Celebrating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity: Constitution Day at St Aloysius PU College – KONKANCATHOLIC.COM

Celebrating Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity: Constitution Day at St Aloysius PU College

November 26, 2024

Mangaluru: St Aloysius PU College, known for its commitment to holistic education and fostering social consciousness, celebrated Constitution Day with a series of activities and programmes. The celebrations aimed to instill in students the constitutional values of liberty, equality, and fraternity, providing them with opportunities to reflect on their role in building a just and equitable society.

The initiative featured a range of activities, including expert talks, interactive sessions, and video presentations, designed to engage and educate students about social justice and constitutional principles. The program was conducted in collaboration with the Samvada-Baduku, a charitable trust, and GRID—Group for Institutional Development, Mangalore.

The Samvada team, led by Ms. Manjula Sunil and Mr. Yogish, conducted workshops for all the II PU students. These focused on youth rights and their capacity to drive change against social injustices. Activities encouraged participants to challenge societal norms, recognize unconscious biases, and explore practical solutions to social challenges. The GRID team, meanwhile, facilitated interactive sessions for first-year students, where rights mapping exercises and discussions sparked by the film ‘Indebalaya’—centered on child labor—allowed students to identify and prioritize essential youth rights.

Complementing these sessions were a series of talks by esteemed experts. Social analysis expert Ms. Rita Noronha introduced students to frameworks for understanding and addressing social injustices, while environmental and human rights activist Mr. Jeeth Milan Roche highlighted the interconnection between social justice and environmental sustainability. Dr. Sheena Shukkur, Head of the Department of Law at Kannur University, inspired students with insights into their rights and responsibilities in a democracy. Child rights advocate Sr. Dulcin Crasta emphasized the need to empower and educate youth to tackle socio-economic and political challenges, encouraging collective action.

Celebrations concluded with an interactive session by renowned human rights activist Dr. Vidya Dinkar along with a video presentation highlighting the year’s efforts to promote harmony and constitutional values. Dr Dinakar’s address underscored the importance of critical social analysis and collective efforts to combat injustice, leaving students motivated to act as informed and ethical citizens.

This initiative effectively created a platform for meaningful engagement, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to advocate for justice and equality. Through the thoughtful observance of Constitution Day, St Aloysius PU College reinforced its dedication to nurturing socially conscious and responsible youth, empowering them to actively contribute to democracy and work towards a just and harmonious society.