Dean Students’ Welfare (DSW), Central University of Kashmir (CUKashmir), celebrated World Students’ Day 2026 to commemorate the birth anniversary of former President of India and eminent scientist, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, with three student-centred programmes aimed at nurturing creativity, intellectual engagement, critical thinking, communication skills and leadership among students at Tulmulla here on Thursday.
The celebration paid tribute to Dr. Kalam’s enduring legacy as a visionary scientist, inspirational teacher, former President of India and one of the country’s most admired advocates of youth empowerment.
These programmes witnessed enthusiastic participation from students representing different campuses. The essay writing competition brought together 35 students. The jury comprised Dr. Firdous Ahmad and Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Wani, who assessed the participants’ work. The elocution competition witnessed the participation of 31 students. The jury comprised Dr. Mir Insha Farooq, Sr. Assistant Prof. Deptt of Management Studies, and Dr. C. S. Guru Raja, Deptt of Education. The debate competition attracted 24 participants. The jury comprised Dr. Rehana Shawl, Sr Assistant Prof. Deptt of Law, and Dr. Ashiq Hussain, Deptt of Kashmiri.
The valediction was presided over by Mr. Abdul Rashid, DR Administration, who emphasised that a person's lasting legacy is ultimately determined by their contribution to the nation, society and community. He urged students to remain focused on their goals, work with dedication and strive to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Dr. Jehirul Islam, Dean Students’ Welfare, highlighted the enduring contributions of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam to the nation, and observed that Dr. Kalam's legacy is particularly relevant to students because of his unwavering faith in the potential of young people and his emphasis on education, scientific temper, innovation and national development. He expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. A. Ravinder Nath, for his continued encouragement and support for student-centred initiatives and acknowledged the supportive role of Prof. Shahid Rasool, Dean Academic Affairs, and Dr. Nisar Ahmad Mir, Registrar, in facilitating the University’s academic and co-curricular endeavours.
Dr. Firdous Ahmad Sofal, Programme Coordinator, conducted the valedictory proceedings. Referring to Dr. Kalam’s enduring message of dreaming big and translating dreams into action, Dr. Sofal observed that the former President’s life offers an important lesson to students: aspirations must be accompanied by knowledge, discipline, perseverance and a willingness to contribute to society.
The event concluded with prize distribution among the winners of all three competitions.
