Independence Day: UGC asks educational institutions to take students to freedom fighters' houses, memorials

New Delhi: The government has asked all universities and educational institutions to take students to memorials of freedom fighters and residences of martyrs in the run-up to the 70th Independence day celebrations next week. [caption id=“attachment_1371955” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. Ibn live[/caption] Students at various universities and educational institutions across the country will also take a pledge on Wednesday at 9.30 am along with teachers and non-teaching staff to make the country a “terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society”. “Faculty should be requested to conduct guided tour of students to memorials of freedom fighters and places/houses of any martyr from military, para-military and police, to acquaint the students about contribution of the freedom fighters,” UGC secretary JS Sandhu said in a communication to vice chancellors of all universities. “Prime minister’s endeavour to have a terrorism-free, caste-free, corruption-free, uncleanness-free and poverty-free society would only actualise with the help of the society and make his vision a reality. Accordingly you are requested to kindly organise pledge-taking ceremony on 9 August at 9.30 am,” he added. A quiz competition to sensitise students about the contribution of our freedom fighters and the events as they unfolded during the freedom struggle besides talks by eminent educationists, debates and declamation contests are among the activities listed by UGC for commemoration of 75th year of ‘Quit India Movement’ and 70th year of India’s Independence.