sentinelgroup@gmail.com
Green cover in medical college campuses
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Nalbari Medical College and Hospital. While I was pleased to see the impressive concrete infrastructure and the rapid development taking place, one aspect of the campus deeply concerned me — the lack of big trees and green cover. On a hot day, the environment felt extremely harsh and unbearable due to the absence of natural shade.
With the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam announcing the construction of several new medical colleges across the state, I sincerely hope that the government will prioritize environmental planning alongside infrastructure. It is my humble appeal that trees be planted well in advance of the construction process so that, by the time these institutions are functional, they provide not just medical facilities but also a comfortable and sustainable environment for patients, students, and staff. A well-shaded campus not only enhances aesthetic appeal but also contributes to the physical and mental well-being of all who visit or work there. Let development and ecology go hand in hand.
Mowsam Hazarika
Bharalumukh, Guwahati
Safety of NE students in the mainland
I am writing to express deep concern over the persistent ignorance and negligence towards the safety and well-being of students from the Northeast residing in mainland India. Despite repeated incidents of racial discrimination, verbal abuse, and physical attacks, the issue continues to receive insufficient attention from both authorities and society at large. Students from the Northeast often face alienation due to their appearance, language, and cultural identity. Many are subjected to derogatory remarks and stereotypical labelling. This systemic insensitivity not only hampers their sense of belonging but also creates an unsafe and hostile environment, especially in metro cities where they migrate for higher education or employment. It is disheartening to witness that while these students contribute actively to the academic and cultural fabric of our nation, they are still treated as outsiders. The lack of prompt action from institutions and local administrations in many cases reflects a deeper issue of apathy and prejudice. I urge the concerned authorities to implement stricter anti-discriminatory policies, ensure swift action against offenders, and run awareness campaigns that promote inclusivity and respect for all communities. Our unity as a nation lies in embracing diversity, not sidelining it.
Madhusmita Mudoi
Cotton University
Is this Kaliyug?
There was a time when taking a life was considered the greatest sin. Today, it’s horrifyingly easy. Murder, betrayal, violence—it’s all becoming a part of everyday life. And in this darkness, the ancient warning of Kaliyug—the age of downfall—feels more real than ever.
In Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy, a 16-year-old girl named Sakshi was stabbed over 20 times by her boyfriend, Sahil Khan, in broad daylight. He even smashed her head with a cement slab. People stood nearby; some filmed it, but no one stepped in to help. It wasn’t just a murder—it was a public display of society’s emotional numbness.
Then came the recent Sonam Raghuvanshi case in Meghalaya. Just days into her honeymoon, Sonam allegedly plotted and executed the murder of her husband, Raja Raghuvanshi, with the help of hired killers. The shocking part? It was all over money. Police reported that contract killers were paid Rs 4–20 lakh, and over 200 calls were made to an alleged lover before the crime. Sonam later surrendered. What’s common in these cases isn’t just the cruelty but the coldness—and sometimes, the price tag on human life.
Today, money has become everything. People are ready to lie, cheat—even kill—for it. Relationships are no longer built on trust but on selfish gains. Humanity is being sold for a price.
This is not just crime—it’s a reflection of a moral collapse. We are becoming a society where emotions are weak, but greed is strong. Where empathy is rare, but violence is casual.
Can we still say Kaliyug is only a myth? When teenagers kill out of rage, and spouses kill for wealth… when the public watches crimes like a movie… when a human life is cheaper than a gadget—this is Kaliyug.
It’s time to ask ourselves: have we progressed—or have we simply become more comfortable with cruelty?
We must wake up before numbness becomes normal. Let’s teach our children that life is precious, that money isn’t everything, and that silence in the face of injustice is the biggest crime of all. If this isn’t Kaliyug, what is?
Darshana Nath
Gauhati University
Misuse of the Shraddhanjali Flyover
I am Suswapna Kakoty, an advocate and a concerned citizen of Guwahati, writing to highlight a pressing issue regarding the Shraddhanjali Flyover on Zoo Road. Though the flyover has greatly eased traffic congestion and improved commute times, it is now being misused by commuters. Many two- and four-wheelers take illegal U-turns midway, particularly towards Geetanagar, taking advantage of the absence of continuous concrete dividers. This creates serious risks of head-on collisions and disrupts traffic flow.
Additionally, despite having no footpaths, the flyover is often used by pedestrians for jogging or walking, and some even stop in the middle of the road to take selfies—posing grave safety hazards. I urge the authorities to take immediate steps, including installing dividers throughout the flyover, putting up clear signage prohibiting pedestrian access and stopping, and deploying CCTV cameras to monitor and prevent misuse.
Let us ensure that the Shraddhanjali Flyover continues to serve its intended purpose—safe and smooth travel for all.
Suswapna Kakoty
(advocate.suswapna@gmail.com)
Sustainable planning for Guwahati’s floods
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, As the monsoon arrives, I wish to express deep concern over the recurring urban flooding in the smart city of Guwahati, which has once again brought the city to a standstill—even after moderate rainfall. There have been numerous studies, and outsourced agencies have been employed to study the ways and means to minimise urban flooding, and it has been seen on the ground how unplanned urbanisation, rampant hill-cutting, and encroachment of wetlands have crippled the city’s natural drainage system. The absence of a long-term vision, coupled with weak enforcement and lack of accountability, has turned Guwahati into a flood-prone zone. It is disheartening that even initiatives like Mission Flood-Free Guwahati have failed to yield results due to poor execution and oversight.
What is urgently needed is a shift from reactive disaster management to proactive urban planning. This includes restoring natural drainage channels, implementing urban watershed strategies using GIS and slope analysis, and protecting our remaining wetlands. Without these, Guwahati will continue to suffer, and its citizens will continue to pay the price. I urge the authorities to treat this not as a seasonal inconvenience but as a structural crisis demanding immediate and sustained action.
Ankur Pratim Baruah
(ankurbaruah78@gmail.com)
Claims and counterclaims
Just hours after Narendra Modi denied claims of American mediation in halting hostilities between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump insisted he had “stopped a war” between the South Asian countries even as he confirmed speaking with the Indian prime minister. Trump said, “Well, I stopped a war … I love Pakistan. I think Modi is a fantastic man. I spoke to him last night. We’re going to make a trade deal with Modi of India, but I stopped the war between Pakistan and India.” There was no official readout of the phone call from the White House. However, India released a video statement featuring foreign secretary Vikram Misri, who stated that Modi had used the conversation to directly reject Trump’s version of events. Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events [during Operation Sindoor] was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US trade deal or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. Modi was supposed to meet with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Canada, but the US president left early on the first day itself, before the arrival of the Indian leader. Modi reiterated that India’s military operations were paused following talks between the two armies – “and it was initiated at Pakistan’s request”. Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter. But, hours later, Trump again said that he stopped the war, likely the 15th time that he has made the claim since hostilities ended on May 10. Unlike India, which rejects third-party mediation outright as a long-standing foreign policy position, Pakistan has echoed Trump’s claim that he played a decisive role in halting the four-day clash that followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. With this, the question being asked is whom to trust, Modi or Trump, and who is telling the truth?
Bhagwan Thadani
(bhagwan_thadani@yahoo.co.in)