Mr. President, Hon'ble Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, my Colleagues and students, I welcome all of you in today's function to celebrate the 13 5th Foundation Day of our College. This day Midnapore College steps into 135 years of its eventful existence withstanding all the buffets which long life necessarily involves. Beginning as the College section of the then Midnapore Zilla School, it has now become one of the best colleges in West Bengal burgeoning with promising students, illustrious teachers and devoted staff. It has achieved prominence thereby creating among the students a yearning for higher education, the outcome being the elevation of the standard of learning. The past of the college, under Calcutta University from 1873 to 1984, is a saga of meritorious services to all walks of life and the present, under Vidyasagar University from 1985 till date, is an impelling efflorescence in variegated academic, cultural and social activities. The College has responded to the call of the nation in all steps—either in participating in the Freedom Movement or in building the nation in the post-Independent era or in maintaining communal harmony or helping the destitute affected by natural calamities. Some of our college students bled for the country and made supreme sacrifices for the cause of the country. We remember and pay homage to them as student-martyrs of our college and other freedom fighters of our country. This day we are also celebrating Martyrs' Day with the nation. More..