TEZPUR, Dec 31 - After the ups and downs witnessed in 2015, the common people here are hoping that the New Year will usher in welcome changes. While interacting with this correspondent at the advent of 2016, noted litterateurs, academicians, artistes, social workers, sport personalities and politicians stressed that the good things that happened in the bygone year should be cherished.
Expressing concern over the �social degradation� last year, noted artiste Anil Bhattacharya said that a society�s identity is reflected through its culture and heritage. Folk artistes have to take up the responsibility to uphold culture, he pointed out. He rued that some elements have vitiated the cultural environment.
Echoing Bhattacharya, noted radio artiste Durgamoyee Bora said that newcomers in the field of music and art would have to shoulder the responsibility to carry on the established traditions. �Apart from building our careers, we have to endeavour to build a good audience through our creations,� she said, adding that many positive events took place in 2015. She hoped that 2016 would be even better and urged the media to play a positive role.
Dr Satish Bhattacharya, writer and senior citizen, observed that the political environment was quite exasperating as it spawned a lot of negative developments in 2015. However, he was hopeful that the New Year would bring about a change. �The Assembly election will be held soon and a new government will come to power. I hope that it will be sincere in dealing with issues like unabated infiltration, killing of rhinos, etc.,� he said.
Punyabrata Deva Goswami, Sattradhikar, Nikamul Sattra, was less optimistic as he felt that political chaos and intolerance reigned supreme in 2015. �I hope there will be peace in the coming year,� he added.
Writer Mrinali Chetia hoped that both the politicians and the Government would accord priority to solving the problems of flood and erosion, infiltration, etc.
Noted sports personality and the Director of Sports, Tezpur University, Pankaj Bora hoped that in the days to come, promising sportspersons of the State would get the requisite exposure.
Actress Krishna Das Nath stated that 2015 was a year of achievement for her as she received the Kalaguru Award. She felt that if people developed a positive attitude, everything would fall into place.
Seasoned politician and senior AGP leader Brindaban Goswami said that the BJP Government at the Centre failed to fulfil the aspirations of the common people in 2015. �The region has been paralysed by a number of problems. The BJP Government could not address any of these problems,� he alleged.
