NU Lumami, Friends On
Wheels Motorcycle Club celebrate R-Day
Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik and others during the
commemoration of India’s 76th Republic Day at the Nagaland University
Headquarters in Lumami on January 26.
DIMAPUR — Prof.
Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, vice chancellor of Nagaland University, said that the
academic ecosystem of the university has improved and informed that, in this
academic session, the four-year undergraduate programme will be introduced,
with students being admitted on the basis of the Central Universities Entrance
Test (CUET).
He noted that this will begin with basic sciences initially,
and, given the manner in which each department is developing, he hoped that by
the end of his tenure, Nagaland University would have become part of the top
100 in the NIRF.
Prof. Patnaik was speaking as the chief guest during the
commemoration of India’s 76th Republic Day on January 26 at the Nagaland
University Headquarters in Lumami, according to a press release.
In his speech, Prof. Patnaik reflected on the country’s
civilisational journey, confronting multiple challenges and yet not just
surviving but flourishing. As a republic, India’s head of state and government
are elected by the people, and the country is fully sovereign both internally
and externally, he said.
Stating that the power of the gun only succeeds in the
temporary diffusion of problems, but a permanent solution comes through
consensus, he said that the northeastern states have prospered over the last 76
years.
Talking about Nagaland University, Prof. Patnaik highlighted
a few significant steps taken over the last two years. From having a fourth
campus run in rented buildings, the university now manages its affairs
independently across three campuses.
Four more new departments are also in the pipeline. The new
departments, consisting of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physical
Education, and Vocational Studies, are highly relevant for the state of
Nagaland, he said.
He wanted these four departments to undertake undergraduate
programmes, progressing to postgraduate programmes, and then research
programmes, with the ultimate goal of establishing a full-fledged undergraduate
and postgraduate residential university.
He also shared that twenty buildings have already been
sanctioned to accommodate the students, and the university may also receive a
building from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
He pointed out that Nagaland is blessed with resources,
which, if utilised properly, can help the state transform into a
mini-Switzerland. The state has a suitable climate, land resources, minerals,
and a university that aims to encompass every form of knowledge and technology
required to develop these resources.
He went on to assert that students can benefit by staying in
Nagaland, thereby reversing the current trend that students have low salary
structures because they don’t venture outside the state. A time will come, he
added, when students will invest in entrepreneurship, start-ups, and businesses
and then hire people from outside the state.
Meanwhile, Friends On Wheels Motorcycle Club Nagaland, in
collaboration with 9 Assam Rifles Jalukie, organised the Ride with Pride
Vol-III bike rally on the occasion of the 76th Republic Day.
Participants of the Ride with Pride Vol-III bike rally on
the occasion of India's 76th Republic Day.
The event saw the participation of 123 riders from various
clubs across Nagaland and Karbi Anglong, aiming to unite all riding clubs under
one platform to celebrate the spirit of patriotism and raise awareness on the
issue of "say no to drugs”.
The participating clubs included EIMI Riders Nagaland, RE
Brothers, United Riders MC, United Royal Riders MC, Flying Falcons MC, The
C.R.E.W., Eastern Enfieldrs MC, Karbi Anglong, The Tribe, Tribal MC, and Solo
Riders.
Supported by JCI Dimapur Creator, the rally was attended by
Brig Shiva Kant Shukla, DIG, HQ 6 Sector AR, who was the chief guest.
The rally was officially flagged off at 7:20 am by Brig.
Shukla. The journey began at Clock Tower, Dimapur, with the riders making their
way to 9 Assam Rifles Jalukie, where they were greeted by Assam Rifles jawans,
NCC cadets, and the local public. At Jalukie, the National Flag was unfurled.
Several games were held to engage the riders, including tug
of war, slow race, and fittest rider competitions. Prizes were awarded to the
winners.
