SMVDU Katra, October 2019. Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra, celebrated the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation, along with 116th Birth Anniversary of the second Prime Minister Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri, on 2nd October 2019. The celebrations coincided with the conclusion of various co-curricular activities, such as poetry & essay writing, drawing and other creative events, organised by the Hindi Cell, SMVDU, during Hindi Pakhwara, 2019. At the onset, an exhibition on Gandhi Virasat-Kagazkala was inaugurated by Padma Shri Prof. RK Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU and Ms. Neetu, DIG, CRFP, Jammu Range, at Matrika Auditorium, SMVDU. The one-week exhibition is organised by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi. The event was facilitated by Mr. Virendra Bangroo, Director, Jammu & Kashmir Regional Centre, established at SMVDU Campus. After the inauguration, the dignitaries proceeded to address the audience. Prof. Sinha, in his speech, made a declaration that the university campus will be free from the single-use plastic from today onwards, and emphasised the role of cleanliness in and around the campus. Ms. Neetu, in her address, inspired the students about the way CRPF contributes to the national security. On the occasion of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the CRPF instituted a Rolling Trophy for the winners of the intramural co-curricular activities in SMVDU. This year the Vayu and Agni House jointly shared the trophy. The cash prizes and certificates were also distributed amongst the winners of various events organised during the Hindi Pakhwara. The other dignitaries present, included Prof. (Dr.) D. Mukhopadhyay, Dean, FoHSS & FoM and Chairman, Hindi Cell; Prof. AK Sharma, Head, School of Physics, Dr. Yugal Khajuria, Dean of Student Welfare; Dr. Anil Tewari, Nodal Officer, Hindi Cell; Dr. Amitabh V. Dwivedi, Head, School of Languages & Literature; Dr. RK Jha, Dean, Research & Development, Mr. Sumanta S. Sharma, President, Board of Cultural Activities, and other faculty & staff members, and their family.
