Prayagraj, 27

Oct (HS): Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences

(SHUATS), Prayagraj proudly celebrated its annual Founder’s Day today, marking

the birth anniversary of its visionary founder, Dr. Sam Higginbottom. The event

simultaneously commemorated the 100th anniversary of its prestigious

publication, The Allahabad Farmer. The ceremony commenced with a word of prayer

led by the University Chaplain, Lal Chung Gangte.

Remembering

the Founder's Vision: SHUATS Registrar, Professor Dr. Ranu Prasad, spoke

eloquently on the life of Dr. Sam Higginbottom, detailing his pioneering vision

and mission. She highlighted that Dr. Sam's dream of creating a

self-sustaining, degree-awarding agricultural institution has been fully

realized in the form of SHUATS today.

The Pro-Vice

Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Professor Dr. Jonathan Lal, extended Founder’s

Day greetings and celebrated the major milestone of The Allahabad Farmer,

Asia's first agricultural publication. This scientific, open-access, and

peer-reviewed journal, brought out by the Allahabad Agriculture Institute (now

SHUATS), successfully completed its hundredth year of continuous publication. To

mark this historic occasion, a special philatelic cover was released. The UP’s

1st Bullock Cart Carrier Special Cover with a Grass Green Special Cancellation,

denoting agriculture, was officially released from the Agriculture Institute

Sub-Post Office, Prayagraj. This marks an important day in the history of

philately in Uttar Pradesh.

The cover was

released by M. Gulraze, Joint Secretary of the Philatelic Society of Uttar

Pradesh. The vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Aditya Singh, Secretary of the

Philatelic Society of Uttar Pradesh. Mementos were presented to the members of

the Philatelic Society, including Dr. Aditya Singh, Gulraze, and Rajesh Verma.

The Chief

Guest of the event, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rajendra B. Lal revealing

that Dr. Sam Higginbottom was inspired by the renowned evangelist D.L. Moody.

Dr. Lal recounted that Dr. Sam was initially planning to go to China but was

called by the Church to serve in India, where he established this

transformative institution. Dr. R.B. Lal shared the historical journey of the

institution, noting its elevation to the status of a Deemed to be University in

2000 (AAI -DU) and subsequently becoming a State University (SHUATS) in 2016.

He reiterated the core vision of the founder, ‘Serve the Land’ and ‘Feed the

Hungry’ emphasizing that this vision was derived directly from the Bible

(Matthew Chapter 14, verses 13-21). He concluded by congratulating the staff

and stating that the institution's growth into a degree-awarding body fulfills

Dr. Sam’s ultimate dream.

Also present

on this occasion were Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr.

Biswaroop Mehra, Pro-Vice Chancellor (PMD) Professor Dr. Ritu Prakash Dubey,

Additional Registrar Professor Dr. C. J. Wasley along with Directors, teaching

& non-teaching staff and large number of students.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi