Jaypee University of Information Technology (JUIT) Induction Program: 2022
SETTING THE PACE FOR NEW COMERS
As part of the UGC guidelines for integrating newly admitted students in undergraduate program with university life, a two weeks induction program has been conceived by JUIT. The program aims to make students who have passed out from schools from their home environment to blend with the campus life in the university and is being conducted before students are put through any academic classes. The Registrar and Dean of Students, Maj Gen Rakesh Bassi, SM (Retd) stated that multi dimensional activities and events have been included in this program. Nature walks, visit to villages in and around Waknaghat and interaction with locals, Swacchta Abhiyan, getting to know the flora and fauna of Himachal Pradesh, tree plantation, feeding birds etc. are activities undertaken in early morning hours before 8 a.m. Thereafter the students are exposed to talks by motivational speakers called from across India. These include psychologists, art of living speakers, retired and serving IAS officers. Subjects such as values and ethics, how to handle youth responsibly are conducted. The District Administration was also co-opted through talks by police on drug abuse and laws governing such cases, and by state AIDS Control Officer on HIV/Sexually Transmitted infections.
In order to give the students a feel of Devbhoomi, visits by trekking to Tara Devi and visit to Indian Institute of Advance Studies were also conducted. In order to promote spirit of adventure amongst the youth of this age group, Maj Gen Rakesh Bassi, SM (Retd) gave an Audio Visual presentation of the First Indian Adventure Sailing Expedition around the world conducted from 1985 to 1987 in a small sailing boat of which he was himself a crew member.
The presentation highlighted the challenges of this mega adventure activity conducted 37 years ago with the equipment and technology then available. No mobile phones, no GPS, use of hand held sextant for determining location at sea were very interestingly facts put across to the students.
The 54000 km adventure Odyssey over fifteen and half months on high seas had many life saving experiences. 30 to 40 feet high waves, whales, sharks and loosing communication with India for 14 days and declared missing kept the audience spell bound. The sail boat named Trishna was just 36 feet long and 10 feet wide with limited fresh water capacity. This necessitated limiting of water to two litres per man per day for all needs including cooking, washing, drinking etc. The team which comprised of 10 members had four permanent members and six as crew changes across different ports around the globe.
The daring fact attempted by Army Officers had captured the interest of all age groups in India and the only electronic media of Doordarshan 1 and 2 prevalent then had covered the expedition in all its stages. The successful completion of the Expedition was recognized by the then President Sh Giani Zail Singh and Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi who personally met the team both before departure and after successful return. The boat and the team were displayed on a tableau during the Republic Day Parade of 1987. The Indian Government also released a Postage Stamp and a First Day Cover in recognition of this feat.
Finally, the induction program end with lots of learning and energy for the new students to JUIT.
