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Cultural heritage of
India highlighted at Unity Day celebration at USTM
USTM, TECHNO CITY, NOVEMBER 1, 2017:
National Unity Day, coinciding with the birthday of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel, was celebrated in a befitting manner in
the University of Science & Technology Meghalaya (USTM)
campus on Tuesday. The daylong event which was selectively
telecast live by Doordarshan Kendra Guwahati was attended by
nearly an audience of 1,000 comprising of students and
faculty of ERDF institutions.
Welcoming the guests and audience to the programme, Prof AK
Singha, Dean, University School of Law & Research, USTM
expressed satisfaction at the fact that USTM has been
observing the National Unity Day not just now but over the
years. He said, “Patriotism and national integration are
core values that are imbibed in the students while they
pursue their academic courses in the University, and
celebration like National Unity Day complements the
process.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Alaka Sarma, Dean, School of
Social Sciences and Humanities, USTM said that the intent of
the daylong event is to pay tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel,
who was instrumental in keeping India united. She said,
“Patel is revered as the‘Iron Man of India’as one of the
founding leaders of the Republic of India who never
compromised on the issue of integrity of the country.”She
reminded the audience that the official statement for
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas by the Home Ministry of India cites
that the National Unity Day “will provide an opportunity to
reaffirm the inherent strength and resilience of our nation
to withstand the actual and potential threats to the unity,
integrity and security of our country.”
D Pator, Senior Programme Officer, DDK Guwahati cited the
importance of maintaining and strengthening the ‘unity in
diversity’ of our country while urging the students of USTM
to study the biography of Patel so that they can shape their
future in keeping with the great leader’s ideology, and
benefit from the examples of his relentless struggle to
adjudicate and integrate different parts of the country. He
added, “Unity has no caste or creed or religion, it has no
border or boundaries.”
While summing up the inaugural function, Mahbubul Hoque,
Chancellor USTM called Sardar Patel“the architect of our
nation.”He recalled the contributions of Patel in India’s
freedom struggle and his valuable contribution in
integrating the various small states and kingdoms in order
to build a strong and united India. The day being the death
anniversary of Indira Gandhi, the late Prime Minister of
India, he also recalled the contribution of Mrs Gandhi in
projecting India as a strong and progressive nation before
the world.
15 ethnic dances of India with special emphasis on those
representing the North East were presented by students of
USTM. The Chancellor announced cash awards of Rs 10,000 each
to the two best performances – Dances choreographed on
BhupenHazarika’s music presented by Rajashri& Group and
Jaintia Dance staged by Elizabeth & Group. The remaining 13
troupes were given Rs 5,000 each. |
