Aryabhatta College of the University of Delhi held its first-ever annual prize distribution and inaugural function on Monday. Governor of Gujarat Dr OP Kohli and DU Vice Chancellor Prof Dinesh Singh presided over the function, and inaugurated the college as an independent day college, which was earlier Ram lal Anand Evening College.
Dr Anil Kumar Tyagi, the Vice Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Prof Sushma Yadav, the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), attended the function as the guests of honour. Chandan Mitra, MP (Rajya Sabha), who is the chairman of the governing council of the college was present on the occasion.
While addressing the students of the college, Dr OP Kohli said that perhaps naming the college after the legendary mathematician and astronomer Aryabhatta is an attempt to preserve our identity.
“Every civilisation has a need to preserve its identity. It’s a cause of worry if that identity is lost. I feel that by naming the institution Aryabhatta College, we are making an attempt to preserve our identity that we are fast losing,” he said.
Prof Dinesh Singh commended the students and the faculty of the college and said that he has high expectations from the institution. “I have been seeing that this college is progressing at a very fast pace. Whenever I ask about it, I hear that it’s achieving new heights,” he said, adding that an institution excels when the students of that institution are able to find their inner voice. “We are seeing that this college is succeeding in achieving that,” he added. He also praised the students for undertaking a project to visit the native place of Aryabhatta to find out more about him in the present context.
Outlining the future course for the college, Chandan Mitra added that it will be among the top five colleges of the Delhi University in the next two to three years. “DU Vice Chancellor has also assured me of the same and all assistance, monetary and otherwise, would be provided to the college to achieve that goal,” said Mitra.
Emphasising on the need for innovation, Mitra said that for him, Aryabhatta means innovation. Advising the students to not just focus on classroom knowledge and go after innovation, he said, “To get ahead in life, and to get your name in the pages of history, you have to walk on the path of innovation. And as long as I am the chairman of the governing body of the college, I will encourage innovation.”
At the function, the principal of the college, Manoj Sinha, listed out the achievements of the college, its students and the faculty members, and promised to do even better next year.
Earlier, Aryabhatta College was a part of Ram lal Anand College and held only evening classes. From the next session, it will work as an independent day college. The chief guests also inaugurated the new building that will host the next session.