Spectra 2003, an exhibition of indigenous products, being held at Holy Child School, Guwahati. Picture by Pranab Kumar Nath

School exhibition

Holy Child School, Guwahati, recently organised “Spectra — 2003”, an exhibition focusing on indigenous products. A number of students participated in the two-day long science exhibition which was inaugurated by B.C. Konwar, secretary, Secondary Board of Education, Assam.

Models of astrophysics, mechanics, environmental science, optics and light, electricity and magnetism, bio-science, human physiology, mathematics, food, handicrafts and textiles were part of the exhibition which drew large crowds. A cultural programme and prize distribution was also held.

Knowledge digest

RTMS Publications, a division of Raj Technical Management Services, has launched “Quiz Sphere”, a knowledge digest for youth and teenagers. It was formally launched during the recent 17th Guwahati Book Fair at the Assam Engineering Institute playground.

Pankaj Bora, education minister and B.K. Hazarika, secretary, Publication Board, Assam, graced the occasion. They congratulated the RTMS Publications and the Quiz Sphere team for launching the knowledge digest in this part of the country. An inter-school prize money quiz competition, conducted by Sailen Baishya, editor, Quiz Sphere, was also held. More than 50 teams from premier schools and colleges participated in the competition. Deepjyoti Deka and Hiranyaranjan Upadhya of Srimanta Sankar Academy won the first prize.

Kamrup camp

The department of extension education, College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, recently organised a daylong extension camp at Gandhmou village in Kamrup district.

The camp — an attempt to offer animal care and husbandry services to the rural people at their doorstep — was conducted by a 160-member team. Comprising experts, specialists, veterinary surgeons, extension personnel and students, the team was led by Kamala Kanta Saharia, associate professor and head of the department of extension education, and Pulin Hazarika, associate professor.

Visiting fellow

Mohan Lal Agarwal, professor, marketing, Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University, recently visited the Centre for Management Studies, Dibrugarh University, as a visiting fellow. He addressed the MBA students on “Relationship building for profit and entrepreneurship”. He also oriented the faculty with pedagogy as practised in the US and its adaptation in Indian conditions along with consultancy.

Agarwal suggested that the Centre for Management Studies in Dibrugarh University should play the role of a facilitator to imbibe the culture of entrepreneurship among the MBA students rather than orienting them for paid jobs, taking into consideration the interest of various stakeholders of the northeastern region.

Maths quiz

The Assam Academy of Mathematics (AAM), Dibrugarh branch, recently organised a quiz competition on mathematics for school students from Class VIII to Class X at Dibrugarh Hanumanbux Surajmal Kanoi College. Altogether 15 teams from different schools of Dibrugarh participated in the competition. Romen Chowdhury, Milton Chowdhury and Rakesh Thakur of Niranjan children home bagged the first position. Earlier, the aim and objectives of the academy were stated by G.C. Hazarika, president of the branch. The competition was conducted by Dhiren Kumar Basnet, Deva Pallab Rajkhowa and Mallika Nath.

Women power

The Cotton College Women’s Forum (CCWF) recently organised a talk on “Empowerment of women” at Sudmersen Hall, Cotton College.

Zena Sarabji, chairperson of the Lotus Hospitals Trust, Mumbai, and member, Bahai House of Worship Management Committee, New Delhi, spoke on the topic. She said inequality in society retards progress of civilisation and is an affront to human dignity. She stressed the need for attitude change in matters of women’s right. The talk was followed by an interactive session with the speaker.

The function was presided over by Joymati Medhi, principal of Cotton College and chairperson of CCWF. It was also addressed by Indira Miri, educationist, and Parul Dave of M.S. University, Baroda. The CCWF, established in 2003, aims to focus on the area of empowerment, entrepreneurship development, literacy and other relevant aspects of socio-economic development of women.

Compiled by Pranab Kumar Nath

and Ripunjoy Das