Aligarh: Various departments of studies and schools at the Aligarh Muslim University celebrated Gandhi Jayanti by organizing programmes and events with the participation of students and teachers in a large number.

The Department of Fine Arts organized a painting, collage and poster-making competition, along with a special live performance by Harish, a third-year BVA student. Prof Sudharma Haridasan, Department of Library and Information Science and Prof Sameena, Department of Sociology judged the competitions.

The Chairperson, the Department of Fine Arts, Dr Talat Shakeel said that more than 80 students from different departments of studies participated in the competitions.

At the AMU Girls' School, the students and teachers paid rich tribute to Mahatma Gandhi under the supervision of the Principal, Amna Malik, and shed light through speeches on various aspects of Gandhi’s life and contribution. Alka Agarwal, Officiating Vice Principal supervised the programme.

Kauser Perween and Huma Mukhtar were the Event Incharges, while Areeba Parvez, Secretary, Social Science conducted the programme.

Amna Malik spoke on Gandhi’s principles of truth and non-violence which continue to inspire generations across the world. She urged the students to embrace these values and contribute to building the harmonious world Gandhi envisioned.

The events included speeches, recitation of poems, quotation reading and a pledge-taking ceremony to always follow the path of truth and non-violence.

The AMU City Girls' High School remembered Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri and paid profound tributes to them through speeches, patriotic songs and felicitation of Safai Mitras.

The Officiating Principal Md Javed Akhtar garlanded the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, and later, addressing the students, highlighted various aspects of their lives and services to the nation. He spoke on Gandhi’s experiment with truth and non-violence and urged the students to follow these principles in their lives. The programme was conducted by Sahar Naqvi.

At the Abdullah School, the Gandhi Jayanti celebration coincided with the Swachhata Pakhwada-related programmes held on the theme, ‘Swabhav Swachhata - Sanskar Swachhata’.

The programmes organized to mark the occasion included speeches, quotation reading and poster making on Gandhi Jayanti. Audio jingles of 45 and 90 seconds were also presented, conveying the significance of cleanliness and hygiene.

Umra Zaheer, the School Superintendent, motivated students and staff to work for strengthening national integration and educating people to maintain a high degree of cleanliness and hygiene in their lives.

The Begum Sultan Jahan Hall of Residence for Girls organized a quotation presentation contest to mark the Gandhi Jayanti. The students participated in the contest in large numbers and presented a quotation from Gandhi and explained its relevance today.

The officiating Provost of the Hall, Dr Shazia Farooq Fazli, along with the Senior Hall, Bushra Imam, Secretary Literary Society Samra Fatima and Joint Secretary Hafsah Bano supervised the programme.

At the Ahmadi School for Visually Challenged, the Principal, Dr Naila Rashid garlanded the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, and the senior teacher Sirajuddin Sheikh highlighted the historical events related to their lives. A group of students under his leadership presented the Bhajan, “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram”, which was near to Gandhi’s heart.

The Senior Secondary School (Girls) organized a special programme to commemorate the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. The Principal, Naghma Irfan paid homage to both the leaders by garlanding their portraits and spoke about the timeless values and principles upheld by Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, emphasizing their enduring relevance in today’s world.

A Unity Pledge and Swachhata Pledge were also conducted on this occasion, reaffirming commitment to national unity and cleanliness.