Skip to content Skip to navigation

Aryabhatta Science Centre Kalaigaon launches campaign against witch hunting

Aryabhatta science Centre, Kalaigaon has formally launched a campaign against superstitions and blind beliefs, particularly against ‘witch hunting’ recently at a work shop cum seminar at Kalaigaon on February 17. Implemented by Assam Science Technology & Environment Council, Guwahati, supported and catalyzed by Department of Science & Technology, govt. of Assam, Aryabhatta Science Centres, (one in each development blocks in Assam) have taken up various programmes to popularize science among students and people of Assam to create awareness for the removal of all kinds of superstitions and blind beliefs. The day long workshop titled “SCIENCE FOR ALL”,was organized at Lokapriya Bordoloi Public School, Kalaigaon on Feb 17, 10 am onwards. More than 300 students under the guidance of teachers from 15 HS, HSS, and ME schools of Kalaigaon Dev.Block took part in the programme. Jayanta Das, coordinator of the Aryabhatta Science Centre, Kalaigaon welcomed all to the programme and explained about the role of the Aryabhatta Science Centre. He said that under the active supervision of ASTEC it had been making science popular in the villages by demonstrating latest technologies of the world for the removal of superstitions and blind beliefs, through work shop, seminars and other activities.

Nabin Chandra Baro, Inspector of Schools, Udalguri district inaugurated the programme at 10.30 am. He said that the real need of time was to make science popular among people so as to understand it for the welfare of the society. Child scientist Arindam Mani Das explained about the space, the universe and the earth with live multimedia demonstration. He in association with Nabajyoti Baruah of CIC Kalaigaon and Sachin Bordoloi of JNV Kalaigaon demonstrated satellite images of the earth revealing courses of rivers, erosions, forests and various places including Kalaigaon with technical help from Google Earth. Noted astronomer and secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomer’s Association (Guwahati planetarium), U.N Deka (Column writer of Science Zone: Night Sky in The Assam Tribune) in his speech narrated about the sun, solar system, solar and lunar eclipses. He also explained about the total solar eclipse to occur on July 22, 2009 which would be visible from the northern part of Brahmaputra valley. According to him, there would be darkness at 6.30 am for about six minutes in some parts. He also narrated the effects of total solar eclipse on plants and animals and advised students not to panic. He told students about precautions to be taken during the time of watching the solar eclipse. He also demonstrated the latest GPS (Global Positioning System) technologies and their working to the students. Dr. Naba Kumar Das, VAS Kalaigaon, highlighted the effects of superstitions and blind beliefs on human life. According to him witch hunting, snake bites and dog bites had been killing hundreds of innocent people for no reason. He said that although non poisonous snake bite and non rabies infected dog bites are harmless, still most people, including educated people use crude medicines which sometimes prove fatal. He also advised students not to kill snakes as they are explained how ‘witch hunting’ had been taking lives of thousands of people of the country every year. According to him the so called ‘witches were always too poor to defend themselves .He said that it was time for the students an teachers to come forward and join hands to fight against all kinds of social evils, particularly witch hunting .He also said that Earth’s environment must not be polluted at any cost to protect the only known “green planet” of the universe. Shairuddin essential for a stable ecosystem. Noted environmentalist Dr.Budhhin Hazarika Ahmed, better known as ’Plantation Crusader” also attended the workshop cum seminar. Astronomer U N Deka, environmentalist Dr.Budhhin Hazarika and Dr.Naba Kumar Das were also felicitated on the occasion.
Author info

Jayanta Kumar Das's picture

Environmental journalist.

Comments

Anoy Anit's picture

Its really nice to see people or organisations in the villages who are fighting alone against injustice and cruelty.These people or organisations,I am sure never do this for money or fame.Please give your hands to them.Thank you Assam Times for publishing such positive news.Keep it up. Anoy Anit New Delhi-1
Bikash's picture

Basically it is Pani Ram Das family at remote kalaigaon to go ahead with science and technology.

Pages

Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Explosive recovered at Haflong

2 Feb 2012 - 11:42pm | Anup Biswas
In a joint search in the Up Barak Valley express at Lower Haflong station in Dima Hasao district of Assam, the GRP, RPF and train escort party recovered huge quantity of explosive in two...

Witch hunting rerun in Chirang!

25 Sep 2017 - 10:56am | editor
Yet another witch hunting incident fans no less shock and anger across the on Monday two days after it came to light. The incident took place at a remote helmet in Chirang district bordering Bhutan...

Int'l Women’s Day at Orengajuli tea garden

19 Mar 2017 - 10:12pm | Robertson Tanti
On the occasion of International Women’s Day held on Sunday at Orengajuli tea garden, the Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri district urged the tea women workers to come together to eradicate the curse...

ABSU opposses expert committee

28 Jul 2014 - 8:17pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The All Bodo Students union(ABSU) and its allied organisations opposed the commisioned of “One Man Expert Committee” naming it national policy for the solution of Bodoland issue from BJP led NDA...

Other Contents by Author

Noted astronomy advocate of NE and secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association, Guwahati Planetarium Uday Narayan Deka breathed his last in the ICU in International Hospital, Guwahati on Thursday at 12.20 am. He had been suffering from kidney related ailments for last twenty days.He was born on September 8 in 1944.He had been working in RBI in Mumbai for twelve years till his joining in RBI Guwahati branch as a Manager.During his stay in Mumbai,he was elected as the Hony. Treasurer of Bombay Amateur Astronomers Association.In 2002 he was elected as the secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium.He was responsible for organising...
Noted astronomy activist of NE and secretary of Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium Uday Narayan Deka breathed his last in the ICU in International Hospital, Guwahati today at 12.20 am.He had been suffering from kidney related ailments for last twenty days.He was born on September 8 in 1944.He had been working in RBI in Mumbai for twelve years till his joining in RBI Guwahati branch as a Manager.During his stay in Mumbai,he was elected as the Hony. Treasurer of Bombay Amateur Astronomers Association.In 2002 he was elected as the secretary of the Pragjyotish Amateur Astronomers Association,Guwahati Planetarium.He was responsible for organising village...
In a very tragic and barbaric incident, Puspanjali Das (19)wife of Chandan Debnath of Thakuriapara village under Bhergaon sub-division in Udalguri district has been burnt down alive on Saturday noon for non-payment of marriage dowry. The incident has shocked the district. The lady was put in a sac before thrown in a fire lighted in a heap of hay. Puspanjali was married to Chandan just three months bac. Narayan Debnath, father-in-law of Puspanjali has been arrested while trying to flee but all the family members managed to flee before being caught. Pranjal Bora, SDPO, Bhergaon told Assam Times that none involved in the incident would be spared.  
Music legend of undivided Darrang (presently Darrang, Udalguri and Sonitpur) Sisir Kumar Suni is now 84 years old being confined to his home only.He is still optimistic about systemic research and practice of traditional folk culture of Assam in their original style.Although forgotten by present day singers and producer directors of Assamese music world,Suni still busy with his never ending musical activities alone in his home at sleepy Bengbari just five KM away from Tangla town.Age could have restricted his bodily movements,but his talent and spirit still busy looking for new ideas.It had been his effort that Bodo folk dance "Kherai" was performed on stage for the first time during 1955."...
Asom Diwas was celebrated at sub-divisional HQ Bhergaon in Udalguri district with gaiety in memory of Chaolung Sukapha on December 2 with day long programme.The programme was organised by Bhergaon sub-divisional administration in association with Udalguri district administration.The celebration started with garlanding of the image of Sukapha at 10 am by DN Hazarika,ADC, Udalguri cum SDO (Civil),Bhergaon followed by an open discussion session on "Role of Sukapha in forming a greater Assam'.Noted teacher Binoy Kumar Medhi,retired  vice principal of Tangla College attended the discussion session as the appointed speaker.Speaking on the occasion,Medhi highlighted role of Sukapha in forming...
With the arrival of picnic time,Bhairabkunda,with all her virgin beauty is once again ready to welcome tourists and picnic lovers.Bhairabkunda has been a tourist destination since long back.But the tourist traffic flow had been disrupted during the days Assam and Bodo movements in eighty’s and ninety’s.But with peace returning to BTAD area people have started visiting Bhairabkunda again.Bhairabkunda has been unique always as the triangular meeting point of Assam,Arunachal and Bhutan.Fast flowing Dhansiri river  with crystal waters has been additional attraction always.The JFMC man made forest (Gedsimani Forest) with more than 14 lacs well grown tree saplings has been additional bonus...
Ajanta Devi,daughter of a villager of Balipota village near Kalaigaon has secured first class first position in Anthropology from Guwahati university in the recently declared MSc final examination.She has also been awarded  Manju Rani Goswami Borkakati Memorial Gold Medal by Guwahati university recently on November 26 in Guwahati.Her achievement has been lauded by the people of Kalaigaon as she is belonged to a family living in a remote village.She is the daughter of Basundhar Nath and Madhabi Nath of Balipota village near Kalaigaon.DN Hazarika,ADC,Udalguri;NC Boro,Inspector of Schools,Udalguri; president of Udalguri District Journalist Union etc  have congratulated her and...
At a time when government has been launching various new educational schemes for the benefit of the students and thousands of teachers are also being appointed,the plight of the students of a provincial High School in Udalguri district is telling other story.Situated in a remote village,ten KM away from Tangla town and fifteen KM from Kalaigaon town, Dhopguri High School has been running without even a single science or mathematics teacher for last four years ie since 2012.No science or mathematics classes had been held in class IX and X in the school during the period.The shocking news has come to light recently when students of the high school staged a demonstration in front of visiting...
”The passing of Assamese Language Bill in Assam Legislative Assembly while late Bishnu Ram Medhi was the Chief Minister of Assam,without consulting a few great tribal leaders of Assam who used to speak in Assamese language in Assam Assembly had been one of the causes for which Assamese language lost the faith of non Assamese tribal leaders during sixty’s”,so said Dr.Paramananda Rajbongshi, secretary of Asom Xahitya Xobha at the concluding session of the silver jubilee celebration of Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj,a branch of Asom Xahitya Xobha at Kalaigaon on November 19.Dr.Rajbongshi in his speech as the chief guest of the open session also appealed all the people of Assam to adopt Assamese...
The silver jubilee of Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj of Kalaigaon has been commencing at Kalaigaon with the hoisting of 27 number of Sabha flags on November 18 at 9 am.Twenty five distinguished people of Kalaigaon hoisted all the flags celebrationg completion of glorious twenty years of the branch of Asom Xahitya Xobha.Prominent among them were- Abul Hussain,president and Mahendra Saikia, founder president of the Kendukalai Sahitya Samaj, Kalaigaon; Jagadish Sarkar,EM,BTC;Maheswar Boro,MLA, Kalaigaon; Nabin Chandra Boro,Inspector of Schools, Udalguri etc. Earlier senior journalist Mukut Raj Sarma, secretary of the celebration committee welcomed all the guests with gamocha and spoke about the...