Jammu University VC presides over DSRS organised lecture on ‘Unsung Heroes of Jammu and Kashmir’

Jammu, August 14: On the eve of Independence Day, the Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu, has organised a lecture on “Unsung Heroes of Jammu and Kashmir” on August 14, 2023 in the Seminar Hall of the DSRS. The lecture started by lightning of the lamp and paying tribute to the Bharat Mata by the Chief Guest, Prof. Umesh Rai, Hon’ble VC of Jammu University, Prof. Naresh Padha, Former Dean Academic Affairs University of Jammu, Dr. Madulika Singh, Speaker, Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, and other dignitaries. 

            Director DSRS, Prof. Virender Koundal, formally welcome the Chief Guest, Prof. Umesh Rai, Speaker Dr. Madulika Singh, and other dignitaries and introduced the theme of the Lecture. In his welcome address, Prof. Virender highlighted the journey and future projections of the department alongside emphasizing the achievements of last 10 months and so. Thereafter Prof. Umesh Rai gave his Inaugural Address and suggested few areas to strengthen the Defence and Strategic Studies research in the department and motivated the students to get associated with the department faculty in the research projects.

            After the Inaugural Address, Dr. Madulika Singh, the Speaker of the day and Sr. Assistant Professor of History, has been invited to deliver her lecture which was based on her extensive research as a Principle Investigator on “Unsung Heroes of J&K and Ladakh”, a project funded by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Dr. Madulika made an elaborate presentation on the “Unsung Heroes of Jammu and Kashmir” by highlighting the role of more than one hundred unsung heroes of J&K and Ladakh who had participated in India’s freedom struggle in many ways. In her lecture, the role of soldiers as well as officers from J&K in the Indian National Army (INA) under the leadership of Subash Chander Bose was highlighted to a great breadth. “It is very interesting to note”, Dr. Madulika emphasised, “the people of J&K and Ladakh are unaware of the sacrifices paid by people of this region to get freedom from Britishers.

            Thereafter Prof. Naresh Padha, Former Dean Academic Affairs, has given the Presidential Address wherein he timelined the role of J&K’s key personalities and how the DSRS is working hard to bring all issues pertaining to the these aspects along with defence and strategic studies at the  local, national, and  global levels. In between, the PG students of the DSRS have paid a special tribute to the VC by presenting him momento and playing a self-made and directed 5-minutes video clip that covered all events since the inception of the PG Programme in Defence and Strategic Studies in 2022.

            Prof. Umesh Rai, Honourable Vice-Chancellor, Prof, Naresh Padha, Former Dean Academic Affairs, Prof. Arvind Jasrotia, Former Registrar, Prof. Prakash Antahal, Dean Student Welfare, Prof. Pawnesh Abrol, Dept. of Computer Sciences and IT, Prof. Avtar Singh Jasrotia, Dept. of Remote Sensing and GIS, Shri Ajmer Singh, Landscape Development Officer of the University. The event was anchored by Dr. Mohd. Monir Alam and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Surinder Mohan of the DSRS. This program was also attended by the department faculty Dr. Ganesh Malhotra and Dr. Ranjan Sharma, faculty members of other departments of the university, Research Scholars and Postgraduate students of different departments.

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