Guwahati: Pragjyotishpur University, the first crowd funded higher education center, celebrated its 4th Foundation Day on October 17 with grandeur at its campus in Hajongbari, Chandrapur near Guwahati. Eminent educationists, vice-chancellors from various universities and heads of higher education institutions from across the country participated in the event.
Suresh Soni, Member of the National Executive of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), attended the programme as the Chief Speaker. In his keynote address, Soni said, “Nation building is possible only through character-building and Pragjyotishpur University is moving forward with this noble objective.”
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his speech addressing the students and eminent personalities said, “This university has been established in the name of Assam’s ancient identity — Pragjyotishpur. The purpose of education is not merely to acquire knowledge but to cultivate a spirit of global welfare. Along with technical education, spirituality and humanity must be integral parts of learning.”
Alongside the celebration, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the Samutkarsh Bhavan (Auditorium) and Dhanvantari Bhavan (Pharmacy Department) of the university while Union Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita inaugurated the main entrance gate of the university campus. The ceremony was graced by Education Minister of Assam Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Minister for Public Health Engineering Jayanta Mall Baruah, Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Ashok Singhal and NEC Secretary Satinder Kumar Bhalla.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also released the university magazine ‘Kaumudi’.
The event was attended by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Smriti Kumar Sinha, Chairman of the Haryana State Higher Education Council Prof. Kailash Chandra Sharma, Guwahati MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, and Chairman of Shankardev Education and Research Foundation (SERF) Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Rana Pratap Kalita, among other distinguished guests.
Inspired by the educational ideals of Vidya Bharati, enriched with over eight decades of experience in value-based education rooted in Indian ethos and guided by the teachings of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev, the Vidya Niketan institutions in Assam have been giving a new dimension to school education for nearly half a century.
Carrying this legacy forward, Pragjyotishpur University was established in 2022, with the vision of imparting higher education inspired by Indian knowledge systems and patriotism, fully aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP 2020). It is an institution built and nurtured through the cooperation of society, representing the harmonious blend of Indian culture, modern knowledge and global vision.
