GUWAHATI, Aug 28 - The 20th foundation day of the Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA) was observed at Sudmersen Hall of Cotton University on Tuesday.
Baneswar Khound, general secretary, welcomed the guests and explained the purpose of the function which was presided over by senior journalist DN Chakravartty.
Dr Pratap Jyoti Handique, Vice Chancellor of Gauhati University, while inaugurating the function, said that the elderly citizens in society should play a vital role in shaping the destiny of the future generations and also for maintaining peace and harmony in society.
Addressing the function as chief guest, Assam Assembly Speaker Hitendranath Goswami said that elderly people in society through the ages had been playing a key role in moulding the character and destiny of society.
He added that democracy is the best form of government and its success depends fully on the active cooperation of all sections of people and that the elderly citizens have a special responsibility in guiding the government along the correct channels.
Goswami said that since democracy is the government by discussion, it is vital that the people�s representatives remain committed to the welfare of the people and devote themselves to translate into action the will of the people.
Goswami added that with their rich experience of life, the senior citizens are required to help and guide the government and the legislators in the administration and framing of laws for the advancement of society.
Chakravartty in his presidential address said that the Assamese people had their tryst with destiny since the days of King Bhagadutta who demonstrated the brilliance of the Assamese at the Battle of Kurukshetra, while the genius of the Assamese people was demonstrated once again by King Bhaskar Barma in the sixth century and by Momai Tamuli Barbaruah in the 16th century.
Three distinguished nonagenarians � Dwijendranath Baruah, first chemical engineer of Assam and former managing director of AIDC; Jatindranath Hazarika, retired commissioner and former adviser to the Chief Minister and Kaumudi Kumar Dutta, retired general manager of Industries, Government of Meghalaya, were felicitated on the occasion.
