Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minsiter, Naveen Patnaik, Sunday urged the BJB College alumni to play the role of a mentor and contribute to the schools they have studied in the past.

Patnaik was addressing the Diamond Jubilee Celebration of BJB College, organised by its alumni –BJB Friends– here on Sunday.

” I would like to suggest you to join as partners of the ‘Mo School’ programme announced by the state government on the occasion of Children’s Day,” the chief minister said adding that an initial corpus fund of Rs 100 core has been created for the programme.

“Success in personal endeavour, rise in career graph, and happiness in family life is everyone’s dream. Though, we devote most of our times for personal achievement,  we too have a duty towards the society we live in. We must take some time off our busy schedule and contribute something to the society.”

“This college is named after Buxi Jagabandhu, the hero of the Paika Rebellion, our first war of independence. While we are celebrating the diamond jubilee of the BJB College, we are also celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of Paika rebellion. I take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt tributes to Buxi Jagabandhu. I wish the BJB Friends to get the inspiration from Buxi Jagabandhu, and exhibit great strength of character, willpower and fighting spirit for the interest the state.”

Odisha  tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda, an alumni of BJB College, urged the chief minister to upgrade the state’s premier college into an university and provide a second campus for the educational institution.
The state higher education minister, Ananta Das, president of BJB Friends Dr Jagannath Mohapatra, secretary Shyama Sunder Patnaik, vice president Debashis Patnaik, treasurer Subart Dhupal, advisor Ashok Mohanty, Pragat Mohanty and principal  P K Mohanty also spoke.