From Our Correspondent
JOWAI: The Kiang Nangbah Government College, Jowai will host the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) Special Lecture on Tuesday at 11 am. Prof AK Baruah, HoD Political Science, NEHU, will deliver a lecture on ‘Education, Modernity and Tribal Societies’.
By Our Reporter
Shillong: Holy Child Higher Secondary School, Demthring, Shillong, on Monday celebrated Parent’s Day at the school premises. Chief Adviser to the State Government, DD Lapang graced the occasion as chief guest in the presence of Sr. Mildred, Sr. Arpita, Principal and Sr. Denisha, Assistant Principal, besides students and parents.
The School is run by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Bartholomea Capitanio and Vincenza Gerosa, who commit themselves to the service of the youth, the sick and the needy. The school has been functioning since 1973. It was upgraded to a high school in 1989 and in 2004 the higher secondary level was introduced with Arts and Science streams.
Speaking on the occasion, Lapang expressed his happiness that a good team of dedicated sisters and teachers were providing quality education to the poor and needy and instilling in the students social consciousness and moral values, which is in line with the vision of the Sister of Charity.
Lapang urged the students to be presentable, trustworthy and to cultivate humility in their day to day lives and to strive hard in their studies so that they can excel.
He also called upon the teachers to dedicate their time and energy in imparting quality education to the students.
The highlights of the day were songs, dances, fashion show and short plays performed by the students.
From Our Correspondent
TURA: Bowing to pressure following the recent hike in price of diesel, mobil, other lubricants and motor parts, a joint meeting of the West Garo Hills Bus Association, Tura was held recently with members of other associations and travel agencies.
The meeting decided that bus fares would be hiked from Rs 1.10 paise to Rs 1.43 paise per km with effect from October 15, to compensate for the losses being incurred by the bus operators.
Film show
A documentary by eminent Bangladeshi film director Shahriar Kabir on India’s multi-dimensional support to Bangladesh during the War of Liberation in 1971 entitled A friend in difficult times will be screened at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Indian Culture at Bivar Road on Wednesday at 4pm.
Emergency meet
An emergency general body meeting of the Assam Club will be held on October 13 at 2pm on the Club premises.
Book exhibition
Ri-Khasi Book Agency, Shillong and DBS Publishers, Guwahati will organise a Book Exhibition in Shillong. The exhibition will be held at Dinam Hall, Jaiaw from October 11-13 from 10am onwards. La-Riti Foundation will also arrange an exhibition-cum-sale of cultural miniatures, creative items, Khasi traditional musical instruments and traditional dance attire on the same date and venue.
Meanwhile, Hlima Keivom, President of N C Hills Indigenous Forum, student wing of Indigenous People Forum (IPF) said ‘The Government of Assam has changed the neutral name of the district from North Cachar Hills into Dima Hasao on 30th March, 2010, amidst stiff opposition of the non-Dimasa communities. The literal meaning of “Dima Hasao” is a land of Dimasa. But in reality the N. C. Hills is a land of many ethnic communities since time immemorial’
He further added ‘before any peace pact for a Territorial Council or whatsoever is signed by the government with the militant group of the DHD(J), the concerned government should not make another big mistake as it had done in the past.
The government should rather first consider the demand of the IPF to bifurcate the district into two autonomous district with separate autonomous Councils under the very constitutional framework of Art 244(2) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.’
CARACAS: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez scored a comfortable election victory that could extend his rule to 20 years and vowed to deepen his self-styled socialist revolution that has polarized the South American OPEC nation.
Tens of thousands of ecstatic supporters thronged the streets around the presidential palace in downtown Caracas, pumping fists in the air and shouting Chavez’s name after the former soldier beat opposition candidate Henrique Capriles by more than 9 percentage points.
The new six-year term will let Chavez consolidate his control over Venezuela’s economy, possibly by extending a wave of nationalizations, and continue his support for left-wing allies in Latin America and around the world.
‘Truthfully, this has been the perfect battle, a democratic battle,’ Chavez thundered from the balcony of the palace late on Sunday, holding up a replica of the sword of independence hero Simon Bolivar.
‘Venezuela will continue along the path of democratic and Bolivarian socialism of the 21st century.’
It was an extraordinary victory for a leader who just a few months ago feared for his life as he struggled to recover from cancer.
He won 54.4 per cent of the vote, with 90 per cent of the ballots counted, compared with 45 percent for Capriles.
More than 80 per cent of registered voters cast ballots.
Supporters dripping with sweat strained to catch a glimpse of Chavez from the street below the palace while dancing and drinking rum. ‘Chavez, the people are with you!’ they chanted.
The victory was considerably slimmer than his win by 25 percentage points in 2006, reflecting growing frustration at his failure to fix problems such as crime, blackouts and corruption.
In a nod to those complaints, Chavez said he would be more focused in his new term beginning on January 10.
‘Today we start a new cycle of government, in which we must respond with greater efficacy and efficiency to the needs of our people,’ he said. ‘I promise you I’ll be a better president.’
A retired lieutenant colonel who first won fame with a failed 1992 coup, Chavez has become Latin America’s main anti-US agitator, criticizing Washington while getting close to its adversaries, including Cuba, Syria and Iran.
A decade-long oil boom has given him tens of billions of dollars for social investments that range from free health clinics to newly-built apartment complexes, helping him build a strong following among the poor.
Following his victory On Sunday, Chavez could order new nationalisations in some largely untouched corners of the economy, including the banking, food and health industries.
He took advantage of his landslide win in 2006 to order takeovers in the telecoms, electricity and oil sectors.
But any recurrence of the pelvic cancer which has already forced him to undergo three operations in Havana since June 2011 could derail his plans.
Opposition leaders were crushed by the loss. It followed nearly a month of euphoria among Capriles supporters as the 40-year-old polished his stump speeches, held increasingly fervent rallies and appeared be to gaining ground in the polls.
The youthful state governor put on a brave face, hailing his ‘house-by-house’ campaign as the start of a long road to changing the direction of the country.
‘I gave it my all and I’m proud of what we built,’ a subdued Capriles told supporters at his campaign headquarters.
‘I will continue to work for Venezuela.’
He and other leaders of the Democratic Unity coalition must now prepare for state governorship elections in December, when they will hope at least to increase the opposition’s influence.
Though Capriles was indisputably the strongest candidate to face Chavez since the leftist leader’s was elected in 1998, few in the opposition thought the fight was fair.
Chavez made ample use of state television and spent 47 hours in ‘chain’ broadcasts that force other local television stations to carry speeches peppered with political commentary.
He also handed out homes and pensions financed with state funds, often in ceremonies that glorified his administration, while warning that the opposition would cancel such programs.
The spending spree has weakened Venezuela’s finances and may force a currency devaluation in early 2013, which would likely spur inflation that has been a top complaint among voters.
The election result is likely to prompt a sell-off in Venezuelan bonds, which have jumped in recent weeks on Wall Street optimism about a possible Capriles win.
‘Going forward, we believe the market is likely to, as in recent years, continue to look at Venezuela as a gradually deteriorating macro story and trade it increasingly as an oil play,’ Goldman Sachs said in a research note.
Relations with Washington are also likely to remain on edge, though Venezuelan oil has continued to flow to the United States over the years despite diplomatic tensions. (Reuters)
AIZAWL: In a move to bridge the already widened gap between Assam and Mizoram following the recent boundary fiasco, Barak Valley Peace Delegation on Sunday met Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla at his residential bungalow, and held a discussion with him on boundary issue and other important inter-state related matters.
Lalthanhawla said that the boundary issue is to be settled by the two states of Assam and Mizoram as well as the central government. As it will take time to settling the problem, the chief minster suggested that the best way to solve the problem is to negotiate and solve all the problems through table-talk.
Regarding the erection of boundary pillar at Mizo paddy fields and demolishing the same is but a coward act, the Chief Minister said.
He also mentioned his plan to discuss the boundary issue with higher authority.
Regarding entry of labourers at Vairengte without ILP referred to by Peace Delegation member, Chief Minister replied that “it is the best to continue what has been carried on since long time before. As we are all citizens of India, what we want most is to live with showing respect to each other” CM lalthanhawla said.
Regarding Hindustan Paper Mill in Cachar, Lalthanhawla said that bamboo is a national asset, and therefore it is planned to be utilised it helpfully and skilfully, for which Mahal system has also been stopped.
A chipping plant has been set up so that the Mizo people can profit from bamboos. The Mizo chief minister assured the delegation members that he will decide on how to provide such chipped bamboo to meet the requirement of the Paper Mill.
Lalthanhawla also talked on the proposal and request of the delegation members to place a Public Relations Officer at Mizoram House in Silchar and to set up a Grievance Cell in order to bring immediate solution in time of any arising of problems between the two states.
They also proposed to set up Integration Camp both in Barak Valley and in Mizoram.
Delegation leader Sharif Laskar appreciated Lalthanhawla as possessing a leadership quality and a man who stands on his promise, and thanked the Chief Minister..
The delegation comprises 21 members; one of them being a representative of minority students’ body from Guwahati.
Media persons and advocates also participated in the meeting. The visiting delegation left Mizoram on Sunday. (NNN)
STOCKHOLM: A British and a Japanese scientist won the Nobel Prize for Medicine on Monday for work on creating stem cells, opening the door to new methods to diagnose and treat diseases.
Briton John Gurdon and Japan’s Shinya Yamanaka equally share the prize of 8 million crowns ($1.2 million), the Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute said in a statement.
“These groundbreaking discoveries have completely changed our view of the development and specialization of cells.”
The discovery offered a new way to create stem cells with the ability to become different types of tissue by effectively turning back the clock on adult cells, restoring them to a so-called “pluripotent” state.
The practical result can be that skin cells can be obtained from ill people to find out more about their diseases and develop new therapies.
Medicine is the first of the Nobel prizes awarded each year. Prizes for achievements in science, literature and peace were first awarded in 1901 in accordance with the will of dynamite inventor and businessman Alfred Nobel. ($1 = 6.5846 Swedish crowns)
The 2012 Nobel Literature Prize will be announced at 1630 IST on Thursday, organisers said, with Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami the bookmakers’ favorite to win the 8 million crown (1.2 million dollar) award.
Other hotly-tipped names include Bob Dylan, Chinese writer Mo Yan and reclusive US novelist Thomas Pynchon. (Reuters)
Actress Rani
Mukherjee feels
nothing new is happening in the films today and it is all about revisiting the past.
“Our industry comes from an era where Shammi Kapoorji, Raj Kapoorji and all of them were icons in terms of looks. I don’t think anything new is happening today. It is all about revisiting of what happened in the past,” Rani told PTI.
“Even this whole thing about trying to say that women oriented films have taken over today, I think it is a myth. What about films like ‘Bandini’, ‘Sujata’ and ‘Mother India’, it has all been happening. It is just that those things are coming back,” the actress said.
“So I don’t feel that there is anything unique happening, but yes in terms of audience changes have taken place,” she said.
Rani is happy that today the audience have changed, who are ready to accept ‘good’ films.
“The youth today…the kind of films that are being accepted is because they are the ones who go and see it. Today they are ready to accept a different genre,” she said.
“Today people are reacting to different genre of films, reacting to good films regardless of what they are,” she added.
Rani’s last film was ‘No One Killed Jessica’ in January 2011 and now ‘Aiyyaa’ releases this Friday.
“Everybody goes through a phase in their career where they decide that every film that is offered to you, you can’t do it. You have to choose; especially I like to choose the best out of the lot,” she said.
“There are certain criteria on which I choose a film. I don’t categorise films as women or men-centric or author backed roles. I don’t choose films with some agenda. If I like the script I will accept it. The film should be something that the audience like as I don’t want to disappoint them,” she added.
Produced jointly by Anurag Kashyap and Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, ‘Aiyyaa’ marks the Bollywood debut of Marathi director Sachin Kundalkar. South actor Prithviraj Sukumaran plays the lead opposite Rani.
The song ‘Dreamum Wakeupm’ and the promos of ‘Aiyyaa’ give a feel of south Indian touch.
“All this was very easy. As an actor there should be nothing that should be difficult for me. It is my job to act and I have to be really good at it. There should be nothing that should be awkward for me to do the film,” Rani said.
“In this film, there is a beautiful love story between a Maharashtrian girl and a south Indian man. The song ‘Dreamum Wakeupm’ is a tribute to all the south Indian songs and dances that we all have been fans of, because they are high on energy and are mind pulsating,” she said. (PTI)
Agartala: The Chakma tribals of Tripura on Monday sent a memorandum to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, demanding security and compensation to the Bangladesh riot victims in Rangamati area of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Before submitting a memorandum to the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, hundreds of Chakmas held a protest rally against “atrocities on minority Buddhists and Hindus in Southern Bangladesh during the last month.”
The memorandum alleged as many as 80 Buddhist families fell victim to the attacks while 24 non-Muslim religious places, including two temples, had been demolished in the areas.
The miscreants threatened to evict the Buddhists and Hindu minorities from the area after the attack, which resulted in tension in the region.
Allegedly, the perpetrators had attacked the families in presence of Bangladesh military.
The memorandum urged that an immediate and independent enquiry be ordered into the incidents along with demands for re-building the religious places, adequate compensation to the victims and implementation of Chakma peace accord signed on December 2, 1997.
The agitators have also sent a copy of the memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chairman of National Human Rights Commission Justice K G Balakrishnan with a request to pursue the matter with their Bangladeshi counterparts.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Buddhist Chakmas and Hindus on Monday demonstrated before the Bangladesh Visa office here protesting against the recent attack on their communities in Chittagong Hill Tract of Bangladesh.
The Buddhists and Hindus of different organisations like Chakma Youth Cultural Forum (CYCF) and Viswa Hindu Parishad walked in a procession chanting slogans like ‘Stop state terrorism on Buddhists and Hindus in Bangladesh’ and ‘Arrest the Muslim fundamentalists who attacked Hindu and Buddhist temples’.
Later they submitted a memorandum to the Bangladesh Government through the First Secretary of Bangladesh Visa Office here urging the government to stop repetition of such attacks.
Visa Officer, Obaidur Rehaman when contacted, said a six Member delegation of the Buddhists and Hindus submitted the memorandum in “a very cordial atmosphere” for dispatching it to the government. (Agencies)
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The Shillong Times first appeared as a tabloid weekly on 10th August 1945 under the editorship of Late Sudhindra Bhusan Chaudhuri. In 1958 it was converted to a Daily. Owing to financial constraints, within six months it reverted back to a weekly.
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