80th Independence Day celebration
St Agnes PU College celebrated the 80th Independence Day with patriotic fervour and enthusiasm on 15
August 2026. The celebration commemorated India's freedom from colonial rule and sought to instil a sense
of patriotism, responsibility and national pride among the students.
The chief guest, Advocate Vijetha D’Sa was formally welcomed with a Guard of Honour by the NCC cadets,
setting a solemn tone for the ceremony. The event was skilfully compered by Shera Karkada.
The celebration began with a prayer, followed by the welcome address by Ms. Disha Sequeira, Lecturer in
Chemistry. She introduced the distinguished chief guest Advocate Vijetha D’Sa .
The highlight of the occasion was the hoisting of the National Flag in the presence of the dignitaries. The
National Anthem and the Flag song were sung with great pride and reverence, creating a strong sense of
patriotism in the gathering.
The chief guest, Advocate Vijetha D'Sa, extended warm greetings on the occasion and spoke on the
significance of the day. She paid tribute to the countless unsung freedom fighters who had dedicated their
lives to the nation and emphasized the need to uphold the values they had fought for. She reminded the
gathering that every generation has a responsibility and commended Gen Z, exhorting them to spread truth
and hope instead of negativity and fake news. She advised them to pledge to build an India that is honest and
upright.
The event was graced by the Principal, Sr Norine D’Souza; Vice Principal, Sr Janet Sequiera; faculty
members; PTA Vice President, Mrs Vinutha D'Souza; PTA Joint Secretary, Mrs Candida Fernandes ,other
members of the PTA Executive Committee and sisters of St Agnes Convent.
The student president, Christina Tom, in her address shared thoughts on the significance of Independence
Day and the responsibilities of young citizens towards the nation. She accentuated the need get rid of
prejudice before they took root, to liberate oneself from apathy and fear.
The ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Sudanjali, who expressed gratitude to the
Chief Guest, dignitaries, management, staff, NCC cadets and students for their presence and contribution to
the celebration.
The programme was organised under the guidance of the convenors, Mrs Chrystle Almeida, Head of the
Department of Statistics; Mrs Preema Pereira, Lecturer in Computer Science; Mrs Jayashree, Physical
Director; and Ms Disha Sequeira, Lecturer in Chemistry.
The celebration concluded with a renewed sense of loyalty to the nation and a commitment to uphold the
values of freedom, unity and responsible citizenship.

