The Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar organised TEDxXIMB 2016 on January 24 to share thoughts in communities around the world. It supports independent organisers, who want to create TED-like events in their own communities. The third edition of TEDx had speakers, who brought out the theme of “Share. Reflect. Evolve” beautifully in their speeches. Two TED videos were played during the event. The first one was a TED Talk by Daniel Pink — on how traditional rewards are not always as effective as we think. The next video was a talk by Anil Gupta on how the Honey Bee network helps indigenous entrepreneurs build connections they need and gain the recognition they deserve. The event concluded with a Mayurbhanj chhau performance by the Mayur Art Centre, a one-of-a-kind institution in the state, established in 1980. The students interacted with the speakers on various issues related to life, career concerns and recent events.
Book fair
Utkal University students co-ordinated a two-day book exhibition at the varsity’s Parija Library on January 26 and 27. The attempt was to turn the library into an activity hub and encourage the habit of reading among the students. More than 12 publishers and book-sellers from across the country displayed their collections at the fair. Books on technical fields such as engineering, planning, architecture, science and technology, public administration and women's studies were available. The collection also included classics, short stories and fiction and non-fiction books for pleasure reading. Apart from the students of the institute, a number of students from nearby schools and colleges visited the fair. Books on Odia and Hindi were a favourite for the students. A large number of books were bought by the various departments of the varsity to store at their seminar libraries.
Talent hunt
The Fakir Mohan University, in collaboration with the Association of Indian Universities, organised a two-day programme — Anveshan — on its campus last week. Students from various universities took part in the event and presented papers on the occasion. Student delegates from nearly 38 universities from Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh presented around 86 papers and projects on various topics. The best 15 were selected for presentation in the national final event to be held at a later date. Eminent guests and speakers, including state higher education minister Pradip Panigrahi and AIIMS, Bhubaneswar director Ashok Mahapatra, addressed the students. Anveshan aimed to give students and teachers an opportunity to interact with each other besides showcasing their talents on a central platform. Cultural shows were also held with a presentation of Mughal Tamasha, a unique folk art form of Odisha, being the highlight.
NAAC cell
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) Cell of the Central University of Odisha in Koraput was inaugurated by the varsity’s vice-chancellor Sachidananda Mohanty on January 25. The vice-chancellor expressed his happiness and said the university had undertaken a journey in the pursuit of excellence.
On science
Internationally-acclaimed physicist Jogesh Chandra Pati — whose contribution towards the theory of “grand unification” throws new fundamental ideas in theoretical physics -— recently interacted with the SOA University students. While delivering the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Memorial Research Oration in Basic Sciences at the varsity, he said the theory shed light on elusive properties of the feeblest and the lightest known massive particles - the neutrinos. Pati, presently professor of physics at the Stanford National Linear Accelerator Centre, Stanford University, USA, spoke on the subject “Unity in Particle Physics: A Quest for Beauty and Simplicity.” For the students, it was an opportunity to clear their doubts on scientific research. The oration, which will be an annual event to be delivered by renowned Indian scientists, has been introduced by the SOA University this year.
Remembering Netaji
The Dhauli College of Art organised the birth anniversary of freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose on January 23 on its campus. The event was organised by the Nehru Yuva Kendra (Khurda chapter) of the union youth affairs and sports department. College student Sujit Kumar Seth, who had secured first position in the sculpture competition organised at the national youth festival at Raipur, was felicitated on the occasion by the college authorities. A painting competition was also held among the students. The students' ideas of freedom were recreated on canvas as they paid tribute to the struggles of Netaji.
Voters’ day
The Ispat Autonomous College, Rourkela observed National Voters’ Day on January 25. Members of faculty and staff and students took an oath to cast their votes as responsible citizens and discharge their duty towards the country. Programme officer NSS Sarbeswar Mishra spoke about the need for such days and their usefulness. Kedarnath Basa, a senior citizen of the area, was also invited and he spoke about the duty of a citizen of India and the role of the youth in the voting process. A number of universities such as Utkal University, R.D. Women’s University and SOA University also conducted a number of election awareness activities to spread a message of effective and maximum participation in the electoral process among the youth to bridge the gap in the electoral roll. Quiz competitions, essay writing, painting, debate and sports activities were also held.
Sports meet
The 42nd annual sports meet of the Sambalpur Government Women's College was organised recently. Hundreds of students of the institution took part in events such as sprinting, long and high jump, shot put, discus throw and javelin throw. Rinki Sahu won the Plus Two level while Jhili Barik won the Plus Three. The principal of L.N. College of Jharsuguda, Bijaya Bahadur Singh attended the closing ceremony as chief guest and handed over certificates and prizes to the students. Athletic secretary Gayatri Mishra and assistant secretary Sumitra Chhatar, besides the athletic secretary of Plus Two section Subhalaxmi and assistant secretary Jharana Sahu, co-ordinated
the event.
ANWESHA AMBALY
