Srinagar: To honour the legacy of India’s freedom fighters and martyrs and to reinforce its resolve towards the nation’s journey of progress and prosperity, the University of Kashmir (KU), Thursday celebrated the 78th Independence Day with great fervour and enthusiasm across it campuses.
The event, marked by a blend of solemnity and patriotism, highlighted the spirit of resilience and unity.
The celebrations commenced with the flag-hoisting ceremony at the main campus, led by KU Vice Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan, who stood for the salute and took the pledge.
A ceremonial guard of honour was also presented on the occasion by a contingent of university police.
Dean Academic Affairs, Dean College Development Council, Dean Research, Registrar, Controller of Examinations, Dean Students Welfare, deans of various schools, heads/directors/coordinators of departments/centres/institutes, officers of the administration, faculty and other staff participated in the ceremony.
In her address, Prof Khan emphasised on uniting to continue building a stronger, more prosperous and inclusive India.
“Today, we celebrate this event of freedom and the resonance of a great country because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters and the progress we have made as a nation,” she said.
She reiterated that as India moves closer to reaching its dream of becoming a developed nation by 2047, there is a “renewed sense of purpose and aspiration in the celebrations this year”.
KU Registrar Prof Naseer Iqbal, emphasised the varsity’s role in nurturing patriotic values and contributing to nation-building.
“Our university is committed to encouraging an environment that not only advances academic excellence but also instills a deep sense of national pride among our students and staff. As we celebrate our Independence Day, we are reminded of our duty to uphold the values of freedom and equality that our forefathers fought for,” he said.
As a tribute to the martyrs, the university honoured Shahida Begum, wife of Martyr Shaukat Ahmad Bhat and Jahan Aara, wife of Farooq Ahmad Koul, by presenting them with ‘Martyrs Award’. Their sons were also presented with tablet devices to support their educational endeavours.
The event also featured cultural performances, including patriotic songs performed and organised by students of KU’s Division of Youth Affairs.
As the valley received a spell of persistent rain, however, it did not dampen the spirits of the participants, and the event continued with vigour, concluding with the soulful rendition of ‘Aye watan tere liye’.
Meanwhile, the varsity’s satellite campuses at Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara also celebrated the 78th Independence Day with patriotic fervour.
The Directors of the satellite campuses led the flag-hoisting ceremonies at their respective campuses witnessing an overwhelming participation of officers from the administration, faculty, staff and students.
KU had organised a series of events to mark the celebrations and instill a sense of national pride and inspire future generations by honouring the martyrs and freedom fighters.
The activities, under the ‘Swacchta Pakhwada’ campaign included promoting cleanliness, encouraging drug deaddiction, environmental stewardship and enhancing community well-being, painting and poster competitions, etc.
