AMU celebrates Republic Day
Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Festivities beginning with hoisting of the National Flag by Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tariq Mansoor at the Strachey Hall of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) marked the celebrations of the 73rd Republic Day, the day when the Constitution of India was adopted, transitioning our Country into a republic.
Saluting India’s vibrant democracy, Vice-Chancellor said: “Our Constitution is not just a mere set of fundamental laws that form the basis of governance, but it embodies certain basic values, philosophies, and objectives. India got its constitution and became a republic on January 26, 1950. It is a historic milestone—which we commemorate by paying sincere tributes to all great personalities who made tremendous sacrifices to achieve freedom”.
“This day reminds us of the struggle our torchbearers put in to achieve 'Purna Swaraj'. We pay homage to our great leaders like the father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi; Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, and first Minister of Law and Justice, Dr B R Ambedkar; Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; Sardar Patel, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and others, who devoted their entire lives to achieve freedom for our country”, he added.
Prof Mansoor emphasised: “The Constitution provides the citizens of the Indian Republic with the right to choose their representatives who can lead the Nation—each citizen enjoys equal rights, irrespective of status, religion, gender etc”.
“Apart from equal rights, the features of our Constitution include democracy, freedom of speech and secularism—different religions, castes, cultures and languages flourish side by side in our country. This unity in diversity is a unique feature and we must strive to uphold the rights, privileges that our Constitution gives us”, he said adding that the ceremonial parades at the Rajpath on Republic Day represent the vibrant states of our country that bear testimony to our unity in diversity and rich cultural heritage.
Prof Mansoor further said, “Social justice and empowerment of weaker sections of the society is another cardinal guiding principle of the Constitution and in the hundred-year history, AMU has striven to provide affordable and quality education to hundreds of thousands of talented youth of our Country and empowered them and their families irrespective of religion, caste and gender”.
“It is a matter of great honour and pride that AMU alumni have also played a prominent role in the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Several alumni of the university also contributed in the process of framing of our Constitution under the guidance of Dr B R Ambedkar”, he postulated.
The Vice-Chancellor pointed out: Covid pandemic has adversely affected all spheres of life and it has also badly affected the education sector from primary schools to higher education institutions, but that did not stop the University Administration in starting new courses, providing modern job oriented avenues such as B.Tech (Artificial Intelligence), M.Ch (Neurosurgery), B.Sc (Nursing), B.Sc. in various paramedical subjects, M.Sc. (Data Sciences), M.Sc. (Forensic and Digital Sciences), M.Sc. (Floriculture) and M.Sc. (Agronomy).
“Proposal to increase MBBS seats from 150 to 200 has also been submitted to the National Medical Commission. We are putting in efforts to start the institute of pharmacy in our university”, he informed.
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Speaking on the preparations for the third Covid wave, Prof Mansoor said: “We have tried the best to gear ourselves up by upgrading facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JNMCH). A 100 bedded Covid ward with 25 ICU beds for Covid patients is operational at JNMCH, a new 50 bed Covid Paediatric ward with ICU has been established, new ventilators and other sophisticated equipments have been procured, three oxygen generation plants and one additional liquid medical oxygen plant has been installed to meet the oxygen requirements in emergency situations”.
He exhorted: “The world’s largest vaccination programme is going on in our Country and it is the duty of all of us to get ourselves inoculated with our family members and motivate people from all walks of life and different sections of the society to participate in the vaccination drive including those eligible for precautionary/booster doses. Vaccination is the best safeguard to prevent serious disease, hospitalisation and death. Let us hope and pray that this pandemic will end soon and ‘Inshallah’ and we will return to normal life”.
“I extend gratitude to the AMU fraternity for their help and cooperation during the difficult time of the pandemic. Teamwork, consultation, coordination and planning have been the hallmark of our administration. In the smooth functioning of the University, the support I got from the teachers, supporting staff, students, alumni and well-wishers has played a pivotal role. I am greatly indebted to all of you”, said the Vice-Chancellor.
I exhort everyone to strengthen our democracy by being united, fearless and remaining positive in attitudes— Let us forge forward confidently to a healthy, strong and self-reliant India”, said Prof Mansoor while concluding the Republic Day speech.
Prof Mansoor with his wife, Dr Hameeda Tariq later planted tree saplings to mark the occasion and inaugurated the renovated common room of the residential hostel, S S Hall (South).
AMU Registrar, Mr Abdul Hamid (IPS); Prof M Mohsin Khan (Finance Officer), Prof Mujahid Beg (Dean Students Welfare), Mr Mujib Ullah Zuberi (Controller of Examination), Prof Mohd Wasim Ali (Proctor), Deans of various faculties, Principals of all colleges, Provosts of all Halls, Chairpersons of different departments, Directors of all institutes and other University functionaries attended the function.
The flag hoisting ceremony was conducted by the Registrar, Mr Abdul Hamid, who also read the preamble of the Constitution and administered the Integrity Oath.
University students: Ghazala Zameer (B.Sc) and Raza Haider Zaidi (BA. LLB) also delivered speeches.
The university also organised celebrations in all offices, faculties, colleges, departments and schools. The National Flag was also unfurled at the Administrative Block Building, Vice Chancellor's Lodge, Maualana Azad (MA) Library, Faculty of Arts, all schools and colleges of the University, all offices of the Deans and DSW, all Provost Offices and the Proctor’s Office.
An online Mushaira (poetic symposium) inaugurated by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mansoor and presided by Prof Azarmi Dukht Safavi was also organised by the Department of Urdu on the intervening night of January 25 and 26.
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