GUWAHATI, Oct 2 - Along with the rest of the nation, Gandhi Jayanti was observed all over the State with enthusiasm. Reports filed by our correspondents, which are still pouring in, are as under.
In Morigaon: Along with the rest of the country, the 147th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi was observed as International Day of Non-Violence here today with a day-long programme.
In the morning, the programme started with ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Bhaskar Ballav Deka, president of Morigaon District Freedom Fighters� Association. This was followed by smriti tarpan before the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Morigaon Gandhi Bhavan by Hemen Das, Deputy Commissioner of Morigaon.
A cleanliness drive and an all-religion prayer meet was also held on the occasion. An open meeting thereafter was presided over by Bhaskar Ballav Deka.
Speaking on the occasion, Niranjan Kumar Boruah, former Principal of Morigaon Law College and Narendra Nath Keot, retired Principal of Morigaon College dwelt at length on the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi.
In Rangiya: Under the aegies of Udayan Sangha, a Government-registered local socio-cultural and development organisation, Gandhi Jayanti was observed at Rangiya TT College premises with a day-long programme.
Organised in sync with the event, an open house quiz focusing on the life and deeds of Mahatma Gandhi and some other topics was held, which was participated in by school students, teachers, guardians and others, including Civil SDO Kailash Karthik N, Partha Pratim Mahanta, Principal of Rangiya TT College, Pabitra Kalita, retired teacher and noted litterateur, Nayan Jyoti Das, teacher of Arimatta Vidyapith HSS and an active social worker were among others present on the occasion.
The event, being organised for the first time to coincide with Gandhi Jayanti, was moderated by quizmasters Hrishikesh Mali and Anjan Jyoti Patowary. The Civil SDO of Rangiya answered the first question thrown to the house by the quizmasters, which enthralled all present.
Besides, on-the-spot prizes for each question of the event after different rounds of quizzes based on power point presentation, Aryan Kashyap, a student of Baihata Chariali DPS bagged the overall best quizzer award followed by Bikash Das. The winners were awarded with mementoes, books and certificate of proficiency.
Earlier, The Civil SDO of Rangiya, paid floral tributes and offered homage before the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, which was followed by Tanu Bania, Devajyoti Patowary, Jugal Chandra Nath, Nitu Kalita, Jayantajeet Kalita and Dipak Nath, besides several others.
At the outset, the Principal of Rangiya TT College formally inaugurated the quiz event.
In Kokrajhar: The All Bodo Students� Union (ABSU) organised a cycle rally in Kokrajhar district today in sync with International Non-Violence Day.
The rally was flagged off by Kokrajhar Superintendent of Police, Shyamal Prasad Saikia from Raas Mela field. He hailed the ABSU initiative of spreading the message of peace and brotherhood through a cycle rally.
ABSU president Promod Boro, Additional Deputy Commissioner Bhaskar Das, among others, attended the programme. A good number of ABSU supporters joined the cycle rally with different posters and banners, which culminated at Gossaigaon.
In Silchar: Along with the rest of the country, 147th Gandhi Jayanti was observed with reverence across various places here.
At a function organised by Gandhi Peace Foundation at Sichar, floral tributes were paid at the alter of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
On the other hand, the Silchar Municipal Board organised Swaccha Bharat campaign across many places within the town to commemorate the occasion. Speaking to mediapersons, NN Tagore, chairman of the civic board said, �we are committed to keep the city clean and the park alongside the pond at Narsingtola shall be made a trash-free place very soon.�
Moreover, the district committee of Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan organised an awareness meet on the need to keep the surroundings clean. Besides quiz and debate contests, a science exhibition and a book fair were organised to mark the occasion.
In Goalpara: The district administration observed International Non-Violence Day centrally with a day-long programme at the Gandhi Bhavan here.
The programme started with paying floral tributes before the statue of Gandhiji by the incharge Deputy Commissioner Farouk Alam, which was followed by a procession taken out by the school students from the PR Govt. HS &MP School campus, which snaked its way through the streets of Goalpara town before reaching Gandhi Bhawan, where an open meeting was held.
A book fair and a science exhibition were also organised at the New Goalpara High School in front of the Officers� Club.
Earlier, a cleanliness drive and tree plantation programme were also organised at the respective schools across the district, while the procession was flagged off by Inspector of Schools Amir Hussein.
