Letters to the EDITOR: Advantage Assam 2.0: Building a Stronger Future

sentinelgroup@gmail.com

Advantage Assam 2.0: Building a Stronger Future

Advantage Assam 2.0—Investment & Infrastructure Summit 2025 has become a major turning point for Assam’s development. The summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on improving Assam’s infrastructure and economy. It highlighted Assam’s importance as a link between India and Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy. With investments worth Rs 4.91 lakh crore, Assam is on its way to becoming a leading industrial and logistics hub in Northeast India.

Big companies have promised major investments to improve Assam’s roads, airports, and industries. The Adani Group will invest Rs. 50,000 crore in airport development, cement factories, and gas supply networks. Reliance Industries has also pledged Rs. 50,000 crore for supply chain infrastructure, logistics, and hospitality, ensuring smooth movement of goods and services. Meanwhile, Tata Group will invest Rs. 25,000 crore in electronics and mobile manufacturing, helping Assam become a center for technology and industry.

The summit focused on improving roads, railways, air travel, and digital networks, making Assam a key trade route to Southeast Asia. New projects include expanding highways, modernizing railway systems, and building logistics parks to support business growth. Reliance Industries also announced an AI-ready center in Assam, which will use smart technology to make industries more efficient.

The Assam government introduced new policies to improve cities, green energy, and tourism. There will be big investments in hydropower and solar energy, making Assam a leader in sustainable infrastructure. The tourism and hospitality sector will also see new hotels, eco-resorts, and heritage sites, boosting the local economy.

Advantage Assam 2.0 has started a new era of growth and job creation. By improving connectivity, industries, and infrastructure, Assam is set to become a top investment destination and a major economic force in Northeast India.

Munmee Roy

Gauhati University

The Gala Shows

We the people of Assam had the fortune of watching the greatest show of the decade on 23rd Feb, 25 followed by another greatest event on 25th Feb, 25. The greatest show was the jhumur dance performed in Sarusajai Stadium by 9,000 jhumur dancers from different parts of the state, a rarest sight ever seen by around 65,000 spectators on Feb 23rd evening which none can afford to forget throughout the rest of their life.

Next it was 25th Feb, the day of the Advantage Assam, the greatest event of the decade took place in Guwahati when the leading industrialists, namely the Tatas, Ambanis, Adanis, Jindals etc. to name a few made a beeline to Guwahati to sign MOUs with the state government for opening industries. The amount of capital involved in the process, a staggering amount of 5 Lakh Crore, unprecedented in the history of the state.

The bitterest critics/ enemies of Assam CM should and must admire our CM’s vision and action which is unprecedented. If his visions materialise, Assam no doubt will be a leading industrial state of India. Let us hope our oppositions will play a constructive role and will not put the interests of their parties above that of the state. Jai Ai Asom.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

Viva La Carnival

The carnival of Goa (also known as the Goan carnival) is the most famous festival in the state of Goa and is being celebrated since the 18th century AD as a precursor to the abstinence of Lent. The carnival is exclusive and unique to Goa and was introduced by the Portuguese who ruled the state for over five hundred years. Huge colourful parades take over the state’s cities with bands, floats, and dances. The float parades are organised in association with the State Tourism Department.

Although the four-day festival is primarily celebrated by Catholics, it has also absorbed Hindu tradition revelry, western dance forms, and turned into a pageantry of sorts. Though it started as a celebration enjoyed only by the local Goan community, it has today crossed the state frontiers and attracts thousands of people from all over the country, as well as from other parts of the world.

The carnival is held either in February or March for four days and nights when the legendary King Momo takes over the state and the streets come alive with music and colour.

The carnival is meant to be a feasting-drinking-merrymaking orgy just before the austere 40 days period of Lent.

Huge parades are organised throughout the state of Goa with music, dances, and floats all night on the streets, and grand balls held in the evenings.

The history of the Goan carnival dates back to almost 500 years. It was essentially introduced in Goa by the Portuguese. The trend of celebrating the carnival with hedonistic pleasures dates back to ancient Rome and Greece. It came to be known to the Portuguese and Spanish people with the time and when the Portuguese established their colony in Goa, they introduced the concept there. Since then, the carnival is a regular feature every year and a time when people all over Goa take part in it with pleasure.

Carnival means a complete holiday dedicated to fun and enjoying as a break from the daily routine and stress of the every-day life. The word ‘carnival’ is derived from the Latin word, ‘carnelevarium’ meaning ‘removing the flesh’ or ‘raising a gala storm’. Since Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) falls on March 5 this year, the carnival in all its splendor will be celebrated from March 1 (Saturday) to March 4 (Tuesday) — for four days.

Jubel D'Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)