Ambedkar Jayanti celebrated at Lourdes school
Mangaluru: Lourdes Central School celebrated the 127th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar on Saturday as a part of the Nationwide Celebrations.
The event commenced at 8.00a.m with a prayer song sung by the choir members followed by thought for the day by Vaishnavi Suresh of Class X and Significance of the Day by Sonali Umanath of Class X.
The Principal Rev. Fr Robert D’Souza, the Vice Principal Mrs Belita Mascarenhas along with the student representatives offered a floral tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar.
The Principal, who spoke on the occasion, said that Dr Ambedkar has occupied the 1st place by having founded the Constitution.
He stressed on two points - the first one was to be a responsible citizen by following the law and protecting the Constitution. He also said that rights and duties are the two faces of the coin and when we enjoy these rights we are deemed to perform our duties without fail. The second point was that we need to honour the Constitution by respecting others’ rights.
He appreciated the five pillars of our Constitution - Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, and Democratic Republic. Varkey Mathew of Class X enlightened the audience with the contributions of Dr B R Ambedkar.
The programme concluded by reciting the pledge and respectfully singing the School Anthem. The programme was compered by Frazel of Class X.
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UAE-based Indian doctor Shamsheer Vayalil announces Rs 6 crore aid for Air India crash victims
Dubai, Jun 17 (PTI): UAE-based Indian doctor and philanthropist Dr Shamsheer Vayalil has announced Rs 6 crore in financial aid for the families of medical students and doctors affected by the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last week.
The ill-fated aircraft struck the BJ Medical College's Atulyam hostel complex during lunch hour, reducing student residences and the dining hall to rubble.
All but one of the 242 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 787-8(AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed when the London-bound aircraft crashed, moments after it took off from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
Announcing the relief from the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, Dr Shamsheer, founder and chairman of Burjeel Holdings and managing director of VPS Health, said he was deeply shaken when he saw the aftermath of the crash.
As someone who had lived in similar hostels during his medical education at Kasturba Medical College in Mangalore and Sri Ramachandra Medical College in Chennai, the images struck a chord, he said.
“I saw the footage from the mess and the hostel, and it truly shook me. It reminded me of the places I once called home, the corridors, the beds, the laughter, the pressure of exams, and the anticipation of a call from family,” he said.
“No one expects a commercial aircraft to come crashing into that world,” he added.
“Those students started the day thinking about lectures, assignments, and patients. Their lives ended in a way none of us could ever imagine. It hit close. Too close,” he said.
Dr Shamsheer’s relief package includes Rs 1 crore for each of the four deceased students’ families, Rs 20 lakh each for five seriously injured students, and Rs 20 lakh each for the families of doctors who lost loved ones.
The financial assistance will be delivered in coordination with the Junior Doctors’ Association at BJ Medical College, ensuring that those in need receive support swiftly.
This is not the first time Dr Shamsheer has responded to such a crisis. In 2010, following the Mangalore air crash, he provided financial assistance and employment opportunities to affected families at Burjeel Holdings, a leading healthcare provider in the Middle East.
