“Strive to make the Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) a growth engine of the society by utilising global knowledge and resources that would benefit overall development of the region,” appealed Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to the officiating Vice-Chancellor of the RTMNU, Dr Prashant Bokare. Gadkari, an alumnus of the RTMNU, was addressing the gathering at the mega alumni meet of the 16th oldest university in India celebrating its centenary. The meet was part of the three-day centenary celebrations, held at Deshpande Hall, Civil lines, on Saturday. Renowned actor Dr Girish Oak was the special guest while former Supreme Court Judge Justice Vikas Sirpurkar was the guest of honour. Padma Shri Dr Vikas Mahatme, renowned Opthalmologist; Padma Shri Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, renowned neurosurgeon were present as the chief guests. Around hundred alumni of the RTMNU, who have carved a niche in various fields, were felicitated on the occasion. Appealing the university to adapt to the changing times and focus on research in areas related to issues faced by the society which is the need of the hour, Gadkari said, “Country and society can develop better by utilising education and knowledge. Education is power and an university is a center that can harvest that power for the betterment of the society. Relevance of an university increases when the society gets technological advantages from it.”

 

During the celebrations, the Union Minister felicitated notable alumni of the RTMNU, including Dr Vilas Dangre, Director, Navkesari Publication; Chandrakant Devras, international medal winner in eight different sports; Kamlakar Dharaw, former Editor, Lokmat; Kamal Seetha, former Director, Indo Rama Synthetics; Dr A Lakshminath, Vice-Chancellor, Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad; Dr Ankush Dhanvijay, former Commissioner of Police; Yashji Chauhan, writer and Director; Vilas Sapkal, former Vice-Chancellor, RTMNU; Dr Ramdas Atram, Vice-Chancellor, Dr B R Ambedkar University of Social Sciences, Mhow (MP); Dr Pramod Padole, former Director, VNIT; Dr Pankaj Chande, founder Vice-Chancellor, Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University (KKSU); Dr Kamal Singh, former Vice-Chancellor, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University; Dr Raju Mankar, Vice-Chancellor, Laxminarayan Innovation Technological University (LITU), Nagpur; Dr Vinayak Deshpande, Vice-Chancellor, G H Raisoni University, Amravati; Dr Rajesh Pande, Vice-Chancellor, Ramdeobaba University; and Dr Mohan Khedekar, Vice-Chancellor, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University; among others. Commodore Ashutosh Vidhorkar, Vishisht Seva Medal; Colonel Ramdas Buche (Retd); Dr Major Devyani Buche; Flight Lieutenant Shivalee Deshpande (Retd); Sandeep Tamgadge; ADGP (L&O), Nagaland Police; also were felicitated at the programme.

 

Dr Prashant Bokare, Officiating Vice-Chancellor, RTMNU, in his presidential address said, “ Success of the university is seen by success of its students in various fields.” Dr Bokare informed the gathering that many industries are interested in collaborating with the RTMNU while Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed an agreement with it to enhance skills of the students as per the needs of industries. Justice Sirpurkar congratulated the university for its centenary celebrations. To the astonishment of the audience, the former Supreme Court Judge shared his university enrollment number from 1962 as a mark of nostalgia. He mentioned social worker late Baba Amte as the most significant alumnus of the RTMNU who dedicated his life to the society through his selfless service. Other notable alumni of the university including Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, renowned film Director Raju Hirani, actor Shahbaz Khan and Madhu Shrivastava, conveyed their greetings through audio-video. Dr Raju Hiwase, Registrar, RTMNU; Dr Sanjay Dudhe, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, RTMNU; Dr Murlidhar Chandekar, President, Alumni Committee; and Dr Kalpana Pandey, Secretary, Alumni Committee also were present on the dais. Dr Rajkumar Khapekar conducted the proceedings while Dr Sanjay Dudhe proposed a vote of thanks.