Himalaya Harbinger, Uttarakhand Bureau
Pantnagar. 11 September 2025. To commemorate the 138th Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, a grand cultural program was organized at Gandhi Hall, Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.
The event witnessed the presence of Chief Guest Mr. Vikas Sharma, Mayor of Rudrapur Municipal Corporation and Special Guests Dr. Hayat Singh Rawat, noted litterateur and Mr. Anil Dhasmana, former Chief of R\&AW and NTRO. Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor of the university, presided over the function. Also in attendance were deans of various colleges, directors, heads of departments, faculty members and a large number of students.
In his address, Mayor Vikas Sharma highlighted the significant contributions made by the university in the field of agriculture, especially the development of crop varieties and technologies that have benefited farmers not only in the state but across the country. He called upon students to actively contribute to making India a developed nation by 2047, aligning with the national vision. He also spoke about the exemplary life and contributions of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant.
Dr. Hayat Singh Rawat shared insights into Pant Ji’s inspiring life and urged students to follow in his footsteps. He emphasized the preservation of local cultural heritage and advocated for promoting the Kumaoni language on par with other Indian languages.
Mr. Anil Dhasmana commended the university’s achievements and encouraged students to devote themselves wholeheartedly to academics, thereby enhancing the prestige of the institution. He also recalled Pandit Pant’s remarkable contributions to the nation, particularly to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and the establishment of Pantnagar University.
Delivering the presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Dr. Manmohan Singh Chauhan urged students to implement the valuable suggestions shared by the guests and to live by the ideals of Pant Ji. He emphasized that Pantnagar University was the cradle of the Green Revolution in India and expressed confidence that the next agricultural revolution would also originate here. He stated that given the country’s current pace of development, India could achieve the status of a developed nation even before 2047.
The cultural program was jointly organized by the Pant Bhawan Hostel and the Dean Student Welfare. Students presented vibrant and engaging cultural performances, which were well received by the audience. As part of the Pant Jayanti celebrations, several competitions and events were held between September 1 and 10 and winners were felicitated by the guests during the event. The program commenced with a welcome address by Dean Student Welfare Dr. A.S. Jeena.
