The celebrations began with the hoisting of the National Flag by Vice Chancellor Prof. V.C. Vivekanandan in the presence of students, faculty and staff, followed by a cultural programme presented by students.

Delivering the lecture titled “Freedom after Freedom: Gandhi, the Constitution and the Unfinished Republic,” Prof. Jaswal reflected on the meaning of freedom, democratic responsibility and the continuing relevance of Gandhian thought.

Drawing from Gandhi's experience of discrimination in South Africa, he explained the principle “E + R = O” (Event + Reaction = Outcome), emphasising that while events may not always be within one's control, the response to them can shape the outcome.

Prof. Jaswal stressed that India's progress should not be measured only through economic growth and material development, but also through the rule of law, dignity of citizens and social well-being. He highlighted Gandhi's vision of Swaraj, ethical governance, communal harmony, dignity of labour and education.

Addressing contemporary challenges including inequality, environmental degradation, artificial intelligence, misinformation, cybersecurity and data privacy, he cautioned, “Technological advancement has made humanity more connected; it has not automatically made humanity wiser.”

Concluding his lecture, Prof. Jaswal said, “The Republic remains unfinished not because it has failed, but because democracy is always a work in progress.”

The programme also saw the release of Volume XI, Issue I of the HNLU Journal of Law & Social Sciences and the edited volume Navigating the Future: AI, Metaverse & IP Conundrum. Copies of the Constitution of India were distributed to first-year B.A. LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.M. students.

The newly constituted Student Bar Council also took oath, with Vedant Rathi and Vimla Choudhary assuming office as President and Vice-President respectively.

The University also inaugurated upgraded learning spaces, including Learners' Lounge I and new group discussion facilities in Learners' Lounge II.

The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Lecture Series, instituted in 2022, continues to provide a platform for reflection on Gandhian philosophy, constitutional values, ethical leadership and democratic responsibility.

The initiative seeks to introduce students to mediation and consensual dispute resolution before disputes reach the courtroom. It is part of the broader vision of Justice Ramesh Sinha, Chief Justice of the High Court of Chhattisgarh, to strengthen mediation as an integral part of justice delivery, with institutional guidance from Justice P.P. Sahu.

The competition featured two simulated disputes. One involved neighbouring families divided over the construction of a window, with one side seeking light and ventilation for an elderly mother and the other raising privacy and security concerns. The second concerned two brothers' dispute over their late father's family business, with one seeking his share to meet his daughter's higher education expenses while both wished to preserve the business.

The propositions encouraged students to identify the interests underlying the parties' stated positions, highlighting the importance of communication, empathy, negotiation and creative problem-solving in mediation.

The programme also emphasised that mediation should not be viewed merely as a tool for reducing judicial pendency, but as a means of promoting access to justice and preserving relationships where appropriate. The Mediation Act, 2023 and Article 39A of the Constitution were highlighted in this broader context.

The programme was attended by Shri Anish Dubey, District and Additional Sessions Judge, Durg; Smt. Sushma Lakra, Chairman, Permanent Lok Adalat, Durg; Shri Bhupesh Kumar Basant, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Durg; Shri Umesh Kumar Bhagwatkar, Secretary, DLSA, Durg; Smt. Kamini Jaiswal, Civil Judge (Senior Division), Durg; and Smt. Aishwarya Diwan, Civil Judge (Junior Division), Durg.

Shri K. Vinod Kujur, Principal District and Sessions Judge and Chairman, DLSA, Durg, has been guiding the implementation of the initiative at the district level.

The initiative seeks to take mediation from courtrooms to campuses and, progressively, to communities, with the objective of building greater awareness and acceptance of dialogue-based dispute resolution at the grassroots level.