IIM Jammu commemorates Gandhi Jayanti and Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti with reflection, cultural expression, and jan bhagidari as part of Swachhata Hi Sewa 2026

• From cleanliness and community mobilisation to health, blood donation, sustainability, and youth engagement, IIM Jammu students lead and participate with enthusiasm in the spirit of Sewa

JAMMU: The Indian Institute of Management Jammu commemorated the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri on October 2, 2026, at the Mandapam Auditorium, IIM Jammu, bringing together the Institute fraternity in a meaningful celebration of their enduring values and ideals.

The occasion reflected on the timeless principles embodied by the two national leaders, truth, Ahimsa, simplicity, discipline, humility and service. Floral tributes were offered and diyas were lit in remembrance, honouring their lives and contributions and reaffirming the continued relevance of the values they embodied.

The entire series of initiatives was undertaken under the visionary leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, whose emphasis on responsible citizenship, community engagement, sustainability, and the spirit of service continue to guide the Institute’s institutional and student-led initiatives. Swachhata Hi Sewa 2026 was envisioned not merely as a cleanliness campaign but as an opportunity to foster Sewa Bhaav, Jan Bhagidari, environmental consciousness, and a culture of collective responsibility across the IIM Jammu community. The enthusiastic participation of students throughout the campaign gave these values a strong expression in action, reinforcing the Institute’s commitment to creating leaders with a heart.

The cultural programme was presided over by Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu, and was graced by Prof. (Dr.) Brigadier Neeraj K Soni, Chairperson, Student Affairs; Prof. Pranab Das; Prof. Ravij Seth, Ph.D.; along with officers, staff and students of IIM Jammu.

Addressing the gathering, Prof. Jabir Ali, Dean, Faculty and Research, IIM Jammu, highlighted the enduring relevance of the lives and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi Ji and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Ji. He emphasized that their commitment to truth, Ahimsa, simplicity, discipline, and service offers valuable lessons for young minds. He urged students to translate these values into everyday action by standing up for the right cause, practising discipline, and demonstrating responsibility towards resources, the nation, and the environment. He also emphasized conscious efforts to reduce waste and adopt responsible and sustainable practices, noting that such values can help young people grow not only as responsible leaders but, more importantly, as better human beings.

The occasion witnessed enthusiastic and active participation by IIM Jammu students, who brought the spirit of the celebration alive through poetry, dance, musical performances, and vocal singing. Their keen interest and willingness to participate reflected the Institute’s holistic student ecosystem, where learning extends beyond the classroom and students are encouraged to engage with issues of social responsibility, community, and nation-building.

A particularly memorable moment was the collective singing  of “Raghupati Raghav Rajaram," with faculty members, officers, staff, and students joining in. The collective singing created a moment of togetherness and reflected the shared spirit of the IIM Jammu fraternity.

The Gandhi Jayanti observance marked the culmination of Swachhata Hi Sewa 2026, a series of campus and community initiatives undertaken by IIM Jammu from September 17 to October 2, 2026.Students emerged as active participants throughout the campaign, demonstrating keen interest, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of ownership across diverse initiatives. Their participation extended from cleanliness and community mobilization to environmental conservation, social responsibility, cultural engagement, and interaction with younger learners.

The campaign culminated on October 2 with a cleanliness drive at the Vipnan and roadside areas of the IIM Jammu campus, in which faculty members, officers, staff, and students participated. The active and enthusiastic involvement of students exemplified the spirit of Jan Bhagidari, with students taking ownership of the cleanliness effort and contributing towards maintaining a clean, healthy and sustainable campus.

Taking the spirit of Swachhata beyond the campus, IIM Jammu students undertook a community outreach initiative at Jantiyal Temple and adjoining areas of Jagti Village. A Gram Sabha provided the students an opportunity to interact with the Sarpanch and local residents and understand the ways in which cleanliness is undertaken and community participation is encouraged at the village level.The interaction also became an opportunity for cultural exchange. The students were warmly welcomed by the villagers and offered prasad, allowing them to experience local traditions, culture and community life.

The engagement provided students with an opportunity to learn from the community while contributing their own perspectives on cleanliness and civic responsibility.The Jagti outreach activity also included a plantation drive by Prof. (Dr.) Brigadier Neeraj K Soni, Chairperson, Student Affairs, along with students, officers and staff of IIM Jammu. Students further undertook cleanliness drives at Jantiyal Temple, adjoining areas of Jagti Village and the riverbody adjoining the village, demonstrating their willingness to take Swachhata efforts into the wider community.

At the Jagti Campus, students also participated in a plantation drive near the Boys’ Hostel and engaged with the “Kabad Se Jugad” initiative, exploring creative ways of giving discarded materials a new purpose. These activities reflected their interest in environmental stewardship, sustainable practices and creative reuse.

Under the Cleanliness Target Unit (CTU) initiative, students had undertook cleanliness drives at Koli Kandoli Temple and Panjgrain, Nagrota, while also engaging members of the public to create awareness about cleanliness, civic responsibility and community participation. Their direct interaction with the public added a community-mobilisation dimension to the cleanliness efforts.The campaign also included health camps for Safai Karmacharis, security personnel and Malis/Gardeners, recognising their contribution to maintaining the Institute’s clean and well-managed environment.

The spirit of Sewa was further reflected through a Blood Donation Camp organized by the Kartavya Social Responsibility Club in collaboration with the J&K Thalassemia Welfare Society, Jammu, and Government Medical College Jammu. Students and members of the wider IIM Jammu fraternity participated enthusiastically, demonstrating how voluntary action can become a meaningful expression of social responsibility.

The campaign also created opportunities for IIM Jammu students to engage with school students. During the visit of students from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Gharota, to the Jagti Campus, IIM Jammu students interacted with the young visitors and shared their academic experiences, campus life and learning journey.The visiting students were introduced to IIM Jammu’s academic ecosystem and career pathways, as well as its sustainable resource management practices, including the wastewater recycling plant at the hostel area, where treated wastewater is reused for gardening, and the management and recycling of food waste generated around the hostel premises.

For the IIM Jammu students, the interaction offered an opportunity to share their experiences and encourage younger learners to explore higher education, while for the visiting students, it provided an informative and aspirational glimpse into life at a premier management institution.

Through the campaign, students were not merely participants but active contributors, bringing curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to engage with the community and the environment. Their involvement demonstrated how student participation can transform institutional campaigns into opportunities for learning, service, leadership and collective action.

The Swachhata Hi Sewa 2026 campaign at IIM Jammu brought together diverse expressions of servicefrom cleanliness and community mobilisation to blood donation, health and wellness, plantation, sustainable resource management, creative reuse and youth engagement.The campaign reinforced the message that Swachhata is not merely about keeping spaces clean; it is about cultivating awareness, responsible choices and a shared sense of ownership towards the environment and society. The enthusiastic participation of students gave this message a living expression, connecting the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri with everyday action.

The celebration thus provided the IIM Jammu community an opportunity to remember, reflect and act with students at the heart of the collective effort to translate the values of SewaBhaav, Jan Bhagidari, sustainability and responsible citizenship into meaningful action.The programme concluded with the National Song and the National Anthem, bringing the IIM Jammu fraternity together in a shared expression of respect, unity and national spirit.