Ratneswar Sharma, principal of Pandu College, Guwahati, releasing the book Sikorher Khoje at the college premises. Shivani Bhattacharjee, the author of the book, is also on the stage. Picture by Pranab Kumar Nath N.K. Choudhury, former vice chancellor of Gauhati University, delivering the H.P. Barua memorial lecture at IIE, Panbazar. Picture by Pranab Kumar Nath

Maths seminar

He focused on some important aspects of the question of solvability which had remained unsolved for more than 1,000 years and how the problem was finally solved by a brilliant idea from Evariste Galios, a young French mathematician. S. Borthakur, head of mathematics department, thanked the gathering on behalf of the association in the concluding session.

Evaluation workshop

The objective of the workshop was to identify the difficulties faced by the Secondary Borad of Assam (SEBA), evaluation zone and examiners and to issue specific instructions to the examiners, among others. The workshop was inaugurated by Niraj Verma, deputy commissioner, Dibrugarh while B.C. Konwar, joint director, SEBA, delivered a lecture on how to evaluate answerscripts. K.C. Kakoty, principal, Duliajan Oil India Higher Secondary School also gave a speech on the difficulties faced in the evaluation zone.

Inspiring lecture

The lecture on the theme Inspiration of Engineers was instituted by the centre in 1996 in the memory of H.P. Barua, who was the first Indian from the Northeast to occupy the post of chief engineer, PWD under the British regime and was the founder-principal of the Assam Engineering College and also the founder-chairman of the centre. In his speech, Choudhury, mentioned the seven wonders of the world and other ancient monuments as the awe-inspiring engineering creations. He also cited different examples of nature, such as bamboo, the surface of leaves, birds, honeybee, which had influenced the engineers in the design and inventions. Earlier, Sarat Borkatoky, minister of PWD, Assam, inaugurated the opening session and released the souvenir published on the occasion. A colourful cultural programme was also held afterwards.

Book release

In her brief address, she expressed her feelings for the college as an ex-student and why she wanted to release her book in the college premises. The programme began with a chorus by the students of the department, which was followed by lectures by the guests present and a discussion on the book. A good number of faculty members from different colleges and students attended the programme. It concluded with a patriotic song by Ananya Bhattacharjee and a vote of thanks by Sipra Das, the head of the Bengali department.

State Olympiad

A total number of 1,847 participants in two categories took part in the contest. In the junior category (classes IX and X) the first three positions were secured by Sananda Mishra, Nabhaswati Bhuyan — both students of St Mary’s English school, and Partha Pratim Mishra of Little Flower School, Nalbari respectively. In the senior category (classes XI and XII), the first three positions were secured by Abhik Kumar Das of Kendriya Vidyalaya, BRPL, Sriparna Dhar of Cotton College, Guwahati, and Ritesh Kumar Soni of Darrang College, Tezpur. Compiled by Pranab Kumar Nath and Ripujnoy Das