adminWhat does freedom mean to India’s youth today? At Akal University, 170 students stood up to answer that question out loud. On August 14, marking India’s 80th Independence Day, the Department of Liberal Arts and NSS Unit organised a declamation competition, “Yuvak Shakti: Virasat Ton Vikas Tak” — Youth Power: From Heritage to Development.
The Independence Day declamation competition at Akal University turned a national holiday into an active, student-led conversation about what freedom actually demands of the generation inheriting it.
How the Independence Day Declamation Competition at Akal University Opened
S. Akashbir Singh opened the event, speaking on why Independence Day still matters decades after 1947, and why youth remain central to India’s continued growth. His address framed the rest of the evening — not as a routine observance, but as a genuine opportunity for students to articulate their own understanding of freedom and responsibility.
What Students Spoke About on Stage
Students then took the stage themselves, speaking on two closely linked themes: the role of youth in India’s progress, and what citizens of a free India owe to the vision of 2047. These were not abstract prompts. They pushed students to connect India’s historical struggle for independence with the very real responsibilities young citizens carry today, as the country works toward its Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.
This is what made the Independence Day declamation competition at Akal University more than a ceremonial event — it gave students a structured, public platform to think critically about heritage and development in the same breath.
How Faculty Guided the Conversation
Dr. Gurtek Singh, HOD of Liberal Arts, closed the event with a message on civic duty, reinforcing that the ideas raised on stage were meant to extend beyond the competition itself. Every participant received a certificate, recognising the effort behind stepping up to speak on a subject as weighty as national identity and responsibility.
Faculty members Dr. Janpreet Singh, Dr. Sukhdarshan Singh, Ms. Manpreet Kaur, and Miss Amritpal Kaur were present throughout, reflecting the kind of institutional support that events like this rely on to feel meaningful rather than performative.
Why This Event Reflects Akal University’s Broader Approach to Civic Education
Heritage brought these students to the stage. Their words are shaping what comes next. The Independence Day declamation competition at Akal University is one more example of how the university treats national observances as opportunities for genuine student engagement, rather than symbolic gestures marked and forgotten.
Explore Student Life at Akal University
Events like this declamation competition are part of a consistent culture at Akal University — one where students are encouraged to think, speak, and take ownership of ideas larger than the classroom.
To learn more about student life and programmes at Akal University, visit auts.ac.in or call 1800-2020-100.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What was the Independence Day declamation competition at Akal University?
A student declamation event, “Yuvak Shakti: Virasat Ton Vikas Tak,” held on August 14 to mark India’s 80th Independence Day.
2. How many students participated in the event?
170 students took part in the declamation competition.
3. What themes did students speak on?
The role of youth in India’s progress, and what citizens of a free India owe to the vision of 2047.
4. Who organised the event at Akal University?
The Department of Liberal Arts and the NSS Unit, Akal University, Talwandi Sabo.
5. Who delivered the opening and closing addresses?
S. Akashbir Singh opened the event, and Dr. Gurtek Singh, HOD of Liberal Arts, closed it with a message on civic duty.
Add comment