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.
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