Patna Women’s College students perform at the Founder’s Day function on the institute premises on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Patna, Aug. 24: Students of various departments of Patna Women’s College staged cultural performances today to celebrate the college’s Founder’s Day.

Principal Doris D’Souza extended her gratitude to founder Bishop B.J. Sullivan SJ, retired teachers and non-teaching employees of the college. “Founder’s Day is very important to us. I extend my gratitude to the founder, Bishop B.J. Sullivan, and to everybody who has served this college. I am indebted to all former principals for the labour of love they have put into this institution and their contribution to its strong foundation,” said D’Souza.

She added: “This day helps students to know about the heritage of the college. The college has been celebrating this day for the past 70 years.”

The event kicked off with the lighting of the traditional lamp by Archbishop William D’Souza SJ (president of the governing body of the college) followed by homage being paid to the founder.

A group during their performance at the celebrations at Patna Women’s College on Wednesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The first performance of the day was a dance item to the track Phoolon mein tu, kaliyon mein tu that offered prayer to Jesus. Students from the departments of communicative English, media studies, mass communication and political science performed to the song. Thereafter, the students performed the welcome song Shubh swagatam anand mangal mangal.

The next performance was a Shravani dance to welcome monsoon on the song Rimjhim barsaat. The students performing the dance wore traditional costumes such as lehnga choli to match the theme.

The members of the college cabinet, who co-ordinated the programme, were also excited. “This programme is very important for our principal. She made it a point to have a look at our rehearsals before giving us the green light. She wanted every performance to stand out and be perfect. We have been rehearsing for the past month for this programme. I hope we have stood up to her expectations,” said Celine Priyanka, a cabinet member.

The next performance was a group song, Tu hi tu. The last performance, a thematic dance on Desh mere, in which students dressed in saffron, white and green formed a Tricolour, received the maximum applause. The high point of the performance was the Indian freedom struggle ending with Shaheed Smarak, where seven students portrayed an attempt to hoist the National Flag. The performance also showed Mahatma Gandhi leading the freedom movement.

Anamika Singh, a student of mass communication, said: “The performances were good but the thematic dance on Desh mere was the best. I felt it was a serious performance and the best overall. I could feel the patriotic fervour in their act,” she said.

Archbishop William D’Souza SJ said: “This premier women’s college is a great milestone in the empowerment of women in the state.”