Liberation Day – 2019

Don Bosco College of Engineering staff, Students’ Council and NSS volunteers celebrated the 58^th year of Goa’s Liberation on 19^th December 2019 in the college campus at 8:30am. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Mr. D. S. Prashant, CEO, Forum for Innovation, Incubation, Research and Entrepreneurship. Among the dignitaries present were Director, Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz, Rector, Rev. Fr. Paul D’Souza and Principal, Dr. Neena Panandikar. Director, Rev. Fr. Kinley D’Cruz welcomed the Chief Guest with a bouquet of flowers.

NSS Officer, Prof. Chetan Goankar gave the commands and at the hands of the Chief Guest, Mr. D.S. Prashant, the flag was hoisted after which the National Anthem was patriotically sung by al, led by student, Ms. Sampada.

Principal, Dr. Neena Panandikar then introduced the Chief Guest to the gathering saying that Mr. D.S. Prashant is currently the CEO of FiiRE, Forum for Innovation, Incubation, Research and Entrepreneurship. He is also the Member of the Programme Advisory & Monitoring Committee on Entrepreneurship Training, Member of the Goa State Innovation Council, Member of Startup Screening Committee, Department of IT, Government of Goa and Trustee of Manovikas Charitable Trust among many other professional accolades that he has formerly achieved. He was then welcomed by the Principal to address the gathering.

In his speech, Mr. D. S. Prashant gave his college experience saying that his friends and he used to debate about the outcomes of the Liberation of Goa and how he felt that there was a need to go back to the factual roots of what really happened in the year 1961. Laying out the factual history of the Liberation of Goa and how the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had sought intervention of the British but to no avail. Mr. Prashant read out the reply of Nehru and said that history always repeats itself. He also said that to move forward, it is imperative to understand what has gone by. We need to understand what is happening in the country, put it into context and fight against the wrong to build new histories, he said.

Rector Rev. Fr. Paul D’Souza, then presented a memento to the Chief Guest. Compere, Ms. Sonia Vasco Da Gama thanked the dignitaries and all the working and non working staff who helped in the smooth conduct of the morning. The ceremony ended with NSS Officer Prof. Chetan Goankar giving the command to disperse. All present were given sweets on their way home.