AMU students create Murals to celebrate ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’
Aligarhb: The Center of Advanced Research in Electrified Transportation (CARET) building in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) became a sight for creativity as ‘On the Spot Mural/ Wall Painting Competition’ of Innovation Council and the University Incubation Centre (IC&UIC) was held here.
Student artists were invited to make intricate mural pieces exploring ‘Innovation in India during the past 75 years’ in the IC&UIC contest held in collaboration with the Department of Fine Arts and CARET to observe the Nation-wide ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
The team led by Abeera Javed comprising Aditi, Arshi Gupta and Ifra Siddiqui were declared winners; while Vaibhav Pathak steered his team to the second place with Rajiv, Ankur and Poonam. Group leader, Nida Ashfaq with members, Alveena Nadeem, Ahmad Nisa and Anurag Kumar guided her team to win the third prize.
A total of 14 teams with more than 50 students participated in the competition, judged by faculty members from the Department of Architecture and the Department of Fine Arts.
Distributing the prizes, AMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Tariq Mansoor said, “The student artists have meticulously used their palette and brush strokes to showcase the timeline of Indian innovation encompassing key events in the history of science and technology. Their wall paintings acknowledge the ideas and products that originated in the past 75 years of Indian Independence”.
Prof Mansoor added: “India is leaping ahead of the world in innovation and this can clearly be seen across our numerous startups, unicorns, pharma edge, design and countless apps in many incredible, fascinating ways”.
He also pressed the need for further raising the bar in research and innovation in the university.
“Rich tapestries of Indian products from the past three fourth of a century of Indian independence were shown living and breathing in the wall art pieces created by students”, said Prof Syed Imtiaz Hasnain (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Chairman, IC&UIC).
Prof Mohammad Sajjad Athar (Coordinator, IC&UIC) presented the IC&UIC development report and spoke about the upcoming activities.
“After the implementation of the Government of India’s National Innovation and Start-up Policy (NISP)-2019, AMU adopted policies for Faculty Entrepreneurship, Start-ups and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and soon the Students’ Entrepreneurship Policy will also be adopted in the university”, he apprised budding innovators from among the faculty and students.
Prof Sajjad also informed that IC&UIC has plans of organising a ‘Students Research Convention’ in September and a ‘Hackathon’ in October.
Prof Badar Jahan (Chairperson, Department of Fine Arts) said that as an artist, she knows how important it is to showcase talent and creativity.
“Student artists must use the power of art for bringing communities together”, she said after giving a summary of the programme.
Prof M M Sufyan Beg (Principal, ZHCET), a special guest at the event remarked: “The large-scale murals created by student participants at the CARET building give a fleeting view of the Country’s achievements in the past 75-years”.
Dr Yasser Rafat (Coordinator, CARET Centre) conducted the program and extended the vote of thanks.