The Swarnalata Baruah Chatri Nivas (SLBCN) of Dibrugarh University commemorated Swarnalata Divas on 17 November on the occasion of the 84th birth anniversary of late Dr. Swarnalata Baruah, renowned female historian of the North-East Region. Acting on the theme ‘Achieving SDGs 3,4,5,13’, various events were organised during the period from 18th October to 17 November, 2023.
On the Day 1: 18 October, 2023, at 11 am, the SLBCN career counselling unit organized an interaction session on the topic, ‘Aiming Civil Services’ with Krishnakanta Saikia, a Block Development, Officer of Nagaon, Assam.
On the Day 2: 4 November, 2023 at around 6 am the SLBCN Outreach Unit goes on a bicycle rally on women’s participation in SDGs and awareness campaign on the health and climate impacts of air pollution including and sustainability through celebration of green Diwali and waste management. They have also interacted with the students of Dibrugarh University Model School on the same topic and shared with them a poster. On the same day, the SLBCN Best Practice Unit in collaboration with Dibrugarh University NSS unit conducted a university campus cleaning and plantation drive. In the plantation drive, more than 100 Inca saplings were planted within the hostel campus. Dr Binita Pathak, the warden of the hostel also participated actively in those activities.
On the Day 3: 9 November, 2023, the SLBCN Soft Skill Development Unit, organized a lecture session on ‘Campus to the reality of life’ by Mr Pransu Raj Kaushik, an Assistant professor of the Centre for Management Studies, Dibrugarh University, in the evening hours.
Finally on the Day 4: 17 November, 2023, the birth anniversary of Late Dr. Swarnalata Baruah an open meeting was organized at 6:00 pm in the Swarnalata Baruah Chatri Nivas premises in the presence of Vice chancellor-in-charge Dr Jahnabi Gogoi, Chief Guest Dr Bharati Dutta, President of Assam Science Society, Dibrugarh Branch, Prof Surajit Borkataky, Dean Students Affairs and Dr. Binita Pathak, warden of Swarnalata Baruah Chatri Nivas and Dr Manashree Chetia, warden of Nalinibala Devi Chatri Nivas. From Late Dr Swarnalata Baruah’s family, her son Advocate Abhimanyu Baruah has graced the occasion. Dr. Bharati Dutta, an eminent assamese writer illuminated upon the life and achievements of Dr. Baruah. Dr. Dutta has authored a biography and several articles on Dr Swarna Lata Baruah. Dr. Jahnabi Gogoi, one of the favourite former student of late Dr. Baruah spoke about the reminiscences of her teacher on the very occasion. Prof. Surajit Borkataky, Dean Students Affairs pointed out that SLBCN is the only hostel named after an inhouse person of the university. Later, a speech by Advocate Abhimanyu Baruah, son of Dr. Baruah provided valuable inputs for the residents of the hostel.
The ‘Swarnalata Award’ for this year was presented to Ananya Dutta, Department of Petroleum Technology. Ms. Heena Ahmed, Department of Economics and Janmooni Regan, Department of Education were awarded as the ‘Performers of the Year-2023’ under the SLBCN Soft Skill Development Unit and SLBCN Best Practice Unit respectively.