Letters to the EDITOR: A crucial stage of Assam’s future

sentinelgroup@gmail.com

A crucial stage of Assam’s future

Your front-page report, ’Tale of demographic invasion of Assam by land-hungry immigrants’, published on August 7, has caught our attention.

Assam bears a sordid history of being invaded by land-hungry immigrants under the direct patronage of the Muslim League by early 1906 to make Assam a Muslim state. Strangely enough, the initiative taken by the BP Chaliha government in 1962 under the PIP scheme to throw out the swelling crowd of immigrants was vehemently opposed by his own cabinet colleagues, notably Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Mominul Haque Choudhury.

These crooks played the role of devastating spoilsports, and later on the Congress government, under the chief ministership of Sarat Chandra Singha, actively played vote bank politics with illegal immigrants, letting them settle wherever they wished and offering government largesse. The design by illegal migrants to capture Assam is actively on and is going to be completed in no time. To stop such a diabolical act, the government of the day has to be ruthless in thwarting the blueprint for Assam’s Islamisation, initiating full implementation of clause 3 of the Assam Accord.  The state administration has to strive for a flawless NRC and electoral roll, engaging only the selected local officials having integrity and morality.

Being at the inflection point of their very survival, the indigenous communities of Assam have to identify those local citizens and public servants who are used to allying with the illegal immigrants, extending all material help in legalising their claim of Indian citizenship.

Tanuj Goswami

Jorhat

AI in Education

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is reshaping how knowledge is delivered, accessed, and evaluated. Globally and in India, AI-powered platforms are transforming classrooms by offering personalized learning, automating administrative tasks, and supporting teachers with real-time analytics. With the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 encouraging digital innovation, India is seeing a gradual but impactful shift toward AI-enabled education.

One of AI’s most significant advantages is its ability to personalize the learning experience. Intelligent systems can adapt to each student’s pace and learning style, providing targeted support where needed. This is especially valuable in large or diverse classrooms, where individualized attention is often limited. AI tools also offer content in multiple languages, making learning more inclusive and accessible.

The increasing use of AI also presents challenges. Students are beginning to rely on AI for assignments and projects, raising concerns about academic integrity and the decline of critical thinking skills. Educators must now navigate the ethical implications of AI-generated content and revise evaluation methods accordingly.

The digital divide further complicates implementation. While urban schools and private institutions can adopt AI-driven tools with relative ease, rural and underfunded schools may lack the necessary infrastructure, risking a widening gap in educational equity. Additionally, concerns around data privacy remain significant, as AI tools collect large amounts of student information without strong regulatory safeguards. Despite these challenges, AI holds immense promise for Indian education. It can assist students with disabilities, support multilingual learning, and empower teachers to focus more on pedagogy than routine tasks. However, its integration must be guided by clear ethical standards, inclusive policies, and a commitment to enhancing — not replacing — human interaction in education.

AI should be considered a tool to support meaningful learning, not a shortcut. Its success lies in how responsibly and equitably it is used to strengthen the foundation of education for all.

Shayan Dey

Gauhati University

Lack of road signage

Road safety is a pressing concern in our country, yet one critical factor often goes unnoticed — the absence of proper road signage. From missing signboards and faded lane markings to poorly placed direction signs, this lack of guidance has been silently contributing to a rising number of accidents.

Road indicators play a crucial role in helping drivers make informed decisions while on the move. They warn about sharp turns, speed limits, pedestrian crossings, and accident-prone zones. Without them, drivers are left guessing, increasing the risk of sudden braking, wrong turns, and collisions. This is especially dangerous at night or during bad weather, when visibility is already low.

In many rural and semi-urban areas, road signs are either absent or damaged. In cities, poorly maintained markings and cluttered signboards create confusion, particularly for new drivers or visitors unfamiliar with the area. The lack of clear signage also puts pedestrians and cyclists at higher risk, as drivers may not be aware of crossings or slow-down zones.

Authorities must prioritize regular inspection, repair, and installation of road signage. Public awareness campaigns and community participation can also help identify and report missing or damaged signs. Good road infrastructure is not only about smooth highways but also about safe guidance for every road user.

Improving road signage is a simple yet powerful step towards reducing accidents and saving lives — a responsibility that both government agencies and citizens must share.

Moitrayee Saikia

(moitrayeesaikia5@gmail.com)

Poor drainage in Guwahati

The drainage system in Guwahati has always been a major problem. Even a short spell of rain leads to waterlogging on the roads because there is no proper way for the water to flow. One of the main reasons is that many people throw garbage into the drains instead of using dustbins, which blocks the water flow. On top of that, the drains are not cleaned regularly by the authorities—usually only once or twice a year. As a result, the city faces artificial floods again and again. Both the public and the administration need to act.

People must become more responsible and stop dumping waste into the drains, and the government and local bodies must ensure regular cleaning and proper maintenance of the drainage system. Only then can we hope to reduce the waterlogging problem in Guwahati.

Sanjeeb Deka

(sanjeebdeka2019@gmail.com)