With the flag hoisting ceremony followed up by singing the national anthem, the 73rd Independence Day was celebrated at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University. Padam Shri Prof. Ravindra Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor, SMVDU, in his Independence speech addressed the members of faculties, students and staff. He emphasized that freedom is never free, but it comes with great responsibilities, and when someone is a teacher this responsibilities increase manifold because hundreds of students are observing a teacher. Further, he stated that one should keep an account of his/her progress, and one should introspect whether the milestones set, are achieved or not. He suggested the faculty members to engage themselves in research related activities so that they may increase their visibility in India and across the nation. Also, he urged students to indulge in only good and ethical activities. He also wished ‘Happy Raksha Bhandhan’ to all SMVDU fraternity, and with a positive note that we should work together for the progress of SMVD university, and with a chant of “Jai Hind”, the Vice-Chancellor concluded his speech.