What was meant to be a solemn and respectful moment at Guwahati University on Monday has instead drawn sharp criticism, after a basic spelling mistake in Assamese was found engraved on the foundation stone laid by Vice-Chancellor Professor Nani Gopal Mahanta.
The Vice-Chancellor laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the historic ‘Shaheed Bedi’ (Martyr’s Altar) on the university campus, a site closely linked with the Assam Movement and the sacrifices of students and youth. However, during the ceremony, observers noticed a glaring error in the Assamese text on the stone. The word “university” was incorrectly written as “বিশ্বব্যিালয়” instead of the correct “বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়”.
The mistake immediately caught the attention of students, teachers, and alumni, many of whom expressed shock and disappointment. For an institution like Guwahati University, regarded as one of the most important centres of higher education in the Northeast, such an error in official work has raised serious questions about carelessness and lack of scrutiny at the highest level. 
The Shaheed Bedi holds emotional and historical value. It is seen as a symbol of sacrifice during the Assam Movement. The structure had collapsed during a severe storm on May 27, 2024, and since then remained in a damaged and neglected state, causing concern among the university community. The decision to reconstruct it was welcomed, but the spelling mistake has overshadowed the intent behind the initiative.
