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.