National Youth Conference on Legacy of Martyr Baji Raut Held at MGAHV

Nagpur, 29 September 2026

The Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya (MGAHV), Wardha, organised the inaugural ceremony of the National Youth Conference on “The Legacy of Martyr Baji Raut: Youth Motivation for Nation Building” on September 26. More than 150 students participated in the programme at Kasturba Auditorium.

Presiding over the programme, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kumud Sharma paid tribute to Baji Raut and recalled his sacrifice during the Prajamandal Movement in Dhenkanal in 1938. The 12-year-old Baji Raut was shot dead after refusing to allow the state police to cross the Brahmani River in his boat. Prof. Sharma said his sacrifice reflected the spirit of standing firmly for truth and justice. She also noted that 2026 marks the birth centenary of Baji Raut.

Highlighting key lessons from his life, Prof. Sharma said courage is not defined by age, true citizenship lies in fulfilling one’s responsibilities with honesty and commitment, and India’s freedom struggle is enriched by stories from villages, princely states and diverse languages. She urged teachers and research scholars to document and translate such local histories and make them accessible through Hindi, while encouraging students to uphold truth and justice in their own times.

The conference is being organised under the aegis of ICHR and ICSSR, in collaboration with the Odisha Research Centre (ORC). Dr. Chandrashekhar Pandey, Nodal Officer, welcomed the participants, while Prof. Janardan Tiwari, Dean, School of Law, also addressed the gathering. Essay, workshop and oratory activities are being held as part of the conference, which will conclude with a valedictory and prize distribution ceremony on October 2. Dr. Yogendra Babu proposed the vote of thanks.

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PIB Nagpur | Shubham Gudadhe/Darshana Rane

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