I-Day celebrations by and large peaceful in Guwahati, entire State

Deafening silence doesn't return to haunt!

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 16: The deafening silence has not come back to haunt Assam in the run-up and during the I-Day celebrations in the State, especially in Guwahati, this year.

 Earlier, people of the State were under the shadow of threats from militants in every Independence Day. Streets in the State, especially those in Guwahati, used to wear a deafening silence as people opted to not to go out and celebrate the freedom of their tion. It is still fresh in the minds of the people of the State as to how choosy and contrasting the photo jourlists of the State were – while photographers of government’s public relations departments clicking the very corner or corners of I-Day celebration playgrounds with bum on seats, newspaper photo jourlists zooming their cameras for seats with no bums on them.      

It seems, gone are those days when I-Day celebrations were deserted. Various places and streets in the State, especially in Guwahati, were alive with life during the Independence Day celebrations on Tuesday. Unlike the recent past, there were freedom rides in the major streets of Guwahati by bikers, wielding small tricolours in their hands. Apart from the programmes at the Veteriry College Palyground at Khapara in the city where the Day was centrally celebrated, Guwahati city witnessed Independence Day celebrations in various other areas, offices and educatiol institutions. Clubs, social organizations, business establishments, community centres etc., were also agog with I-Day programmes. There were sports competitions, dance competitions, art competitions etc.  Decorative illumition during the Independence Day celebrations in the city is another side of the celebrations that came to the notice of everybody in Guwahati. Jata Bhawan, all city police stations and other important offices in the city were illumited on Tuesday so as to greet the freedom which India got 71 years back. Kids and children were seen running and playing with balloons with tricolous etched on them. Despite being a holiday on account of the Independence Day, Tuesday was a day teeming with lives, bikes, other vehicles. People were also seen celebrating independence on cars without roofs and hoods.  

There were cultural evenings on the occasion of the Independence Day in the city where mostly patriotic melodious numbers were heard.

Under the aegis of Dwarkagr Unyan Samiti I-Day was celebrated at Dwarkagar Child Park in the city. The tiol Flag was hoisted by Samiti president Prafulla Sarma. In the evening at Beliram Das Primary School in the city near Six Mile meritorious students who came out successful with flying colours in HSLC and HS examitions were felicitated. The programme was conducted by Samiti secretary Ashim Saikia. The programme was attended by many in the area, including senior citizens.

Athgaon Jubok Sangha also celebrated Independence Day through various programmes. The tiol Flag was hoisted by APCC president Ripun Bora.  

Udyog Bhawan celebrates I-Day

GUWAHATI: The Commissionerate of Industries and Commerce observed the 71st Independence Day of the tion at Bamunimaidam, Guwahati on Tuesday. Commissioner of Industries and Commerce KK Dwivedi hoisted the tiol Flag in the presence of officers and staff of Udyog Bhawan.

Dwivedi called upon the people present to imbibe the spirit of patriotism and abide by the ideals of the constitution-makers. He hoped that the Independence Day would usher in freedom from social maladies and urged everyone present to work hand in hand for building a progressive and developed society as dreamt by the freedom fighters.

SBI celebrates Day

GUWAHATI: State Bank of India celebrated the 71st Independence Day on its premises at local head office, Dispur, Guwahati. The tiol Flag was unfurled by PVSLN Murty, Chief General Mager, SBI North Eastern Circle. The programme was attended by Digmanu Gupta, Kaushik Sinha, General Magers, SBI, NE Circle along with other senior officials and employees of the bank along with their families and wards, a press release said.

I-Day celebrated on Wetland: The North East Wetland Farmers’ Association, along with Apple Pie and youth of the Chachal area, celebrated the I-Day at Sil Sako Beel by planting tree saplings. Students of Novodaya Jatiya Vidyalaya took part at the celebrations. They sang the tiol Anthem. Environmentalist Alkesh Sam Kashyap and Apple Pie GM took part in the programme.

I-Day at Secretariat

GUWAHATI: The 71st Independence Day was observed in a befitting manner at Assam Secretariat, Dispur on Tuesday. Additiol Chief Secretary KK Mittal, Assam hoisted the tiol Flag followed by singing of the tiol Anthem. Speaking on the occasion, the Additiol Chief Secretary recalled the efforts and sacrifices made by the freedom fighters to attain independence and invoke everyone to pledge and work for all-round development of the country. The programme was attended by Commissioner and Secretaries, Secretaries and employees of various departments.