In Odisha, the government has instructed all public universities and colleges to commemorate June 25 as “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas,” marking the 50th year since the Emergency was imposed. The Higher Education Department has directed these institutions to arrange awareness marches involving students and faculty members, using placards and slogans to promote constitutional values. Departments, particularly those of Political Science, are tasked with organizing seminars on the importance of the Preamble. Furthermore, they must conduct interactive events such as debates, lectures, workshops, and panel discussions with legal experts, academics, and students, focusing on democracy, civic responsibility, and the curtailment of rights during the Emergency. Institutions are urged to facilitate essay writing, poster-making, slogan contests, quizzes, and street plays centered around ‘Save the Constitution,’ in addition to screenings of documentaries and short films on India’s constitutional and democratic history, to boost participation. Participating institutions are mandated to meticulously document their activities, including photographs, attendance records, and comprehensive event reports, to be submitted by June 28. The circular describes the Emergency as a significant dark chapter in India’s democratic history, emphasizing the suspension of civil liberties, press censorship, and mass arrests, aiming to cultivate reflection and reinforce democratic values and constitutional morality among students.
