In a blend of culture and community service, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) observed the 3rd Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas, a day to honour tribal freedom fighters, yesterday.
Present at the event were senior civil servant BDR Tiwari as the chief guest, NEHU Vice-Chancellor Prof PS Shukla as guest of honour and Senior Medical Officer at Raj Bhavan Dr Maomi Marak as the special guest.
The ceremony commenced with a ceremonial homage to Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. A floral tribute was paid to the three freedom fighters of Meghalaya, Pa Togan Sangma, U Tirot Sing Syiem and Kiang Nangbah.
Tiwari emphasised the importance of preserving cultural roots and fostering social responsibility within educational institutions.
Earlier in the day, a drawing and painting competition was held on the theme ‘Tribal Heroes of Meghalaya’. The winner was John Milton Pyngrope from the Department of Mathematics. Second place went to Manisha Das (Department of Commerce) and third place to Daiamon Khyllep (Department of CCS).
A highlight of the event was the NEHU Club Engagement Programme, providing students with a platform to showcase their talents and engage in cultural exchange. Shukla applauded the students for their active participation, highlighting the significance of such programmes in promoting a sense of unity within the university.
Meanwhile, the VC handed over a contribution to provide support to tuberculosis patients under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) to Tiwari.
The program ended with the taking of the pledge to the Constitution of India by all staff and students who attended the programme.
