HT Correspondent
JORHAT, Dec 4: The Hemalata Handiqui Memorial Institute (HHMI) celebrated its annual day with great fanfare here recently amid the presence of numerous dignitaries at its Lichubari school campus.
The celebrations marked the 62nd anniversary of the school, set up by renowned indologist and philanthropist Pandit Krishna Kanta Handiqui. At the event, the students staged a grand performance titled ‘Time Present, Time Past’, inspired by TS Eliot’s famous verse, creating a magical dance drama about the history of the school.
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The drama’s concept and script were written by Gayatri Handique, secretary of HHMI Trust, directed by Dipen Hazarika, and accompanied by music composed by Manashjyoti Bora, an HHMI alumnus.
As a small effort to embrace a new language and culture while sharing the rich culture and heritage of Assam with a global audience, the students concluded the play by singing ‘O Mur Apunar Dekh’ in Spanish, while the audience sang the state anthem in Assamese. The Spanish version of the anthem was translated by noted translator Dr Binod Gogoi, a retired scientist from CSIR-NEIST. The chief guest at the event was Ramesh Agarwal, president of the HHMI Alumni Association. Akashjyoti Gogoi, Trustee of HHMI Trust, former teachers, alumni, parents, and many prominent dignitaries were also present at the event.
“Each year, our students excel in academics and extracurricular activities, and the annual function is a testament to that. The school’s focus on all-round development has been achieved with our ideal 1:30 teacher-student ratio in classrooms, ensuring each child receives special attention,” said Arunima Bhuyan, principal of HHMI.
“HHMI has a long tradition of providing quality education and is known for inculcating the moral values of respect and tolerance in students. These ideals are critical for building resilience and positive character among children to face the challenges of modern times,” said Krishna Gohain, chairperson of HHMI Trust. Gohain, a retired bureaucrat, has served as secretary of the Higher Education Department, commissioner of Health and Medical Education, and the Forest and Environment Department, government of Assam. Her induction into the HHMI Board brings extensive experience and expertise to plan the future development of the school.
“At HHMI, we provide an excellent environment for our students to learn and grow. I have been dedicating my time and service to our school and will continue to do so in the future to preserve its legacy,” said Gayatri Handique, secretary of HHMI Trust.
HHMI was the first English-medium school to be set up in Jorhat, providing all-inclusive education with a focus on holistic development. KK Handiqui’s son, Bijoy Krishna Handiqui, a former central cabinet minister and Member of Parliament for six successive terms, taught English literature at this school for several years. Both Handiqui and his wife, the late Swarup Rani Handiqui, have been instrumental in developing the school.
