The spirit of communal harmony and brotherhood has taken centre stage at the Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, where over 600 members of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets from 28 states and two Union territories are attending a 12-day national integration camp. The camp, which was inaugurated by mayor Ananta Narayan Jena on October 1, features a variety of events including debate, quiz, song, dance, theme-based poster-making and creative writing. Colonel S.K. Palo, officiating group commander of NCC in Odisha, said the camp was intended to foster friendship and greater understanding besides improving awareness about the culture, tradition and life of people in various states besides a focus on India’s unity in diversity. Former diplomat Abasar Beuria, who attended the inaugural event as a special guest, said there was need for national integration in view of India’s diversity. Recalling his days as a NCC cadet, he said it helped him develop a national outlook, inculcated discipline and inspired him to not take things casually. Deputy camp commandant Colonel A. K. Gulati said the campers would be taught traffic control, fire fighting and yoga. They would also be taken on a sight-seeing trip to the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, Jagannath temple in Puri, Sun temple at Konark, the Dhauli peace pagoda and Chandrabhaga beach. The university’s faculty members will introduce the young participants to various contemporary issues during the camp.

Graduation day

The first annual convocation of International Management Institute, Bhubaneswar, was held on September 30 in which postgraduate diplomas were conferred on successful students.

Chief secretary J.K. Mohapatra, who attended the event as chief guest, emphasised on ethics in personal and professional life. He handed the Institute’s Dr Rama Prasad Goenka Best Graduate Award, and gold and silver medals to M. Kavita and Pallavi Logan, respectively.

Other students, who were awarded for their overall performance, were Puja Bachuka, Navneet Goel and Abhishek Mohanty. Institute’s director general Pritam Singh talked about how the current business scenario has turned into war-like situation with business executives struggling for their existence.

Director Ramesh Behl presented the annual report. Dignitaries from the academic and corporate sector, as well as parents attended the event.

Hot wheels

Team Hermes Racing of KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, secured top position in the Virtual Supra SAE India-2013, a prestigious Formula One car design competition held in the city on September 20 and 21.

The competition was open to all SAE India collegiate clubs of engineering institutions, colleges and universities across the country. Students from 174 engineering colleges had taken part, including those from IITs and NITs.

Led by Dipam Chatterjee, the champion team had professor Isham Panigrahi as the faculty advisor. Various criteria for the competition were project plan, adherence to the rules, 3D modelling, technical calculation, vehicle dynamics, selection of engine and its justification, selection of transmission and its justification with calculation, design of the chassis and team structure.

The second position was bagged by IGIT Women’s Engineering College, Delhi, followed by ‘Acceleraters’ from MIT, Pune. On the judges were experts from Maruti Suzuki India, Traktion, Defiance Technologies, TVS Motors, JK Tyres and other industry professionals. Hundred teams would be taking part in the main event on the MRF racetrack in Chennai next July.

Originally started in the US by SAE International as Formula SAE, such events are being organised in several countries with different names. In India, it is being organised for the first time with Formula Student Rules from July 16 to 19.

Time to play

Athlos 5.0, the fifth annual sports meet of Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB), returned this year bigger and better with over 70 matches, 20 trophies and 72 hours of non-stop action. Held from September 27 to 29, the event witnessed the participation of teams from top notch B-schools of the country, including XLRI-Jamshedpur, IIM-Ranchi, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM)-Calcutta, International Management Institute (IMI)-Bhubaneswar and XIMB alumni.

Despite heavy rain, teams were seen battling it out on the ground to grab the top spot. The whole campus was abuzz with a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

The passionate cheering and hollering of the excited audience was unmatched. The host team won some and lost some, but the event became a big hit for its heady mix of heroic moments and stellar performances.

Ravenshaw event

Former diplomat Lalit Mansingh formally inaugurated the School of International Studies (SIS) at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, on September 30. Postgraduate classes had, however, already started from this academic session.

Mansingh, who was the foreign secretary, Indian ambassador to the US as well as Indian High Commissioner to the UK, delivered a lecture on the country’s foreign policy. Renowned Odia litterateur Sitakant Mohapatra and dean of Miles College, USA, Digambar Mishra also attended the event.

Ravenshaw University had started an MPhil course in International Studies with 16 students last year. The two-year postgraduate course was introduced this year with 36 seats.

The MA programme consists of inter-continental and inter-country relations with 20 papers, including political thought, India’s foreign policy, South Asia, international law and European Union.

Welcome and goodbye

Newcomers were accorded a rousing welcome and graduates given a warm send-off at the fresher-cum-farewell ceremony of the law department at Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, on September 30. There was a lot of singing and dancing on the occasion. All the freshers and senior students were presented gifts by the department.

Varsity vice-chancellor P.K. Sahoo attended the event along with senior administrative officers such as PG council chairman professor P.K. Mishra and head of law department Prabir Kumar Pattnaik.

Seminar secretary of the department Tarini Prasad Sahoo and other students had organised the event, which ended with a sumptuous lunch.