Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), one of the most reputed colleges of Delhi and alma mater of late Arun Jaitley recently hosted its 2nd Edition of Shri Arun Jaitley Memorial Debate (SAJMD) to remember him and his contribution to public life. Organised with The Debating Society, SRCC and Hindi Sahitya Sabha SRCC, this year’s edition of SAJMD adopted a bilingual format and witnessed spirited participation from forty premier institutions across India. These included the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi Technological University, St. Stephen’s College, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, and the University of Mysore, among others. The contest spanned multiple rigorous rounds of debate, culminating in the crowning of national champion.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Culture and Minister for Tourism, presided as the Chief Guest, while as Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC–PM) and an alumnus of SRCC, attended the valedictory and award ceremobty as the Guest of Honour.
The ceremony was marked by a vibrant confluence of academic brilliance, rhetorical finesse, and statesmanlike reflection. A total prize purse of ₹2,50,000 – equally allocated between English and Hindi categories – was conferred upon the deserving winners, underscoring the institution’s commitment to nurturing eloquence and critical thought across both linguistic mediums.
In his address, Shri Shekhawat eloquently remarked, “Shri Arun Jaitley was an institution in himself – a man whose legacy transcends politics, leaving an indelible imprint on Indian democracy and discourse.” He extolled Jaitley ji’s unparalleled statesmanship, his unwavering ethics in public life, and his enduring love for his alma mater.
Sanjeev Sanyal spoke on the contemporary interplay between industrialisation and sustainable development, linking it thoughtfully with India’s evolving geopolitical realities and macroeconomic contours. Drawing from his own formative years at SRCC, he reflected on how Jaitley ji’s intellectual gravitas continues to shape India’s socio-economic trajectory. His remarks brought the perfect confluence of past legacy and future vision.
The ceremony concluded with a gracious Vote of Thanks by Professor Simrit Kaur, Principal, SRCC, who eloquently captured the essence of Shri Jaitley Ji’s legacy – a legacy defined by brilliance, vision, and service to the nation. She reaffirmed SRCC’s unwavering commitment to intellectual enrichment and nation-building, inspired by the values that Shri Arun Jaitley ji so passionately embodied.
