GUWAHATI, Aug 11 - The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) has introduced a new subject � Swadesh Adhyayan � from the current academic session to familiarise the higher secondary level students with the history and geography of the State and the intellectual, cultural and spiritual heritage of its people.
This subject has been introduced by the AHSEC for the first time in the whole of India, said AHSEC Secretary Kamaljyoti Gogoi. He further stated that Dibrugarh University has informed the AHSEC that it would introduce a major subject in Swadesh Adhyayan in the days to come.
The AHSEC Secretary told this newspaper that the subject has been introduced for the first year higher secondary Arts stream students.
Speaking on the contents of the subject, Gogoi said Assam has a rich heritage traceable since the days of Narakasura and the students should be made aware of this heritage. But all the data could not be provided in the textbook prepared for the first year higher secondary students this time, Gogoi said, adding that the rest of the materials would be included while preparing the textbook for the second year higher secondary students.
The textbook for Swadesh Adhyayan has been prepared by a group of teachers. They include, for the geography section, Dr Bhaben Chandra Kalita, former Head of the Department of Geography, Cotton University, Dr Jayashree Bora and Dr Pradip Sarma, both former Professors, Geography, Cotton University and Dr. Chaayanika Sarma, subject teacher (Geography), TC Girls� Higher Secondary and Multipurpose School.
And the scholars for the history section include Dr Dambarudhar Nath, former Professor, Dibrugarh University, Dr. Jatindranath Konwar, Associate Professor, History, Tingkhang College, Upasana Saikia, Associate Professor, History, Mariani College and Bhrigumani Nath, Associate Professor, History, Chinamara College.
Dr. Bhaben Ch Kalita and Dr. Dambarudhar Nath were respectively the editors of the geography and history sections. AHSEC Dy Secretary (Academic) Anurupa Choudhury was the coordinator of the project.