HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Jan 18: District-level auditions for “Sur Sangam – Tea Garden Student Talent Hunt” were held on January 16 and 17 at Senairam H.S. School in Tinsukia. The programme is a collaborative initiative of the Department of Education (Secondary), Government of Assam and The Hans Foundation, North East, aimed at nurturing musical talent among students from tea garden communities.
A total of 63 students participated in the auditions, representing all 22 tea garden model schools of Tinsukia district. The participants were shortlisted through preliminary school-level selections conducted under a structured music education programme being implemented across tea garden model schools.
Related Posts:
“Sur Sangam” is part of The Hans Foundation’s Uttam Xikhya programme, implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (Secondary), Government of Assam. The initiative focuses on strengthening holistic education in model schools located in tea garden areas by integrating formal music education into the school curriculum through dedicated music teachers, enabling students to develop creative skills alongside academic learning.
District-level auditions are being conducted across Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. From these auditions, 30 candidates will be selected to advance to the pre-state level competition to be held in Dibrugarh on January 21. From the pre-state round, 15 candidates will be shortlisted for the grand finale scheduled in Guwahati on February 10.
The programme has been conceptualised not merely as a competition but as a sustained talent identification and mentorship platform aimed at building confidence, discipline and self-expression among students from tea garden communities.
Reetam Kr Sarma, Senior Programme Manager at The Hans Foundation, said that Sur Sangam reflects a shared commitment to creating platforms that allow children from tea garden communities to discover and express their musical abilities. He added that the performances at the Tinsukia auditions highlighted the impact of structured music education and reinforced the importance of long-term mentorship and exposure in nurturing young talent.
Mamata Hojai, Director, Department of Education (Secondary), Government of Assam, said that the government remains committed to promoting the holistic
