Editor,
Your news item “Seven Set welcomes second rung students” (ST May 21,2017) projects the grit and determination of the school. It also reveals the all-embracing and vivid understanding that the school authority and management has towards the real meaning of education. The purpose of education is to shape minds and mould characters. To have the courage and the open mindedness to accept students that need a little more coaching, guidance and grooming speaks highly of the school and its teachers. What is of greater importance is for the teachers to be perpetually ready and eager to help, to lend a hand, encourage and raise the spirits of the students thereby lighting a lamp of good cheer and success. Seven Set School did it, for the topper in the recently declared HSSLC examination who is from the school. Kavita Joshi admits that what really matters is “hard work” and the “support and encouragement of the school”. Seven Set School provided what their students required. I express my happiness and wish Seven Set School the very best in the years to come!
Yours etc.,
Jenniefer Dkhar,
Via email
India a melting pot of races!
Editor,
In his article, “This India!” (ST, May 20, 2017), Ananya Guha rightly said, “To look upon the invader as ‘enemy’ in present day contexts is anachronistic.” If we brand those who invaded India as enemy then Aryans will also get the tag! Indeed, it will be diabolical if we let such prejudices destroy our national fabric. As a matter of fact, invaders came, saw but assimilated into India. Such is the magic of our country. This has beautifully been portrayed in a Tagore’s poem ~ “Bharat-tirtha”. Tagore wrote, “Oh my mind, wake up slowly in this holy place/ India, on the shores of this sea of great human confluence/ No one knows at whose call how many streams of humanity in turbulent torrents came from to get lost in that sea/Here the Aryans, non – Aryans, Dravidians, Chinese, Scythians, Huns, Pathans and Mughals merged into one body.”
Yours etc.,
Sujit De,
Kolkata
NEC Clarification
Editor,
Apropos the news item, ‘India’s longest bridge near China border to be inaugurated on May 26, 2017(ST May 15, 2017), this is to clarify that the North Eastern Council (NEC) had actually done the planning and feasibility study of the case. During the 46th Meeting of the NEC held on February 8, 2002, the then Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Mukut Mithi had demanded the construction feasibility study of the bridge over river Brahmaputra. The then Governor of Assam, Lt Gen. (Retd) S K Sinha, PVSM and Chairman, NEC agreed to conduct the feasibility study. The tender for the same was invited by NEC on June 24, 2003 and opened on February 10, 2004. Altogether 10 parties participated in it. Out of these M/s Consultant Engineering Services (CBS) India Pvt, Ltd, New Delhi was selected and the agreement for that was signed on December 20, 2004. An amount of Rs 55.79 lakh was sanctioned vide sanction order No. NEC/T/FS/Dhola/2003/49 dated March 28, 2005. The feasibility study was completed in February 22, 2006. The same was circulated to the Government of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for their comments. Presentation of the study was made on June 23, 2006. The Governments of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam on several occasions pursued the matter of construction of the bridge but the project had to be kept on hold due to non- availability of such huge funds in the NEC Annual Budget.
Several parliament questions also were raised on this issue and finally in the review meeting held on September 14, 2007, the Ministry of Power informed that the proposal for the construction of bridge over the Brahmaputra River between Dhola and Sadia is part of the DPR for the Dibang Multipurpose Hydro-electric Project. As a follow up to the review meetings, the Ministry of Power was requested on October 31, 2007 to take up with the Central Electrical Authority (CEA) the approval of the project with the option of the construction of a bridge over the Lohit channel between Dhola and Sadia. The Ministry of Power was also requested to consider implementing the project. Today the bridge has come up as a result of continuous efforts from NEC. It is only fair therefore that NEC’s role be mentioned.
Yours etc.,
Manas Ranjan Mahapatra
DIPR, NEC, Shillong