Bhubaneswar, Jan. 27: A spectacular marchpast by students and mesmerizing enactment of plays focussing on social issues marked the 77th Republic Day celebration at the Siksha 'O' Anusandhan Deemed to be University (SOA) here on Monday.
The Chancellor of SOA, Prof. (Dr.) Amit Banerjee unfurled the national flag and took the salute in the ceremonial parade in which NCC cadets, NSS volunteers and students of different institutes of the university took part.
Addressing the students, faculty members, Deans, Directors and senior officials, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said the Republic Day was an occasion to celebrate the constitution and take a pledge for all round development of the nation.
SOA, he said, was playing an important role in this process.
Pointing out that SOA had done well to be ranked high in the list prepared by National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2025, Prof. (Dr.) Banerjee said all must strive to improve SOA's ranking further while continuing to serve the society.
SOA had created a benchmark for itself in healthcare and was doing well in research and innovation, he said adding "our collective goal should be to make India developed".
The Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof. Pradipta Kumar Nanda, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Anup Kumar Samantaray, Deans of different institutions, Directors and senior officials were present.
Students of different institutions presented a cultural pageant focussing on thought provoking issues which posed questions before the society.
Arman Samal, Senior Under Officer, NCC, and Soumyajit Behera, Junior Under Officer, NCC commanded the parade.
The Institute of Agricultural Sciences (IAS) was adjudged first in the ceremonial parade while Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (IVSAH) and NSS volunteers finished second and third respectively.
Students of the SOA National Institute of Law (SNIL) won the first prize for their presentation in the cultural program while students of SUM Nursing College were placed second.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nanda unfurled the tricolour at a separate function held in the university office.
