By Muslim Mirror Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI, JAN 01: “Star Talk Five” and year end review meeting of the Stars of North East (SoNE) was held on Sunday at the Conference Hall of the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM) on the outskirts of Guwahati. The event hosted by USTM saw the presence of a large number of young professionals from different fields of the society.
Welcoming the members of SoNE and their guests to USTM, Dr Ajmal H Barbhuiya, Academic Director, USTM gave in a nutshell the history of birth and growth of the ERD Foundation which runs USTM and a number of other front ranking educational institutions in the North East. He mentioned that the North-East Graduate Congress (NEGC), which is a flagship annual event of USTM, will be held this year during February 16-18 which is expected to be graced by Pranab Mukherjee, former President of India. Over 10,000 college students from the eight NE states are scheduled to participate in the event.
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“Star Talk”, a series of lectures introduced by SoNE in August this year and held once every month, has of late become very popular. Young professionals speak on a variety of subjects of social relevance during these talks. On Sunday, renowned communication teacher and trainer, Siddhrtha Pratim Dutta spoke on the need for good communication for success in today’s competitive world. He urged youngsters not to compete with others but with themselves. To be successful in life, we have to improve every day, said Dutta.
Star Talk Five was followed by a power point presentation that covered many of the major projects undertaken by SoNE during the preceding three years. The notable projects include programmes for nurturing and showcasing of talents in the society, conducting career guidance and skills training among youngsters, helping the differently abled sections of the society, and organising motivational sessions for the students of remote and interior areas of the North East. One outstanding project undertaken by SoNE was the “Secret Santa Mission” in which members fanned out in the streets of Guwahati in the midnight of Christmas eve and covered with blankets destitute who were sleeping on the streets without a cover on them.
Star Member Tinat Atifa Masood spoke about the “Peace Walk” conducted by her and friends in the morning of Dec 31 and requested SoNE to help make it an annual affair. Aman Wadud thanked SoNE for sponsoring the Annual Rural Inter School Debate at Goroimari in Kamrup (Rural) District every year. He informed that the 5th Annual Debate will be held this year on January 27. Dr Rezwan Hussain presented a proposal for holding a career guidance programme at Gossaigaon in BTAD during the coming seeks.
Anisul Hoque, leading brand expert of the North East, exhorted members to spend more time in the company of good human beings and minimise the time spend on the digital media. He urged the audience to follow the mantra of “Digital at the fore, and Human at the core.” Star Sunayana Dutta sang the Assamese National Anthem “O mur aponar dekh” in her melodious voice with which the event came to an end.
Star members were given a campus tour of USTM during which they saw the newly acquired land for the proposed ayurvedic and medical colleges under USTM. They also saw the under-construction state of the art auditorium of the University with a capacity of 5,500, which is slated to be biggest of its kind in the whole of North East. The day’s programme also included an open-air lunch at the Amenity Centre of USTM.