It was a memorable moment for the Gangadhar Meher University (GMU) on Sunday when none other than a first-batch student of the erstwhile college of 1944, Dr Bhabagrahi Mohapatra, presided over the Platinum Jubilee Celebration in the presence of a galaxy of intellectuals, teachers and students.
The college, established in 1944, has completed 75 successful years and is a university now with more than 6,000 students.
It is all set to achieve new milestones with multifarious academic activities including opening of four new PG departments in Anthropology, Biotechnology, Library and Information Science and Sociology and a ‘Bhma Bhoi Chair’. Health Minister Naba Kishore Das who is a former student of the institution joined the fest as chief guest.
Dr Mohapatra, a nonagenarian, who was the first batch student of the college in 1944 and later studied in REC Rourkela (now NIT) was the chief chemist in Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).
Speaking about the Bhima Bhoi Chair that began on the day, Vice Chancellor Dr AK Pati said, “This is a high standard academic activity on Bhima Bhoi literature, and its preservation and internationalization.”
Chief guest Das said that most of the guests present are the old students of GM College/GMU. “We will jointly work for the development of our alma mater,” he assured. On the occasion, he also released a postal envelop of GMU celebrating the Platinum Jubilee year.