Central University of Bihar celebrated the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on November 11.

The chief guest at the event, Razi Ahmad, secretary, Gandhi Sangrahalaya, said: “We are lucky to have witnessed the freedom struggle.”

He added that till 1947, the history of India was full of ups and downs. “But finally on January 26, 1950, all Indians were granted their rights”

The eminent Gandhian also threw light on the life and times of Azad, who is credited with editing 16 magazines by the time he was 16 years old. While he was imprisoned in Ranchi for his involvement in the freedom struggle, Azad also authored a number of books.

Sharing his experience of the freedom struggle and the Partition, Ahmad said: “The Partition scarred generations.”

Janak Pandey, the vice-chancellor of the university, said: “Politicians today must learn from Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, whose politics was based on moral values.”

Focus on law

Chanakya National Law University students had the opportunity to listen to constitutional expert Subhash C. Kashyap.

The legal expert spoke on the common civil court at the law university on November 11.

Legal expert Subhash C Kashyap addresses the students at CNLU. Picture by Jai Prakash

The author of many books on the subject, Kashyap said: “The source of the term in Article 44 of the Constitution can be traced to the recommendation of the committee on minorities and fundamental rights headed by Sardar Patel.”

He also said the objections to the uniform civil code were raised by some members of the minority community, who claimed that their religious law should be enforced on them.

“In some European countries that have adopted an uniform civil code, everyone who goes there from any part of the world — even if he or she is a minority — has to follow the common law. It is not tyrannical on the minority,” said Kashyap.

Students who attended the lecture said it enlightened them. They also got to interact with the speaker.

Manasi Agarwal, a fourth-year student of the institution, said: “It was a very interesting lecture. We learnt about the basic tenets of common law.”

Varsity reopens

Patna University reopened on November 11 after Diwali and Chhath holidays but there was thin attendance.

The university would be closed again on November 13 for Muharram. Attendance is expected to pick up after that.

On November 11, teachers had a relaxing day. Instead of worrying about finishing the syllabus, setting question papers and correcting answer scripts, they were busy sharing how they celebrated the brief Chhath and Diwali vacations.

Students, too, followed suit. Like the teachers, they also recalled the festive fun with their families to their friends.

Smriti, a student at Darbhanga House, where the postgraduate classes of Patna University are held, said: “I had a great time. Along with my family, I went to our native place in Jamui to celebrate Chhath.”

She said: “It was more fun because my cousins who live in Delhi had also come down. We met after two years and celebrated Chhath together at our grandmother’s home.”

A senior teacher of Patna College said: “There was thin attendance in class. More than 50 per cent of the students were absent.”

He added that students who had gone home to the districts would return only after Muharram.

Staff workshop

The non-teaching staff of St Xavier’s College attended a workshop — “Inspire” — at the institution on November 7.

Ashish Kumar, an alumnus of Xavier’s Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur and a team from a Patna-based consultancy firm gave tips to the employees on stress management, communication and team management.

“Such events not only help in developing the personality of the staff but also help to create a cordial atmosphere at work,” said Ashish Kumar.

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