Jamia Millia Islamia on Monday commemorated the 135th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar by organising a ceremony at the FTK-IT Auditorium. The event was held under the theme ‘The Contribution of Baba Saheb Dr BR Ambedkar in nation building.’
The Chief Guest of the programme was Assam Governor Shri Lakshman Acharya. Prof Harbansh Dixit, Advisor to the Raj Bhavan Secretariat, Government of Assam, attended as the Guest of Honour. The keynote address was delivered by Prof Vivek Kumar, a noted sociologist from the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Jamia Vice Chancellor Prof Mazhar Asif presided over the event, and Registrar Prof Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi was also present. The event was attended by university officials, deans, faculty, centre directors, students, and other members of the university.
The ceremony began with the Jamia Tarana and the national anthem, followed by floral tributes to Dr Ambedkar and a traditional welcome to the dignitaries.
In his welcome address, Prof Asif said that Jamia is not just an educational institution but a mission rooted in Indian culture and values. He highlighted the university’s alignment with Ambedkar’s principles and its commitment to the upliftment of the marginalised.
‘Ambedkar is not just a dalit icon or constitution maker’: Prof Vivek Kumar urges nuanced academic engagement
Prof Vivek Kumar, in his keynote address, questioned the limited academic and political interpretations of Ambedkar’s legacy. He stressed the need to study Ambedkar through a broader historical, comparative, and global lens.
Prof Dixit spoke on the Indian Constitution’s role as a social and democratic foundation, urging students to uphold its values. Assam Governor Lakshman Acharya described Dr Ambedkar as a guiding light who brought change through ideas and determination.
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In his vote of thanks, Registrar Prof Rizvi expressed pride in hosting the event and highlighted Ambedkar’s social, political, and economic contributions.
At the conclusion of the programme, copies of the original Indian Constitution were presented to the Chief Guest, Guest of Honour, and Keynote Speaker by the Vice Chancellor and Registrar.
