[Assam] A lesson from Kakopathar - Telegraph India

[Ram Sarangapani]

What strategic (or otherwise) advantage has the ULFA achieved by
killing this school teacher, Rohini Gogoi?

In this case, the ULFA first said it did it, then denied it, then again
accepted it, then denied it again  - I guess it used the old 'which way is
the wind blowing?' test. In any case, there were student witnesses who say
the culprits were the ulfa.

Maybe, at least ULFA supporters and sympathizers will *LIST what big
achievments* have come thru for Assam in the last 27 years of ULFA's
violence.

--Ram
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   A lesson no gun can wipe out
- Kakopathar village dedicates Green Day to Rohini Gogoi  RIPUNJOY DAS
   Mounds
of garbage on cultivable land rob Guwahati of its green cover. Picture by
Eastern Projections

*Dibrugarh, June 4:* Rohini Gogoi had no last words.

The Ulfa bullet in his body gave him very little time as he slumped to the
ground in front of his school on May 24 morning.

But for the past 10 days, students of Kailashpur High School have taken on
with a missionary zeal the last task their "Sir" would have whispered if he
only had a few more minutes: "Save the trees".

Tucked in a remote corner of Kakopathar in Assam's Tinsukia district, Tinali
Nagaon screams of a crusade begun single-handedly by the teacher.

When the world observes Environment Day tomorrow, residents of this little
village will silently continue the battle their "green warrior" had begun
against illegal timber smugglers.

"Rohini concentrated on rebuilding the forest cover by undertaking a massive
re-plantation drive in Kakopathar. He had formed three self-help groups to
take care of a nursery he had set up," said Manoranjan Sonowal, a villager.

As president of the Doomdooma Joint Forest Management Committee, Rohini also
began a unique practice. He put up placards on trees, listing their name,
species and importance in the ecosystem.

He also pasted banners on electricity and telephone posts to create
awareness about the environment.

Tomorrow, villagers led by the local unit of AASU and several NGOs, will
organise a memorial service at Philobari Janajati High School.

"Our Sir is no longer with us, but the love he instilled in us for nature
will stay forever," a youth said.

Rohini's nursery houses 50,000 saplings which are ready for plantation.

"We will ensure that these sapling are planted and they grow. We have
pledged to keep up the good work started by him," Sonowal added.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has already announced construction of a library
in memory of Gogoi at Kakopathar.

He has sanctioned Rs 5 lakh for the purpose and instructed education
minister Ripun Bora to take up the work as soon as possible.

"We hope something concrete will also be done to keep alive the memory of
Rohini Gogoi as an environmentalist, who maintained a low profile throughout
his life," said Mrinal Saikia, another environmental activist.
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