National Youth Day: Commemorating Swami Vivekananda and contributing towards the Making of a Nation
Since 1984, India celebrates National Youth Day on January 12. This date was chosen to honour the birthday of Swami Vivekananda, one of India’s greatest spiritual and social leaders and to encourage the youth in the country. He saw promise for the future in every child and believed that with “muscles of iron” and “nerves of steel” they could bring about the social change required for the sustainable growth of this great country. Swami Vivekananda himself personified the eternal energy of the youth and a restless quest for truth. In a country like India, where almost 50 per cent of its population is under the age of 25, making celebrations that empower young people is essential because the country’s future rides on their shoulders.
Swami Vivekananda was a Hindu monk from India, who shook the world with his knowledge, wisdom, positivity and affection. He played a significant role in the development of Indian nationalism during the 19th and 20th century. His teachings and philosophy made the people rethink various aspects of education, faith, character building, as well as social issues pertaining to India.
According to Swami Vivekananda, a country’s future depends on its people.” Vivekananda believed education is the manifestation of perfection already in men. He thought it a pity that the existing education system did not enable a person to stand on his own feet, nor did it teach him self-confidence and self-respect. To Vivekananda, education was not only a collection of information but something more meaningful; he felt education should be man-making, life-giving and character-building. To him, education was an assimilation of noble ideas. He also told the youth- Set yourselves to the task of spreading education among the masses.
SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh, a multi-stream research-intensive university, came into being with a vision of making nation builders. SRMAP has always put its students first. That is the reason the students have come up with transformative ideas and challenging developments. The students of SRMAP is globally recognised for their intellect and brilliance. During the COVID-19 wars, our student developed cost-effective face-shield to support his nation. The applications developed by our students for various societal well-being are recognised worldwide and celebrated with prizes and accolades. The budding entrepreneurs of SRMAP have founded a start-up- OurEye.ai, which enhances surveillance by enabling CCTV cameras to produce actionable insights using AI-ML technology. The nascent university also has a student who holds a Guinness World Record for art and creativity.
Furthermore, not only students but also the young faculty members of SRMAP are very enthusiastic about making a change for good for their nation. Our faculty and students have published 350+ papers in reputed journals in two years along with 27 funded projects and 16 patents. Our young faculty is recognised among the world’s top 2% biotechnologists. The tool developed by our faculty engineer is being used and applauded by senior NASA scientists.
Following the path as shown by Swami Vivekananda, SRM University-AP sets on a voyage to Channelising Youth Power for Nation Building. The university focuses on the overall growth of the students as advocated by Swamiji. SRMAP inspires students to follow their dreams and prepares them to be able enough to live their dream. The passion and dedication of its faculty members are touching the lives of the students. The nascent university has just begun its journey and will not stop until we meet our goal to make India greatest of all. We are confident that with the right mindset and guidance, India will again retrieve its former glory and SRM University-AP aims to be a proud contributor in the process.
- Published in VC News
Resonating Ideology: Dr Ram Kulesh Thakur re-evaluating Bose in the present era
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is nationwide revered as a legendary figure of the Indian National Movement. A study of his biography unfolds his unflagging zeal, as a leader and motivator. His social, economic, and political concepts were formulated with the sole objective of India’s emancipation from the British rule of exploitation and oppression. He also thought about the reconstruction of Free India.
According to Subhas Chandra Bose, education was essential for character building and overall development of human life. Education unveils the internal discipline of mind and thoughts, which in its turn produces external discipline of control of action or deeds.
He understood the need for female education and female emancipation- liberating from all shackles and artificial disabilities – social, economic and political. Netaji Subhas Chandra was completely against of any discrimination on the grounds of caste, race, sex, creed or wealth in Free India.
His addresses at the Indian National Congress bears Subhas Chandra’s ideas on a comprehensive reconstruction of Free India. Bose wanted the states to adopt an elaborate scheme for gradually socialising the entire agricultural and industrial system in the spheres of both production and distribution. He also advocated the abolition of landlordism and liquidation of agricultural indebtedness. According to Netaji, liberty broadly signified political, economic and social freedom. For him, economic freedom was the essence of social and political freedom.
However, if we look at today’s India and the happenings, can we claim for sure that we have imbibed the great leader’s vision in its true essence? We are free constitutionally, but are we really free at all? Is this the freedom our great freedom fighters like Bose envisioned for us?
Department of Student Affairs is organising a webinar on the birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to honour and recall his beliefs on freedom and Nation. Dr Ram Kulesh Thakur will be talking on “Am I Free? Re-Contextualising Subhas Chandra Bose in the Present Era.” Dr Thakur is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English. Join the webinar on January 23 at 5 pm with Dr Ram Kulesh Thakur, who will be shedding some light on this much-debated topic.
- Published in Events, Students Affairs Events
Innovation Cell presents Smart Idea Contest – Fortune always favours the BRAVE!
The innovation cell of SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh has arranged the Smart Idea contest on January 31, 2020. Ideated by Mr Udayan Bakshi, Associate Director, Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the contest aims at ushering individuals to envisage a better world through innovative ideas, concepts, and aspirations. During this competition, the participants would be presenting their impactful concept, prototype, project, research, and business idea, to unravel problems of the society.
The essence of life encompasses ambitions, and the determination to make a difference to the society. Participating in the contest will enable students, faculty, staff, alumni, PhD scholars to brave an idea and enhance their visibility. Apart from being mentored by the industry experts, the pacesetters will receive seed funding, venture capital funding, and additional support to shape and scale up their businesses. Unconventional visionaries inclined to augment the purpose of life are urged to participate in the contest to establish a better world.
Registration Link: Click Here
- Published in Events, IDEA Events
Enriching pedagogy
SRM AP signs MoU with Flinders University to propagate quality education and research
SRM University AP, Andhra Pradesh announces the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flinders University, Australia to foster knowledge creation, skill enhancement, and advancement of industry association. Flinders University, established in 1966, has over 25,000 students and over 2,500 academic and professional staff who promotes an incredible teaching and research ethos. These two universities of global repute purposes to share knowledge, competencies, expertise, and industry partners for their reciprocal benefit. The establishment of a framework for collaboration will enable the enrichment of pedagogy and research to support the propagation of quality education and scientific pursuits.
Exchange of students and participation in student mobility schemes, exchange of faculty members, joint research activities and training, exchange of materials, information and publications, and cooperation in common academic fields are the key driving influences enhancing the collaboration between SRM AP and Flinders University. The alliance is believed to commence opportunities for the students and faculty of SRM AP pertaining to visits, internships, and research collaboration.
- Published in Collaborations, News
Innovation Cell empowers SRM AP teams to emerge glorious in Toycathon-2021
The smart minds of SRM University-AP, Andhra Pradesh receives an opportunity to present their creative skills in the Toycathon-2021. Organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, Toycathon- 2021 challenges India’s contemporary minds to conceptualize Toy and Games inspired by Indian civilization, history, culture, mythology, and ethos. This unique opportunity will also enable exceptional innovators to win prizes worth Rs. 50 lakhs. In addition, the winning team’s efforts will be commercialized with support from the industry and investors.
The Department of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, SRM University AP has developed a panel of experts who will validate the presentation of the groups eager to participate in the contest. Further, assistance will be provided to the groups at every stage of the competition including support in preparing an enthralling pitch. This will empower the teams to have an edge while representing SRM AP in the national forum.
Last Date of Submission: January 29, 2021, at 7 PM
Registration Link: Click Here
- Published in Events, IDEA Events
National Voters’ Day
Awareness Programme at SRM University-AP to ensure participation in the electoral process
SRM University-AP organised a Voter Awareness Programme on National Voters’ Day to inspire voters to enhance their participation in the electoral process. National Voters’ Day is observed every year on January 25 to spread awareness among the voters. Guest of Honour, Shri G V Ram Prasad, M.R.O. and Assistant Electoral Registration Officer-Mangalagiri explained why it is crucial for people in a democracy like India to take part in the Electoral Process. Prof D Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Mr Ernest Samuel Ratnakumar, Registrar attended the event along with the faculty and staffs of SRM University- AP.
In his presidential address, Prof D N Rao explained why we have this need to celebrate National Voters’ Day. The main objective of the Voters’ Day is to ensure the facilitation of new voters and encourage their participation into casting votes. To understand this power of Democracy, one must be aware of this nation’s history. The journey from Monarchy to Democracy was arduous. In previous days, to change one’s king or leader, the people have to go through a violent process such as revolt or execution of the king. Now the process is much easier. One only needs to cast his vote to the person he prefers. In this way, only those who are chosen by the people of the country will be elected to run the nation. Therefore, it is essential to cast one’s vote. Votes are the voices of people in a democracy. In the absence of votes, the nation might not get the leaders it needs.
Shri Ram Prasad further added that the Voters’ Day was initiated by Mrs Pratibha Patil, former President of India, on the 61st foundation day of Election Commission. He said, “It is unfortunate to note that, in this largest Democracy of the world, only 50-60% of the votes are being cast in an average. It clearly shows that many people of this great country still unaware of the great power that Democracy provides them. The concept of celebrating Voters’ day came into being with this goal to make these people understand their power in deciding the nation’s future. He also informed that this year, the Government of India has agreed to launch e-EPIC card for voters’ benefit. e-EPIC is a portable document format(PDF) version of the EPIC which can be downloaded on mobile or in a self-printable form on the computer. A voter can thus store the card on his/her mobile, upload it on Digi locker or print it and self-laminate it. This is in addition to PCV EPIC being issued for fresh registration. Mr Earnest Samuel concluded reminding the audience that in or after 1947, several countries got their independence. But none carries a legacy as ours. It is each and every one of our duty to carry forward this legacy so that India can be Democratic in its true notion.
- Published in News