Editorial of inaugural issue of Senai Darpan

Editorial of inaugural issue of Senai Darpan...Quarterly Online magazine of Senairam Higher Secondary School Alumni Association. January 2016

                                                                                                                                16th January 2016

Namaskar !!!!!!                                                                                        

It’s a great honour and proud privilege for me to present you the first editorial of Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ )- the online quarterly magazine of Senairam Higher Secondary School Alumni Association (SHSSAA). I thank president, secretaries and all the members of the executive committee of SHSSAA for entrusting me of editing the first issue of the online magazine Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ ).

Our school, the prestigious Senairam Higher Secondary school is now 85 years old. It is one of the pioneering institutes of education in this part of the country. It has long, glorious and enviable history to make each and every alumni and people of this region proud.  It was the only institute in this region which brought pride and glory for this region till few decades back. For the parents of this region Senairam School was the first priority. Once they could get associated with Senairam School, there used to be feeling of pride, a sense of satisfaction among the parents. This could happen only and only because of the dedicated, caring, strict teachers of the school whom each and every student would love to respect, love to love. This is true not only in case of the students but also in case of city dwellers. Teachers of Senairam were known among public of Tinsukia and nearby region for their Godly nature, knowledge, for their strictness when necessary. It has everything for a school to be great and glamorous. The honour and glamour was maintained and continued by the students of that time years after years. For our generation and generations before us our seniors were our role model. We grew up listening to the stories of our elders, our seniors of our school. With the flow of time and with the effect of various socio politico scenario and effect of globalization seems to hit hard on the glories of our loving, our own Senairam School.

If I look back, it is almost one year now when the first thought and discussion of formation of Alumni Association started among few ex students of our Senairam School. Since last one year efforts have been put to build a network of ex students belonging to our Alma mater ...the Senairam School. The web is being formed through the science and technology’s one of most valuable gift to the modern day life...Internet.  Creation of small a group in Whatsapp, could lead to a movement, is really out of imagination. It was formed aiming at bringing all the ex Senais under one umbrella, no matter where they are.

In the initial days there was some hesitation whether to form a permanent Alumni Association or to organize a cultural program and get together of ex students only. As time flew, momentum started gaining to form a permanent Alumni Association. Senairam Higher Secondary School Alumni Association (SHSSAA) is now a registered body having permanent address in the Senairam School Boarding field at Tinsukia, Assam. It is also planned to organize a two days get together “'ৰোমন্থন-Yesterday Once More' on 16^th and 17^th of January 2016. Through the association many activities are planned and it is also thought to participate or to support in various developmental activities of the school. Activities related to development of the School boarding field is noticeable. Within short period, the face of the boarding field and the hostel campus is changed which is unimaginable. This is possible only because of the love and affection of the Senais for the school. This is possible because of all Senais, whether elder or younger, working hard in unison.  

 Through this editorial I would like to take this opportunity to share with you one of my feelings. I, being advocate of popularising science and technology education, would like to mention following things. I already mentioned these facts 9 years back in 2007 in the inaugural editorial issue of N.E. Quest, the news letter of North East India Research Forum. Our North Eastern region is one of the most beautiful and richest in India, if we look at its natural resources, fertile land, climate, etc, yet it is one of the most undeveloped parts. In this regard, if we consider one of the states of seven sisters, Assam, it has literacy rate of 73%, out of which 70% goes to arts, 6% Commerce, 1.5% Technical education and only 12 % goes to science education [ The data of different segments of education mentioned here are old, present percentage may vary by 1% - 2%. ]. This is a very gloomy picture indeed. Nobody can deny the role of Science and Technology in shaping a society or shaping a nation. So here SHSSAA can play a big role in promoting science and technology education in our region. We have long way to move. Through our Alumni Association, I dream of promoting science and technology education to reach every nook and corner of our region some day. I dream of Senairam School being the again the leader of the region. I dream of using science and technology for social cause which is not limited to the chapters of science book and experiments in the laboratory. I dream a movement of science of its own through this association which happened never before and whose limitations does not lie only to the intellectual class. Different countries across globe are giving special emphasise on STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics] education. Government of India is also promoting STEM education through different schemes. In this regard we can take help from different government bodies in promoting science & technology education in our region. But again I firmly believe dreaming without proper thinking will not achieve the goal, for success begins with a fellows will. It’s all in a state of mind. Well, the association has already formed and we need to maintain the spirit and we can win only if we think we can. If we properly utilize our knowledge and work hand in hand we can transform our region and present a different outlook.

The future, the health of Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ ) our dream for excellence will depend more on the enthusiasm and excellence of younger participants. We strongly encourage younger members to publish their articles, thoughts, poems in Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ ) and work hand in hand with the seniors. It can be considered as the platform for sharing our views, thoughts, dreams with fellow Senais.

At this point I would like to sincerely thank all the fellow Senais for helping in launching of the online magazine. This is the beginning and we have miles to go. Hope Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ ) reaches the point of zenith. Long live Senairam Higher Secondary School Alumni Association. Long live Senai Darpan (চেনাই দৰ্পণ )

Thank you &

Wish you all a very very

Happy Bhogali Bihu

and
Happy New Year.
 
Dr. Arindam Adhikari