Letters to the Editor: Parking shortage in Guwahati

Parking shortage in Guwahati

I write to highlight an issue that has become a daily challenge for vehicle owners in Guwahati. While the city is experiencing rapid growth, its infrastructure, particularly in terms of parking facilities, has not kept pace. This has left vehicle owners in a difficult situation, with insufficient parking spaces and heavy-handed fines imposed by traffic police adding to their woes. Areas such as Fancy Bazaar, Paltan Bazaar, and GS Road are notorious for their lack of designated parking spaces. Vehicle owners are forced to park wherever they can find space, often risking fines from vigilant traffic police. It is disheartening that while fines are imposed consistently, little has been done to create more parking facilities to address the root cause of the problem. The absence of multi-level parking lots or properly managed parking zones leads to double parking and congestion, further aggravating traffic problems. Moreover, the hefty penalties feel unjustified when no alternative solutions are provided. Vehicle owners are willing to comply with rules, but the lack of basic infrastructure leaves them helpless. I urge the city authorities to recognize this pressing issue and take immediate action. Developing more parking zones, constructing multi-level parking facilities in high-traffic areas, and regulating parking with fair policies will not only reduce inconvenience for vehicle owners but also improve overall traffic management. I hope this matter will receive the attention it deserves, and steps will be taken to create a more vehicle-friendly environment in Guwahati.

Rimakshi Barman

(jimaxi129@gmail.com)

Bollywood’s dependency on South Indian scripts

The predilection of Bollywood to concoct remakes of highly acclaimed South Indian films, which are known for their heuristic manner of crafting stories and incandescent performances by the actors, has sparked overwhelming debate amongst cinema fiends, and this has indubitably led to sobering consequences for Hindi cinema.

The recent years have seen the ascent of remakes reach its culmination; moreover, it’s harrowing for the Bollywood industry that is banking on telling the same story to the audience in lieu of coming up with novel ideas. There is an abyss between the original cinema/shows and the mawkishly absurd remakes, which fail to capture the crux of the original movies that the audience is so utterly fond of. It seems that the Bollywood industry is seemingly reluctant to make something novel, perhaps because it won’t prevail over the audiences’ expectations, thus resorting to something the audience is already cognizant of.

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to postulate as a fellow theatregoer that the Bollywood industry ought to crawl its way back to win over the hearts of cinema fiends, who seek to have a cinematic experience that they relish throughout their lives. Hindi-language films must surmount the adversary and shall triumph in the cinema realm by concocting fresh ideas and rendering an impetus to talented directors and storytellers to preserve the cinematic culture of India.

Joydeep Paul

Cotton University

Essentials of Christianity

In his article, ‘Essentials of World Religion,’ Pallab Bhattacharyya is not very clear as far as the Christian faith is concerned. He has mentioned mysticism as the essential aspect of Christianity, but that is one of the practices. I would like to let the readers know the essentials of Christian faith through your esteemed daily. The first essential of Christianity is the belief in the Trinity, i.e., the belief that there is one God who exists in three persons—the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Secondly, that Jesus Christ is the begotten Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who came to earth as a human being, died on the cross for the sins of humanity, was buried, and resurrected from the dead. The third essential of the Christian faith is the Bible, which is the inspired word of God and the authoritative source of Christian faith and practice. The fourth essential is salvation. It is the belief that salvation from sin and death (the eternal separation from God) is offered freely to all people through faith in Jesus Christ. And the last essential is the Church, which is the body of Christ, made up of all believers in Jesus Christ.

Fr. William Horo

(frwilliamhoro@gmail.com)

Role of student organizations in shaping careers

Student organizations in our state have been playing a pivotal role in social, cultural, and educational development. These organizations can also play a significant role in shaping the careers of students. Student organizations can establish career counselling centres to assist students in making informed career choices. Through these centres, counsellors can guide students about suitable career paths based on their interests and abilities. Student organizations can organize discussion forums and workshops with successful professionals, industry experts, and entrepreneurs. Student organizations should place more emphasis on training programs in computer literacy, language skills (including English and foreign languages), and other technical skills training to develop the skills of students, as academic education alone is not enough in today's competitive world. Student organizations can cooperate with governments or NGOs to provide scholarships and part-time job opportunities for students to solve their financial problems. They can also create pathways for students to access opportunities in national and international institutions. Such steps may include helping students participate in scholarship programs and exchange programs. Furthermore, student organizations can set up preparation centres for various competitive examinations. Such organizations can provide necessary information and networking facilities for students who wish to study in other states or countries. By adopting a centralized and goal-orientated approach, student organizations can contribute significantly to the career development of students, thereby paving the way for the overall socio-economic progress of Assam.

Dr. Buljit Buragohain,

Assam Don Bosco University,

Pipeline burst damage

I am writing to express my deep concern over the recent pipeline burst in Guwahati's Kharghuli, a water supply pipeline burst that has caused disruption and concern among people. The incident took place on the morning of January 2, which has resulted in severe water and gas shortages for local communities. A similar incident occurred in May 2023, which resulted in the death of a woman. Frequent pipeline leaks had also been reported in other parts of the city. The consequences of the burst have left many people without access to essential services, and the ongoing leaks are contributing damage to the environment. The incident highlights the urgent need for proper maintenance of the city’s infrastructure. It is important that the authorities take proper action to not only repair the damage but also carry out regular checks and maintenance for the future. I request the authorities to address these concerns and conduct investigations into the cause of the pipeline burst and take necessary measures so that it is not repeated in the future. The safety and well-being of the public is of utmost importance.

Madhusmita Mudoi

(madhusmitamudoi@gmail.com)