NAGAON, Aug 7 - Inaugurating the year-long platinum jubilee celebration of Nowgong College, Governor Prof Jagdish Mukhi stressed on introduction of need and value based courses in Nowgong College, which is a premier institution of higher education in the NE region. Mukhi further said that Nowgong College should be an autonomous college and should start research works of high standards for the benefit of the society.
At the beginning, he paid homage to those persons who dreamt of establishing a college in the pre-Independence period. Later, he formally lit the ceremonial lamp to declare the beginning of the celebration.
Nagaon MLA Rupak Sarma, president of the platinum jubilee celebration committee, was on the chair. Principal of the college Dr Sarat Borkataki welcomed the guests.
Rupok Sarma, in his address, called upon State Education minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya, who was also present in the function, to establish a cluster university in Nagaon. State ministers Keshab Mahanta and Siddhartha Bhattacharya also address the gathering.
Vice Principal Banti Neog offered the vote of thanks. The function was conducted by Prof Dr Chintamani Sarma.
The year-long celebration started with the hoisting of 75 flags where GB President Alimuzzaman, Nagaon MLA Rupok Sarma, Principal Dr S Borkataki, an alumni of 1947 batch Jahanara Hazarika and others took part.
Shahid tarpan, smriti tarpan and tree plantation were some of other programmes held during morning hours.
A book fair and an exhibition were also arranged, which were formally declared opened by eminent scholar Dr Naren Kalita.
Another session was held in the afternoon, which was addressed by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Sonowal said that the State government is in its toes to convince ten South East Asian nations to set up their consulates in Guwahati.
He informed that the State government is in constant touch with the Union Ministry of External Affairs to convey State government�s keen interest in developing strategic relations with South East Asian nations. He said that the immense opportunities thrown open by the Centre�s Act East Policy would pay rich dividends to the development of Assam as well as other north-eastern States if consulates of respective South East Asian countries are set up in Guwahati.
Remembering the unparalleled contributions of personalities like Motiram Bora, Haladhar Bhuyan, Lalit Baruah, Mahim Chandra Bora for the transition of Nowgong College, Sonowal said that in the last seven decades, the college has traversed a long distance and transformed itself into a centre of excellence of higher education. He also called upon the teaching as well as the student community of the college to take resolute decisions to make Nowgong College one of the leading colleges in the country.
He also said education is the most important tool through which a nation marches forward to success. He, therefore, urged the larger fraternity of Nowgong College to take the role of a precursor and lead the State�s march towards prosperity. He also called upon the student fraternity to work hard to reach the zenith of success. He asked them to be honest and peruse their life journey through the path of honesty, transparency and objectivity.
Synchronising with the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal felicitated three students of the college for their outstanding results.
State Science and Technology Minister Keshab Mahanta, MLA Rupak Sarma, Bimal Bora, Member Secretary of SLAC for students and youth welfare Lakhya Konwar, Principal of the College Dr Sarat Borkataki and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Senior advocate Alok Goswami was on the chair. Retired Principal Mahendra Ahom and K Bhuyan also graced the afternoon session.
In the evening, the college building and premises were illuminated with decorative lights, which was formally initiated by retired employee Phani Sarma.
