Letter to THE EDITOR: The youngest astronomer in the world

In our society, we sometimes hear some unwanted and unfortunate things. Some of the things usually bring frustration to some people's minds. We want to mention here that some people grieve when a girl is born. We can observe a sense of disappointment among such people. In the past, some people (uneducated) also killed girl fetuses. It is pointless to have a negative attitude when a girl is born. Before the advent of human civilization, uneducated people killed their girls for superstition. After the development of civilization and the skyrocketing development of science and technology, it is very unfortunate that people have misconceptions about girls.

However, in the global context, girls are not far behind. The girl has been able to show excellent results in every subject. Recently, very young Brazilian child astronomer Nicole Oliveira has been able to introduce herself to the world with a special feature. Ever since astronomer Nicole Oliveira learned to walk, she has been looking for stars in the sky. At just eight years of age, this child has become the youngest astronomer in the world. Nicole Oliveira is associated with NASA's Astronomical Research Programme. Oliveira also participates in various international seminars and meetings with the country's top astronomers and scientists. So, she is loved by many. It is worth noting that the house of the inquisitive Oliveira is filled with posters of the solar system. There she identifies asteroids by looking at different images of the sky on two large screens connected to her computer. This is NASA's project called Asteroid Hunters.

Oliveira took full advantage of NASA's project mentioned above and tried to establish himself as an astronomer. Through this project, children and adolescents are allowed to detect asteroids. The project is being managed by the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IARC), a NASA-affiliated Citizen Science Programme with the Brazilian Ministry of Science. Oliveira claims that she has already discovered 18 asteroids. She wants to name the Brazilian scientist and his family members. If NASA certifies these discoveries, Oliveira will become the world's youngest asteroid. This process must take several years. The youngest asteroid was previously discovered by 18-year-old Luigi Sannino of Italy.

Oliveira also received a scholarship from a prestigious school in early 2021. According to family sources, when Oliveira was two years old, she would raise her hand to the sky and say, "Mother, give me a star." Her interest in astronomy dates back to when he asked for a telescope as a birthday present at the age of four. What was the telescope at that time? Olivier didn't know that. The youngest astronomer Oliveira's goal is to become an aerospace engineer in the future. Not only that, she wants to go to NASA's Kennedy space centre to build a rocket to see their rocket.

Every citizen of the world should greet Oliveira's hopes and aspirations. The best wishes of the people of the world can make her and her parents happy, of course.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup.

IPL commentary

So after a lot of speculations because of the COVID pandemic, IPL, the instant cricket ultimately took off from DUBAI and SHARJAH. As usually cricketers from all cricket playing nations, except PAKISTAN got auctioned by the bidders with amounts as per their proficiency in the bang-bang form of cricket. Every evening cricket fans across the globe remain glued to their TV sets watching the show. But what irks us is the type of commentary that is very unusual like the past. The commentators seem to be more interested in their discussions regarding technique rather than showing what is happening on the field. While doing so, the commentators must have forgotten that in T20 cricket there is less technique and more hard bat swings. Sometimes a wicket deserving delivery goes for a six and sometimes one can purchase a wicket out of an ordinary delivery. It is like a language without grammar.

But who cares so long cash flows like water?

Lanu Dutt Chiwdhury,

Ambari, Guwahati

Kudos Assam Police

The new government has started a massive crack down on all criminal activities in the state starting from drug warlords, illegal encroachers, unscrupulous brokers, cattle smugglers and poachers, to name a few. Assam Police was given a free hand to deal hard on the criminal activities. The state police have declared war against criminals and their illegal activities. Barring a few citizens likes Dr Hiren Gohain, Ajit Bhuyan and some opposition leaders, the majority of the peace-loving citizens have applauded the state police force's action. Another very disturbing aspect is that more than 90% of the criminals belong to a particular religious linguistic community that is the loyal vote-bank of Congress and AIUDF, though new regional parties like Raijor Dol and AJP are trying hard to win their trust.

My simple question to those above-mentioned secular forces is 'Are you Axomiya first'? The recent rhetorics displayed by Bhupen Bora, the newly elected APCC president and Akhil Gogoi, the self-styled messiah of Assam, simply make us believe that they are not at all. Time seems to be running out for us. Very unfortunate indeed!

Joel Goyari,

Tangla.

Human mentality

Education is very important to every person in life. Educational places are like a temple to us because through these places people get to learn and become good educated people. There is an incident that happened recently that a female candidate was not allowed to appear for an entrance test at an educational institute in Assam's Tezpur area. It was because the girl was wearing shorts. In the end, she wrapped a curtain and gave the exam. what kind of a mentality is this that if a girl wears shorts then that becomes a huge issue? It's true that people should know what to wear in where. But wearing clothes is something that very personal thing which we cannot point on anyone. People are being educated day by day but one major thing that we all should consider about human mentality. people should accept the reality and don't need to be judgmental in anyhow.

Priyanka Nath,

Mirza

NTSE examination stage I for Assam

Good news for aspirants of students appearing for this year NTSE exams 2021-22. This time total seats allocated for Stage I in Assam is 202 vide published in The Sentinel dated 30.9.21.

The seat allocation for General Candidate out of 202 seats is only 74 after deducting the 15% for SC, 7.5% for ST, 27% for OBC, 10% for EWS and 4% for Physically Challenged Groups totalling 63.5%. General candidates, please be prepared for a tough competition for 74 seats.

S Chakraborty,

Adabari

Renaming of Flood Control Department

Renaming is not a newer phenomenon when geography, history, geometry and/or few other emerging parameters in changed context(s) warrant a review of the name of an entity. However, many a time political consideration vis-à-vis vicious parameters attribute to the renaming of an entity. Of late, the state government is seen changing the name of some entities including a few of its department(s) by amalgamating or repairing the nomenclature of some department(s). There we see no reasons to worry as far as the renaming of some departments are concerned as the same is believed to have been done or experimented in the state's interest merely to give more momentum in delivering services by the department(s) concerned by overcoming all kinds of emerged inadequacies.

However, an upsetting revelation made by a former minister of the state during the immediate past assembly session attracted the attention of many students of water studies like us. Bharat Narah who was flood control minister during both AGP and Congress regimes and who is now an opposition MLA said in the House during a discussion on the water sector a story as to how Flood Control Department (FCD) was renamed as Water Resource Department (WRD) during his stint as flood control minister. According to his narrative, he used to get embarrassed while introducing himself as minister of flood control before his counterparts when attending any event outside the state. His counterparts were surprised and used to tell him that floods could not be controlled but managed and so there remained no flood control minister in any state. The embarrassment of the kind was stated to have prompted him to rename his department as WRD! As a student of water studies for long, we are very much amused at the said narrative presented by the former minister. The watery story often put forth by him warrants a review on the issue concerning the water sector of the state.

As a matter of fact, the need for the renaming of water and water allied departments arose in states across the country when the Central Government renamed its Ministry of Irrigation as the Ministry of Water Resources which was subsequently renamed as Ministry of Water Resources and Ganga River Rejuvenation. Accordingly, each state in the country barring Assam renamed its Irrigation department as Water Resource Department (WRD). And in Assam, FCD which was only managing the risks of flood and erosion due to surface water was renamed as WRD, as was said by Bharat Narah. Ignoring views of other stakeholders in groundwater, water quality and other water allied subjects of the state, FCD was renamed as WRD at a time when a section of irrigation engineers of the state was manning the water affairs of the region or the country through different water portals of the Central government viz. CWC (Central Water Commission), NWDA (National Water Development Agency), NCA (Narmada Control Authority), WAPCOS (Water and Power Consultancy Services), Brahmaputra Board and NEC (North Eastern Council) Secretariat, apart from imparting classes in some IITs and engineering colleges on deputation or by other mechanisms. A school is of the view that renaming FCD as WRD was not just in Assam. The school opines that all the water allied departments encompassing both surface and groundwater (visibly dealt with by PHED and Irrigation Department) including Flood Control Department which is dealing with only river training, embankment and drainage works should have been amalgamated under one umbrella to be named as WRD merely to give justice to the water sector of the state. The result would have been significantly different from the one that we see today in the water sector.

Paniram Xaud

Panigaon

Veteran actor Arvind Trivedi

Veteran actor Arvind Trivedi, who essayed the iconic role of demon-king Ravana in Ramanand Sagar's TV serial Ramayan (first aired on Doordarshan in 1987), passed away in Mumbai at 82. Interestingly, as an ardent devotee of Lord Ram, he sought forgiveness from the Lord every day before playing the role of Ravan. During the nationwide lockdown last year, Doordarshan brought back Ramayan on television, airing twice a day. And how can one forget watching the Sita Haran, where he got emotional and folded his hands seeking "forgiveness", and the scene had gone crazy viral then. Not only Ramayan, but Arvind Trivedi also featured in almost 300 movies across Bollywood and Gujarati cinema. Besides he was also featured on the show Vikram Aur Betaal and Vishwamitra, and who forgets his role of Dadaji in the Gujarati film Desh Re Joya Dada Pardesh Joya?

A former BJP MP from Sabarkatha constituency in Gujarat from 1991-96, Arvind Trivedi also served not only as the acting chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) from 2002 to 2003 but also he shot down a proposal to show soft porn in cinema theatres that were mooted by his predecessor late Vijay Anand. No doubt for generations of Indians, he will be remembered for his Ravana character in the Ramayan serial. He left us, but will always be in our heart, will miss you till our last breath. Rest in peace.

Bidyut Kumar Chatterjee,

Faridabad 121005

'Navratri is not just about 'Garba-Dandiya'!

Navratrotsav is widely celebrated in the state of West Bengal in India, where it is called 'Durga Puja'. In the state of Gujarat, the organization of Garba is spectacular. Dandiya-Garba is played these days. Is there any remembrance of Durga Shakti in the name of this deity? There will be very few devotees who pay attention to her proper worship. But how many people play Garba-Dandiya? It is known at night. Garba will not be played as fun which is always played. If the spirit of Durga Shakti is worshipped, realizing the importance of Goddess, devotees will do whatever comes within the framework of devotion. They will not do anything that will hurt others. This is the difference between a devotee who plays and watches the Garba only for dance and entertainment and a devotee who is engrossed in devotional juice. When Navratra came, many people used to play Garba-Dandiya. But why do we play Garba? How many people know the reason for this? And if not, how many people search for it to understand it? In Hinduism, it is said that 'playing Garba' is a devotional hymn to the Goddess with rhythmic applause. Playing Garba is called in Hindu Dharma as chanting devotional hymns to the Goddess in a rhythmic round of applause. Also, through this worship, Shri Durgadevi is awakened through meditation and is appealed to take a deadly (Marak ) form to work for the universe.

Any 'festival' is not a period of entertainment. During this period deities, grace should be acquired by doing more and more devotion. It is not possible to be a devotee of a goddess who has abusive language, looking at women differently, staying out late. Any festival is a golden chance for the devotees. That is, there is a golden opportunity to take part in the service of that deity.

Abnormalities occur especially during the Garba-Dandiya period. Devotees should take the initiative to break it. I would like to suggest to the people that one day women and one day men should be organized to play Garba-Dandiya. Also, what difference does it make in the situation? This should be monitored. It seems so. Garba gets to play with women. For this, there are more participants. This malpractice in the festival should be stopped. Let's double the enthusiasm of the festival by stopping a mess in the festival and also stopping those, who brings difficulties in enthusiasm.

Jayesh Rane,

Mumbai