JU comes alive in Tricolour as VC Prof Umesh Rai leads massive Tiranga Yatra

Students, faculty, HoDs, Directors, officers and staff join in large numbers

VC calls upon youth to become responsible partners in building a Viksit, Nasha Mukt Bharat

JAMMU, August 13: The University of Jammu came alive in the colours of the Tricolour on Thursday as Vice-Chancellor Prof Umesh Rai led a massive Tiranga Yatra, bringing together students, faculty members, Heads of Departments, Directors, Deans, officers and staff in an overwhelming display of patriotism, unity and national pride.

Organised as part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, the Yatra witnessed enthusiastic participation from across the University. Carrying the National Flag and raising patriotic slogans, hundreds of members of the University fraternity walked together, transforming the campus into a vibrant sea of saffron, white and green.

The Yatra commenced from the National Flag at Fountain Plaza, with Prof Umesh Rai at the forefront, accompanied by Prof Neelu Rohmetra Dean Research Studies,  Prof J P Singh Joorel Dean Academic Affairs,  Prof Naresh Padha, Prof. Pankaj K Srivastava, Director CDOE,  Prof Prakash C Antahal Dean Students Welfare, Dr. Neeraj Sharma, Registrar,  other senior functionaries of the University, Deans, Directors, Heads of Departments, faculty members, officers, staff and students. The enthusiastic participation from teaching departments and administrative units turned the Yatra into a campus-wide celebration of the spirit of Independence.

The event assumed added significance as the University joined the nation in commemorating the 80th Independence Day of India and 150 years of Vande Mataram, celebrating the spirit and ideals that inspired India's freedom movement and continue to strengthen the country's sense of national unity.

Addressing the participants, Prof Umesh Rai said the Tiranga is not merely a symbol of India's freedom but a reminder of the sacrifices, struggles and collective resolve that shaped the nation. He said every time citizens hold the National Flag, they also carry the responsibility of upholding the values and ideals for which countless Indians struggled.

Describing the youth as the nation's greatest asset, Prof Rai said universities have an important responsibility to sow in young minds a deep sense of duty towards the country and society. He said the Tiranga Yatra was not merely a celebration but also an occasion to remember and honour the generations whose sacrifices made India's freedom possible.

Prof Rai said the University was also connecting the spirit of the Tiranga Yatra with the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, stressing that the vision of a Viksit Bharat cannot be fully realised without a Nasha Mukt Bharat. Substance abuse, he said, does not affect an individual alone but has far-reaching consequences for families, society and the nation. 

The Vice-Chancellor said universities must prepare young people to recognise such challenges and respond to them with awareness and responsibility. “As Vice-Chancellor, it is my responsibility to prepare our students as vigilant sentinels who are conscious of their responsibilities towards society and the nation,” Prof Rai said.

Calling upon students to translate patriotism into everyday action, Prof Rai said love for the nation should find expression in integrity, discipline, compassion, social responsibility and commitment to one's work. He said the strength of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat @2047 would ultimately depend upon the character, capabilities and sense of responsibility of its youth.

Referring to the commemoration of 150 years of Vande Mataram, Prof Rai said the iconic national song inspired generations during India's freedom struggle and continues to evoke a deep sense of national belonging. He urged students to understand the history and values associated with the nation's symbols and carry their spirit forward.

One of the defining features of the Tiranga Yatra was the participation of the University fraternity across academic and administrative levels. Heads and Directors joined their students and faculty members, while officers and staff walked alongside them, making the Yatra a collective expression of the University's commitment to national unity and responsible citizenship.

The programme was organised by the Department of Students Welfare under the visionary leadership of Prof. Umesh Rai,  Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu. 

The Tiranga Yatra concluded on a spirited note, leaving the campus resplendent in the colours of the National Flag and underscoring the University of Jammu fraternity's shared commitment to the ideals of freedom, unity, responsibility and

Nation building.

The events of DSW are organized under the guidance of Prof. Prakash Antahal, Dean Students Welfare, Prof. Monika Chadha, Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee and Prof. Sarika Manhas Co-Chairperson, Campus Cultural Committee and are coordinated by Dr. Pritam Singh, Associate Dean SW, Dr. Shallu Sharma & Dr. A.R. Manhas (Deputy Chief Proctors), Dr. Harleen Kaur & Dr. Ripudaman Parihar (Assistant Deans) Ms. Mansi Mantoo, Officer Incharge DSW, Sumeet Sharma, Drama Instructor.