Pics: Akshay
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Nov 20: The Diamond Jubilee of Mahatma Gandhi Memorial (MGM) College will be celebrated at the college premises from November 29 to December 1.
Addressing the media during a press meet on November 20, Professor Lakshminarayana Karanth, principal of MGM College, said, “MGM College, the first college in Udupi, was established in 1949 as the brainchild of Dr T M A Pai. It has completed 75 years of academic excellence. Initially, the college functioned from Gandhi Main School in Udupi before moving to its present campus. It has won the hearts of people with its quality education and cultural heritage.”
The three-day celebration will begin with the inauguration of the T Mohandas Pai Memorial ‘Amruth Soudha’ by T Sathish U Pai, president of the college trust, at 9 am on November 29. The inauguration will be held in the presence of Sri Vidyasagar Theertha Swamiji of Sri Krishnapura Math. Exhibitions featuring the work of students from all departments will be inaugurated by Udupi deputy commissioner Dr K Vidyakumari and will be open to all for three days.
The formal event will be presided over by T Sathish U Pai. Sri Vidyasagar Theertha Swamiji will release a special postal envelope on the occasion. The event will also be attended by Udupi MLA Yashpal Suvarna, MAHE registrar Dr Ranjan R Pai, TMA Pai Foundation president Ashok Pai, MGM College trustee Vasanthi R Pai, MAHE pro-chancellor and AGE president Dr H S Ballal, MAHE associate vice chancellor Dr Narayan Sabahith, and Bangalore North University vice chancellor Dr Niranjan Vanalli.
On the same day, members of the governing body, retired principals, teaching, and non-teaching staff will be felicitated. This will be followed by a cultural program by students at 3 pm, and a yakshagana performance titled Veera Vrishasena Kalaga by Indrali Yakshagana Kendra at 5.30 pm.
On November 30, the second day of the celebrations, a procession will be held in the morning. At 8.15 am, Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math will hand over the ceremonial lamp, and Dr Ranjan R Pai will flag off the procession at 9 am, starting from Gandhi Main School and concluding at MGM College.
At 11.30 am, a program titled ‘MGM Remembrance’ will feature reminiscences by retired principal professor M L Samaga and C A Gujjadi Prabhakar Nayak. A documentary film highlighting the college’s journey will be screened at 12.30 pm, followed by cultural performances at 1.30 pm and a musical concert by Mumbai’s Urja Band at 5.30 pm.
The final day, December 1, will include cultural programs by students from 9.30 am to 11 am, followed by an alumni meet featuring professor Prasanna Tantri, NITI Aayog member and associate professor at Hyderabad Power Finance Corporation. Additional cultural programs by students will commence at 2.30 pm.
The valedictory ceremony will take place at 3.30 pm, presided over by T Sathish U Pai, in the presence of Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji of Pejawar Math, Karnataka minister for women and child welfare Lakshmi Hebbalkar, MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, MLA Yashpal Suvarna, Mangalore University vice chancellor professor P L Dharma, regional education department joint director professor Ramegowda, and Udupi DDP Maruthi.
The celebrations will conclude with a musical evening at 5.30 pm, featuring Vidyabhushan and Kumari Medha Hiranayi from Bengaluru.
AGE secretary B P Varadaray Pai, MGM PU College principal Malathi Devi A, evening college principal Dr Devidas S Naik, Arun Kumar, Suchith, and others were present at the press meet.