4th Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya Memorial Lecture delivered in ITM University, Gwalior

11^th February 2018, Gwalior: The Honourable President of India, His Excellency Shri Ram Nath Kovind delivered the 4^th Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya Memorial Lecture in the NAAD amphitheater of ITM University, Gwalior. The lecture session was chaired by Shri Nitish Kumar, the acclaimed Chief Minister of Bihar. Other distinguished guests who presided over the event were the honorable Governor of Madhya Pradesh-Smt. Anandiben Patel, Governor of Haryana-Shri Kaptan Singh Solanki, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh-Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan and the Cabinet Minister of Higher Education, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh-Shri Jai Bhan Singh Pawaiya.

Bearing a simple and effective demeanor, the First Citizen of India entered the Naad amphitheatre situated in the Sithouli campus of ITM University and spoke brilliantly on Lohiya, the social and political reformer and a luminary in the real sense of the word. The eloquent speaker’s oratory imbued content, logic and easy expression, which made the audience spellbound and awestruck during his oration.

In his lecture, President Kovind addressed Dr. Lohiya as the ‘Kabir of Indian politics’ who always supported gender equality and the upliftment of the poor, downtrodden and outcaste. He added that in a lifespan of 57 years Lohiya was imprisoned 18 times by the British government  in attempts to win freedom for his country, was tortured tremendously in various ways, yet he did not give up his composure and patience and continuously yearned to his godly motherland for imparting him the brain of Shiva, heart of Krishna and deeds of Rama.

It is noteworthy to mention over here that in the profound remembrance of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya, who was an Indian Independence movement activist, a socialist political leader, a reformer and a thinker, ITM University Gwalior, every year, organizes a memorial lecture. The speakers happen to be individuals of brilliant disposition, pragmatic thinking, immense expertise and knowledge, and who have had achieved zenith in their career through sheer hard work and perseverance. Besides President Kovind, the other three speakers who have earlier participated in this lecture series include Shri Hamid Ansari, the Hon'ble Vice President of India, Shri Rajnath Singh, the Hon'ble Home Minister of India and Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, the hon’ble Judge of Supreme Court of India. The Chancellor of ITM University Gwalior, Mr. Rama Shankar Singh has instituted this memorial lecture on Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya with a meaningful aim to revive the latter’s reformative ideas for the reconstruction of a better human society. Kudos Mr. Chancellor for this noble initiative.