On the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, Zeerish Aslam from Jamia Girls Senior Secondary School, along with five other Prerana alumni, was bestowed with an extraordinary honour. They were invited to an At-Home Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan by Droupadi Murmu, President of India.
Hailing from the picturesque Shopian District of Jammu and Kashmir, Zeerish showcased her academic prowess by securing the top rank in a district-level competitive exam. This achievement paved the way for her selection into the prestigious Prerana programme, a visionary initiative empowering India’s youth through experiential learning.
At Prerana’s Vadnagar campus in Gujarat, Zeerish joined a diverse group of 20 exceptionally talented students from 10 different states of India, immersing herself in a transformative one-week experience designed to invoke fundamental ideas and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Zeerish vividly recalls the warm and enthusiastic welcome she and her fellow awardees received. As they entered the esteemed gathering, they were surrounded by dignitaries, ministers, and foreign ambassadors. What struck Zeerish was the sense of equality, respect, and spirit of inclusivity.
During the event, Zeerish had the privilege of meeting the President of India, who warmly greeted her and inquired about her studies and experiences at Prerana. She also interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who welcomed her with a smile and asked about her future endeavours.
“My colleagues and I stood together during the national anthem and sang in union. As our voices echoed in chorus, filling the room with pride, I felt a deep sense of patriotism and unity,” Zeerish recalls. This extraordinary experience has become a source of deep inspiration for Zeerish and her fellow awardees, reaffirming Prerana’s commitment to nurturing future leaders and contributing to the vision of Viksit Bharat.
The event has left an indelible mark on their lives, motivating them to strive for excellence and make a positive impact in their communities.
The university and schools of Jamia Millia Islamia have extended a hearty congratulations to Zeerish on this rare distinction and recognition and hope that she will continue to bring laurels to her school and JMI.
In another development on the campus, As a part of the National Anti-Ragging Day and Anti-Ragging Week observances, the Proctorial Department of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) organised a Special Lecture on Anti-Ragging on 13.08.2025 at 11:30 am in the FTK-CIT Conference Hall to raise awareness about the menace of ragging and to reaffirm the university’s commitment to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
Prof. Mohammad Asad Malik, Chief Proctor, JMI welcomed all the guests and participants and shed light on the legal aspects of ragging and outlined the proactive role of the Proctorial team in addressing student grievances and ensuring safety across the campus. He informed the participants that the Anti-Ragging Team and Proctor Office were always there to help any aggrieved students, so they should not feel any reservation in approaching the Proctor Office, and even a mild case of ragging should not go unreported. He also expressed his gratitude to Prof. Mazhar Asif, Vice-Chancellor, JMI and Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar, JMI for sparing their valuable time to address the students on the sensitive issue of ragging.
The chief guest, Prof. Mazhar Asif, emphasized the moral and ethical responsibility of senior students to warmly welcome and support their juniors. He stressed that earning respect is a reciprocal process and that one cannot expect to be treated well without showing genuine care and respect for others. He also spoke eloquently on the socio-religious dimensions of student life and the traditional guru-shishya (teacher–student) relationship, assuring freshers of a fear-free and nurturing campus environment. Reflecting on the history and culture of Jamia Millia Islamia, Prof. Asif said, “At Jamia, we take pride in shaping our students into compassionate human beings while also ensuring excellence in their respective fields of study.” Highlighting the university’s robust mechanisms to curb ragging, he commended the Proctor Office’s untiring efforts to protect students from even the mildest forms of such misconduct at Jamia Millia Islamia.
The Guest of Honor, Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, reassured the student community by apprising them of the robust anti-ragging mechanisms instituted by JMI. He urged students to actively engage in maintaining a friendly and respectful culture. He reiterated that the Jamia Millia Islamia stands firmly against ragging in all its forms and continues to ensure a welcoming, respectful, and secure environment for all its students. He told the students that there are stringent and concrete laws to combat ragging, making it a punishable offense under both institutional rules and the law of the land. He also apprised the students about the support that the university provides to its students through its Counseling and Guidance Centre, Mental Health Unit, Proctorial Team, and Anti-Ragging Committee.
Prof. Neelofer Afzal, Dean of Students’ Welfare, in her address as Special Guest, emphasised replacing fear with friendship, intimidation with inclusion, and cruelty with compassion. She also urged the students to speak up against the crime of ragging and help in saving a fellow student’s life.
Gaurav Singhal, Vice President of the Society Against Violence in Education (SAVE), Kolkata, delivered the keynote address on the occassion. He said that activities such as anti-ragging campaigns and awareness lectures reflect the strong commitment of JMI to upholding the values of respect, dignity, and empathy among students in all aspects of their academic and personal development. He cautioned students never to indulge in the evil practice of ragging and encouraged them to stand united against any form of violence or harassment. He also informed them about legal remedies and support systems available for victims.
All participants took a solemn pledge not to engage in or support any form of ragging, reaffirming their commitment to a safe and respectful university culture. The event concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, instilling a sense of unity and national pride.
The event was attended by over 120 freshers and senior students, in addition to the Anti-Ragging Committee Members, Provosts of Boys’ and Girls’ Residences, Anti-Ragging Squads, Deans of Faculties, Heads of Departments, Directors of Centres, the University Librarian, the Security Advisor, and many other officials and staff of the university. The programme was compered by Dr. Ambreen Jamali, Assistant Proctor, and the vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Etee Bahadur, Assistant Proctor.
