At the 105th Indian Science Congress that began at Manipur University in Imphal on Friday, Prime Minister rendra Modi harped on two things that merit attention as well as alysis. But first a Northeast-centric preamble: that a State capital of a northeastern State that is ragged by the largest number of militant groups espousing myriad causes that are often a total confusion in themselves, Manipur, has been chosen as the venue for the country’s biggest science congregation, speaks a few good things when it comes to the perception of this region as the country’s hub of secessionist violence in the minds of the so-called mainlanders. This is a welcome augury. An impression has gone out that Imphal too, despite the boycott call given by some militant groups, can fit into the tiol scheme of things when it comes to organizing an event as crucial as the science congress where about 5,000 delegates, including scientists, research scholars, corporates and students are participating. Good work, Manipur University.