Jalandhar, February 12

DAV University celebrated the birth anniversary of Swami Dayanand Saraswati – a great social reformer and founder of the Arya Samaj. The function aimed at creating awareness about the contribution of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in promoting equal rights for women including the right to education and reading of Indian scriptures.

The function started with the yajna which was held at the newly constructed Yagyashala on the campus. The yagyashala was surrounded by ten havan kunds representing different departments of the University where the members of the teaching, non-teaching staff and students performed yajna. The entire campus reverberated with the chants of the Vedic mantras.

Addressing the students, the officiating Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Rishi said that Swamiji denounced idolatry and ritualistic worship and worked for reviving Vedic ideologies. She said that Swami Dayanand Saraswati was the first to give the call for Swaraj as “India for Indians” in 1876, a call later taken up by Lokmanya Tilak.

She said that the foundation of the Yagyashala was laid by Dr Punam Suri, Chancellor of the University who desired every student of the University to follow the path shown by Swami Dayanand Saraswati. She also told the students that the Chancellor had sent blessings their way.

Earlier, welcoming the guests and students, Dr K N Kaul, officiating Registrar, said that Swami Dayanand Saraswati influenced many people including Swami Shraddhanand, Bhagat Singh, Lala Hardayal, Madan Lal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Mahatma Hansraj and Lala Lajpat Rai.

Arun, a student of B Tech CSE shared his views on the life of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.

Other dignitaries including Dr R K Seth, Dean Academics and coordinators of different departments were also present at the function.

Competition of Swamiji’s life

A competition to depict the life and contribution of Swami Dayanand Saraswati was also organized by the Fine Arts Club of the University. The results: Poster making: Rabia (first), Aniket (second), Sapna (third); Oil pastel: Gaurav (first), Anjali (second) and Aishwariya (third); watercolour painting: Neeraj (first).