Nagaland University (NU) commemorated India’s 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025, at its headquarters in Lumami, with Prof Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University, as the Chief Guest. The hoisting of the National Flag by the Chief Guest was followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The program, attended by the University fraternity, was chaired by Peter Ki, PRO, and the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr. Rumi Dhar, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Law.
Prof Jagadish Kumar Patnaik reflected on the country’s civilizational journey, confronting multiple challenges, yet not just surviving but flourishing. As a Republic, India’s head of state and government are elected by the people, and we are fully sovereign, both internally and externally, he said. Although the modern concept of democracy traces its roots to the Western world, India is, in fact, the mother of democracy, as evidenced by our ancient village republics where consent and unanimity were the essence. For the past 76 years, our democratic institutions have flourished because the people of the country have decided for themselves, he added.
India is on the march to becoming the third-largest economy in the world, and has been resolving her problems through democratic means and consensus without the use of force. The power of the gun may temporarily diffuse problems, but permanent solutions come through consensus. He stated that the northeastern states have prospered over the last 76 years. While they may lag behind other states, they are certainly not backward, as economic prosperity is a race. Compared to ten years ago, the northeastern states are now much more peaceful.
In all of this, the Constitution of India, which came into effect in 1950, continues to play a pivotal role. He asserted that India’s constitution is federal, with every small community having its own rights and autonomy to run its affairs. The constitution has not only given us democracy, autonomy, freedom, and adult suffrage, but it has also ensured economic rights, education, life, the right to know, and more.
Talking about Nagaland University, Prof Patnaik highlighted some of the significant developments over the last two years. From operating a fourth campus in rented buildings, the University now runs its affairs fully on its own across three campuses. Four more new departments are also in the pipeline: civil engineering, mechanical engineering, physical education, and vocational studies, all of which are highly relevant for the state of Nagaland, he said. He wants these departments to eventually offer undergraduate programs, progressing to postgraduate programs, and then research programs, with the ultimate goal of establishing a fully-fledged undergraduate and postgraduate residential university. He also shared that twenty buildings have already been sanctioned to accommodate students, and the University may receive additional facilities from the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
He pointed out that the academic ecosystem has also improved. This academic session will see the introduction of a four-year undergraduate program, with students admitted based on the CUET. This will begin with basic sciences. Given the progress in each department, he hopes that by the end of his tenure, Nagaland University will be among the top 100 universities in the NIRF rankings.
Prof. Patnaik said that education is the key to societal development. Whether it is higher education, primary education, secondary education, technical education, vocational studies, or skill-based education, all of them constitute the keys to development, which will then lead to prosperity. He pointed out that Nagaland is blessed with resources that, if properly utilized, could transform the state into a mini-Switzerland. The state has a suitable climate, land resources, minerals, and a university that aims to provide every form of knowledge and technology needed to develop these resources. He asserted that students can benefit by staying in Nagaland, reversing the current belief that our students have low salary prospects because they do not venture out of the state. A time will come, he added, when our students will invest in entrepreneurship, start-ups, and businesses, hiring people from outside the state. Our future is bright, he concluded, so long as we continue to work hard with dedication, sincerity, and honesty.
He ended by urging everyone to possess a national character, which involves being ready to sacrifice comfort zones for the growth of society and the nation. A developed Nagaland will lead to a developed Bharat, he said, asserting that regionalism and nationalism are not contradictory but complementary. According to him, regionalism will always help in the growth of nationalism.