This year SRM AP celebrates Republic Day in the most unconventional way that has enabled the females of the district to come together and rejoice the occasion. Words went out a week ago to the women hailing from the adjoining villages-Nidamarru, Kurugallu, Neerukonda, Pedhaparimi that SRM AP will be hosting Republic Day themed Rangoli competition on 25th January, 2020 which will be open to all the women living in the district, students, faculty, and staff.

On 25th January, registration for the competition began early in the morning and was closed by 8 a.m. Close to 60 contestants participated, and each were given 5*5 feet of space in the atrium area to make rangoli. Cheered by ample spectators including students and inhabitants of the nearby villages, the participants transformed the floor of the atrium into picturesque blocks of art.

Close to dusk, the winners were declared and Ms. Manimanjari from Ravella village bagged the 1st prize by making a rangoli that pledges to save the environment and the society this republic day. Mrs. Bharati and Ms. Malleswari from Mangalagiri received the prize money for being the runner up and 1st runner up respectively.

Students, faculty, and staff of SRM AP gathered early on the morning of 26th January 2020 to celebrate the 71st Republic Day of independent India. The event began with Pro VC, Prof. D Narayana Rao hoisting the national flag of India.

The patriotic mood was heightened by Prof. Rao’s speech where he expressed his reverence towards our freedom fighters who gifted us the freedom of speech, expression, etc. Saluting their sacrifices, he emphasized that independence enabled our nation to prosper and become one of the fastest-growing economies today; the nation that was battling famines 70 years back is one of the largest food exporters of the recent times. He further adds that our enriched education system has presented to the world Satya Nadella-head of Microsoft, Sundar Pichai- head of Google, among many others, who have their roots attached to India, and that SRM AP purposes to impart knowledge and values to the students who would in the future contribute towards making India proud in international spheres.

Thereafter, the students portrayed their sense of patriotism through phenomenal singing and dancing performances.

Trailed by the performance, Prof. D Narayana Rao (Pro VC), Dr. D Gunasekaran (Registrar), and Dr. B Sivakumar (Dy Registrar) gave away prizes to the winners of the Rangoli competition that was held on 25th January 2020 (https://srmap.edu.in/events/colour-filled-republic-day-celebration-neighbours/), where the neighbours expressed their contentment of being associated with SRM AP.

The celebrations at the campus made everyone contemplate their responsibilities towards upholding the ideologies of our national heroes and building a nation that would be admired by all.

SRM AP hosted exhibitions piloted by the Photography Society and the Creative Arts Club on the 71^st Republic Day that gave us a deeper insight into the diverse culture and incredibility of India. The photography club declared the competition a week ago keeping the theme “India through my Lens”. The participation of faculty, staff, students including the club members ensured its massive success with 44 and 10 entries respectively for the photography and painting exhibition, which depicted the unimaginable beauty of our country.

After the flag hoisting ceremony, the exhibition was inaugurated at 10 a.m. at the Grand Staircase. Prof. D Narayana Rao (Pro VC), Dr. D Gunasekaran (Registrar), Dr. B Sivakumar (Dy Registrar), directors, deans, faculty, staff, and students gathered to witness the creative aptitude of the participants that was showcased through this exhibition

Video game is believed to profoundly stimulate the young minds along with refining their reflexes that develop their ability to critically analyze situations. 2nd-year students, A Sohith Chowdary, Bharat Mocherla, Narendra Gudivada, Syed Moinuddin, Dinesh Thotakura, and Gopi Teja N Sampara launched the e-sports club “Unity” last year. The club organized “Night League” on 29th January 2020 in collaboration with Gaming Isle, a company from Vijayawada, which provided equipment including Play Stations for the gaming competition.

In the evening, the students gathered around the grand staircase to register for the e-gaming competitions. The competition turned out to be a gamer’s paradise with 250 participants registering for the mobile-based game – Call of Duty, and FIFA 20 and WWE having 30 and 33 entrants respectively. The motion sensor game, Kinect was open to all willing players who delved into the world of Virtual Reality and mesmerized themselves.

Mr. Rithvik, Managing Director of Gaming Isle invited 40 students to visit their office in Vijayawada and play CS GO. In the future, the winners of the gaming competitions desire to participate in state-level e-sports tournaments and showcase their gaming acumen.

Inspiring the students to indulge in physical fitness regimes

Inaugural Torch Lighting by Prof. D.N. Rao, Pro-VC.

The third chapter of Sports Fest opened with the spectacular torch lighting ceremony by Prof. D Narayana Rao, Pro Vice-Chancellor, SRM University, Andhra Pradesh. The proceedings included welcome speeches by Prof. Narayana Rao, and Dr. D. Gunasekaran, while Dr. G S Vinodh Kumar, Fest Convener, and Dr. Abdul Mohimain, Sports Coordinator, Ms. Revathi Balakrishnan, Organizing Secretary graced the event.

Welcome speech by Prof. Rao, Pro-VC

Dr. Rao took the centre stage to explain the significance of indulging in sports. He says, “The adherence to rules of sports trains one to be disciplined in their personal lives. Sports entails physical fitness which can be leveraged to improve the alertness of mind, further assisting the students to be able to work hard in the frontiers of academics,” Dr. Rao also trusts that team sports enable the youth to work together to achieve common goals by strategizing and executing plans in a given time frame.

Dr. D. Gunasekaran further enthralled the students with his speech where he emphasized physical fitness and a positive mindset being mutually reciprocal. He states, “The complex systems of our being are maintained by the body and controlled by the mind.” He expresses his concerns that the youth are inclined to indoor games and video games which are not synced to fitness. “A nation’s development depends on its youth, and India is a vibrant country where we have a substantial young population. Inspiring this population to maintain physical fitness will ensure the growth of our country.”, says Dr. Gunasekaran.

Dr. D. Gunasekaran, Registrar, speaks on importance of physical fitness.

On the note to uphold the essence of athletics, Pro VC declared the Sports Fest 2020 open. The two-day extravaganza featured events such as tournaments of football, cricket, basketball, volleyball, throwball, table tennis, chess etc. for both men and women students. Students from institutions like IIIT Nuzvid, Vasireddy Venkatadri Institute of Technology, R.V.R. & J. C. College of Engineering, Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology & Research, Prasad V. Potluri Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Dhanekula Institute of Engineering & Technology, K L University, SRKR Engineering College and many others enthusiastically participated in these events. On the first day, the knock-off rounds were played. Winners of the knock-out rounds geared up for the semi-final and final rounds. The next day decided the champions and runner-ups. Our boys of the football team played ferociously in the knock-out rounds and lost to the winning team only by one goal. As for the chess team, their brilliant strategies took them straight to the finals where they lost in the tie-breaker.

Minds at play

Aiming to score

Hits a SIX!

Pro-VC honouring the Chief Guest Mr. JBS Vidyadhar

On 16th February afternoon, the Valedictory Ceremony began. Mr. JBS Vidyadhar, former Indian badminton player and present coach of the Indian Badminton Team graced the ceremony as a chief guest. Distinguished presence of Prof. D. Narayan Rao, Dr. D. Gunasekaran, Dr. G S Vinodh Kumar, Dr. Abdul Mohimain, Mrs. Revathi Balakrishnan, added dignity to the ceremony. The Men’s team of SRM University-AP bagged the runner-up prizes in football and chess tournaments. The women’s team of the university also secured runner-up positions in throwball, basketball and table tennis tournaments. Sri Rama Murthy, a member of the runner-up chess team of SRM University-AP, overwhelmed with joy, says, “this trophy has boosted our confidence. We hope to perform even better in the coming years.” K L University, with four champion’s trophies, was declared to be the overall champion of the Sports Fest -2020. With our national anthem in the background, this spirited festival came to an end with a promise of more successful events in the following years.

Tackle at the football field

Distinguished guests with SRM University, AP Sports Team

Throwing to win

“Yoga & Meditation Training Programme” at SRM University-AP

A famous Arabian Proverb says, “He who has health has hope and he who has hope has everything.” Comprising with that, the National Service Scheme Cell of SRM University-AP has taken a holistic initiative towards its students, staff and faculty by organising an eight-week “Yoga & Meditation Training Programme” in collaboration with the Heartfulness Institute, Hyderabad. The inaugural session was graced by the presence of Prof. D. Narayana Rao, Pro-Vice Chancellor; Dr. D. Gunasekaran, Registrar; Dr. A. Lakshmana Rao, Assistant Professor, Department of Commerce and NSS Coordinator; Dr. Venkata N Nori, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering and in house yoga trainer for boys; Dr. Ajitha, Instructor, Department of Business Administration and in house trainer of yoga for girls. Sri N. L. V. Pandu Ranga Prasad, social worker and an associate of Shri Ram Chandra Mission, has honoured the university with his presence as a Chief Guest in this event.

Eminent Dignitaries at the Inaugural Ceremony

Pro-VC Honouring the Chief Guest

In his opening statement, Prof. D. Narayana Rao stated the benefits of yoga in a scientific way. He mentioned that it had been already proven by various research studies that regular practice of yoga and meditation enhances levels of a particular messenger molecule in brain which in result enhances brain activity. The enhanced brain activity makes a powerful impact on one’s personality development. It can be maintained very easily with one session of yoga per week.

In his spirited speech, Sri Prasad stated various usefulness of yoga and meditation in everyone’s life. He said, “Yoga helps one in self-realisation. It takes away the negativity and fills with positive energy. This helps people to concentrate on their life and goals.” He also spoke on how famous personalities like Ram Nath Kobind, P V Sindhu, Rohit Sharma were benefitted by yoga and meditation. He further said that it is an essential tool for every person which helps in regulating one’s mind, thoughts and behaviour. Yoga and meditation help in becoming a good citizen for the nation and for personal developments also.

Mr. Prasad Speaking on the Importance of the Meditation

Registrar Addressing the Audience

Dr. Gunasekaran reminded that yoga is a great gift from our forefathers. He said, “Yoga was initiated in our country, yet we have neglected it for years. A man is made of many values and virtues, but he is not always aware of it. Meditation is the medium which helps one to identify oneself.” The Inaugural Ceremony ended with a brief meditation session led by Dr. Nori followed by the vote of thanks.

Encouraging women to break gender-biased roles

Women’s Day is celebrated across nations recognizing their contribution to every sphere. The day also aims at accelerating gender equality by empowering women. SRM University, Andhra Pradesh observes a week-long celebration that reached its orchestral height on Saturday. Upholding the spirit of equality, faculty, staff and students came together to participate in fun activities, games and competitions hosted throughout the week. This included spoon and lemon race, tug of war, bucket and ball, musical chair, singing competition, dancing competition, Mathematics contest- Ms. Hypatia, and essay competition. Everyone in the campus observed 7th March as an Ethnic Day by draping themselves in traditional wear, enunciating the beauty of the occasion.

Lemon and spoon race

Musical chair

Ms. Hypatia competition

Lamp lighting by the Chief Guest

With grand exuberance, SRM AP welcomed the Chief Guest, Smt. B. Vijayakeerthi, IRSE, Divisional Engineer, South-Central Railway, Guntur. She initiated the celebration by lighting the ceremonial lamp, along with Prof. D. Narayana Rao, Pro VC, Dr. B. Sivakumar, Deputy Registrar, Ms. Revathi Balakrishnan, Convener, and a student. Breaking gender biased roles, Smt. B. Vijayakeerthi pursued a career in Civil Engineering. A student of IIT Madras, she later aced Indian Railways Service of Engineers examinations and joined Indian Railways. She recalls, “From the day I chose Civil Engineering, I was questioned by society as the norm was that women avoided taking up engineering domains that involved field-work. However, irrespective of my gender, I persuaded my dream and challenged myself to excel against all odds. Initially, although encouragement was rarely found, persistence and hard work ensured that support started pouring in from all ends.”

Smt. B. Vijayakeerthi addressing the audience

Smt. B. Vijayakeerthi set a record by improving the railway track parameters from 96 to 130, and her phenomenal work of eliminating 10 unmanned level crossing gates within a period of 6 months, brought her immense recognition. Persuading young students to follow their dreams, she says “Career choices are solely personal, and it does not depend on gender. One should have the confidence to aim big, and also to take a leap towards achieving the dream.”

The winners of the competitions hosted as a part of women’s day celebration, were honoured by the Chief Guest. The spectacle concluded with the students giving out a social message through cultural program – a skit, song, and dance performance. Their acts demonstrated the societal challenges faced by women and the necessity of bringing about a change to empower them.

Chief guest presenting the winner’s award

Staff receiving prize for winning ‘Musical Chair’

Symbol of equality