Education has always had a strange bonding with nature. This is why every year we celebrate books amidst nature in one of our most beautiful campuses. Every year, I eagerly look forward to visiting the Siliguri Institute of Technology campus, especially when it turns into a venue for a book fair.

Days with Books and Uttarbanga Medha Ratna Utsav this year have been celebrated simultaneously at the Siliguri Institute of Technology. The Medha Ratna Utsav is held every year to felicitate the toppers of all boards of schools across North Bengal.  

I arrived at the SIT campus to attend the Uttarbanga Medha Ratna Utsav on the afternoon of 17^th – the second day of the Days with Books which was a three-day event from 16^th to 18^th of February. Stalls are set up on the open ground beside the main college building, where publishers display a wide range of books – text and reference books, fiction, non-fiction, spiritual, and books of every genre. Amongst the meritorious students who have been felicitated, many are from lower middle class families who have overcome all hardships to top the board examinations. They might be in their teens, but their stories are very inspiring.

The participation and performances of the students are a treat to watch. They put in hours and days of effort to rehearse and perform. ‘An Endeavour’ - the annual newsletter of TIGPS Siliguri and 'Potencia' from Department of Business Administration (SIT) were released.

This year the celebrations of Days with Books and Medha Ratna Utsav were a tribute to the immortal Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The campus launch of my book ‘The Way of Love - Saint Teresa of Calcutta’ was overwhelming; it was presented to all 62 meritorious students. I wish they spread the message of universal love to one and all, and grow up into the future of our nation we can be proud of.