On the 30th and 31st of October, Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar, celebrated the birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, which is observed as National Unity Day. The college put on an exhibition curated jointly by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and the Indian Council of Historical Research (ICHR) to honour his supreme patriotism and reinforce his teachings and values.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Col. B.K Pati (Veteran), the chief guest for the event. Mr. Pati is a highly accomplished individual with a triple master's in Defence Studies, Industrial Relations, and Personnel Management and Public Relations. He served the nation for over 37 years and recently retired in August 2021. He established two public schools and eliminated more than 50 foreign terrorists during his time in the Kashmir Valley. The retired Colonel has also been awarded twice by the government for bravery and distinguished service to the nation.
The inauguration included the lighting of the lamp, which was attended by Deputy Registrar Fr. V. Arokiyadass, S.J., and the Academic Dean Student Affairs, Professor Arijit Mitra. The event was followed by a short poem from a first-year student and a splendid performance by the choir group.
The Chief guest after that, motivated the students with his speech and quoted,
“Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a strong believer in two things, first, nothing less than Independence until Purna Swaraj was attained, and second, total women empowerment.”
Post his speech, he declared the exhibition open.
The inaugural ceremony thereby ended with the National Anthem.