On September 28, 2024, Unity College had the privilege of honouring Mr MunawarAnzar Siddiqui, Founder General Secretary of Indian Blind Para Judo Association, for his stellar performance in the Paralympics held in Paris. As the Chief Coach at the Paris Paralympics, he guided KapilParmar to a historic Bronze medal, making him the first Indian Judoka to win a medal at the Paralympics. Mr Siddiqui's contribution to Indian Judo has been monumental. The felicitation ceremony was presided over by the College Secretary, Mr Najmul Hasan Rizvi, in the presence of Jt Secretary Dr M Talha, Principal Mr Deepak Mervyn Mathews, Vice Principal Mr Sachindra Bharti, and College Counsellor Ms Nisar Fatima Rizvi.

The programme commenced with a formal welcome by the Vice Principal, Mr Bharti. In the same sequence, Principal Mr Mathews highlighted the remarkable personality of Mr MunawarAnzar Siddiqui and expressed his heartfelt greetings. It is noteworthy that Mr Siddiqui, who has made an international mark, needs no introduction. Mr Siddiqui has been honoured by Prime Minister Shri NarendraModi for his achievements. Similarly, Indian Oil and CBSE, Delhi, Varanasi, and Bengaluru, along with legendary Badminton player Mr Prakash Padukone, have also honoured him. Notably, on September 30, 2024, Mr MukeshAmbani and Ms Nita Ambani have invited Mr Siddiqui for his contributions to Judo, which is a matter of great pride. When this great personality of the city was honoured at Unity College, the College students were elated to know about him and exclaimed, 'We have such people in our city.' In the same vein, College Secretary Najmul Hasan Rizvi described Mr Siddiqui as a true role model.

Mr Siddiqui, an international Judoka and coach, addressed students and shared the inspiring journey of his disciple, KapilParmar. Kapil's life was dramatically altered at 15 when he was electrocuted while working on a water pump. This accident resulted in significant hand injuries and partial vision loss, which worsened over time. Despite these challenges, Kapil remained determined and found solace in Judo. Financial difficulties further complicated his path as his father's illness forced him and his brother to start a tea stall. Through perseverance and hard work, Kapil overcame these obstacles and achieved remarkable success. At 24, he became India's first Paralympic medalist in Judo, winning a Bronze medal in Paris. His victory has made him a national inspiration. Concurrently, Mr Siddiqui shared his journey, experiences, and lessons learnt in Judo. He emphasised the importance of Judo as a martial art that not only promotes self-defence but also instills discipline and flexibility in youth.

Numerous star athletes from the College, who have represented the College and city at the National level, were present at the event. Two exceptional students who were recently recognised for their outstanding athletic achievements, Husain Mehdi (XII-B), a talented Taekwondo athlete, Gold Medalist at a prestigious competition in Tamil Nadu and Rabab Fatima (VIII-B), a promising Arm Wrestler, a Silver Medalist at a Maharashtra-based tournament, were introduced to Mr Siddiqui to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments.

The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr Bharti, bringing the event to a graceful end. It was indeed a moment of great pride for the entire Unity College community to host such a distinguished figure. Mr Siddiqui’s presence will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations to pursue excellence in Judo and bring glory to the nation