AMU's National Youth Conclave Pays Stirring Tribute to Shaheed Baji Rout and the Unsung Heroes of India's Freedom Struggle
ALIGARH, October 1: Aligarh Muslim University became a vibrant forum for young minds to engage with India’s lesser-known freedom fighters, cultural memory and the responsibilities of nation-building as the Cultural Education Centre (CEC) organised the three-day National Youth Conclave 2026, “Remembering Unsung Heroes”, from September 28 to 30.
Organised in association with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) and the Odisha Research Centre, the conclave was centred on the theme “Decolonizing History, Inspiring Youth for Nation Building”. It drew inspiration from Shaheed Baji Rout, the 12-year-old boatman from Odisha whose courage and sacrifice during the freedom struggle have come to symbolise the contribution of ordinary citizens, including children and young people, to India’s freedom movement.
The conclave sought to take the discussion on freedom history beyond conventional narratives and encourage students to engage critically with the many voices, experiences and forms of resistance that shaped India’s journey to independence. Through literary, artistic, theatrical and knowledge-based activities, the programme provided students an opportunity to explore history not merely as a subject of study but as a living source of civic values, social responsibility and national consciousness.
It opened with an essay-writing competition organised by the Debating and Literary Club. Students explored the theme through their own creative expressions, reflecting on forgotten chapters of the national movement and the sacrifices of lesser-known heroes. It was followed by a preliminary round of the quiz. Nukkad Natak performances by the Drama Club on evenings further brought historical themes into the public space of the campus and engaged audiences through theatre.
A major academic component of the conclave was a panel discussion on “Decolonization of Indian History”, moderated by Prof. Shambhunath Tiwari (Department of Hindi). The discussion examined the ways in which colonial perspectives influenced the writing and interpretation of Indian history and highlighted the importance of engaging with diverse sources and voices. The panel comprised Prof. Arshi Khan and Prof. Mohibul Haque of the Department of Political Science; Prof. M. Waseem Raja, Prof. Perwez Nazir, Prof. Syed Ali Kazim and Prof. Manvendra Kumar Pundhir of the Department of History; and Prof. Vibha Sharma of the Department of English.
Prof. Tiwari emphasised the importance of encouraging young people to approach history with curiosity, critical inquiry and an awareness of the plurality of Indian experiences. The discussion also drew attention to the value of archives, oral histories, regional traditions and other sources in developing a more inclusive understanding of the freedom movement.
The concluding day at Kennedy Auditorium brought together the academic and cultural strands of the conclave. Prof. Mohammad Khalid, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, and Prof. Syeda Aamena Naaz, Dean, Faculty of Unani Medicine, were present on the occasion. The day began with the final round of Quiz competition and a series of speeches by the students.
Welcoming the guests, Prof. Mohammad Rizwan Khan, Coordinator, CEC, underlined the Centre’s objective of creating meaningful platforms where students can connect cultural learning with contemporary citizenship and national development. He highlighted the importance of bringing lesser-known chapters of India’s history to young audiences so that the values of courage, sacrifice, resilience and social responsibility associated with the freedom movement remain relevant to succeeding generations.
The quiz grand finale and Nukkad Natak finale generated considerable enthusiasm among the audience. The cultural segment featured performances by the Hindustani Music Club, Folk and Traditional Music Club, Western Music Club and Fusion Music Club. Their patriotic presentations created an atmosphere of collective reflection and national pride.
The concluding programme witnessed a particularly stirring moment when Haris Raza Ashraf, a member of the Fine Arts Club, AMU, began painting a live portrait of Shaheed Baji Rout before the audience. As his brush brought the young martyr’s image to life, members of the Fusion Music Club and other music clubs performed stirring patriotic songs alongside the live portrait-making. Stroke by stroke, the face of the young freedom fighter emerged on the canvas to the accompaniment of patriotic melodies, creating a rare confluence of art, history and music. The powerful visual and musical presentation filled the auditorium with a palpable sense of national pride and emotion, leaving the audience deeply moved and making the moment an unforgettable highlight of the National Youth Conclave.
The winners of the various competitions were felicitated during the concluding ceremony. In the quiz, the winning team comprised Diwan Ashraf Khan, Suhel and Furqan Ali, while Shehzar Hussain, Sarim Rashid and Ehmad Farhan were the runners-up. In essay writing, Sarim Rashid secured the first position, followed by Mohd Hamid and Shakib Khan as second and third respectively. The Speech competition winners included Abu Daud, Zulkiff Khairoowala and Sharf Ullah Khan.
The programme was conducted by Mr. Ghufran Ahmad, Mentor, Debating and Literary Club, and Dr. Anwar Ahmad, President, Fusion Music Club. Prof. Parvaiz Talib, President, Hindustani Music Club, proposed the vote of thanks.
Prof. Vibha Sharma (Department of English), Mentor, University Drama Club; Mr. Ghufran Ahmad (Saiyyid Hamid Sr. Sec. School Boys), Mentor, University Debating & Literary Club; Dr. Mohammad Mujahid Ali Khan (Department of Applied Sciences & Humanities Section, Boys’ Polytechnic), Mentor, University Fusion Music Club; Prof. Parvaiz Talib (Department of Business Administration), President, University Hindustani Music Club; Dr. Mansoor Alam Siddiqui (Department of Geography, Women’s College), President, University Debating & Literary Club; Dr. Waseem Mushtaq (Department of Fine Arts, Women’s College), President, University Fine Arts Club; Dr. Mohammad Sharjeel Chaudhary (Department of English), President, University Drama Club; Dr. Qurratul Aein Ali (Department of Social Work), President, University Folk & Traditional Music Club; and Dr. Anwar Ahmad (Department of Commerce), President, University Fusion Music Club, guided the students in this programme.
In addition, all presidents, mentors, several teachers and a large number of students were present during the events.
The National Youth Conclave thus brought together history, scholarship and creative expression in a youth-oriented format. By placing an unsung young martyr at the centre of its narrative and providing students with multiple platforms to interpret his legacy, the conclave sought to reinforce the idea that remembering the past is not merely an act of commemoration, but also a means of cultivating informed, responsible and socially conscious citizens for the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment