Letters to The EDITOR: Resolutions for 2025

Resolutions for 2025

As the New Year approaches, we all eagerly anticipate a fresh start and good fortune. People celebrate the arrival of the New Year in various ways, often marked by special customs, family gatherings, and exchanging gifts. While cultures differ in when they celebrate their New Year, the central theme of renewal remains constant.

One important resolution to consider is overcoming setbacks with resilience. Whether in sports or daily life, embracing both victories and defeats in the same spirit is crucial. Winning becomes a habit when we focus on perseverance and always keep an eye on the future rather than dwelling on the present.

 A valuable habit to develop in the coming year is saving. Even small savings can grow significantly over time, and nationalized banks offer an excellent way to secure funds for future needs. It is also essential to prioritize the well-being of others; living selflessly and allowing others to thrive creates a supportive and harmonious community.

The New Year is an ideal time to rid ourselves of unhealthy habits, such as smoking or chewing tobacco. Grit and determination can help break these destructive behaviours. Additionally, fostering positive habits like teaching and sharing knowledge is essential. Teachers, coaches, and mentors play significant roles in shaping lives, yet their contributions are often overlooked once their students achieve success.

Respect for elders should always be a priority. Expressing gratitude to parents, teachers, and healthcare professionals who care for us is vital, especially during times of need. In our professional lives, adopting a mindset of hard work and dedication will lead to personal growth. Work, when approached with reverence, becomes a form of worship.

Listening to others attentively is another essential resolution. Constructive feedback, offering suggestions, and recognizing the contributions of others helps foster a collaborative and respectful environment. Moreover, we should strive to be mindful of the needs of the underprivileged, focusing on ways to contribute to their well-being and provide support.

Managing anger is a critical skill. Maintaining composure in challenging situations not only benefits our personal lives but also positively impacts our professional and social relationships. Developing a fitness routine and focusing on healthy habits is important, as it prepares us for the future, especially with the potential increase in retirement age.

Character development is key to leading a fulfilling life. Making ethical decisions, showing patience, and persevering in the face of challenges contribute to building a solid foundation for success. Complementing others and spreading positivity are simple yet impactful ways to uplift those around us. Lastly, it’s crucial to maintain loving relationships with family. The cycle of love and care passed down through generations reflects the values we should cherish. By adhering to these resolutions—prioritizing health, integrity, and empathy—we can lead a peaceful and meaningful life while instilling confidence and a strong sense of responsibility in future generations.

Jubel D’Cruz,

(jubeldcruz@yahoo.com)

Unnecessary speed breakers

The number of speed breakers has increased on many roads, which has led to many accidents across the state. While speed breakers are essential for ensuring road safety in accident-prone areas, the indiscriminate installation of these structures is proving to be counterproductive. The excessive number of speed breakers is not only causing discomfort for drivers and passengers but has also increased wear and tear on vehicles. Many of the road accidents during the nighttime mostly occur because of the speed breakers. The speed breakers have also caused many minor to major accidents across the state.The road from Rangia to Bhutan has a large number of speed breakers, which has caused many accidents. Many of these speed breakers are poorly designed, lack proper markings, or are installed in areas where they serve no real purpose. A few days ago, a woman lost her life while travelling to Rangia because of the speed breakers. The rumble speed breakers are the main issue in the state. Many of the roads, or the national highways, have large numbers of rumble speed breakers, which are dangerous for two-wheeled vehicles. I would like to urge the authority to install the speed breakers where they are absolutely necessary with signboards to indicate their presence. 

Trishna Sarania 

(trishnasarania4@gmail.com)

Tezpur: The city of eternal romance

Tezpur, which is located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River, is the headquarters of the Sonitpur district in Assam. There are various tourist spots in Tezpur that attract a huge number of tourists every year. Tezpur was earlier under the rule of the Koch dynasty in the 9th century and later became a part of the Ahom kingdom. The Ahoms are generally known for their art and culture, which played a very important role in shaping the design of Tezpur city. During the mediaeval period, Tezpur witnessed a high amount of battles and conflicts. The total area of Tezpur is 40 km², and the population of Tezpur, according to the 2021 census, is about 1,33,000.  The registration code for vehicles in Sonitpur district is AS-12. The climate is also very suitable as well as tolerable in Tezpur because of the greenery as well as the small hills and valleys located around Tezpur. The population demography of Tezpur: Assamese 39.84%, Bengali 18.24%, Hindi 10.78%, and Others 31.14%.

The majority population in Tezpur speaks the Assamese language. In terms of the educational sector, Tezpur is also quite developed. Tezpur University, one of the two central universities in Assam, is located about 8 km away from the main town. This provides a great opportunity for students to study here and gain higher knowledge. Description of some important tourist places: 

Agnigarh: This hill is located in the heart of Tezpur town and is located on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. Agnigarh is regarded as the legendary site of the romance between the only daughter of King Banasura, Usha, and Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. According to the legend, Usha was kept in Agnigarh, which was surrounded by fire and means hill of fire in Sanskrit.

Bamuni hills: This generally contains the ruins featuring the 10th-century sculptural remains of King Banasura.

Bhomoraguri: Known as the Kaliabhomora Bridge, it was a stone inscription that was made by Ahom general Kaliabhomora Phukan, who planned to construct a bridge over the Brahmaputra River. Almost 2 centuries later, the bridge now stands complete, and it is about 3.15 km long, which connects Sonitpur and Nagaon districts in Assam.

Chitralekha Udyan: Chitralekha Udyan, most famously known as Cole Park, was established in the town in the year 1906 by the British deputy commissioner Cole. It features two massive stone pillars and was renovated in 1996 by then deputy commissioner of Sonitpur district MGVK Bhanu. The park has various water sports facilities and other recreational activities specially for children.

Hazara Pukhuri: A large artificial pukhuri, or pond, named after king Hajar Varman, it was excavated in the 9th century. He was the famous king of the Varman dynasty.

Mahabhairab temple: It is located in the north of the city of Tezpur. According to legend, it was built by King Bana, which originally contained a Shiva linga. The mandir was originally built of stone, but at present it is built up of concrete.

Padum pukhuri: The lake featuring an island that has been developed into a park with a musical fountain. The island is accessible via an iron bridge, and visitors can also go boating on the lake.

Rudrapada: Located east of Tezpur and on the bank of the Brahmaputra River, the Rudrapada is believed to be the right leg of lord Shiva. According to legend, Mahadeva revealed his true self to King Bana at this location. The temple was built in 1730 by Siva Singha, but the main temple was later destroyed due to erosion by the Brahmaputra River.

Trimurti Udyan: Located along Borpukhuri, this park is named after three important figures in Assamese culture: Rupkonwar Jyoti Prasad Agarwalla, Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha, and Natasurjya Phani Sharma.

 Tezpur forms a part of the Sonitpur Lok Sabha constituency, and the current MP is Shri Ranjit Dutta. Tezpur is very beautiful and is worth living in. Some notable personalities of Tezpur are Bijoy Bhagawati, Ananda Chandra Agarwalla, Hem Barua, Somnath Chatterjee, and former speaker of Lok Sabha Dandinath Kalita.

Manish Kashyap,

Tripura University