are logical and something that the powers that be should dwell upon. However, efforts to grow trees which can adapt to the tough Sohra ‘soil’, could continue on an experimental scale.
Yours etc.,
D.M.Pariat,
Shillong.
Stilwel Road
Editor
The article by Dawa Tshering: How opening of Stilwell Road helps development of Northeast, is elucidating. But it seems the writer is quite ignorant of the history of this Road. The Burma Road was cut off by the Japanese in April 1942 hence the necessity arose for an alternative route. But it was found that to carry a ton of supplies an equal amount of fuel was needed to traverse this road. Further, is Tshering aware of the mystery of the ‘Lake of No Return’ not very far from the Pangsau pass (Hell’s Gate)?
Also, the insurgency in Kachin State coupled with the extortions on the route prevailing on our side, will be economically unviable for trade.
Yours etc.,
Kisholoy,
Shillong -14