How the Assam Rifles Cycle Rally Inspired the IIT Kharagpur Community
The KGP Chronicle (September 15, 2021)
A team of jawans from the Assam Rifles visited IIT Kharagpur en route to New Delhi on their 3000 km long cycle rally from Shillong to the national capital. Championing the bad weather, the jawans paid tribute to the freedom fighters and martyrs of the freedom movement at the Hijli Shaheed Bhavan in a small yet impassioned ceremony.
Having halted overnight on the campus, the contingent of a few dozen cyclists (mostly jawans) arrived at the Hijli Shaheed Bhavan after rallying through the prominent landmarks of the campus. During the ceremony, felicitations and mementos were exchanged between the Assam Rifles and IIT Kharagpur.
In his address, the Director, Prof. VK Tewari, glorified India’s greatness in science and technology. He mentioned incredible engineering feats which have been achieved- for instance, the Atal Tunnel in the Pir Panjal range at the height of 10,000 feet that has eased the movement of security forces in the region and bolstered the defense of the country. In brief, the Director also narrated the story of the sacrifice of freedom fighters Mr. Santosh Mitra and Mr. Tarakeshwar Sengupta. He also mentioned the role of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in leading the fight for justice for the martyrs and other prisoners. He further spoke of the struggles of Smt. Matangini Hazra who was imprisoned in the women’s jail just across the road from the Hijli Shaheed Bhavan. (Read More) (View more photos on KGP Director V.K. Tewari's Facebook page)