Letters to The EDITOR: Beyond the Ballots: A Closer Look at Campus Election Debris

Beyond the Ballots: A Closer Look at Campus Election Debris

Each year, university campuses across the country become battlegrounds for student elections. Every conceivable space is plastered with campaign posters, flyers, and ban-ners, all competing for recognition. However, as the dust settles after the elections, what remains is a trail of debris that often goes unnoticed.

The visual clutter left behind by campaign materials is hard to ignore. Once vibrant posters become tattered eyesores, and flyers litter the ground. This post-election debris not only mars the campus's aesthetic but also poses environmental challenges. The extensive reliance on paper for campaign materials contributes to deforestation and generates waste. Additionally, the inks and dyes used in printing can have adverse ecological impacts. The placement of campaign banners, stretched across walkways and trees can harm the campus flora, potentially causing disruptions in the nearby ecosystem. Furthermore, the process of removing these materials post-election frequently entails tearing down posters and disposing of them in an environmentally unfriendly way. To address this problem, universities and colleges should adopt eco-friendly campaign methods like promoting digital platforms instead of print materials. Encouraging the use of digital platforms for campaigning reduces the need for printed materials. Furthermore, strict guidelines for the removal and disposal of campaign materials should be established to minimize environmental impact.

To sum up, campus elections frequently pose a notable environmental issue. It's crucial for educational institutions to proactively tackle this problem by encouraging eco-friendly campaign methods and responsible conduct among students.. Only through collective efforts can we ensure that our campuses remain clean and green, reflecting our commitment to both democracy and the environment.

Ruchira Seal,

Gauhati University.

Traffic snarls in Teok

Through this column of your esteemed Daily, I would like to draw the attention of the local authorities to the issue of traffic snarls on the road leading to the First Referral Unit, Teok. During peak hours, when the only English-medium senior secondary school standing just beside the road opens in the morning and closes in the afternoon, the locality becomes engulfed in traffic chaos. Since this road leads to the only civil hospital in Teok town, it not only disrupts daily life but also poses a significant threat to public safety. Multiple vehicles ferrying students and the influx of private vehicles cause traffic snarls on the road, leading to a complete logjam for a long time. Besides, the school has its entrance right on the arterial road. The impact of the traffic congestion near the school will become most apparent only when emergencies occur. Just imagine a scenario where a serious patient is being rushed to the F.R.U. and is tragically stranded in traffic. Won't such delays prove fatal?

Regrettably, complaints have not evoked an adequate response so far. Nobody has arrived at a solution to end this problem. It's imperative that the local authorities collaborate closely with the school authorities to develop comprehensive transportation plans. Also, by implementing efficient traffic management strategies, promoting alternate transportation, and staggering school timings, traffic congestion in the locality can be alleviated. I hope the local authorities will realise the gravity of the situation and propose effective measures to address the mess and pave the way for a safer and more efficient commute.

Dipen Gogoi,

Teok, Jorhat

Porcine heart transplant- a medical marvel

Surgeons at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, United States, have carried out the world’s second transplant of a genetically modified pig’s heart to a human being. The surgery was carried out on Lawrence Faucette, a 58-year-old patient who had terminal heart disease.

In 2022, the Maryland team performed the world’s first transplant of a genetically modified pig’s heart into another dying man, David Bennett, who died just two months after the procedure. The pig heart transplanted in the second operation has 10 genetic modifications, knocking out some pig genes and adding some human ones to make it more acceptable to the human immune system. Both operations, termed a giant leap in the medical world and a boon in the lives of humans, are truly a 'marvelous medical feat’. Firstly, this xenotransplantation could, in the near future, help solve the chronic shortage of organ donations. These experiments, though just the beginning, could be the turning point, a milestone in medical history to save the lives of patients, and a big solution to the organ shortage because of which thousands of patients lose their precious lives.

Further scientific research regarding the longevity and safety of the porcine heart and kidney has to be made, and once this clinical xenotransplantation becomes fully successful, it can put an end to the non-availability of organs and will be a blessing to patients on the long list waiting to receive organs.

M Pradyu

Kannur

Goodbye Lord Ganesha

The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on a large scale in several parts of India. The history of the Sarvajanik Ganesh Chaturthi in Maharashtra is centuries old. It was started by the late Lokmanya Tilak. According to Hindus, Ganesha is the remover of obstacles and all the problems in one’s life, as well as the creator of happiness in the lives of people. People in India worship Ganesha before starting any new work. He is the eldest son of Shiva and Parvati and is one of the five major Hindu deities. With his pot belly and elephant head, he is the god who removes all obstacles in the paths of those struggling to achieve both spiritual and worldly success. Almost every Hindu home has an image of Lord Ganesha over the doorway, and he is worshipped at the beginning of every important undertaking, whether it is the building of a new house, the beginning of a marriage, or the opening of a new account book. As per belief, Ganesha is also known as Vighnaharta, or the one who removes all obstacles. He holds great significance in Hinduism, where almost all rituals begin with his worship. Celebrations for this festival begin months in advance with the preparation of idols of Lord Ganesha. On the 10th and last day of the festival, the idol is immersed in a nearby river or pond with full devotion and this ceremony is called 'Ganesh Visarjan'. People chant "Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar ya”, which means “Goodbye Lord Ganesha, please come back next year.” Adieu Ganesh Bappa, pudhchya varshi lavkar ya! (Goodbye, Lord Ganesha; come back again soon next year.)

Jubel D'Cruz,

Dombivili, Mumbai