79th Independence Day celebrated amidst joy and fervor
Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi, celebrated the 79th Independence Day with pride and enthusiasm on Friday. The ceremony began with the hoisting of the Tricolour by the Director of XISS, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, filling the atmosphere with patriotic spirit and releasing of tricolour balloons depicting hope for bringing a positive change in the society.
The celebrations, organised by the Marketing Management Programme students, were graced by the presence of Director, Dr Joseph Marianus Kujur SJ, Assistant Director, Dr Pradeep Kerketta SJ, Dean Academics, Dr Amar E Tigga, Fr Ashok Kandulna, Finance Officer, and Programme Heads, Dr Bhabani Prasad Mahapatra, Dr Kumar Mohit Spring, Dr Anant Kumar, and Dr Ratnesh Chaturvedi. Faculty members, staff, and students’ community came together to mark the occasion and share in the celebrations.
In his address, Dr Kujur paid tribute to the nation’s great leaders and freedom fighters alongside Jharkhand’s own heroes, who fought not only against the British but also against the oppression. He urged the gathering to question what independence truly means for those still struggling with hunger and poverty. Reflecting on the journey from 1947 to today, he celebrated India’s transformation, from bullock-driven farming to drone technology and hybrid seeds, from no space presence to Chandrayaan missions, from being the 15th largest economy to standing 5th with aspirations to be 3rd.
He further reminded everyone of the unfinished tasks ahead: eradicating inequality, unemployment, corruption, discrimination, and environmental degradation. True independence, he said, will come only when peace, love, and safety are a reality for all.
Following the flag hoisting and release of balloons that rose skyward with the nation’s hopes, the celebrations continued in the campus. Students from Marketing Management Programme brought the stage alive with a graceful welcome dance, soul-stirring patriotic songs, and an engaging skit—an eye opener to today’s societal divisions.
Rs 8.30 lakh worth Institutional Scholarships awarded to 26 meritorious students
Three Institutional Scholarships worth Rs 8,30,000 were awarded to 26 students of the Programmes of Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Rural Management, and Financial Management. These included the Fr Michael Van den Bogaert SJ Memorial Scholarship for meritorious students of SC/ST category, Fr Michael Albert Windey SJ Memorial Scholarship for meritorious students on the whole, open to all categories, and Fr Louis Francken SJ Memorial Scholarship for overall performance in all categories.
Click on the link to read the names of the awarded: