Silchar: Assam University celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day at its Silchar campus on Saturday with patriotic fervour, cultural performances and an address by Vice Chancellor Prof. Rajive Mohan Pant.

The Vice Chancellor hoisted the National Tricolour in front of the Bipin Chandra Pal Seminar Hall as the National Anthem was sung. The ceremony was followed by a Guard of Honour by NCC cadets and an inspection of the university security personnel.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Pant highlighted India’s transformation from its past global image of poverty to its emergence as a major global power. He spoke about India’s achievements in sanitation, poverty reduction, literacy, space technology, defence production and healthcare.

Referring to ISRO’s lunar and Martian missions, Prof. Pant said India has made major advances in science and technology. He also highlighted the country’s defence exports and its role in supplying vaccines to other nations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking about Assam University, the Vice Chancellor said the institution has emerged as a leading centre of higher education in the Northeast. He highlighted the university’s early implementation of the National Education Policy through the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme and Five-Year Integrated Postgraduate Programme.

Prof. Pant also mentioned the university’s entry into the Top 100 of the NIRF rankings last year. He said the university has published more than 1,400 Scopus-indexed research papers, secured over 70 sponsored projects, organised around 150 academic conferences and made several patent filings.

He also praised the achievements of students. Performing Arts student Nehal Bhattacharjee represented the university in Russia, while Management student Bhargavi Hazarika is preparing for an attempt to swim across the English Channel. A total of 192 students were also reported to have cleared the NET examination, while several others qualified for UPSC, APSC and JRF examinations.

Prof. Pant further said Assam University secured 11th position in the National Green University Ranking 2026. He highlighted the university’s hosting of the first inter-university Sepak Takraw tournament and its Ashtalakshmi cultural integration initiative.

He urged students, teachers and staff to remain ambitious and proactive and dedicate their efforts towards nation-building. Registrar Dr. Pradosh Kiran Nath, Controller of Examinations Dr. Suprabir Dutta Roy, Deans, Heads of Departments, teaching and non-teaching staff and NCC cadets attended the programme.

The celebrations concluded with patriotic musical performances by students of the Department of Performing Arts and the granting of ranks to NCC cadets by Prof. Pant and Prof. C. R. Bhattacharjee. Jayanta Bhattacharjee, Director of the College Development Council, coordinated the programme.