As part of the academic and co-curricular activities of the college, Govinda Dasa College, Surathkal, organised a programme to celebrate the International Day of Democracy, inaugurate the ‘Vidyarthivani’ Wall Magazine Forum and release the college annual magazine ‘Navyadiganta’ on 29 September 2026 at the AV Hall.
The programme was jointly organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), ‘Vidyarthivani’ Editorial Board, Department of Political Science, and Kannada & Literary Association.
Objectives of the Programme
- To commemorate the International Day of Democracy and create awareness among students about democratic values, constitutional principles and responsible citizenship.
- To provide a platform for students to express their ideas, opinions and creative talents through the ‘Vidyarthivani’ Wall Magazine Forum.
- To encourage critical thinking, reading, writing, discussion and meaningful engagement with contemporary social and political issues.
- To promote Kannada and regional literature, creativity and literary expression among students.
- To develop communication skills, leadership qualities and democratic participation among students.
- To encourage students to contribute to the college’s academic and literary activities through the annual magazine ‘Navyadiganta’.
Dr. N. V. Devi Prasad Shetty, Director of Shri Sathyavani Vidya Peeta Group of Educational Institutions, Bengaluru, and an alumnus of the college, inaugurated the ‘Vidyarthivani’ Wall Magazine Forum and released the annual magazine ‘Navyadiganta’. In his address, Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty described ‘Vidyarthivani’ as a “Vital Democratic Space” for students to express their ideas and opinions. He highlighted the importance of reading, writing and dialogue in developing democratic awareness and responsible citizenship. He encouraged students to participate actively in discussions on social and public issues and develop leadership qualities.
The programme was presided over by Principal Prof. Hareesha Acharya P., who emphasised the importance of academic and co-curricular activities in promoting students’ creativity, participation and overall development.
Dr. Ashalatha P., Head of the Department of Political Science and Coordinator of the ‘Vidyarthivani’ Editorial Board, delivered the introductory address and explained the objectives of the forum. She highlighted the importance of providing students with opportunities for creative expression, critical thinking and literary activities.
Ms. Ramitha, Lecturer in the Department of Hindi, welcomed the gathering. Dr. Vijayalakshmi introduced the Guest. Ms. Sharmitha, Lecturer in the Department of English, proposed the vote of thanks, while Ms. Akshatha, Lecturer in the Department of Kannada, compered the programme. Student Welfare Officer Dr. Sudha U., Head of the Department of Physics Dr. Asha, Ms. Daya Suvarna, Kumar Madar, Dr Kartik, Mr Kittu, Ms. Poornima Gokhale, Office Superintendent Mr. Venkappa Moolya, and student representatives of the Editorial Board—Nagarathna, Abhinavi, Bhuvan and Tejaswi Karkera, Ananya, Charan —were present.
The programme provided an opportunity for students to understand democratic values and the importance of freedom of expression. The inauguration of ‘Vidyarthivani’ created a platform for students to showcase their literary and creative talents, while the release of ‘Navyadiganta’ encouraged and recognised the contributions of students and faculty members to the college magazine.
Outcomes of the Programme
- The ‘Vidyarthivani’ Wall Magazine Forum was formally inaugurated, establishing a dedicated platform for students’ creative, literary and intellectual expression.
- Students were sensitised to democratic values, responsible citizenship, freedom of expression and the importance of constructive dialogue.
- The programme encouraged students to develop reading, writing, communication and critical-thinking skills.
- The release of ‘Navyadiganta’ provided recognition and visibility to the literary, artistic and creative contributions of students and faculty members.
- The initiative strengthened student participation in academic, literary and cultural activities and encouraged collaborative learning.
- The programme reinforced the role of educational institutions in nurturing democratic awareness, creativity, social responsibility and ethical leadership.
Overall, the programme successfully combined democratic awareness with literary and creative expression, providing students with meaningful opportunities for participation, reflection and the development of
responsible citizenship.
