About 600 people comprising faculty, officers, administrative staff, research scholars and students of Nagaland University (NU) undertook a ‘unity walk’ in Lumami under Zunheboto district on March 6.
An update from NU stated that the unity walk was flagged-off by the chief guest and vice chancellor of NU, Prof. Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, organised under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav, which is the celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence. It stated that the walk commenced with introductory speech by Prof. MK Sinha, dean of Social Sciences.
It mentioned that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. It was dedicated to the people of India, who have not only been instrumental in bringing India this far in its evolutionary journey but also hold within them the power and potential to enable the vision of activating India 2.0, fuelled by the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-dependent India).
The celebration of India’s 75 years of Independence began on March 12, 2021, and would culminate on August 15, 2023. It mentioned on March 12, 2021, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, flagged off the ‘Padyatra’ (freedom march) from Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad and inaugurated the curtain raiser activities of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (India@75).
It informed that Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is being celebrated on the basis of five pillars: Struggle for independence, Ideas of 75 years, Achievements of 75 years, actions of 75 years and Resolutions of 75 years. Those pillars are meant to make the younger generation aware of the history and struggle for independence, it stated.
Report stated that prior to the unity walk, Nagaland University has proactively organised a series of programmes to commemorate 75th years of India’s Independence.
On March 12, 2021, it joined the rest of India in paying respect and homage to the ffreedom fighters and organised a symposium to discuss the journey of freedom struggle belonging to various schools of thought and the role of Mahatma Gandhi in particular.
It stated that Nagaland University translated four chapters of Narender Sehgal’s 2018 book titled ‘Bharatvash Ki Sarvang Swatantrata’ first into English and then into Tenyidie, a Naga tribal language, between August 23, 2021, and November 14, 2021. A one-day seminar on National Education Policy (NEP) was also organised on February 25, 2022.
Besides, Nagaland University joined the nation with the ‘Har Ghar Jhanda’ (Har Ghar Tiranga) programme of the government of India in hoisting the national flag in all households during the Independence Week (August 13 to the 15th, 2022). It also conducted a quiz competition on India’s national flag and freedom struggle on August 8, 2022.
Besides, the university also organised a lecture programme on ‘Traditional medicine practices of Nagaland’ on November 21, 2022, at I Ihoshe Kinimi Hall. Further, a webinar on “Contribution of tribal heroes in freedom struggle” was organised on January 30, 2023.