Gorakhpur – Uttar Pradesh Governor and Chancellor of State Universities, Anandiben Patel, presided over the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University. On this occasion, she flagged off a bicycle rally aimed at promoting sustainable development goals, health awareness, and environmental consciousness. The rally saw enthusiastic participation from university students.
Addressing the audience at the event commemorating the university’s 75th anniversary, Governor Patel remarked that while individuals may begin to weaken at this age, Gorakhpur University has truly entered its prime. She emphasized that today’s youth are the architects of a developed India and must strive for excellence in education and leadership.
She stressed the need for educational institutions to nurture future leaders by fostering activities from the grassroots level, from Anganwadis to universities. As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, students from Kushinagar, Deoria, and Gorakhpur showcased their talents. Many of them, despite facing hardships, have achieved excellence, including winning gold medals. She praised the university for its commitment to inclusivity and talent promotion, asserting that the true significance of the Platinum Jubilee lies in celebrating past achievements while shaping the future.
Governor Patel encouraged the university to regularly host science, sports, speech, writing, and poetry competitions to engage students in socially relevant discussions. She highlighted the transformative impact of journeys and cited the example of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who hoisted the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar during a historic 45-day march organized by the current Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. She drew parallels to the university’s bicycle rally, emphasizing that such initiatives, though seemingly small, hold significant potential for social change.
Women’s Empowerment and Health Initiatives
Touching upon women’s empowerment, Governor Patel highlighted India’s progressive stance on gender equality. She noted that Indian women have excelled in every field, unlike in some countries where women are still confined to household roles. She predicted that in the next 20 years, women will dominate 80% of various sectors, possibly necessitating policies for male empowerment. She urged society to reflect on why boys are falling behind in education and career pursuits.
The Governor also addressed concerns regarding modern youth’s growing obsession with social media, particularly short video content creation. She cautioned against the distractions posed by digital platforms and urged students to prioritize their future aspirations. Additionally, she called for vigilance against substance abuse and the dowry system, advocating for self-discipline and awareness among the youth.
Highlighting healthcare initiatives, she reiterated her commitment to making India free from cervical cancer and tuberculosis. She inaugurated the university’s free cervical cancer vaccination drive, benefiting students from Kasturba Gandhi Residential Schools in Khurabar and Chargawan. She lauded this initiative as a significant step toward women’s health protection and expressed her happiness that the university had taken up this social responsibility during its Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Cultural and Literary Festivities
The event also showcased a vibrant cultural presentation by university students. Performances included tableaux representing the region’s rich heritage, featuring depictions of Guru Gorakhnath, Gautam Buddha, and Kabir Das, as well as scenes illustrating traditional rural women engaged in household and agricultural activities. Additionally, a variety of regional delicacies were exhibited as part of the display.
A series of literary, cultural, and sports competitions were held in conjunction with the celebrations, with participants from Gorakhpur, Deoria, and Kushinagar districts. The Governor honored the winners with medals and certificates, encouraging them to strive for further achievements.
University’s Commitment to Academic Excellence
Speaking at the occasion, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Poonam Tandon acknowledged the institution’s legacy of academic excellence. She credited Governor Patel for her guidance and inspiration in shaping the university’s research, education, and innovation endeavors. She emphasized that the diverse range of over 100 programs conducted in recent months was a testament to the university’s commitment to holistic development.
Other dignitaries present at the event included Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Shantanu Rastogi, Platinum Jubilee Coordinator Professor Nandita I.P. Singh, and Social Outreach Program Coordinator Professor Divya Rani Singh. The ceremony was attended by prominent citizens, public representatives, journalists, students, faculty members, and researchers from across the region.
The event concluded with a formal vote of thanks by Professor Nandita I.P. Singh, marking a successful celebration of the university’s 75-year journey and its vision for the future.
