G Plus Vol 7 Issue 21 by G Plus

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INSIDE

Volume 07 | Issue 21 Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020 Price `10

New city aerodrome to facilitate water landing on Brahmaputra

GPC looks at new beginnings under Pres Manoj Kumar Nath and Secy Sanjoy Ray

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Centre Spread Pages 12-13

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RS elections The political somersault

Was a proper traffic survey P conducted prior to Ghy-N Ghy Bridge DPR finalization? Barasha Das @Barasha_mi2

Brahmaputra bridge to fuel traffic congestion Citizens question the hurry for construction without public consultation No definite proof that proper traffic survey was done prior to DPR finalization Feasibility of elevated road behind Sukreswar Ghat under survey Sources said such a bridge impractical Executive Engineer says. Guwahati IIT to conduct traffic survey of the city

olitics makes strange bedfellows and there is perhaps nothing stranger than what has happened in Assam with regard to the nominations of candidates for the three seats of the Rajya Sabha. As the curtains to the nomination filing process for three seats of the Upper House of Parliament came down on Friday evening, one thing became aptly clear that in politics there no permanent friends or foes; it’s always a combination of convenience. Otherwise, what explains the fact that former chief minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, holding the hand of AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal in a public display of affection accompanied senior journalist Ajit Bhuyan to file his nomination papers on Friday as their joint candidate. Mr Gogoi’s famous quote “Who is Badruddin Ajmal?” now stands done and dusted. Displaying a similar political somersault skill, BJP also tried to bury an old hatchet by propping up the name of another journalist Atanu Bhuyan but just stopped short of doing so. The love-hate story between Bhuyan and his earlier boss Himanta Biswa Sarma is known to one and all. However, at the end of it, the saffron brigade decided against it as the numbers game was

not in its favour to get the third candidate from its camp to the Rajya Sabha. The strength of Assam assembly (and so the electoral college) at present stands at 124 seats with BJP at 60, ally AGP at 14 and BPF at 12 seats. On the other hand, Congress is at 23 and AIDUF at 14 seats with one independent; two seats are lying vacant. The road to Rajya Sabha for two of the candidates Bhubaneswar Kalita and Biswajit Daimiry, both supported by the ruling party and its allies is pretty much clear. However, former state Congress chief Bhubaneswar Kalita filed his nomination as the ruling BJP-led coalition government's candidate for Rajya Sabha from Assam. Kalita, who had joined the BJP last year after opposing his party’s stand on scrapping of Article 370 in Kashmir, was duly rewarded for his changed loyalties. On the brink of political oblivion, Kalita joined the saffron brigade which has enabled him to contest for the post for the fifth time in row without having a toehold in any politics in the state. Experts say that Mr Kalita has been plain lucky in his political career. Starting from Rajya Sabha, he was member of Lok Sabha, was a cabinet minister in Assam and was APCC chief for 10 years from 2004 to 2014. The second candidate Biswajit Daimary, the BPF leader who is seeking re-election to the Upper House as the ruling coalition's partner Bodoland People's

Front's (BPF) nominee, filed his nomination earlier. Interestingly, in Assam two seats fell vacant as both the Rajya Sabha members from the state, Sanjay Singh and Kalita, both selected to the upper house as Congress candidates, switched sides to BJP. With BJP’s numbers it was clear that both its supported candidates will easily sail through while a divided opposition votes would have given the saffron brigade a chance to push its third candidate. And it became a real possibility in the last few days with BJP’s chief strategist Himanta Biswa Sarma hinting that many Congress MLAs will walk over to saffron camp. However, till the last date of filing of nominations only a single Congress MLA from Barak valley region is likely to join BJP. With BJP not pitching for the third candidate, it was a major relief for the united opposition candidate Ajit Bhuyan who also filed his nomination on Friday, accompanied by senior Congress leaders like ex-CM Tarun Gogoi and state party chief Ripun Bora, and AIUDF president Badruddin Ajmal. The Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had earlier announced supporting Bhuyan, a senior journalist and prominent leader of anti-CAA movement in the state, as its joint candidate for the Rajya Sabha. Election for the three Rajya Sabha seats in Assam is scheduled on March 26 next.

Ajit Kumar Bhuyan

Bhubaneswar Kalita

Biswajit Daimary

G Plus News @guwahatiplus

Traffic not a concern of PWD

Experts say Panbazar area will see excessive traffic after completion of the bridge; alternative measures yet to be undertaken. Full Story PG-02-03

Lead Story

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Was a proper traffic survey conducted prior to Ghy-N Ghy Bridge DPR finalization? Experts say Panbazar area will see excessive traffic after completion of the bridge; alternative measures yet to be undertaken. Barasha Das @Barasha_mi2

he construction of the proposed bridge over Brahmaputra River connecting its north bank to its south within the city premises has already started. The extradosed bridge, when completed, will be the first of its kind in the northeast. With a project cost of Rs 2,608 crores, it is the largest undertaken by the state Public Works Department (PWD) till date. Speaking on the occasion of ‘bhumi pujan’ on 1st March, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the new bridge over the Brahmaputra is

The city traffic department would now be sending a proposal to the state government to set up a committee under IIT Guwahati to study the traffic scene of the entire city for the next fifteen to twenty years. As such it can be concluded that such a study might not have been conducted earlier.

a step towards Smart Guwahati which will facilitate an integrated ICT application for an intelligent traffic system leading to decongestion of city traffic. He further said that it will transform the connectivity of the capital city in particular and the entire state in general. However, local and other concerned people have said that the bridge, when completed, rather than easing traffic issues, would add to the existing congestion in the city.

Model of the new bridge as showcased in PWRD office at Fatasil | G Plus Photo The super-structure will start as a six-lane bridge at the northern bank and would diverge at a Y-arm at the southern bank to two threelane ways, one connecting the main road at Santipur opposite Swagat Hospital, and the other end at Azan Pir Park in Machkhowa. Both these ends are to be further connected by an elevated corridor 15.8 metres wide (1.24 kms main bridge), parallel to the already existing Mahatma Gandhi Road. The PWD has also proposed the construction of two rotaries at both these points. The Mahatma Gandhi Road would be converted to oneway at that particular stretch. Vehicles travelling from Panbazar towards Maligoan will have to take the MG Road while the traffic moving from Bhootnath towards Panbazar will have to take the elevated corridor (bridge) along the Y-arm of the bridge. Further, every lane of the bridge would be allowed only one-way traffic. As such, a commuter travelling from Panbazar to North Guwahati would have to travel all the way to Kalipur and take the

bridge from that rotary. Also for a commuter from North Guwahati to reach Santipur would have to first take the rotary at Machkhowa and then take MG Road to reach his destination. Apart from lengthening travel time, citizens have raised issues of possible severe traffic jams at the rotaries and along the way. Reportedly, a major traffic congestion would occur at Panbazar, near the Sukreswar temple point, as the existing road itself is narrow, and would not sustain the ever increasing passenger car units (PCU). Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) had engaged consultant SMEC India Pvt Ltd, member of the Subrana Jurong Group, a subsidiary of the government of Singapore for preparation of feasibility study and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the bridge across Brahmaputra River through a competitive international bidding process. The feasibility report for Guwahati-North Guwahati across Brahmaputra River was completed in December 2017. Further, 80 percent of the project is financed by the

BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). However, Guwahatians have said that none of the agencies, including the state government, had proposed any public consultation before the DPR was made. Earlier, the citizens of Guwahati had formed a co-ordination committee – Citizens’ Co-ordination Committee - in order to save the 250 odd trees located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River, that were to be mowed down as per the first DPR. Although the final alignment has now been changed, and a new DPR was drawn, however, many other issues, mostly that of traffic, have remained yet unanswered. Locals of Bharalumukh and nearby areas have ever since been complaining the nonconsultation of public before such a mega project was undertaken. A resident, who wishes to remain anonymous said, “If the government is doing something for the benefit of the public, shouldn’t the people for whose benefit so many crores are to be utilized, be consulted?

Doesn’t the opinion of at least the nearby residents matter? People who commute through these localities everyday have a better idea of the needs and requirements.” When G Plus enquired about the same with PWD, sources inside informed that although such public consultations are of utmost importance, no such proposals were put forward by the GMDA, which presided over the entire project. The source said, “The initial DPR was done by the GMDA. PWD is handling the construction process only. But as far as public consultation is concerned, no such step was taken.” A senior citizen, who has been associated with the cause since the beginning informed, “We are shocked that the work of such a grand structure was undertaken in such secrecy. The public was not informed until much later after the first DPR was already presented. Authorities were already preparing to cut down 100 year old trees. Although we all stood up for the cause and the trees were saved, yet there are many other complications that would

Lead Story

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

arise after this ill-planned structure is completed.” So the questions that arise are, “Why was public consultation not done? Was a traffic survey done as to how the traffic from North Guwahati would impact the existing traffic scenario?” PWD officials could not confirm of any official traffic survey although an official said, “I have heard traffic surveys were done although I have not seen any official report.” Even the city traffic department could not report of any such surveys that were conducted. It has to be mentioned that as per reports, the government is now contemplating the construction of another arm to the Brahmaputra bridge that has currently started construction. As per reliable sources, feasibility studies are going on for the construction of an extended arm from the Azan Pir Park rotary to Uzan Bazar Ghat from behind Sukreswar temple to ease the traffic in Panbazar area. However, the said source has also informed that chances of such an elevated bridge behind Sukreswar and the SP office might not be possible as off now, as the soil profile is not feasible given the presence of rocky bed, and also due to the presence of Umanada and Urvasi islands in close vicinity. Further, the ropeway

at Kachari would also obstruct the way. What many have apparently questioned is the necessity of spending more money on an elevated road, rather than making the current bridge project more practical. Meanwhile, experts have said that if the possibility of such an elevated roadway is to be rejected, an alternative solution for the traffic problem might be difficult, as the existing “bottle-neck” point of MG Road at Panbazar cannot be widened, with the presence of archeological structures like the Sukreswar temple and North Brook Gate on the riverfront side and other private constructions on the opposite side. Allegedly, the city traffic department would now be sending a proposal to the state government to set up a committee under IIT Guwahati to study the traffic scene of the entire city for the next fifteen to twenty years. As such it could be said that such a study might not have been conducted earlier, although the same could not be confirmed. Having said that, the natural question that most Guwahatians are contemplating is, “Shouldn’t have the government done a thorough traffic survey before taking up the construction of the Brahmaputra bridge in the middle of the city?” Many have also questioned the hurry to construct the

bridge without essential studies and consultations. Ranel Das, a prominent architect of the city said, “The government must have done a survey on the city traffic as well as other aspects, which I am not aware of. Let’s consider that, of the traffic from North Guwahati, 50% are to enter the city via Panbazar and the other 50% takes the diversion towards Maligoan. Even then this extra 50% would add to the current traffic. Further, as of now many people commuting by ferries and boats do not bring their own vehicles. But after the bridge is completed, many more would be commuting on their own vehicle. A study should have been done to understand the increase in passenger car unit (PCU). Also the boats reach the ‘ghats’ at say an interval of 45 minutes to one hour, but the bridge traffic would be continuous. So there is every chance that the congestion which is now irregular, would then be continuous. This would be a serious everyday issue.” B. Sharma, Executive Engineer of PWD, speaking to G Plus said, "The main purpose of constructing the Bharalumukh-North Guwahati Bridge is to connect both banks of the river and for easy commuting of the citizens. The 1.24 km long elevated corridor connecting both the rotaries, from Santipur to Machkhowa, will actually be built as a

Flying beast Gaurav Taneja and wife invited to promote Tripura Tourism

logger and Pilots Gaurav Taneja and Ritu Rathee Taneja were invited by the chief minister of Tripura to promote Tripura tourism on March 5. Gaurav who is known as a tea lover has started their new series #RasbhariChai along with promoting tourism in Tripura. The duo looked around the city to find a tea seller who has a daughter and then, invited people to have a selfie with them. In return, they offered tea to everyone and requested the crowd to donate Rs 20 for the Chaiwala. In a 15 hour notice, a huge crowd gathered and collected around Rs 14,000. The duo added another Rs 37,000 themselves to make it a donation of Rs 51,000 for the 'Kanyadan' of the tea seller’s daughter. This amount was converted into a fixed deposit on the name of the girl keeping her mother as a nominee and was handed over to the family. It is to be mentioned that RasbhariChai is an initiative to empower the women of the country.

Biplab Kumar Deb, chief minister of Tripura took to his twitter to appreciate the work done by Gaurav and wrote, “Gaurav I personally appreciate your effort for empowering women which as a society we all should do collectively. I am happy that you have started this initiative from Tripura. Keep the good work going and inspire the youths!”

landing platform of the main bridge. It was never considered from the traffic point of view, although it would also serve the purpose of easing traffic along the much crowded MG Road. But traffic can't be the concern of the Brahmaputra bridge." When asked whether traffic survey was conducted before the DPR was finalized, Paban Terang, Chief Executive Officer, PWRD (EAP), said, " SMEC India Pvt Ltd have done surveys considering every

stakeholder, so traffic survey should definitely have been done. The number of lanes to be constructed depends on the size of traffic anticipated. As such, a six-lane bridge will be constructed. But we are doing a survey if an elevated road from the Azan Pir rotary to Vivekananda in Uzan Bazar can be constructed. " However, he could not confirm if the study of traffic of the entire MG Road and further was definitely conducted. n

Facts about the Bridge Total length of the bridge will be 1,600 metres measured from south to north bank. There will be 15.8 metres wide and 1.24 kms long elevated corridor connecting Santipur and Machkhowa. The bridge will have 1.5 metres width footpath on both sides The main bridge is 6 lane, while the Y-arms are 3 lanes each 1,240 metres has been designed as a multi-span extra-dosed bridge with individual span length of 200 metres between consecutive pylons, the longest in the country. Total length of the project up to Gauripur is 6.2 kms.

4 Governance

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

How prepared is Guwahati to tackle coronavirus? Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

he Assam state government has swung into action to prevent any cases of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the state with different agencies taking precautionary measures, awareness campaigns and screening. The state health and family welfare department is on alert since Assam shares its borders with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Nepal and the state becomes susceptible to foreign nationals carrying the virus into the state. Recently, while speaking in the Assam legislative assembly, minister of state for health and family welfare, Pijush Hazarika, said that a total of 48 beds in isolation wards in six hospitals across the state have been kept ready in the state to tackle any case of coronavirus. “In addition to this, two beds at each of the district hospitals have also been kept reserved,” said Hazarika adding that the state as well as the central government has undertaken awareness and sensitisation campaign regarding coronavirus. He said the coronavirus testing facility exists at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) and at a hospital in Lahowal. “There is no reason to panic. People who develop symptoms must come forward. The state government is fully ready to tackle the situation,” the minister further added.

It is to be mentioned that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recently declared the disease a pandemic. A pandemic is declared when a new disease spreads globally beyond expectations, for which often people do not have the immunity. Further, a total of 75 cases were found positive for the disease in India till Friday, March 13, while the country recorded the first fatality in Kerala. However, no positive case of the disease has been reported in Assam. Further, the ministry of health and family welfare on March 12 launched helpline numbers for all states and union territories for people to clarify their doubts and queries related to the COVID-19. The helpline number for Assam is 6913347770. Meanwhile, preventive measures have also been stepped up at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport, where authorities have been screening every single arriving passenger since March 3. Prior to this, only international passengers arriving in Guwahati from international flights were being screened at the Guwahati airport, said authorities. “We are now following the guidelines issued by the ministry of health and family welfare for prevention of coronavirus and are screening every passenger arriving from domestic as well as international flight now mandatorily,” an official of the LGBI airport told G Plus. MoS health and family welfare Pijush Hazarika said that several passengers who were screened at the airport

Citizens wearing protective masks on the streets of Guwahati | G Plus Photo and who showed symptoms like fever were taken to hospitals directly and were quarantined. Further, in a bid to take precaution against the coronavirus outbreak, the Northeast Frontier Railway has also launched railway helpline numbers to impart awareness amongst the masses against the disease. As per reports, close to 100 beds in isolation wards have been set up in Maligaon. Further, mobile numbers of doctors has also been released for information related to the disease. Further, across the country the Indian Railways has kept 20,000 beds in isolation wards

to tend to possible patients. Additionally, sensitisation and awareness initiatives are being undertaken at Guwahati as well as Maligaon railway station with announcements by authorities. The officials are also keeping a check on the foreign nationals at major railway stations. For the record, a 76-year-old American national who had tested positive for coronavirus in Bhutan, had travelled from Majuli to Guwahati via a luxury cruise ship, M V Mahabaahu, over the Brahmaputra River. It is to be mentioned that as per Hazarika, a total of 599 people who had come in contact with the American tourist in

Assam have been quarantined. The American tourist had spent more than eight days in Assam before going to Bhutan. The 76-year-old American tourist had travelled to Bhutan via Guwahati and had stayed in Radisson Blu hotel in the city. Further, 24 staff of the hotel who came in contact with the tourist are being kept under special observation. Earlier, the US national flew to Jorhat on February 22 in an Indigo flight and checked into MV Mahabahu for a sevenday cruise which took them to Majuli as well as Kaziranga on his way to Guwahati. Later, he travelled to Paro where he was tested positive of coronavirus.

Amidst COVID-19 outbreak, meat, fish sales drop in Guwahati Chayanika Das @cdchayanika95

he coronavirus outbreak which was declared a pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 11 brought in fear among the citizens of Guwahati. The virus was initially reported in Wuhan, China in 2019. Going by the definition given by WHO coronaviruses are zoonotic which means that they are transmitted between animals and people. After this news, people started hesitating in buying meat and seafood which led to a huge drop in meat

and fish markets worldwide. Guwahatians also became reluctant in consuming meat and seafood. Speaking to G Plus, president of Guwahati Meat Association, Muslim Ali said that since the past 10 days meat market has been down. “Our business has completely dropped. People have suddenly stopped buying meat after the coronavirus outbreak. It will get worse in the coming days,” said Ali. “Meat prices have also gone down. It was Rs 700 per kg but now it is Rs 650 per kg. If it continues to go like this then we have to think of some alternate business to feed ourselves and our family,” Ali added.

Not just mutton, sale of chicken has also dipped. Arizul Rahman, who owns a chicken shop in Kumarpara told G Plus, “Earlier we would sell 90-100 kilograms per day but since the past 10-15 days sales have dropped drastically. Now, per day we sell just 30-40 kilograms.” “Prices of chicken have also dipped. We used to sell it for Rs 100 per kilogram but now we are selling for Rs 70 per kilogram. I think we will soon have to shut our shop and look for some other business,” Rahman added. Earlier, a video of a market in Assam’s Baksa district selling dead rats went viral

on social media. This raised concerns for the health department over fears of Coronavirus outbreak in the country. At the Kumarikata Bazar along Indo-Bhutan border, rodent meat is sold as a local delicacy. Skinned rats are sold at Rs 200 a kilogram, and at times the prices increases. Post this, the district administration conducted mass awareness drives in Kumarikata, Duminibagan, Darranga, Tamulpur and other areas.

Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by WHO The virus is transmitted between animals and people Meat sale in Guwahati has dipped drastically in the past 10-15 days Meat vendors are afraid of the coming days due to the dip in sales The Assam govt. has put forward measures to fight Covid-19

City

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

New city aerodrome to facilitate water landing on Brahmaputra Atiqul Habib @guwahatiplus

he dream of landing seaplanes on the Brahmaputra in Guwahati is finally being made a reality with the Centre’s green signal to construct aerodromes at two destinations in the northeast so far – one at Guwahati and other at Umiam Lake, Meghalaya. According to officials at the Water Resource Department, an aerodrome will be coming up at the Kharguli near the High Court Guest House. The aero taxi service will be operated by the Spicejet and will cover a water runway of around two kilometres. In the first phase, a Detailed Project Report (DRP) worth Rs 11 crores approximately has already been made and technical approval has been taken from the Water Resource Department, Central Water Commission and Assam Engineering College’s Civil Branch for the feasibility and viability. To all appearances, land at the actual site has been developed with markings of the proposed project. Earlier, Airports Authority of India (AAI) Regional Executive Director Sanjeev Jindal, speaking to media, said that at the end of 2020 or by early 2021, the water aerodrome or seaplane services would be launched on Brahmaputra River and Umrangso reservoir. The three locations selected for the seaplanes include Guwahati, Umrangso (in Dima Hasao district) and the famous Kaziranga National Park. “Three jetties would be built at three locations at a cost of Rs 50 crores. Some other small works have to be done before launching the new ferrying mode,” he added. In the northeast, this seaplane service will be the latest initiative

by the government in the transport sector. For thousands of tourists who visit the state every year it is good news. For, apart from saving time by avoiding the long road trips they can now look forward to seaplane journey with a panoramic view of the mighty Brahmaputra from the top and save time in the process. G Plus tried to take stock of the situation and tried to follow up with the officials at the Smart City Project but they refused to comment on the development.

The feasibility aspect

Tourism expert and former administrator, Subhash Das, said that a business model or a special purpose vehicle must be formed to run the seaplanes and water aerodrome operations. “It will have to be decided whether the operations would be a venture between the state government and the AAI, or handled by the authorities alone. Profit making public sector organisations and corporate houses could be involved to run the new water based transport,” said Das, who has visited around 20 countries on his own and written books on tourism. A seaplane is a fixed-winged aeroplane designed to take off and land on water and includes amphibious aircraft operating as seaplanes. According to the civil aviation ministry, the directorate-general of civil aviation (DGCA) has allowed flight operations through seaplanes from water aerodromes. An area of open water that can be used by seaplanes or amphibious planes for landing and take-off is called a water aerodrome. They might have a connected terminal building on land where the pilot can choose to dock the aircraft like a ship. The DGCA says with the growth of the aviation industry, the country is expected to witness an increase in area of aircraft operations, including seaplanes,

The aerodrome site at Kharguli under initial preparation | G Plus Photo particularly due to regional connectivity scheme (RCS). This will also require operation of seaplanes from coastal/river/ canal as well as terrestrial water bodies. In addition to aviation legislation, a seaplane in contact with water is subject to maritime regulations including international regulations for the prevention of collision at sea and local bylaws. According to aviation regulations, an aerodrome cannot be used for scheduled air transport services, among others, unless there is a licence. According to the DGCA, an entity seeking to set up a water aerodrome has to take approvals from various authorities, including the ministries of defence, home, environment and forests and shipping. According to the ministry of civil aviation, seaplanes’ operations with the following

types shall be allowed under the scheme from select water aerodromes: category 1A — seaplanes with capacity of nine seats and category 1 — seaplane with capacity of nine to 20 seats. The civil aviation ministry has included Calcutta-ShillongCalcutta and GuwahatiLilabari-Guwahati, GuwahatiTezpur-Guwahati and Guwahati-Pasighat-Guwahati routes in the third round of UDAN scheme. It said requests from state governments, including those in the northeastern region, would be considered to cover specific pre-determined routes under the special round of UDAN scheme which will help in connecting remote areas which have not been connected yet. Meanwhile, in a bid to boost inclusive national economic development and promote tourism on the mighty banks of Brahmaputra, Guwahati Smart

City Limited has taken up the humongous task of developing the river banks in a phased manner. The proposed project will start from the New Deputy Commissioner’s Bungalow till Nilachal Hills in Kamakhaya. Also to boost tourism and connectivity, three riverfronts were selected in Assam to introduce the water based ferry for the first time in India. It is to be mentioned that the riverfront of the Machkhowa area (Lachit Ghat) has already been developed and has become a popular point for many walkers and joggers of the area. In Kerala also, a Cessna 206 H six-seater operated by Kairali Aviation became the first aircraft to start operations in the state. The idea behind this is to enable make tourists visiting the state to hop on to amphibious aircraft for the final leg of their journey to renowned backwater destinations.

Weather report for the week Guwahati

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

AM Clouds / PM Sun

Mostly Sunny

Sunny

Partly Cloudy

Sunny

Partly Cloudy

31°19° C

32°18° C

32°17° C

30°18° C

32°19° C

32°18° C

SATURDAY

Cloudy 31°20° C

6 In The News

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

GPC looks at new beginnings under Pres Manoj Kumar Nath and Secy Sanjoy Ray Rangman Das @guwahatiplus

fter much wait and anticipation, the general election of the Guwahati Press Club (GPC) was finally conducted. The election on 12th March, 2020 took place after 17 years bringing an end to the regime of for secretary Nava Thakuria.

End of Nava Thakuria’s tenure

Former general secretary of GPC, Nava Thakuria had approached the court to stall the general elections. He filed the case before the Guwahati Munsif Court against the interim committee, the election committee and the presiding officer, alleging that the voters’ list of the club is illegal and that the journalists of the electronic media cannot be general members of the GPC, as per the constitution of the club. The elections have brought to end the controversial tenure of Thakuria. It has to be mentioned that Thakuria was caught redhanded as he tried to set ablaze important club documents in the premises of the club on the night of 1st March. Reportedly, as Thakuria had to hand over all the documents from his tenure to the newly formed committee, he tried to burn down the records. The finance committee, set up to take stock of the records of the previous years, have found out that under Thakuria, the club did not even have a bank account for the last one and a half decades. Further, he could not provide any record of the various cash and kind gifts presented to the club by various well wishers and organisations over the years, although it has been clearly mentioned in the constitution that any transaction above Rs 100 would have to be done through a bank account. Thakuria has also not replied to any of the notices issued by the finance committee. The journalist fraternity has also expressed shock that after so much illegal and irregular transactions Nava Thakuria had moved court against the general elections.

Works that remained undone in the last 17 years

It has to be mentioned that

over the years many disputes had taken place over the land on which the club is situated. Due to the negligence of the former committee, the present club house is standing on a plot of land given by the Directorate of Archaeological Survey. The land is not the club’s own. Allegedly, the committee did not express interest even after former chief minister Tarun Gogoi had agreed to provide land for permanent construction of a club house. Further, the present club does not have the necessary facilities in spite of its metropolitan location. The Guwahati Press Club does not have any dedicated room for women, proper toilets, cultural space, proper canteen, free WiFi and a proper library, unlike other press clubs across the country. Also the journalists were never provided with health insurance as required.

The New Committee

223 journalists and various other workers associated with the press under former secretary Sanjib Phukan formed a new working committee after rendering the previous committee defunct. They further decided to conduct the general election for the club after these 17 years. An ad hoc committee was set up until the elections were conducted. Veneran Journalist PJ Baruah was appointed as the convener of the committee. The other members included Sanjib Phukan, Pranjit Saikia, Susanta Talukdar and Samim Sultana Ahmed. The committee took up 15 important issues. It decided to set up another three-member committee to take stock of the workings of the press club for the last 17 years. The three-member committee comprised Mrinal Talukdar, Susanta Talukdar and Paragmoni Aditya. This committee would be submitting its report within a month. Also, another committee was constituted to conduct the general elections. Senior journalist Ajit Patowary was the presiding officer of this said committee alongside other members like Sunil Bora, Galibur Rahman, Anupam Nath and Durba Ghosh. Meanwhile, in another meeting presided over by PJ Baruah, the committee amended certain clauses of the constitution. As per the amendments done, there would be 10 posts for the

Counting in progress at the Guwahati Press Club elections on 12th March night | G Plus Photo general working of the Guwahati Press Club unlike the earlier five posts. Further two additional women reserved posts have been introduced for the position of vice president and assistant general secretary. The new working committee would constitute 13 members. Until the new working committee takes office, all work of the club would be managed by the convener, Susanta Talukdar. Amongst the people present in the meeting were veteran journalist Dhirendra Nath Chakraborty, renowned editor Prasanta Jyoti Baruah, Munin Bayan, Pranjit Saikia, Nitumoni Saikia, Pranay Bordoloi, Samim Sultana Ahmed, Khagen Kalita, Paragmoni Aditya, senior journalist Bedabrat Borah, Manoram Gogoi, Mrinal Talukdar, Prabin Kalita, Ajit Patowary, Manoj Kumar Nath, Bhaben Dutta, Nayan Pratim Kumar, Partha Dev Goswami, Nandan Pratim Sarma Bordoloi, Purba Jyoti Chutia, Hemanta Majumder, Gunajit Bhatacharjee, Anupam Nath, Utpal Baruah, Reb Bora, Bikash Singh, PP Singh, Dhurba Jyoti Pathak, Param Pakash Gogoi, Mintu Saikia, Mrinal Borah, Ranjit Bhatacharjee, Ranen Goswami, Jitendra Kumar Choudhury, Pranjit Deka, Lakhya Gohain, Ratna Bharali Talukdar, Tridip lahkar, Susmita Goswami, Palash

Khaund, Manik Ray, Mishra, Sunil Bora, Rahman and others.

Mamta Galibur

A new beginning

Candidates from various media houses contested for the various posts having mounted good campaigns. Every news media campaigned separately and rigorously. And the campaigns have not been limited to just visiting the different houses but candidates had also put up banners and hoardings. As the elections were being held after a long break, many new candidates were not known to the voters. As such the candidates not only campaigned offline but also across various social media platforms. Apart from 36 candidates, the total number of voters was 816. Like every other election, every candidate also took up various causes as their election agenda and promised to deliver the same.

The winners

The results were announced on 13th March. Manoj Kumar has been elected President of GPC with a total of 449 votes. Madhov Goswami, the other Presidential candidate polled 320 votes. Dhani Ram Kalita became the Vice President of GPC, without any

opposing contestant. He secured 331 votes. For the post of Vice President (Reserved for women), Mousumi Sarma Baruah won with a total of 301 votes. Arunima Kalita emerged in the second position with 277 votes. Sanjoy Ray was elected as the General Secretary with 404 votes, against Partha Dev Goswami who secured 270 votes. A tough competition was seen for the post of Assistant General Secretary between Manindra Kumar Deka and Prasanta Kumar Baruah and Deka won with a 2 vote margin. While Deka got a total of 292 votes, Baruah was left second with 290 votes. Meanwhile, Assistant General Secretary (Reserved for women) position has been won by Manisha Kalita with 304 votes. Raju Baruah will be the next Organising Secretary with 209 votes, and Nayan Pratim Kumar the next Treasurer of GPC with 355 votes. The Cultural Secretary position is won by Pallavi Poli Bora with 369 votes, and the Dhiraj Hazarika won for the post of Sports Secretary with 282 votes. Voting was conducted between 10 am to 4 pm. The counting of votes went on throughout the night. The overall turnout of voters was 95.59%.

Crime

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Cyber crime on the rise in Assam, increases by over 400% in 5 years T Nehal Jain @NehalJain96

There’s been a pronounced rise in cyber crime in the country, and in Assam. Assam recorded 379 cases of cyber crime in 2014, 483 in 2015, 696 in 2016, 1120 in 2017, and 2022 cases in 2018. There was an increase of 433.5% increase in the cybercrimes reported in the state. Assam recorded a cybercrime rate of 5.9 against the all - India rate of 2.1. Majority of cybercrime cases were done for the purpose of fraud, followed by sexual exploitation and causing disrepute. Cyber-criminals are the new entrepreneurs in these days of smartphones and e-payment gateways. Assam police have introduced cyber dome to fight such crimes.

here's been a pronounced rise in cyber crime in the country, and the situation seems to be getting worse. Assam too has shown a similar trend, recording a sharp increase in the number of reported cyber-crimes compared to the previous years. According to data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Assam recorded 379 cases of cyber crime in 2014, 483 cases in 2015, 696 cases in 2016, 1120 cases in 2017, and 2022 cases of cyber crime in the year 2018. The given data points at a massive 433.5% increase in the number of cyber crime being reported in the state. The cybercrime rate is the number of cybercrimes taking place per one lakh population. The NCRB data show the number of cybercrimes in Assam in 2018 at 2022 cases with a rate of 5.9 against the all-India rate of 2.1. Assam has been placed third, next to only Karnataka and Lakshadweep in terms of cybercrimes. The bane of the internet, cybercrime refers to any and all illegal activities carried out using technology. Cybercriminals — who range from rogue individuals to organized crime groups to state-sponsored factions — use techniques like phishing, social engineering, and all kinds of malware to pursue their nefarious plans. The major targets of cybercriminals are banks and other financial institutions. Over the years, cyber criminals have engineered multiple ways of targeting people including internet frauds, tele-calling

Representative Image frauds and ATM hacks. During 2018, 55.2% of cybercrime cases registered were for the motive of fraud (15051 out of 27248 cases) followed by sexual exploitation with 7.5% (2030 cases) and causing disrepute with 4.4% (1212 cases). In Assam, too, about 20% of cybercrime cases registered were for the motive of fraud (389 out of 2022 cases). Among other reasons of cybercrime in Assam were extortion (153 cases), personal revenge (239 cases), and sexual exploitation (113 cases). One of the most prominent cases of cybercrime reported in the year 2018 was when Padma Shri Jadav Payeng became victim to a cyber crime racket. A website, allegedly run using Jadav's name, managed to con travellers and researchers from across the globe into paying over Rs 1 lakh each for visiting the forest he has been working in.

Upon lodging of complaint, the Assam police arrested one Anil Kumar Gade on charges of running the fake website. In the age of internet, cyber-criminals are the new entrepreneurs in these days of smartphones and e-payment gateways in India. Assam is no different and the most commonly and blindly used Search Engine – Google is playing havoc. It is to be mentioned that cyber-criminals are like entrepreneurs of the 21st century who have identified innovative ways to capitalise on others’ failings. They succeed because the attack surface is expanding and cyber security hasn’t caught on in India so far as it should have. In a recent advancement in cybercrime, criminals are registering fraudulent numbers on Google to con the general public. Cyber criminals not only target internet users via website

but also by app-based chat boxes like WhatsApp among others. E-wallets such as GooglePay have also been used as mediums for committing such crimes. “With the rising popularity of social networking sites, there has also been an increase in the cases of defamation on those sites,” a senior police official told G Plus. The police are increasingly receiving a number of cases related to trolling, defamation, threats and personal attacks made through social media. Assam Police have, however, added more teeth to its capability to combat the emerging cyber threats with the commissioning of a cyber dome. The cyber dome is a centre of excellence for Assam police to meet long-term security challenges in the digital arena and for capacity building of police personnel and creating basic cyber awareness among general population.

India to announce new National Cybersecurity Policy soon

he Indian government recently revealed that it is working on a new cybersecurity policy that would address all the concerns related to cyber threats and data vulnerabilities happening across government departments and the private sector in India. At the Sixth Cyber Security India Summit 2020, held in New Delhi, Dr Rajesh

Pant, national cybersecurity coordinator from Prime Minister’s Office, said that the new policy is expected to be launched in the next two to three months. Further, he said that the new policy will address all the issues related to the cyber ecosystem, be it standardisation, testing, auditing and capacity development among others. However, this is not the

first time that the government has announced such plans, but so far, nothing concrete has emerged in this regard. In August 2019, the national cybersecurity coordinator had reportedly said that it will be launching the policy in January 2020, which did not happen. Amid the increasing cybercrime and frauds in digital payments, IT minister

Ravi Shankar Prasad last month also announced that the government is looking to change the existing norms laid out in the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000.

8 City

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Aye to Eye Care!

Building Guwahati’s capacity for Eye care Chayanika Das @cdchayanika95

he miracle of vision is one of the greatest gifts the human race could have asked for. Even though the eyes are so precious to humans, we do not know much about the mysterious organ. The human eye blinks an average of 4,200,000 times a year. It can differentiate approximately 10

People are well educated about eye diseases in metro cities and cities but in rural areas they still lack eye care education so they need to be addressed. We are planning to set up camps in such areas within this year,” Dr SU Ahmed, The Retina Centre.

million different colours. Each individual eye contains 107 million cells and all are light sensitive. Despite all these interesting factors, we still ignore this complex yet interesting organ. There are 1.5 million blind children worldwide, out of which 1 million are in Asia, 0.3 million in Africa and 0.1 million in the rest of the world, according to a WHO report. Eye care is one of the most ignored health problems. When you’re suffering from a cough and cold, you instantly visit a doctor. But when it comes to the eyes, then the symptoms are often ignored and thereby, taken for granted. Unless there are very severe symptoms, we tend to put off the visit to the eye doctor. There are several types of eye diseases. A few of the common eye diseases are cataract, glaucoma, retinal detachment among a few others. Dr SU Ahmed, Director,

Dr SU Ahmed Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon at The Retina Centre, Guwahati talked about these common eye diseases and their treatments.

A brief history of The Retina Centre

Dr SU Ahmed, a partner at Guwahati Eye Institute, Guwahati, completed his MBBS from Silchar Medical College (Under Gauhati University) in 1981. He then pursued his MS from Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, GMCH, Guwahati in 1993 and later underwent a VitreoRetinal fellowship from Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai from 1993-94. He has been trained internationally at Singapore National Eye Centre and at Frankfurt, Germany with Prof Eckardt for Submacular Surgery. He has performed around 10,000 Vitreo-Retinal surgeries and more than 1,00,000 retinal laser and other procedures during the last 25 years. “I have done several complicated surgeries and several lakhs of laser treatments. All the cases that I have handled are complicated,” Dr Ahmed told G Plus. “To perform specialised treatments we need to be well equipped. We have retinal angiography, optical coherence tomography which is a special machine which is required to measure the thickness of the retina and analyse the nerve etc,” said Dr Ahmed. Dr Ahmed was a doctor in the Indian Army before opening up a hospital cum clinic in

Latest equipments at The Retina Centre for better eye diagnosis and treatment Bhangagarh in Guwahati where he treated patients for 15 years. After leaving the army he served as a senior consultant at Sankardeva Nethralaya till 2003. He then opened up a centre at Rukminigaon in January 2019. “I opened this centre with the concept to do much more specialised work in retinal diseases surgery, particularly which was required for the north eastern region,” said Dr Ahmed. Since their numbers of patients are increasing, they are expanding their area and will soon be occupying two floors of the building. “We are gradually expanding starting from retina vitreous, cataract and glaucoma. We have specialists in our centre and since this place is getting smaller so we are expanding,” he added.

Lighter and faster

Scan the QR code Eye care in cities and rural areas

Get the G Plus app One does not pay much heed when something goes wrong with their eyes. This is what leads to major eye problems later in their lives. Talking about the same, Dr Ahmed said, “When I started my retina practice in Sankardeva Nethralaya, people were not

aware of retinal diseases but these days people specifically come for retinal checkups.” “People are well educated about eye diseases in metro cities and cities but in rural areas they still lack eye care education so they need to be addressed. We are planning to set up camps in such areas within this year.”

Eye care in government sectors and private sectors

Dr Ahmed then went on to highlight a major problem in government colleges and hospitals. He said, “Problem in government colleges and hospitals is that in this sector when anything goes wrong with a machine, repairing it requires a lot of paper work and takes forever. In private sector, everything is quick. Whoever is in charge can immediately fix the machine when it stops functioning.” When asked about people and their fear for eye surgeries he said that technology has improved now and it does not take much time like it did earlier. “Earlier the entire procedure would take around 4-5 days but today one

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can just walk in, get the surgery done and walk out. For cataract surgery it hardly takes 10-15 minutes,” said Dr Ahmed.

Diabetic Eye Diseases in India: A Synopsis

Doctors at The Retina Centre told G Plus about the prevalence of diabetic mellitus in India. Sharing the figures, they said, “Diabetes mellitus now affects 65 million adults in India, which is likely to increase to over 130 million by 2045. Vision impairment and blindness from diabetic retinopathy (DR) and Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) will increase unless systems and services are put in place to reduce the incidence of DR and DME, and to increase access to diagnosis and effective treatment.” They also mentioned that in India, sight-threatening DR (STDR) affects 5%–7% of people with diabetes, i.e., 3–4.5 million. This will increase as the number of people with diabetes increases and they live longer. The main risk factors for DR and DME are increasing duration of disease and poor control of hyperglycemia and hypertension.

News This Week

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

A quick round up of the news that mattered during the past week

Nita Ambani features in 10 Most Influential Women in Sports

Nita Ambani, the owner of Mumbai Indians cricket team franchise, has been named in the list of 10 most influential women in sports for 2020. It is to be mentioned that Mumbai Indians (MI) team has won the Indian Premier League (IPL) four times. Others on the list included gymnast Simone Biles, footballer Megan Rapinoe, Tennis stars Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka, Ellie Norman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Formula 1, Cathy Engelbert, Commissioner, WNBA, Fatma Samoura, Secretary-General, FIFA, Mary Davis, CEO, Special Olympics, and Clare Connor, Managing Director – Women’s Cricket, ECB.

India suspends all tourist visas and e-visas for travellers

As the World Health Organisation declares coronavirus a pandemic, the government of India has suspended all tourist visas and e-visas granted on or before March 11. All incoming visitors including Indian nationals are advised against non-essential travel. “All existing visas, except diplomatic, official, UN/international organizations, employment, project visas, stand suspended till 15th April 2020,” it has said in the statement. The order comes into effect from 1200 GMT on March 13. Earlier, India had imposed visa ban on China, Italy, Iran, South Korea and Japan.

Hollywood actor Tom Hanks and wife test positive for Coronavirus

Actor Tom Hanks said he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, have been diagnosed with coronavirus. Hanks on his Instagram said that he and his wife were travelling in Australia when they were tested after exhibiting symptoms like tiredness, body aches, chills and slight fevers. “Well, now. What to do next? The Medical Officials have protocols that must be followed. We Hanks will be tested, observed, and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires. Not much more to it than a one-day-at-a-time approach, no?” he wrote. It is to be mentioned that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife has also tested positive for coronavirus. Sophie Gregoire Trudeau was feeling unwell and would remain in isolation.

After serving Congress for 18 Years, Jyotiraditya Scindia joins BJP

Former Congress strongman, Jyotiraditya Scindia joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of BJP President JP Nadda at party headquarters on March 11. It is to be mentioned that shortly after Scindia’s exit from the Congress, 21 party MLAs sent letters of resignation to the Madhya Pradesh governor. Meanwhile, MP chief minister Kamal Nath on March 10 said that he is confident his government will complete its term. He said, “There is nothing to worry about. We will prove our majority.” On March 12 Scindia said, “Fortunate that BJP opened doors for me and I got blessings of Modi, Shah, Nadda.” He further added, “I have brought only one thing with me (to BJP), that is my hard work.”

SBI waives off minimum balance for savings account

The State Bank of India (SBI) on March 11 announced that it has waived off the requirement of holding the average monthly balance for savings accounts. The bank’s press release said, “State Bank of India has decided to waive maintenance of Average Monthly Balance (AMB) for all Savings Bank Accounts.” Taking to his Twitter Minister of Law and Justice of India, Ravi Shankar Prasad tweeted, “SBI brings good news to millions of customers. No minimum balance will be required for savings account of SBI. This major initiative will help the poor people immensely.” According to the press release, this step will benefit 44.51 crore savings bank account holders.

With number of positive coronavirus cases increasing in India, PM Modi urges people not to panic PM Narendra Modi on March 12 urged people not to panic and to take precautions amidst the Coronavirus outbreak. He also advised citizens to avoid non-essential travel. The PM took to Twitter and wrote: “Say No to Panic, Say Yes to Precautions. No Minister of the Central Government will travel abroad in the upcoming days. I urge our countrymen to also avoid non-essential travel. We can break the chain of spread and ensure safety of all by avoiding large gatherings.” The PM further tweeted: “The government is fully vigilant about the situation due to COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus. Across ministries & states, multiple steps have been proactively taken to ensure safety of all. These steps are wide-ranging, from suspension of Visas to augmenting healthcare capacities.”

Union health ministry: Coronavirus vaccine will take at least 1.5 to 2 years

As the number of positive cases of coronavirus is increasing in India the union health ministry addressed the situation on March 12. The number of positive cases in India has increased to 74 according to the Union Health Ministry. During the address, Luv Aggarwal, joint secretary, health ministry informed that “Right now, luckily for India, we do not have any community transmission. We have only a few cases that have come from outside and they have primarily affected their close family members.” Speaking about the vaccine, he informed that it will take around 1.5 - 2 years for India to develop a vaccine for novel coronavirus even with expedited clinical trials and approvals.

16 women honoured with Nari Shakti Puraskar by President on IWD

President Ram Nath Kovind gave away the Nari Shakti Puraskar to 15 women in Rashtrapati Bhawan on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The awardees include 103-year-old athlete Mann Kaur, Indian Air Force’s first women fighter pilots Mohana Singh, Bhawana Kanth and Avani Chaturvedi, Farmers Padala Bhudevi and Bina Devi, Artisan Arifa Jaan, Environmentalist Chami Murmu, Entrepreneur Nilza Wangmo, Automotive research professional Rashmi Urdhwardeshe, Lady Mason Kalavati Devi, Twin Mountaineers Tashi and Nungshi Malik, classical vocalist Kaushiki Chakroborty and 98-year-old Karthyayini Amma who topped the literacy exam in 2018. Another awardee 105-year-old Bhageerathi Amma could not travel to Delhi to receive the award.

BCCI Suspends IPL 2020 for Coronavirus

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in a statement said that it has decided to suspend IPL 2020 till April 15 as a precautionary measure because of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. It further stated, “The BCCI is concerned and sensitive about all its stakeholders and public health in general and it is taking all necessary steps to ensure that all people related to IPL including IPL fans have a safe cricketing experience.” Meanwhile, the BCCI will work closely with the government of India along with the ministry of youth affairs and sports, ministry of health and family welfare and all other relevant central and state government departments in this regard.

Unnao rape case: Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar jailed for 10 years

Expelled BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar is being jailed for 10 years for murder of Unnao rape victim’s father. A Delhi court accused Sengar of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder, of the Unnao rape victim’s father who had died in judicial custody. During the hearing on March 13 in Tees Hazari court of Delhi, the CBI sought harsh punishment, calling it a gruesome case. In Unnao, Kuldeep Sengar and his accomplices abducted the minor in 2017 and committed gang-rape. On December 20, the Delhi Court sentenced Sengar to life imprisonment and sentenced him to life in prison. Sanger was also fined Rs 25 lakhs.

10 City

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Fancy Bazar defies coronavirus scare, celebrates Holi with vigour Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

Guwahatians played Holi this year despite coronavirus scare Hundreds of Guwahatians thronged the streets Fancy Bazar saw a large scale gathering of people The city saw empty roads on the first day of the festival Coronavirus scare majorly affected the Holi market Guwahati traders witnessing a dip in sales this year

otwithstanding the coronavirus scare, people in Guwahati did not hold themselves back while playing Holi this year. Hundreds of Guwahatians thronged the streets with gusto to celebrate the festival of colours. Fancy Bazar saw a large scale gathering of people at the main market area on the day of Holi where people were seen celebrating the festival with enthusiasm. “It is a tradition every year where thousands of people take to the streets to play Holi on the main roads of the Fancy Bazar market. Even though there was a general sense of fear among

people due to the outbreak of coronavirus, it hardly had any impact on this part of the city as the area saw a huge turnout of people to celebrate the festival,” a resident of Athgaon told G Plus. Another Guwahatian, Dimpy Borah said, “I had earlier thought of staying at home and not playing Holi this time around to take preventive steps for coronavirus. But later during the day, when I saw that all of my friends were celebrating, I couldn’t resist the urge to play with colours with them.” It is to be mentioned that till Friday, March 13, a total of 75 cases were found positive for the disease in India while the country recorded the first fatality in Kerala. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the disease as a pandemic looking at the global number of incidences and fatalities that have occurred due to the disease. However, no positive case of the disease has been reported in Assam. Guwahati usually witnesses a two-day Holi celebration with people taking part in the celebrations on both the days. However, the city saw empty roads on the first day of the festival with hardly anyone taking to the streets to play with colours. Further, G Plus recently conducted a poll on its social channels a few days prior to Holi and asked its readers if they planned to celebrate Holi with colours this time. A majority (72 per cent) of the 3,100 people who took part in the poll, had said that they will not be attending large gatherings while 28 per cent said that they will be playing Holi. A few respondents said that people should stay away from colours this time since they feel

A scene from the Holi celebrations at Fancy Bazar | G Plus Photo that they are imported from China. “Nobody should play because the colours are usually cheap and imported from China I guess,” remarked Neha Jalan, a resident of Guwahati. On the other hand, a few students commented that they will not be playing Holi because of the ongoing examinations. Another respondent said, “It is better to be safe than sorry and I along with my family are taking precautions this year due to coronavirus. We will not be celebrating in huge gatherings and crowded places and will have a small celebration in our home with close friends and family members.” On the other hand, however, Sushma Dey, a resident of Chandmari said that even though it is important to take measures to protect oneself,

A few respondents said that people should stay away from colours this time since they feel that they are imported from China.

children are most excited to play Holi. “Since the festival comes once a year, my daughter is looking forward to it. But we will definitely take precautions.” Additionally, the Coronavirus scare majorly affected the Holi market in Guwahati with traders witnessing a dip in sales this year.

Several shopkeepers in the Fancy Bazar area in Guwahati told G Plus that their sales were badly affected. “This time around, there was a panic among people and they are avoiding buying Holi colours. My profit has declined by as much as 80 per cent this time around,” mentioned Santosh Das, a trader in Fancy Bazar who sells Holi colours and water guns. He added that his sales had not picked up despite setting up his shop for three days. “The buyers were asking several questions related to the procurement of the colours as they felt that we get Holi colours and other items from China. Whereas that is not the case, we procure the stock from places like Delhi, Jaipur and different places in Assam,” said another trader in Fancy Bazar.

White Mogra to host three day Fashion Pop Up

uwahati, get ready to experience a fashion pop up with trendy clothes, accessories and more. The hassle of travelling across the country to find chic, fashionable and good quality clothing is now over as White Mogra brings it all together for you. White Mogra is a multi-designer store which believes in bringing

something new regularly. They keep experimenting with new labels to keep up with fashion trends and the demands of the customer. Apart from occasion-specific wear they also have a range of everyday Indian casual wear making it your go to shopping destination for all occasions. To celebrate its first anniversary White Mogra is

organising an exclusive three day pop up. The pop up will be held from March 15 to 17 at White Mogra store in Lachit Nagar, Guwahati. Fashionista Aditi Agarwal will be the stylist for the event. The pop up will include a wonderful blend of casual, formal, Indian and western wear. With clothes for kids and ladies, jewellery, accessories,

makeup and more, they’re sure to have something for everyone. The line-up for the exclusive pop up includes brands like Mulmul, Esha Aamin, Kapraha, Nayantaara, Ishnya, Bumblebee, Israa, Gargi Gupta, Our Love, Prerna Gupta, Copper Dhoti, Etre, Aradhaya, Archana Shah, Jaipur Story, Three Thirty Fifth, The Bling Girl, Duet Luxury and Zeba by Parul to

name a few. White Mogra is the brainchild of Shashi Jain, Nandini Sarawgi, Nidhi Jain, and Saloni Jain. Speaking to G Plus , Nidhi Jain said, “Coming from a family which has been into automobiles for decades, fashion seemed to be an odd choice initially but the success of the store till date shows it was a smart one!”

Photo Feature

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Guwahatians celebrated the festival of Holi with great fervour. From burning of the Holika to playing with colours, festive enthusiasm could be seen all around. Enjoy the pics...

2020

12 Centre Spread

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Ebola virus Ebola virus disease is a viral disease which is transmitted to people primarily from animals such as fruit bats. It spreads to people by contact with the skin or bodily fluids of an infected animal or person. The first known case of Ebola was reported from central Africa and the most recent outbreak was recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2018.

The disease has a high risk of fatality with anywhere between 25% and 90% infected being at risk of being killed. Further, the average fatality rate is 50%. The symptoms of Ebola virus disease usually start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus.

Place of origin: Africa

Last outbreak: 2018

Symptoms

Preventive measures

Coronaviru

High fever

Ebola vaccine

Headache

Wash hands as needed

Joint and muscle aches

Isolate the patient

Sore throat

Wear protective clothing

Weakness

Disposal of needles and syringes safely

Stomach pain

Disposal of waste safely

Lack of appetite

Use safe burial practices

Zika virus Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected female Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during the day. The virus can also be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her foetus, through sexual contact, transfusion of blood. The infection which is spread during pregnancy can lead to birth defects and as a

preventive measure; pregnant women are advised not to travel to countries with disease outbreak. Symptoms typically last for around 2–7 days. Further, many people with the infection do not develop symptoms. There is no vaccination available for Zika till now.

Place of origin: Uganda

Last outbreak: 2015-16

Symptoms Fever Rash Headache Joint pain Conjunctivitis Muscle pain

The novel coronavirus is the new strain of virus that was first detected in Wuhan in China in December 2019. It comes from a large family of viruses which cause several kinds of illnesses ranging from the common cold to the more severe symptoms such as acute respiratory syndrome. With the number of cases increasing rapidly, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the virus outbreak as a global health emergency. Several countries have also been put on high alert with authorities screening passengers at airports

PLACE OF ORIGIN: CHINA

How is it transmitted: The virus is usually transmitte person. Who are the most vulnerable: People over 60 years o Last outbreak: December 2019

Symptoms

Preventive measures

HEADACHE

Protection against mosquito bites during the day and early evening

Applying insect repellent to skin or clothing

Important to eliminate these mosquito breeding sites Covering water storage containers Cleaning up trash

FATIGUE

RUNNY NOSE

COUGH

SORE THROAT

VOMITING

FEVER

SHORTNESS OF BREATH

SNEEZING

Centre Spread

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Nipah virus Nipah virus infection can be transmitted from animals (like fruit bats) to people and from people to people. The symptoms can be varied for the disease ranging from asymptomatic infection to acute respiratory infection and even fatal encephalitis. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) the fatality for

Nipah virus is around 40%- 75%. Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of Nipah virus. Currently, there is no vaccine or treatment available for either people or animals. The symptoms of the disease typically begin to appear after 5–14 days from exposure.

Place of origin: Malaysia

Last outbreak: 2018

Symptoms

us COVID 19

Fever, headaches Vomiting Sore throat

and railway stations globally. The virus which started from China has now spread to more than 80 countries affecting more than 1.13 lakh people. Further, the virus has caused more than 4,000 deaths till now. Coronavirus affects the respiratory tract of the infected person. Further, as many as 62 confirmed cases have emerged in India till Thursday, March 11. However, no positive case of the disease has been reported in Assam. India's first coronavirus infection was confirmed in Kerala.

ed between animals and people, and from person to

of age and those with chronic medical conditions.

Preventive measures Washing hands frequently with soap

Dizziness, drowsiness Altered consciousness Atypical pneumonia Severe respiratory problems Encephalitis and seizures

Taking preventive measures while handling sick animals Avoiding close unprotected physical contact with infected people Regular hand washing should be carried out after caring for or visiting sick people

for the SARS-related coronavirus. The WHO in 2016 had identified SARSrelated coronavirus among several viruses as a likely cause of a future epidemic in a new plan developed after the Ebola epidemic for research and development.

Place of origin: China

Last outbreak: 2004

Symptoms Fever,

Avoid touching mouth, nose and eyes

Myalgia

Maintain good personal hygiene

Decreasing bat access to date palm sap and other fresh food products

Severe acute respiratory syndromerelated coronavirus (SARSr-CoV) is a type of of coronavirus which affects humans, bats and a few other mammals. The transmission of the disease is majorly from person to person. Bats serve as the main hosts

Malaise

Avoid any contact with farm or wild animals

Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas

SARS Virus

Maintaining social distance

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care immediately

Preventive measures

Headache Diarrhoea Shivering (rigors) Shortness of breath Respiratory distress

Preventive measures Washing hands thoroughly using an alcohol based detergent Cover your mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing Avoid sharing food, drink and utensils Regularly clean surfaces with disinfectant Saumya Mishra @saumyamishra03

14 G Talk E

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020 T

Not a storm in a teacup!

he flavour of the week, besides of course the novel coronavirus, has been political – the speculations surrounding the Rajya Sabha elections and the candidates thereof. The gauntlet that was threatened to be thrown down by senior journalist Atanu Bhuyan petered out rendering the elections rather insipid. Good, I’d say! After all, the Rajya Sabha is no flea market where seats should be haggled and bargained over. The nomination process took its slice of media space though and the great fortunes of arguably the luckiest politician in Assam – Bhubaneswar Kalita – raised a few amusing observations while the new found bonhomie of Tarun Gogoi and Badruddin Ajmal in propping up their joint candidate, Ajit Bhuyan, raised its share of snide remarks. And so, it clearly boils down to the fact that the Rajya Sabha speculations over the last week have been a storm in a teacup basically. Well, the focus now shifts back on what is certainly NOT a storm in a teacup anymore. Coronavirus has been declared pandemic by the World Health Organization and it need not be a joke on social media anymore. With normal activities all over the world grinding to a halt, is it Nature beckoning humankind to slow down from the abnormal speed

that it has taken? Stadiums going empty, isolation being forced upon humans, schools and colleges issuing advisories to close down temporarily, cricket series and IPL being cancelled et al (with the hope that sooner than later the coronavirus will perhaps be wiped out), it seems that staying connected virtually and not physically has become the new normal. The state government has communicated its preparedness to tackle the pandemic should it reach Assam. Announcements to this effect have been made by the government. Isolation wards in hospitals are ready and helpline numbers are in place. But the concern starts with the firms that have been supplying oxygen to government hospitals and are now threatening to stop the same because of mounting unpaid bills. While it is an unfair situation for the firms, the government is clearly not prepared with this basic necessity in its hospitals. Medicine stocks are the next that need checking and an honest self-assessment/ introspection is the need of the hour. While we take heart from the government’s assurances on its preparedness, we would be delighted if it sheds its negligent attitude on this front.

Swapnil Bharali (Editor) @swapnilbharali

Coronavirus: Opportunity in adversity

s the Coronavirus spreads across countries, world leaders, sports personalities, celebrities and events have all been affected by it and as some of the biggest events like the Serie A, Premier League, NBA, IPL and other global conferences have been suspended, it is important to assess how capable nations are of withstanding this adversity. The WHO declaring the Coronavirus as pandemic has triggered a chain of events which include a dip in global travel (by ban and by choice), crashing economies, shortage of protective gear and supply, sealed borders along with some other drastic measures. And if reports are to be believed, this trend is likely to continue in the time ahead. As global leaders are preparing for things to get worse, there is a parallel fear of the rise in xenophobia. There are photos and videos circulating of people fighting for the last bottle of sanitizer, the last roll of toilet paper or wearing masks, only around certain ethnic groups. There is also a blame game in the works between two countries that have been at each others’ throats for the longest time. The virus was also referred to as “Chinese” on several occasions, but is that doing us any good? This is a war that is not being fought with weapons and violence and this finger pointing is only breeding hate. A pandemic is not restricted to any country, ethnicity, race, or financial background. It is only with high profile names falling victims, people are beginning to see the real threat that lies ahead. As the virus has failed containment, and its vaccine being at least a year away from mass production, humanity needs to come together and stick this out because it is only in adversity that we find the biggest opportunity.

Sidharth Bedi Varma @sid_bv

The tussle over name change

he struggle of applying for identity cards, running from pillar to post appealing for proper documents is not something which is new to any of us anymore. Each one of us has a story to narrate about the time when we toiled to get that ID made. Imagine having to go through that trouble twice! Addressing an issue that should

The author has jocoserious take on why it’s about time why the ‘D/O’ and ‘W/O’ option on all forms for all purposes be dropped and women need not change their surnames for any reason whatsoever.

have been sermonized a long time ago, writing on behalf of all Eves, let’s get rid of the custom already! Women are not ‘property’ and they certainly do not belong to an Adam. Why then do we still continue this practice of making women change their names after marriage? One doesn’t need to share a name to become family and it is an undeniable fact that changing one’s last name is heap loads of work and it absolutely makes no sense. Why then do women still do it? Why go through all this trouble in an attempt to please the society? Although this is a choice and is neither customary nor legally binding on any woman, most women still take the pain,

either to satisfy the ego of their husband or his family. There is absolutely no need for one to keep clarifying to each and every person one meets that he or she is the same person who has earned those certificates, degrees and accolades. Having grown up and done both my schooling and graduation using my father’s surname, things turned difficult when both my parents decided to split up one day. I too took my mother’s maiden name as my last name after my mother decided to change her name back to the name she had before marriage. I’m not a married woman and yet I can relate to their plight. Speaking of those women who got divorced, being called by the same name as their ex-husbands must be one distressing thing and hence most women go through the trouble of doing it all, once again. My mother and I both had to get an affidavit made; we gave that small name change advertisement in the classifieds page of one local (vernacular) newspaper and one English daily under the ‘Name Change’ section following which, we applied for this piece of information to be published in the official gazette of the state government. Likewise, we will have to individually apply for each and every document already in our possession and take the pain of going through the entire time taking process once more. As for me, I have had to run around to open a new bank account with my new details because the documentation process was a time taking one and I needed to encash cheques that were issued in my new name. Thanks to my misfortune, I could only get myself to open a small savings account with a limit both on deposit and withdrawal amounts. It does get frustrating when I have to put all my important work aside and run

rWiFi in government colleges

O pinion Rifa Deka

to government offices just to know that the officer who is going to sign and forward my papers has either just left or is occupied elsewhere. What a complete waste of time, energy and effort! The one question that I’ve continuously been asking myself and others over the past few months is – why do women bother causing this kind of inconvenience to their own selves? Let that beautiful last name stay, woman! How else will your friends find you on Facebook years from now when you lose touch with them? When we women have clearly established, in front of the world, that we are very well capable of doing everything that a man is; sometimes even better, why then should a woman always be addressed as someone’s daughter or wife? Also, it’s about time we stop putting the ‘D/O’ and ‘W/O’ option on all forms for all purposes. An interesting development I came across while applying for new documents was that one does not mandatorily have to apply for a PAN card using their father’s name like before anymore. One can now apply using their mother’s name. It is good to see that things are finally changing but the speed of this change needs to be accelerated. I look forward to a day, and I know the day will come, when women will choose to be “some bodies” over “somebody’s”!

Letter to the Editor

I would like to bring this to your notice that almost all private colleges in our country provide superb facilities for day scholars as well as the college hostellers, Wi-Fi being one of the most important among them which has an important role to play in the life of most of us in fact all of us. Nowadays we need Wi-Fi not only for social media and watching videos but we also need high speed internet while filling up many forms including college admission and re-admission forms and also for money transfers which has become easy but also somewhat difficult through digitization because it needs high speed internet which the government colleges and universities especially in Assam mention in their prospectus but fail to provide. Hence I would like to ask the department concerned of the Assam government through your esteemed paper to pay attention to this severe data crisis in their government colleges and to provide it in reality than just writing “free high speed Wi-Fi available 24X7” on paper.

rBasti at Jalukbari I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a “basti” attached to the Jalukbari Highway needs some immediate attention from the Assam government. While crossing through the Jalukbari Highway on 29/ 02/ 2020, the houses standing on the support of thick Bamboo sticks above the “stagnant water” drew my attention. We all have knowledge that stagnant water is the breeding ground for mosquitoes which causes many serious diseases like malaria, dengue and typhoid. So I would like to ask the concerned ministry of the Assam government to take some strong steps for the improvement of that area and the health of the families living there. Neha Singh Royal Global University, Guwahati

In Focus

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Assam govt to provide free sanitary napkins to girl students W

ith a view to improve menstrual hygiene among adolescent girl students of the state, the Assam government will provide free sanitary napkins to girls studying in Classes 6 to 12 in government and government-aided schools. Under the scheme, every girl student in these classes will receive 18 beltless sanitary napkins per month. A total of Rs 25 crores have been allocated for this scheme. While presenting the budget on March 6, finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This will improve menstrual hygiene among adolescent girl students of the state leading to higher retention in school and greater empowerment of women.” Guwahatians took to the social media handles of G Plus and shared their views on the step taken by the government.

Appreciating the move Subheshya Sharma said,

“I appreciate this step taken by the government but the government should provide

free napkins to the other girls too as some people are unable to provide napkins to their girl child because of poverty. The government should reduce the cost of the sanitary pads as it is very expensive.

Another resident Krishanu Baruah said,

“Rather than distributing it to students, the government should distribute it to the needy girls or women. Because the middle class people anyway know the basic hygiene and the parents are already aware of its importance unlike the 'economically poorer' sections of the society. Anyway, good move. I hope the government uses the taxpayers’ money properly and thoughtfully.”

Another resident Kanchan Kejriwal questioning the government said,

“Instead of making sanitary pads free, why not make it cheaper for all BPL families?”

Niranjan Sharma said,

“The government also needs to

Representative Image clean up all the city drains immediately like China has done. BIO toilets are required at public places. The open toilets near the tea auction centre and NEDFi House is very old now and it should be changed. Food and vegetable markets in the city need to be

hygienic and safe for people.”

Priya Dey

appreciated the move and said, “It’s a good initiative. I hope it reaches every girl in the remote areas.” A majority of neitzens appreciated the step taken

by the government. However, a few also said that female students of private schools should also be provided with pads. Another resident stated, “I hope it will reach those students who are in real need.”

New Guwahati-North-Guwahati Bridge likely to boost river tourism

Citizens of Guwahati and North Guwahati will soon be able to use an easier route to commute back and forth by surface instead of taking a ferry. A six-lane extra-dosed bridge is being built over the Brahmaputra River connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati. Prandeep Borah Borthakur

Please think about those people who rely on ‘Ferry Services’ for their livelihoods. Save ‘River Tourism’, save those people who make their two ends meet from the income generated from the travel services between Guwahati and North Guwahati. At times old is best like the ferry services. I hope it is not discontinued.

Dipankar Talukdar

If everything is completed 2021 then only I will think of voting for our current government. Because as much I can see, none of the promises have been fulfilled till date. If we look back, the common examples are twin tower, metro from Jalukbari to Narengi and the list goes on. If we’ll get to see the change and development then expect a vote from us.

Bunty Singha

Anurag Chakraborty

This Bridge will really help in the development of our city. North Guwahati is a place which is full of resources, so if there is good connectivity then surely we’ll get to see more offices, factories in coming time. Also, people of that side would no longer have to travel to Guwahati for their survival. Life would become much easier.

Return Zaheer Khan

Things that should be taken into consideration right now are: traffic jam; as summers have arrived and traffic situation gets worse. It becomes very difficult for the traffic officials to manage the traffic. Secondly, objection on horn. People of this city are not civilized to understand the need to horn. Until and unless these things are not changed, there is no use of making another bridge.

That’s nice! But have you ever thought for those unemployed youths? I think first create the jobs. Like build IT parks, Business Bay try to bring tech giants like Facebook, Cisco, IBM, MasterCard etc. Only ‘sarkari naukri’ is not going to work. We know how well Sarkari naukri works, ‘Lahe Lahe’. Things need to boost at a faster rate and the way we are heading we are not going to achieve anything in the next 10 years and sorry we don’t rely on hopes anymore. We choose what we see. Hope to see the change in coming time.

16 Buzz

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Mechanical portrait of CM Sonowal puts Assam boy in Asia Book of Records

ahul Pareek (21), a resident of Dhubri who is currently studying in Guwahati, has made it to the Asia Book of Records. Pareek has set a record for making an innovative 'Mechanical Portrait' of chief minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, using a computer motherboard. It is to be mentioned that Pareek has also created portraits of Virat Kohli, Mahatma Gandhi

and Akshay Kumar using old and discarded mobile phones, mother board, wires etc. His name has also been included in the India Book of Records 2019. Taking to his Instagram Pareek

wrote, “This is for all those who supported me, inspired me and motivated me ...... Your love and believe made this possible..... With your blessings I became capable to make an international record. And entitle my name in ASIA BOOK OF RECORDS for creating the art with mechanical parts .....Thanking you.”

Aalok-d-Light organises twoday International Women’s Day programme

alok-d-Light, a Guwahati based NGO organised a two day programme to celebrate International Women’s Day from March 7-8, in collaboration with Beltola College, Guwahati. Aalok-d-Light is a NGO working for women and children. On March 8 a felicitation meeting was held at the Guwahati Press Club where IAS Parul Devi Das was felicitated for her inspiring achievements in her respective field. It is to be mentioned that das is the first Assamese lady IAS Officer from the entire north-eastern region. Chief Guest of the function, Anjana Sarma Barua, Chief General Manager, IOCL (Gauhati Refinery), in her speech emphasised the need

of women to enhance their confidence to make themselves enable to take active part in the nation building. Parul Devi Das advised the students to stay focussed on their career to achieve success in life. An Inter-College Debating Competition on ‘Gender Discrimination Hamper Progress’ was held at Beltola

College on March 07 where several colleges of the city took part. Jagya Pratim Saikia of Cotton University bagged the first prize of Rs. 7,000/- while second and third prize of Rs. 5,000/- and Rs. 3,000/- went to Tridib Bhagawati of Cotton University and Shruti Medhi of Handique Girls’ College respectively.

Elegant Women’s Day event at Medicity Guwahati

nternational Women’s Day (IWD) was celebrated in a befitting manner by the Medicity Group of Clinics & Diagnostics at the Medicity Aditya Complex in Guwahati on March 8. Dr Khalil Siddique, Director Medicity, welcomed the dignitaries and guests who had assembled on the occasion. Women achievers from various fields of work were felicitated on the occasion. The achievers include Wahida Ahmed (internationally acclaimed artist); Manjula Hazarika (Member, Bhupen Hazarika Trust & founder, North East Record Company); Tulika Devi (Media anchor & TV journalist); Dr Bijoya Dutta Parasar (senior

physician); Dr Biva Rani Devi (senior gynaecologist); Dr Sangeeta Dutta (psychiatrist & counsellor); and Puja Kakati (edu-entrepreneur). A number of men were also honoured for their contribution towards empowerment of women which includes Devanga Pallab Saikia (founder of women-centric ethnic food industry) and Dr Walliul Islam (eminent surgeon). On the occasion a free gynaecological check-up camp was also hosted by the Medicity Group in which 50 women were given consultation. Dr BK Dutta and Dr Manoj Kr Majumdar, senior gynaecologists, who conducted this camp, were also felicitated on the occasion.

Assam team secureds 12 golds National Kettlebell Championship

he team from Assam secured twelve gold medals in the recently concluded 2nd India International Trophy and 7th EKFA National Kettlebell Championship. The event was held in Mumbai. Assam also won the Team Relay event. The winners include

Indrani Tapati (Gold- OALC), Dhiraj Gogoi (Gold-OALC, Half Marathon). Subash Ranjan Bora (Gold-Snatch), Minku Lahon (Gold- OALC), Apratim Sarma (Gold- OALC, Half Marathon), Manish Tandon (Gold- Half Marathon, Long Cycle), Rakibul Islam (Gold-OALC), Angshuman Dutta (Gold- Half Marathon, Snatch).

Trotter

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Aussie newspaper prints extra pages for people to use as toilet paper

eople in Australia have been stockpiling everyday essentials like toilet paper in response to the coronavirus crisis. Australians have been panic-buying so much toilet paper, in fact, that some supermarket shelves have been left bare. To tackle the toilet paper shortage amidst coronavirus fears, a newspaper came up with a novel solution. NT News printed eight extra pages for people to use as toilet paper – and their unconventional idea has left many in splits. According to a daily, NT News is a Darwin-based newspaper famous for its humorous front pages. The newspaper printed a special eight-page insert with watermarks and a cut-out guide that people could use as toilet paper. The video has garnered more than 2.8 lakh views and over 5,000 'likes', along with a ton of amused responses. "Hahaha I love this paper!" wrote one person in the comments section. "This is genius," said another. The newspaper's editor, Matt Williams, said that it was selling well. "We are a newspaper known around the world who understands the needs of our readers," he said. "Territorians … are in great need of toilet paper right now so we had to deliver

what they needed." The bulk buying of toilet paper in Australia led to the viral hashtags #ToiletPaperEmergency and #ToiletPaperApocalypse and inspired a ton of memes. Australia's major grocers put strict limits on purchases of toilet paper after a rush of panic buying related to coronavirus fears emptied shelves, as the country recorded its third case of local transmission of the disease. Australia has reported 42 cases of the coronavirus - the bulk of whom were evacuees from a cruise ship docked in Japan - and just three cases where people who have not left the country have been infected. (Source: ndtv)

Teenager who enjoys extreme body modifications has 20 face piercings and tattooed eyeballs

n 18-year-old woman with over 20 facial piercings and tattooed eyeballs says that she doesn’t regret any of her modifications. Bodymodification lover Chiara, from Rome, got her first piercing when she was 11 years old. Since then, she has had around 40 more modifications – including over 20 facial piercings, 12 scarification’s, two brandings, six subdermal implants and tattooed eyeballs. Scarifications involve cutting the skin with designs or words in order to create a permanent scar resembling a tattoo. “My need for modification is not dictated by the need for attention or to be seen at all costs. It’s a personal need,” explained Chiara. “Everything I do, I do it for myself.” One of her most extreme facial modifications is in her lower lip, which has been stretched to four centimetres. Chiara says she doesn’t care what people think about it as it pleases her. “I didn’t start with the idea of having all this done. I was more discreet, but with time I started liking more things. If I didn’t feel at peace with myself I wouldn’t keep doing this. This is all very natural to me, I

don’t have regrets.” Many of the piercings Chiara has undergone were carried out herself or by her boyfriend, Michele. The pair met through their shared love for modifications when Chiara visited Michele’s piercing studio. They became a couple over a year later. Chiara’s tattooed eyeballs were also performed by Michele – this was the first time he had ever performed such a procedure on anybody. But luckily, Chiara says, things went smoothly. He also helped her with labia stretching – lengthening the inner lips of the vagina through manual pulling or physical equipment such as weights. (Source: metro.co.uk)

Mum brands kids' book explaining reproduction Man jailed for licking ice cream and putting it back in 'child-friendly kama sutra'

shop freezer

man in Texas who filmed himself licking ice cream and putting the carton back into a supermarket freezer has been sentenced to 30 days in prison. D'Adrien Anderson, 24, was also sentenced to two years' probation for the stunt, which occurred amid a viral trend of ice creamlicking at shops. The video of him was shared on social media last August. Surveillance cameras at the Walmart supermarket revealed he returned to take the ice cream back out of the freezer and bought it. Anderson has been fined $1,000 (£770) and ordered to pay $1,565 (£1,208) to the ice cream company, Blue Bell Creameries. He was also ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanour criminal mischief and told police he licked the ice cream as a prank before going back to buy it. However Blue Bell Creameries, a beloved Texas ice cream company, replaced all of the ice cream in the Walmart freezer as a precaution at a cost of $1,565. "Anderson's actions caused public concerns about the safety and quality of consumer products offered for public consumption, impacted Blue Bell consumer confidence and caused the company financial loss. This type of activity will not be tolerated," the Jefferson

County District Attorney's Office said. The office said any similar case will be taken seriously. Walmart said in a statement: "If food is tampered with, or a customer wants to leave the impression that they left behind adulterated product, we will move quickly with law enforcement to identify, apprehend and prosecute those who think this is a joke - it is not." Texas Governor Greg Abbott previously hailed police for tracking down another teenager who took part in the viral Blue Bell-licking trend, and warned in a tweet: "Don't Mess With Texas... or with Blue Bell". (Source: skynews)

mum was left baffled by a children's book she found in a doctor's waiting room containing bizarre explanations and diagrams of clowns demonstrating sexual positions. The book 'Mummy Laid an Egg!' by Babette Cole starts off 'innocent enough' before taking 'a very surprising twist'. Sharing images of the book on Facebook , Katherine Peck wanted other parents to experience what she branded the 'child-friendly Kama Sutra guide' - and it left thousands questioning its content. By page six, readers are introduced to simplified drawings of genitalia, with an arrow from the penis to the vagina explaining 'this fits in here'. It explains: "Daddy also has a tube. The seeds from the pods come out of it. The tube goes into mummy's tummy through a little hole. Then the seeds swim inside using their tails." It then moves on to provide examples of the ways in which people have sex, showing a couple flying along on a skateboard and - everyone's favourite - someone doing a headstand while another balances horizontally on top of them holding a colourful umbrella and spinning a ball on their finger. Oh, and both are wearing clown hats and noses. There's also people doing it floating mid-air using balloons like a raunchy version of Up, and two using a space hopper - which is just impressive. The

mum-of-three describes this section as 'aerial acrobatics, fetish clown outfits and space hoppers' before it progresses through some other baby-making processes. A sperm is depicted winning the race to the egg, as others head off with their tails between their legs, claiming 'we was robbed'. A very relaxed mum is shown giving birth to her child, who joyfully pops out to politely greet their parent. The mum who shared her find said the book left her with 'four billion questions I hadn't planned answering today', as the post recently resurfaced, racking up 85,000 shares and 71,000 comments. (Source: mirror.co.uk)

18 Review

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Radhika Madan, Deepak Dobriyal Director: Homi Adajania

Angrezi Medium

orn and raised in Udaipur (Rajasthan), Champak’s world pretty much revolves around his daily bickering with his other Ghasitaram brother, Gopi (Deepak Dobriyal), and caring for his only daughter, Tarika, who’s all set to graduate high school and embark on another academic journey. But, unlike her father, she doesn’t want to limit her dreams to the place she has grown up in; instead, she wants to explore what lies outside of her small world. Unaware of what’s ahead, Champak gives in to his daughter’s wishes, but things start to spiral out of control when it comes down to paying the hefty fee. A dedicated father, Champak vows to do whatever it takes to send his daughter to study abroad, and treads on a path that not only proves his unconditional love for his ‘betiya’, but also redefines their relationship. Homi Adajania’s ‘Angrezi Medium’ touches upon the pulse of the young generation’s obsession with pursuing further studies in foreign countries, and their family’s determination to embrace every Himalayan hurdle for their loved ones. There are

other underlying themes, too, but this remains the primary subject of the film. It is a well-known fact that in reality, Irrfan shot this movie while undergoing treatment. But, while watching this film, you can put that thought aside. What you witness on screen is the actor in his element – in every frame. He just takes you along... you laugh with him, cry with him and every time he overcomes an obstacle, you rejoice with him. Irrfan breathes life into Champak in a way that nobody else can. And walking shoulder to shoulder with him is yet another fine actor, Deepak Dobriyal. His camaraderie with Irrfan is a testament to the fact that both of them are such polished, wellprepared actors. Radhika Madan, as this mildly rebellious and often clueless teenager, pulls off a fine performance, especially in the scenes where her movingly beautiful relationship with her father unfolds. Their chemistry is organic, and the portrayal of their respective characters seem so real that their dilemmas and inner conflicts start to resonate. Kiku Sharda, as the childhood

buddy of the two brothers, is his usual funny self. Ranvir Shorey, as Balakrishna ‘Bobby’ Tripathy, living the seemingly perfect NRI dream, acts as a catalyst in moving the plot ahead. His depiction of Bobby comes as a refreshing twist in the plot and Shorey does complete justice to his part. Kareena Kapoor Khan does well in her brief appearance as tough cop Naina and adds to the chaos in the second half of the film. However, her relationship with her mother, Mrs. Kohli (played by Dimple Kapadia), is underexplored. It would have been interesting to watch the dynamics of their relationship play out in the movie. The look and feel of this comedy-drama is all things sweet and small-town – the actors consistently carry a thick local accent (Radhika’s sounds a bit forced though) and close attention has been paid to what we call a ‘small-town traits’ that beautifully plays out in multiple scenes and sequences as the story progresses. With one foot in homeland and the other in London, the music and the background score have been chalked out keeping the two different scenarios in mind; works out fine and differentiates the mood well. The first half of the screenplay is more engaging then the second, but, while trying to fit in too many subplots, the story goes quite haywire. There are some fantastic moments in the film, and sharply written scenes between the characters, too, which in turn, prove to be the highlights of this drama. However, the story is far too convenient and has inconsistencies that are hard to overlook, but Irrfan’s exceptional performance makes it worth the watch. (Review by timesofindia)

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Dhaba Estd. 1986, from the legacy of The Claridges opens in City Centre Mall, Guwahati

he joy of enjoying a meal in a Dhaba with desi Indian food and Bollywood music remains unmatched. Since it is not always possible to visit a Dhaba, which usually is located away from the city, Dhaba Estd. 1986 has come to you. Located at City Centre Mall, Dhaba Estd. 1986, from the legacy of the Claridges, is ready to satisfy your Tawa, Tandoor and Patiala requirements. Dhaba Estd. 1986 is a known Punjabi diner with outlets across the country. The interiors are casual, fun, colourful and Bollywood-friendly. From nalka chandeliers, nimbumirchi lights, vintage Bollywood posters, rustic interiors & truck art elements to good food and Bollywood music, they have it all! Their menu includes signature

age-old recipes from 1986 and new experimental flavours in the ‘Highway Specials’ section.

From their extensive menu Kanastari Baingan (Baingan ka Bharta served in a copper canister), Dhaba Chilli Chicken, Balti Meat (Mutton Curry) and Biryani (Veg/ Chicken/Mutton) remain the crowd favourites. You can enjoy your food along with classic beverages like Banta, Lassi, Thandai, Chaach and a range of interesting mocktails. The menu also has a section to satisfy your sweet tooth with delicacies that include Kulfi, Badam Halwa, Rabri and much more. Round off your meal with Desi Paan available in flavours like Meetha Paan, Nutella Paan, Thanda

Thanda Paan and more. Not just food, they have also prepared to entertain you with a Bhangra performance which happens every evening. For couples celebrating their anniversary, Dhaba Estd. 1986 has a special tradition of making them wear Pagris. Dhaba Estd. 1986 will soon be

serving a lunch buffet and alcohol. So come and enjoy a great meal with desi flavours and music inside your city at Dhaba Estd. 1986!

Feature

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

The Orthodox VS The Modern: The requirement of a balance

t is often quoted, “Orthodoxy is classy.” And if we take this quote into consideration, relating it with our lifestyle, then we would understand how the vintage modes of survival, be it the cooking style, the dressing sense, the music over the radio, or for that matter of fact the vintage classical cover drive of Indian cricket team’s former captain Rahul Dravid etc, all had something unique and distinctive about it. Thus, even in the modern era, when we try to design our lifestyle, we tend to carry within ourselves a bit of orthodoxy, so as to keep the very essence of a particular thing balanced with the globalised version of that same thing. However, when the orthodoxy levels tend to cross the standard limits, or goes beyond a certain point, then it is the time, when it actually creates a whole lot of issues. And actually these issues although don’t seem that thought-provoking, but we can’t even deny the fact that they can actually disrupt the complete normal functioning of a society. Thus in order to create the salubrious scenario, we must create a bridge between customs and traditions and modernization. The conspicuous fact is that change is inevitable. And this is something which can’t be stopped by any means. Therefore, when there is change, it carries with it a diversified version of it, the impact of which is felt in each and every sphere of life. But if we try analyzing how certain practices or beliefs got developed or came into existence, we would understand that the amount of knowledge, information and the scenes prevailing at that particular period of time, were actually consequential in developing those beliefs. However, if rigidity is maintained while carrying these thoughts, practices or beliefs forward, that is when the clash of synchronization between the past and the present occurs. Taboos such as girls during their menstruation process are impure, sex education at the teenage level is not correct, in certain cases, meeting of two individuals just prior to their marriage day is not practiced etc have all traveled from one age to another. But if we confabulate about the current scenario, notions circulating among a class of people like staying late night over social media is unethical, a girl and a boy conversing late at night is immoral, a boy and a girl strolling along a dark lane

is horrendous, an individual donning a beach wear is against the societal norms etc are some of the irritating hypotheses that actually disturb the mindset of the younger generation, who are more or less reason oriented and rational in their approach. In fact, with the advent of science and technology, the majority section of the society has realized that in order to maintain the social balance, it is really crucial to let go those old beliefs which were illogical and at the same time, accept the new ones which are practical and reason oriented. Having said that, it doesn’t mean that the society as a whole, has discarded all the vintage notions and accepted all the new ones. For example, the age old idea of treating the disease of rickets among neonates by making them come into direct contact with early morning sun rays is still followed to an extent till today, for the simple reason that this process has worked wonders in curing the problem of rickets since time immemorial. In simple terms, if we try to explain this, it basically means that an idea based on logic or fit to survive would anyway remain in existence, irrespective of it being old or new, since Charles Darwin said that the things in this mortal world are based on the concept of, “Survival of the fittest.” However, now it’s the time

where we need to create such scenarios that have the actual potential to establish the much required balance between both the parties, i.e. the over orthodox parties and the flexible ones. In fact, in this regard, we should not also forget that it’s only about roughly 10-30% of the individuals residing in the society who are

With the advent of science and technology, the majority section of the society has realized that in order to maintain the social balance, it is really crucial to let go those old beliefs which were illogical and at the same time, accept the new ones which are practical and reason oriented.

actually disturbing the entire balance by not trying to amend their primeval thoughts and beliefs. Nevertheless, the good news is that the solutions of these disturbing issues lie within the issues itself. For instance, if a

girl and a boy are walking via a lane late at night, a preconceived notion should not get developed in the mind that they are walking through that lane only to indulge themselves in some kind of activities opposed to the public policy. In fact, the same boy and the girl might be brother and sister, friends or colleagues moving for some particular kind of work. And if a particular lane is dark, it’s not their fault that there are no streetlights available on that particular lane. Added to this, if two friends of opposite sex meet and shake hands or embrace themselves with a warm hug, even that at all cannot be considered to be immoral for the very reason that the society itself is a kind of coexistence. So certain things should not be assumed before knowing the actual truth. Similarly youths using social media till late night, or a girl traveling in the vehicle of her male friend should not be always comprehended to be unethical. Along with this, things like dressing sense, taste of music or sensitive issues like restrictions imposed upon a girl during her periods, sex education to teenagers must also be dealt logically and rationally. Therefore, that particular section of the society should not directly declare a thing unholy only because it is against their old-fashioned thoughts. Of course if the youths commit anything wrong or immoral,

Bishaldeep Kakati they must be corrected or prevented from doing the same, but moral policing upon them based on no logic would simply have a depreciative effect upon the healthy running of a society, since youths form a major part of it. In short, there has always been a tendency to put allegations upon the youths for almost everything they do, but these are the same youths who never forget to maintain their customs and traditions as and when required. The example of which is evident from the massive protests led by the students against CAA, 2019 to save their mother land from being destroyed. So instead of blaming the youths, a change in the mindset is actually the need of the hour. Therefore in order to maintain a healthy society, there must be harmony prevailing among the youths and the old, and efforts must be given by both the groups to understand each other’s sentiments and emotions and thus move forward together for better running of the society.

Representative Image

20 Fun Horoscope of the week

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020 These predictions are based on the month of birth, and are about an individual’s work environment, parents and extended family.

Jayashree Bose Certified Feng Shui, Chinese astrology, date selection consultant & author, www.facebook.com/geoprinciples

14th and 18th March spend time connecting with your seniors or business network, host important meetings on these dates. 16th March avoid scheduling any meetings, last minute changes and disagreements. 17th March you will be emotionally hurt either by your parents or seniors. 19th March your views might not be accepted by others.

This will not be your week. Just avoid dealing with your seniors on 14th, 16th and 17th March. 16th March, be prepared for last minute changes. On 17th March you will have disagreements with your boss. 15th March will be an ideal day for you to mingle with your seniors and people at work and build your work network.

20th March will be a great day for you to connect with your boss and share your ideas, host all your important meetings. 15th March will be an unpredictable day, you could feel your parents, or your boss doesn’t appreciate your efforts at all. 16th and 18th March avoid hosting any important meetings, things will not be as you planned and you will face obstacles.

It will be a good week for you. 17th, 18th and 20th March will be great days for you to connect with your senior and share your ideas with him/her; you could host your important meetings on these dates. Avoid scheduling any important meetings on 16th March. You could have issues with your seniors or your extended family on 19th 2 March. 14th March avoid trusting anyone with your secrets.

18th March will be a great day for you to share your ideas with your seniors and build a relationship with them. 20th March you could have issues with your seniors and your parents, avoid hosting any meetings. Be careful on 14th March of your words and action as you will create your own problems. Avoid over planning on 16th and 19th March.

18th March will be an excellent day for you to schedule your important meetings. Your seniors will be receptive to your ideas. On 18th March you could feel your seniors and/or your parents are ungrateful, they don’t appreciate you. 15th March will be a slow day for you. 16th avoid over planning.

16th March be careful of your words and action as you will create your own problems. 17th and 20th March will be great days for you to share your ideas with your seniors or simply just connect with them. You could schedule your important meetings on these dates. 16th March, avoid hosting any event, there will be last minute changes or plans could get cancelled.

If you were planning on a holiday then this is the perfect time to go for it. Unless you are willing to uphold your promises, avoid 3 making any on 20th March. 16th and 19th March avoid over planning, just go with the flow, there will be last minute changes.

14th and 15th March will be ideal days to share your ideas with your boss or connect with people at work and family, probably host a Saturday dinner or Sunday brunch with your business network. 16th March will be unpredictable, avoid over planning. 18th March will be a slow day for you.

14th and 15th March will be great days for you to build your relationship with your seniors and people at work. Put your best foot forward. Be careful of your words and actions on 19th March, you will create your own problems. 20th March avoid trusting anyone with your secrets, others could betray your trust.

Watch yourself on 14th and 17th March, avoid making any promises or getting into a confrontation. You could feel emotionally betrayed by your seniors or parents on 19th March. Avoid over planning on 16th and 19th March, things will not go as planned.

17th March is an ideal day for you to mingle with your seniors, people at work and build your work network. Avoid hosting any event on 15th and 16th March, there will be last minute changes or cancellation. 18th March you could get into an argument with your seniors or extended family.

Dilbert By Scott Adams

Sudoku

6 8 24 1 3 9 8 3 1 6 9 4 1 9

6 5

81 5

7 5

8 1

9 76 3 2 7 4 1 8 7 3 7 1 6 7 32 4 5 9 39 8 8 5 6 Daily DailySudoku: Sudoku:Fri Fri13-Mar-2020 6-Mar-2020

4 83 6 3

veryhard hard

last week solution 94 83 41 62 65 76 39 48 58 22 17 93 16 58 72 34 21 44 63 55 87 39 95 76 42 61 58 89 73 15 86 27 39 97 24 11

56 7 52 93 24 1 38 29 89 5 3 6 14 41 9 6 79 32 97 8 91 67

81 75 47 58

23 13 2 84 45 16 75 6 9 43 71 32 32 4 15 86 99 68 3 5 27 58 64

Daily DailySudoku: Sudoku:Fri Fri13-Mar-2020 6-Mar-2020

Dr. Soubhadra Chakrabarty This quiz has been brought to you by Brain Jam, a property of Priya Communications

curio-city

6. Electron microscopic image of what very much in news object?

1. Dussehra

5. Who is the first Asian player to score a hat trick in football at the Olympics?

something causing superstitious fear; a bogy.

2. World Anaesthesia day

4. Which tourist spot in Assam is also known as White Ant Hill?

noun

3. Goulash

3. Which popular Hungarian stew of meat and vegetables flavoured Paprika shares its name with a round of hands in Bridge involving redistribution of cards after no one has bid?

British Slang. exhausted; very tired

[ hob-gob-lin ]

4. Haflong

2. Which young but very important branch of Modern Medicine is celebrated on 16th October to commemorate something WTG Morton did on Gilbert Abott in 1846?

adjective [nak-erd]

hobgoblin

5. Neville de Souza

1. Arjuna defeated the entire Kaurava Army including Bhishma, Drona and lakhs of soldiers on which occasion?

Word of the week Word knackered of the week

6. Coronavirus

curio-city

veryhard hard

http://www.dailysudoku.com/ http://www.dailysudoku.com/

Fiction

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Marco Polo …

Menthol Tipped

Ranjan Kumar Choudhury ranjanchou@hotmail.com

Fiction Uncle suddenly brought out the topic of being stricter on the trio and to check that that they were not smoking or going around with the winsome Khasi girls. My cousin, who was in attendance, turned red in the face and caught my eye muttering that they never did such things.

t was great fun growing up in Shillong under three elder brothers i.e. one of them my own, and the other two first cousins. They were almost of the same age and thick as thieves. We were all staying together in a house called “Victor Cottage” which was rented by my father for our school education at St. Edmunds, and my mother was like the matron running the place and looking after five boys and our two sisters. She insisted on cleanliness and discipline but my elder three brothers being in senior classes had started experimenting with the grown up attractions like smoking cigarettes. By chance I had discovered them lighting up in the act in the fruit garden area, below the school campus. One of my cousins had spied me sneaking up on them and wanting to nip any impertinence on my part led me to the small shop at the school gate, and bought me sweets and a favourite of those times called ‘Lockjaw’ which literally used to lock your jaws while chewing the dark coloured substance. Now when I think of it I cannot fathom how this was so popular but we did have great fun to see others chewing away to glory because stopping would have stuck your jaws with the sticky gum… something like getting stuck in quicksand. But my curiosity did not stop there and I was most intrigued to know what happened when one smoked, the taste of the cigarette and how it would feel to blow the smoke out in rings and through your nostrils. I continued to shadow the trio in the evenings and keeping a safe distance I noticed them at times going off to the fire brigade station near the Nongthomai field. There they would also be joined by a few more of their friends and they would take out the cigarette packet to share amongst themselves and after lighting them casually walk up the road to Motinagar. Sometimes they even rode on a pony cart and behaved like cowboys going on a wagon in the Wild West. Just like the movies and the comics, the cart driver was made to whip the horse and it would go off on a canter. I watched in awe and yearned to join them in this ride. Then one day I got my chance as I saw one of them hide the packet in the inside pocket of his coat. As luck would have it his father, my uncle, had come on some work to Shillong and had come to meet his son and also check on how he was doing. I sidled up to my cousin and told him that I knew where he had

hidden the cigarette packet and unless he allowed me to try it out I would spill the beans to his Dad. Immediately his face fell with concern and I saw him go outside to discuss this possible explosive situation with the other two and I saw them in animated discussion for some time. My second cousin looked at me and signalled to keep quiet by placing his finger on his lips and nodded his head to me. I knew I had won my forced request. My own brother was however made of sterner stuff and he took me aside after uncle had left and warned me not to get too smart and blackmail them. We had some race horses and he was a good rider taking the ponies out for workouts and I used to admire his riding and wanted to start also. So he more or less conveyed the message that it would be tit for tat if I disclosed about their smoking to anyone. I was in a dilemma and torn between the choice of getting to smoke or giving up on the horse riding lessons, which would have made me more of a cowboy in the eyes of my friends. Hence for some time it was status quo and I was trying to stifle my urge to smoke my first cigarette when the uncle arrived on one of his flying visits. After talking with my mother on general things like how they were faring in studies and games, as well as their health and requirement of some new clothes, he suddenly brought out the topic of being more strict on the trio and to check that that they were not

smoking or going around with the winsome Khasi girls. My cousin, who was in attendance, turned red in the face and caught my eye muttering that they never did such things. After Uncle left, the tension got to my cousin and I heard him telling the other two that they might as well allow me to try out smoking as I would start, sooner or later. Arguing my case further he reasoned that if I did smoke with them I would also be an accomplice smoker and I would not sneak about them. Weighing the odds, my elder brother decided not to wield the threat of me being denied access to horse riding this time. So it was all set. I would be stepping into the throngs of adolescence by experiencing the number one vice of those years. Thus “D” day came one lovely sunny evening in Shillong when we four now assembled near the Fire Brigade area waiting for the pony cart to arrive. I was very excited and just wanted to feel the burning fag between my lips puffing out smoke to glory. The three of them got up in the front part of the cart and made me sit in the back with my feet dangling out. Finally a lit cigarette was handed over to me and I was told to inhale slowly and for a start not to take in the smoke fully but let it out till I got used to the smoke. I remember the packet carrying the brand name ‘Marco Polo’

and they were menthol tipped. I did choke a bit initially but once I got used to it my first taste of the menthol left a soothing feel in my throat. It was utter bliss smoking and riding on the cart clip clopping up the Moti Nagar road, turning our heads each time a car passed so as to evade detection if anyone looked at us. In those days there was hardly any traffic and the number of times I accompanied them I remember there were indeed only a few cars that passed us. After some time I told a few of my friends that I was smoking and we got together to smoke, but we did not use the pony cart and instead we used to go to a stream in the pine forest a bit above the fruit garden. This cigarette brand however with the menthol actually was bad for over time it left a hoarseness in the throat and we tried out different brands viz Capstan, Red & White, Cool etc. Later with more confidence we began to smoke a bit more openly in Police Bazaar and in the school fetes mainly to attract the attention of the girls. I was not a heavy smoker till my final year in college much later when I smoked quite heavily the foreign brands like Rothmans and Marlboro but it affected me and I gave it up completely. However that first experience of Marco Polo menthol tipped will remain etched in my memory, till the last embers burn out in my soul.

22 Lifestyle

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Vaastu and Geomancy

he word Geomancy is derived from the Greek words geo, meaning the earth, and mantikos, meaning prophetic. Basically it is the study of earth’s energies. Geomancy is an ancient science of the earth that has been practiced for thousands of years. Vaastu is referred as Indian Geomancy while Feng Shui is the Chinese counterpart. Study of geomancy has become very common in Europe to check for geopathic stress before starting to build. We have discussed about geopathic stress earlier which, basically, is the adverse effects on earth’s energies on living beings. There may be dangerous health risks if a person is staying in a bad site. Bedrooms and offices are where we spend most of our time. It has been observed that 85% of people who are suffering from ill health are sleeping in a Geopathic Stressed area. These areas can be detected and rectified only by experts.

to be avoided. In Vaastu , it is known as street focus or veedhi sula . The front entrance should not face the stairway leading upstairs. The front door should not have a view of the back door. Heavy beams in the reception area are known to interfere with Chi (positive energy). Houses or buildings on triangular plots of land denote an ill omen. Feng Shui is the branch of classical cosmology, which helps man to build his dwellings in optimum harmony with the elements in the natural environment. In many countries, geomancers are consulted before erecting a skyscraper.

Some common Rules are as follows: A straight road leading directly to the home, or a small stream flowing in a straight course from it, is

Diabetes and Protein Sohini Chakraborty Chatterjee

roteins are considered to be one of the major macronutrients which are essential for several functions of our body. Apart from energy yielding, it plays vital role in growth and development of the body, repairing of wear and tear of tissues, maintaining healthy hair, nails, proper secretion and activities of various hormones, enzymes etc. Diabetes mellitus is the uncontrolled increase of blood sugar level of body due to faulty secretion and function of insulin. Normally 0.8-1 gm protein per kg body weight is important for any adult to maintain normal body functions. Lean proteins, chicken, fish, egg and other plant proteins are usually considered as healthy protein sources for diabetics. Rather than carbohydrate and fat, protein is considered to be more healthy option for diabetic patients. Thus diabetes patients are often advised to have high protein diet, let us first consider the positive sides of it: 1. As protein takes more time for digestion to some extent it can reduce the tendency to have

carbohydrate rich foods, thus it is beneficial for weight reduction and higher satiety value. It keeps stomach full for longer period of time. 2. Prote ins are me ant for good control of blood sugar metabolism, like a protein rich low carbohydrate diet often leads to burning of fat and loss of unhealthy fats. 3. Good quality proteins like plant proteins including dal, beans, legumes, rajma, soya and soya products, milk and milk products, quinoa, nuts and seeds which are usually low GI food will not increase the carbohydrate load of blood.

4. Proteins are usually considered to be beneficial because glucose from ingested protein doesn't appear in the blood circulation; therefore, protein doesn't increase blood sugar level.

5. Plant based proteins also do not increase bad cholesterol level and don't harm the heart health. 6. Protein is known for better control of insulin which is also protein in nature. 7. Protein is often necessary as it contains various essential amino acids. 8. Protein is also essential to repair the damaged tissues or wounds the diabetic patients mostly suffer from. Disadvantages of over consumption of protein for diabetics: 1. If prote in rich foods are added to diet high in carbohydrate and fat, it can be very harmful as high calorie diet could lead to weight gain. Moreover, with lower insulin level and increased protein intake, there may be more conversion from proteins to glucose by gluconeogenesis that may increase blood sugar level. 2. For patients with diabetic nephropathy, protein should be kept minimum as the kidney already has difficulty in filtering out sugar laden blood. 3. Protein rich animal foods can increase serum cholesterol and can harm heart heath. Even red meats can cause cancer too. So protein consumption for diabetics is helpful undoubtedly but it should be done mindfully considering both quality and quantity of protein.

The positioning of a water body inside a building should be carefully done after consulting a Feng Shui expert. Vaastu forbids it at the centre or brahmasthal.

Hemanta Kumar Sarmah

Engineer, Businessman, Advanced Pranic Healer and Su Jok Acupressure specialist.

If the back of the property is facing a river, the entrance must be at the rear to allow Chi to gain entrance. But Vaastu says that presence of water at south or west is harmful. There should not be a septic tank under the house. It should be separated from the main house. A source of water under the sleeping area can be extremely harmful Ancient kings in India and Chinese emperors used the knowledge of Vaastu and Feng Shui to rule their pupil and expand their wealth and kingdoms.

Aloo Til Ki Tikki Ingredients Potato - 200 gm Green chilly chopped -1 tbsp Red chilli powder - 1tbsp Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp Cumin powder - 1/2 tsp Chaat masala - 1/2 tsp Garam masala - 1/2 tsp Fresh coriander leaves chopped Ghee - 1 tbsp Salt to taste

Method

Boil potatoes in a pressure cooker; leave it for cooling. Once cooled remove the skin and mash well. Add potato in a bowl along with turmeric powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, red chilli powder, chaat masala, chopped coriander leaves and mix it well.

Sandeep Das

Apply oil to your palm, divide the mixture into equal portions and gently take a portion on your palm and flatten it to give shape. Then sprinkle sesame seeds on it, press gently and keep it aside. Take a non stick pan, add 1 tbsp ghee and place the tikki on it and cook on medium flame until it turns golden brown on both sides. Serve with coriander chutney and chilli chutney. Sprinkle pinch of red chilli powder and chaat masala on the tikkis and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Entertainment

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

Alone in the Combat Zone 85 years of Joymoti makes it to 3rd SASF Festival 2020

lone in the Combat Zone,’ a documentary film by Monjul Baruah, has been selected in the documentary section of the 3rd South Asian Short Film Festival 2020. The festival will be held from March 29 to April 9 at Kolkata. It is to be mentioned that the film has been selected among 19 films of various languages across countries like Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives. The film is produced by Gopal Jalan and Moonjyoti Saikia under the banner of Jalan Films and Nistha Media. It needs to be mentioned that the film was also the official selection for 5th International Film Festival of Shimla 2019, The Lift-Off Sessions 2019, Dadasaheb Phalke International Film Festival Award 2019 and Natyapeeth Short Film and Documentary Festival, Sivasagar 2020. The film is base d on the battle that Harekrishna Mahanta fought to transform the people of Udalguri, inspired by the philanthropic ideals of the 16th-century saint-reformer Sankardeva. Mahanta has set up a school beside the Satra he established and also taught people to be self-reliant.

Guwahati youth part of Arshad Warsi starrer series ‘Asur’

uwahati’s Bondip Sarma is a part of a thriller murder mystery series ‘Asur’ streaming on Voot. In Asur, Sarma is playing a prominent character of Ankit Sharma. He is playing the part of a person working in the forensic team. Earlier, he had also worked in Sushant Singh Rajput and Shraddha Kapoor starrer ‘Chhichhore.’ Sarma has also worked in several short films and is associated with theatre groups in Mumbai. He has done his schooling from Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Silpukhuri. Asur is thriller series streaming on Voot. The story is based in Varanasi where a bloody trail of murder leads forensic expert Dhananjay Rajput on a journey filled with the occult, darkness and superstition. The new series stars Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti among others.

and Assamese Cinema

oymoti, the first Assamese film, was released on March 10 1935 and completes its 85th anniversary. It was the first Assame se film made which was based on Lakshminath Bezbaroa's play about the 17th-century Ahom princess Soti Joymoti. The film was produced and directed by Jyoti Prasad Agarwala who is a noted Assamese poet, author, and filmmaker. The film was shot between 1933 and 1935 and was released by Chitralekha Movietone in 1935

which marked the beginning of Assamese cinema. The film starred Aideu Handique and Phani Sarma. It is to be mentioned that Joymoti was screened at the 50 th International Conference of the Society For Cinema and Media Studies (SCMC) of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, US in March 2011.

Papon to team up with Gulzar for a single

ssam’s Angarag Mahanta aka Papon is set to team up with legendary lyricistfilmmaker-poet Gulzar for a single. During an interview he said that he is feeling blessed to have teamed up with the legendary poet Gulzar. He said, “Gulzar Saab has penned down one song and after that, he told

me ‘let’s do more.” Further he added, “Gulzar Saab told me that if he writes for me then his health will be good. This is an honour for me.” Adding, Papon said, “He also told me that his life would have not been complete had he not worked with me. This is the biggest compliment I have ever received in my life.”

24 Catching Up

| Mar 14 - Mar 20, 2020

PIC OF THE