There’s something quietly electric about the first day of college. The unfamiliar faces, the nervous laughter, the feeling that your life is about to change — and you’re not entirely sure how. On September 8, Jawaharlal Nehru College (JNC) in Pasighat tried to make that moment count, welcoming no fewer than 1,674 freshers at its Orientation-cum-Induction Programme 2026.
That’s not a small number. Nearly 1,700 young men and women stepping into the same campus, carrying the hopes of families from across Arunachal Pradesh and beyond. The theme chosen for this year’s orientation — “Learn · Connect · Grow · Belong” — felt less like a slogan and more like a quiet promise from the institution to its newest members.
Principal Dr. Gindu Borang set the tone early. Addressing the packed gathering, she didn’t waste time with ceremony. Her message was direct — discipline, punctuality, sincerity. But she balanced it with something equally important: she urged students to discover what makes them exceptional, and then have the courage to show it. That combination — structure and self-expression — is something every fresher probably needed to hear on day one.
Vice Principal and Academic In-charge Dr. Leki Sitang followed with a practical briefing on what the academic journey ahead actually looks like — examination regulations, what’s expected in the classroom, and why building a habit of reading and continuous learning matters far beyond any exam score. It was the kind of honest orientation that students often wish they’d gotten before they fell behind.
Union Advisor Enuk Libang made a case for life outside the classroom, nudging students to get involved in co-curricular and enrichment activities. Because let’s be honest — college shapes who you are as much through the debates, performances, and student clubs as it does through lectures.
IQAC Coordinator Dr. D.P. Panda perhaps gave the most comprehensive picture of what JNC brings to the table. He walked students through the college’s academic programmes under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, highlighted the infrastructure, and pointed to the institution’s NAAC Grade B accreditation as a mark of academic credibility. One detail stood out in particular — the college’s automated library houses over 45,000 books. In a region where access to resources isn’t always guaranteed, that’s something worth celebrating.
Panda also announced the launch of the Principal’s Academic Award — a new initiative aimed at recognising students who excel. A small gesture, maybe, but the kind that can quietly motivate a student to push just a little harder.
The orientation also made room for inspiration, featuring profiles of achievers and motivational messages centred on youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and the idea of creating genuine value for society. And then, fittingly, the day ended with cultural performances by senior students — an unspoken message that this campus has a life and a spirit of its own, and the freshers are now part of it.
For 1,674 students, September 8 was just the beginning. But beginnings matter. And if the energy in Pasighat that day was any indication, this batch is starting on the right foot.
