New Delhi: Union Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the 105th Foundation Day celebrations and the grand six-day ‘Talimi Mela’ at Jamia Millia Islamia with a distinguished ceremony at M.A. Ansari Auditorium. As Chief Guest, Shri Rijiju was joined by Vice Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif, Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, and Dean of Students’ Welfare Prof. Neelofer Afzal, who welcomed him with a Guard of Honour and a recitation from the Holy Quran, followed by an inspiring performance of the Jamia Tarana by school students in a packed auditorium.
The event also saw the formal opening of the six-day educational and cultural fair, ‘Talimi Mela’, returning with renewed grandeur after more than a decade. A major highlight included the revival of Jamia’s flagship newsletter ‘Jauhar’, released as a special issue for the first time in eight years, and the launch of JMI’s comprehensive Annual Report by the Minister.
In his address, Shri Rijiju paid tribute to Jamia’s founders including Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar, Dr. M.A. Ansari, and Dr. Muhammad Mujeeb, and acknowledged contributions from national luminaries such as Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. He praised Jamia for its academic excellence, expansive range of courses, and top national and international rankings, emphasizing its unique cultural richness and special place in his heart.
Shri Rijiju highlighted Jamia’s role in promoting unity and brotherhood, calling it a model of India’s composite culture and the philosophy of ‘unity in diversity’. Commending Jamia’s spirit of patriotism and commitment to education, he announced ministry support for increasing the auditorium’s seating capacity and confirmed continued assistance for projects benefiting students and infrastructure. Shri Rijiju lauded Urdu as the most beautiful language, expressing increased admiration for the university and its cultural contribution.
The Minister also reflected on his global experiences, noting India’s safe future due to its robust Constitution and recent economic progress. He referenced the country’s rapid growth in comparison to global trends and reiterated the need to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ with Jamia’s help.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Mazhar Asif expressed gratitude to the Minister, recited couplets in his welcome, praised Jamia’s historic mission, and marked his own first year in office with the milestone celebration, reaffirming Jamia’s dedication to holistic education and national service. Registrar Prof. Md. Mahtab Alam Rizvi acknowledged Foundation Day as an auspicious occasion, thanked the Minister for supporting research labs, a cyber-security testing lab, and infrastructure investment. He urged students to uphold Jamia’s traditions, recalling its deep integration with the spirit of India’s freedom struggle and its continuing legacy of secularism, unity, and ethical education.
Dean Prof. Neelofer Afzal, after a musical performance by the school choir, thanked all contributors who made the event successful. The opening ceremony concluded with Shri Rijiju inaugurating a book fair, including a United Nations SDG booth—highlighting Jamia’s third-place ranking in the SDG category in the NIRF India Rankings 2025. The event showcased prototypes and released a summary of best SDG practices.
Spanning six days, ‘Talimi Mela 2025’ features academic sessions, exhibitions, workshops, and cultural programmes, with scholars, artists, and educationists in attendance. Each evening ends with special musical performances, making this year’s celebration the largest since the pandemic, eagerly anticipated by Jamia’s students, alumni, and the wider Delhi community.
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