Media Release
Mangaluru, Nov 21: History was created at Father Muller, as ‘National Integration Day’ was celebrated for the first time, at the Decennial Memorial Hall, on November 19, as part of the National Integration Week.
It was organized by Father Muller Charitable Institutions and the Student Development Committee, FMMC, in collaboration with the Government of India, Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Mangaluru.
The programme began with a beautiful prayer song by the 2nd MBBS students, followed by Dr Sanjay Fernandes, associate professor, Anatomy, FMMC, who welcomed the packed audience, wholeheartedly.
This was followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, lit by the dignitaries on the dais, who included, the chief guest, Lt Col Gracian Sequeira, the director, FMCI, Fr Richard A Coelho, District Youth Coordinator, Mangaluru, Raghuveer Souterpete, staff-advisor-in-charge, Student Development Committee, FMMC, Dr Sanjay J Fernandes and the student head, Student Development Committee, Kevin Menezes.
Raghuveer Souterpete, spoke about integrating youth and the work done by him at NYKS and NSS, joint project ministry of youth affairs and sports, UNV, UNDP, India. The presidential address was delivered by Fr Richard A Coelho, who stressed the importance of coming together, despite religious, regional, linguistic and socio-economic diversities.
Chief guest, Lt Col Gracian Sequeira, from the Karnataka Battalion, NCC, Mangaluru, highlighted his personal experiences on the battlefield, bloodshed all around and bullets whizzing past him, made them realize, how precious life is and that religion, caste, region, language bear no semblance, when one’s life is at stake. Hence, everyone must rise as one, helping one another in times of need, even if strangers, maintaining the integrity of this nation.
Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, administrator, FMMCH, presented a token of appreciation to the chief guest as a mark of gratitude for gracing the occasion and for his service to the country.
It concluded with a vote of thanks by Kevin Menezes, followed by the institutional anthem. The programme was meticulously compered by Jeffrey. Asst administrator, Fr Nelson Pais, Dr Jayprakash Alva, dean FMMC, Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, vice-dean FMMC were present.