PASIGHAT, OCT 8:
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the 106-acre campus of Arunachal Pradesh University (APU) was not sufficient for its future growth and assured support for expansion and development of the university.
Rijiju was addressing the inaugural and prize distribution ceremony of ‘Vande Mataram @150’, organised by the Department of Mass Communication, APU, and sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to mark 150 years of India’s National Song.
The Union Minister also inaugurated the newly constructed main gate of APU, participated in tree plantation under the ‘Ek Ped Ek Bharat’ initiative and inaugurated student exhibition stalls, including a photo gallery by the Arunachal Photography Club.
Appreciating the construction of the main gate, Rijiju said university infrastructure should be developed with a long-term vision. “Anything that the university does, must be done thinking about the future. The Main Gate of APU reflects seriousness. This is how a university campus should be built—with a vision for the next 100 years,” he said.
He stressed the need for adequate space for the university’s expansion and called for a proposal from local legislators and the state government. “A university cannot grow in a congested space. The present 106 acres is not sufficient for Arunachal Pradesh University. We need to expand the campus area. The Centre and state government will do anything to help the growth and development of APU,” he said.
Rijiju said APU should have modern teaching and learning facilities and assured that he would extend support to its development. He also described teachers as shapers of society and nation builders and urged students to become changemakers and contribute to the development of the state and country.
Speaking on the significance of Vande Mataram, Rijiju said the song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875, played an important role in awakening patriotic sentiment during the freedom movement. He said the celebrations at Pasighat reflected the spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and carried special significance from the eastern frontier of the country.
On the ongoing discussion over the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP), Rijiju said the project would be taken forward with the participation of the people. “We will take the people into confidence. Nothing will be imposed,” he said.
Rijiju also assured that he would look into an APU memorandum seeking construction of three hostels for postgraduate and research students, including facilities for tribal and minority students, establishment of a Tribal Heritage Museum, dedicated water supply for the university and a study on publicity outreach among minority communities in Northeast India.
The Union Minister released the Book of Abstracts of the national seminar on ‘150 Years of Vande Mataram’, containing 70 papers from India and abroad. The seminar is being conducted in online and offline sessions as part of the celebrations.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ashan Riddi highlighted the historical role of Vande Mataram during the freedom movement and said APU aims to develop as a centre of excellence based on the principles of access, equality, equity, affordability and accountability.
The programme also featured a documentary on the month-long prelude activities, a rendition of Vande Mataram by the winners of the singing competition and traditional cultural performances from different parts of Arunachal Pradesh, including Singpho dance from Namsai, Galo wedding and war dance from Basar and Wancho bamboo dance from Longding.
Prizes and certificates were distributed to 47 winners of various competitions held as part of the month-long celebrations. Albina Doley and Nabam Toyum won the women’s and men’s marathon categories respectively. Donyi Angun Megu of GHSS Mebo and Geis Doke of NEIAFMR Pasighat topped the junior and senior essay-writing categories, while Nipoli Tayeng of IGJGHSS Pasighat and Omem Minno of JNC Pasighat secured first positions in junior and senior painting and poster-making.
In singing, Lily Ayom of GHSS Mebo and Bidyashree Kumari of NEIAFMR Pasighat emerged winners in the junior and senior categories, while Mido Doruk of GSS Mirbuk and Payal Nguri of APU topped the junior and senior poetry-writing categories.
The event was attended by State BJP President Kaling Moyong, Pasighat East MLA Tapi Darang, Pasighat West MLA Ninong Ering, Nari-Koyu MLA Tojir Kadu, Yingkiong-Tuting MLA Alo Libang, East Siang Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Gaon Burahs, PMC councillors and other public representatives and officials. Faculty members, scholars and students of APU also attended the programme.
The three-day celebration, organised by the Department of Mass Communication
