Berhampur University on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), ministry of Ayush, to digitise, catalogue and publish rare Ayurvedic manuscripts and palm-leaf documents preserved at its South Odisha Cultural Study Centre (SOCSC).
The MoU was signed in Bhubaneswar by Berhampur University vice-chancellor Geetanjali Dash and CCRAS director-general Rabinarayan Acharya. The collaboration will be led by the National Institute of Indian Medical Heritage, Hyderabad, a peripheral unit of CCRAS. Advanced digitisation techniques will be used to preserve over 2,000 palm-leaf manuscripts — most of which contain invaluable Ayurvedic knowledge — along with rare Ayurveda books and periodicals.
Digitised copies will be provided to Berhampur University. Moreover, a catalogue titled ‘Descriptive Catalogue of Ayurveda Manuscripts of SOCSC-BU, Odisha’ will be prepared, featuring 44 distinct data fields for the benefit of researchers. The project is scheduled to be completed within two years.
Curtains fall on UTSAH festThe valedictory ceremony of UTSAH–2026, the Association of Indian Universities’ 39th Inter-University East Zone Youth Festival, was held with great enthusiasm at Fakir Mohan University in Balasore on Saturday. The festival celebrated youth talent, creativity and cultural unity across eastern India.
The ceremony was presided over by the vice-chancellor of Fakir Mohan University, Santosh Kumar Tripathy, who lauded the spirit of unity, discipline and artistic excellence displayed by the participating students. He emphasised the role of youth festivals in nurturing cultural values, leadership qualities and national integration among young minds.
Balasore collector Suryawanshi Mayur Vikash, the chief guest, highlighted the importance of cultural platforms in shaping socially responsible and creative citizens. Representing the Association of Indian Universities, members Manish Jangra and Deepak Mishra commended the high standards of performances, the transparent evaluation process and the efficient management of the festival. UTSAH saw the participation of over 700 students from 19 universities across Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Victory for tribal youthsStudents of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) at Hirli in Nabarangpur district secured second place in the national-level Model Youth Gram Sabha competition held recently. A group of 10 students from the school participated in the competition, which is organised annually by the ministries of panchayati raj, education and tribal affairs.
The initiative aims to nurture future leaders by connecting students with grassroots democratic processes. This year, over 28,000 students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and EMRSs took part in simulated gram sabha and gram panchayat proceedings.
In the EMRS category, EMRS Hirli won the second position, while EMRS Kosambuda in Chhattisgarh clinched the first place.
IIM-Sambalpur annual festETHOS 2026, the three-day annual fest of IIM Sambalpur, which concluded recently, was a celebration of excellence, innovation and creativity.
Inaugurated by its director, Mahadeo Jaiswal, and entrepreneur and founder of Sattva Consulting Debranjan Pujahari, the three-day event featured engaging business competitions, cultural showcases and Utkrishtha, an extensive intra-college sports tournament. Over 800 students took part in football, badminton, volleyball, chess, table tennis and athletics. A friendly faculty-staff match added to the spirit of camaraderie.
Cultural performances brought energy and colour to the campus, with highlights including the ‘Styloholic’ fashion walk, dance and music events, stand-up comedy by Kumar Varun and a musical evening by Javed Ali and his band, followed by performances by Anurag Halder and DJ sets by DJ Partho and DJ Swattrex.
The valedictory ceremony honoured outstanding performers and acknowledged the collective efforts of students, faculty, partners and volunteers.
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