Bhubaneswar, Aug. 16: A ceremonial march past and a colourful cultural performance by students marked the 79th Independence Day celebration at the Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University here on Friday.
The national flag was hoisted by the SOA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda who called upon the students to contribute to the nation building process.
"India has achieved remarkable success in various fields including in agriculture, education, healthcare, industry and even space science. The country has demonstrated its progress in the field of space science by sending astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to the International Space Centre," he said.
Presently the fourth largest economy, India is capable of growing and its stress on self-reliance has boosted start-ups, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor said SOA had been growing as a multidisciplinary university with thrust on research and had become visible nationally.
Describing it as an age of collaboration, Prof. Nanda said the university was connecting with industries to come up with solutions to different problems. It had a strong alumni base across the world, he said.
Prof. Nanda said that climate change had become a serious threat to humanity requiring immediate action to combat it. SOA had set up the Centre for Environment and Climate and Centre for Climate Smart Agriculture to boost research to combat the phenomenon, he said.
Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students Welfare), Sports Officer Ms. Sunita Burma and other officials conducted the program.
The march past was commanded by Senior Under Officer Nishant Gupta and Junior Under Officer Arman Samal. Cadets of the NCC and students of the different institutes took part in the parade.
Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of IMS and SUM Hospital, Prof. Santosh Kumar Rout, Dean of Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Prof. Ayasa Kanta Mohanty, Dean, Institute of Business and Computer Studies, Prof. Susanta Ranjan Chaini, Dean, School of Hotel Management, Prof. Debajyoti Das, Dean, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. (Dr.) Ruchi Bhuyan, Dean, Institute of Dental Sciences and Prof. Sasmita Das, Dean, SUM Nursing College, were present.
Earlier, Prof. Nanda also hoisted the national flag at the University office in the presence of Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Samantaray and other senior officials.
In the march past, the boys and girls contingents of Institute of Higher Secondary Education (Plus Two College) finished first and second while Institute of Agricultural Sciences was placed third.
Subedar Major L.D.Tarai and Subedar Major K.C.Jena were the judges who adjudged the winners in the march past.
