Dear Heartians-Sitapur,

Greetings of the New Year 2026!

We have entered a new year again, and must fill our hearts with gratitude for this blessing! There are many who have missed it. While we might not deem ourselves in the best of conditions, what is in our power is to make the best of the situation we are in, and also to leave our environment (physical and social) with added goodness than how we have received it. That effort should make our lives meaningful, and if everyone is determined to follow that direction, the world would indeed be a better place.

This year, the United Nations presents three themes for our reflection and action. Let us take two of them for our reflective action.

(i) International Year of Women in farming (IYWF).

Women farmers are all women working in agrifood systems in different capacities across all segments of value chains. This includes farmers, producers, peasants, family and smallholder farmers, seasonal labourers, fishers, fish workers, beekeepers, pastoralists, foresters, processors, traders, traditional knowledge holders, women in agricultural sciences, formal and informal workers, and rural entrepreneurs. They encompass women in all their diversity, including young and older women, Indigenous women and women in local communities, women with disabilities, refugee and displaced women, and others.

It is an apt time to understand, recognize and promote women, often invisible and underrated, but forming a vital link, in the agriproduction process – be it of the basic field of food, or that of any other product – in the context of sustainable development (SDG 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)

(ii) International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

There are hundreds of thousands of volunteers working in various fields to promote sustainability. The year is to celebrate the same.

The departments, faculty, students, parents and our alumni are urged to initiate activities at their own levels to celebrate these two themes.

The college is eagerly looking forward to getting itself accredited this year. The involvement of all is requested to make this process of quality assurance and enhancement a meaningful exercise.

May the Source of all Wisdom, whom we call in many ways (Ekaṃ sad viprā bahudhā vadanti

Ṛg Veda 1.164.46) grants peace and happiness to all of you!

May peace be upon the whole world!

Loka: samasta: sukhino bhavantu!!

Peace! Shanti! Shalom! Salaam!