Report of Celebration of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim RaoAmbedkar Birth Anniversary 2021

Equal Opportunity Cell, IGNOU in collaboration with IGNOU SC/ST Teachers’Association and SC/ST Cell of IGNOU organized various activities for celebrating theBirth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar in the month ofApril 2021.

All the activities took place in the shadow of second wave of Corona Pandemic andkeeping that in view the organizers took all care to ensure that all the covid appropriatebehaviour was observed. All media platforms were used to communicate informationabout these programmes so that more and more participants could come and make it areal success.

Painting Competitition

A painting competition was organized on 7th April, 2021 on the theme ‘Influence of BabaSaheb in my life’. A total of 41 participants across different age groups activelyparticipated and painted a deep rooted connection with the Life and Philosophy of Dr.B.R. Ambedkar in different colours.

The paintings were judged by the following experts:i) Dr. Mohd. Tahir Siddiqui, Assistant Professor, SOPVA

ii) Dr. Laxman Prasad, Assistant Professor, SOPVAiii) Mr. Partho Sarkar

The Experts adjudged the paintings made by the children in the three groups andfollowing are the winners for Painting Competition:

Group I (8 years and below)

1st Prize – Tata Lakshit2nd Prize – Nitish Shaw3rd Prize – Vishal Kumar

Group II (Between 8 to 12 years)

1st Prize – Surbhi2nd Prize – Kavya Vijayakumar3rd Prize – Siddharth Dey

Group III (Between 13 to 18 years)

1st Prize – G Jaya Harshini2nd Prize – Aviral Shukla3rd Prize – Rishima Sharma

Screening of Film

A film screening was hosted in the preview theatre of EMPC of IGNOU on 9th April2021 at 12.00 noon. The film brought to light the increasing need and relevance of Dr.Ambedkar Philosophy in our times.

Essay Writing Competition

As part of the next step in the celebrations, an Essay Writing Competition was scheduledon 12th April but due to pandemic the participants were informed to submit hand writtenessay through email or by hand. A total of 99 entries for essay were received. Acommittee of following members for deciding the winners of essay competition wasformed:

i) Prof. Parmod Kumar, SOHii) Dr. Jyoti Chawla, Assistant Professor, SOTSTiii) Dr. Satish Gaikwad, Assistant Director, Research Unit

The Committee adjudged the essays and declared following as winners:

1st Prize – Atia Parveen2nd Prize – Rajesh Kumar Sinha (a student of PGDFCS Programme)3rd Prize – Ruby Mathias (a student of PGDFM Programme)

Entries of these winners are annexed at Annexure-I

Slogan Writing Competition

A Slogan Writing Competition was conducted on the Theme ‘Life and Vision of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar, the total of 106 entries received for slogan competition. A Committee offollowing three members was constituted

i) Prof. Parmod Kumar, SOHii) Dr. Ramesh Yadav Assistant Professor, SoJNMSiii) Dr. Satish Gaikwad, Assistant Director, Research Unit

The Committee recommended the following winners for the slogan competition:

1st Prize – Harshi Agarwal (a student of MTTM Programme)2nd Prize – Anil Kumar (a student of MAPC Programme)3rd Prize – Surya Pal Labaniya (a student of MEC Programme)

Entries of these winners are annexed at Annexure-II

Special Lecture

A lecture was scheduled on 19th April through face to face mode but due to lockdown thelecture was organized on virtual mode. The guest lecture was delivered by Dr. D. Suresh,IAS 1990 Batch Haryana Cadre, presently Principal Secretary, Art & Cultural AffairsDepartment, Govt. of Haryana who is renowned authority on Dr. Ambedkar philosophy.Dr. Suresh give a wonderful talk and underlined the increasing need and relevance ofDr. Ambedkar’s ideas and philosophy in the 21st century. He pointed out that thoughmany years have passed the issues of massive exploitation and deprivation continue totrouble the vision of our freedom fighters who fought against the British. Dr. AmbedkarPhilosophy can be the most effective instrument in achieving India of complete equality,liberty and fraternity defined by the spirit of justice for all.

Professor Nageshwar Rao, Vice Chancellor delivered presidential address andcomplimented the efforts of organizing team for various programmes.

The following members of organizing team actively participated in organizing the variousactivities.

1) Dr. Bharat Bhushan, Chairperson, Equal Opportunity Cell2) Dr. Hemlata, Convenor, Equal Opportunity Cell3) Prof. Parmod Kumar, President SC/ST Teachers Association4) Dr. Satish Kumar, President IGNOUTA5) Dr. Ramesh Yadav, President IGNOUTA(T)6) Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Asstt. Professor, School of Agriculture7) Dr. C. Ajith Kumar, Assistant Professor, School of Education

Due to Pandemic the function for awarding the prize winners could not be organized inface to face mode therefore function in online mode will be organized for awarding theprize winners of different competitions organized for celebration of Bharat Ratna BabaSaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Jayanti 2021.

(Dr. Hemlata)Convenor (EOC)