- Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur, concluded COLOSSUS · IMUNYP 2026 with a grand closing ceremony held in the university auditorium on
Students from across the country participated in this three-day event, held from October 23 to 25. The event celebrated sports, culture, literature, debate, and youth diplomacy.
The eleventh edition of COLOSSUS saw participation from nearly 1,000 students from 25 colleges , while the ninth edition of HNLU’s International Model United Nations and Youth Parliament (IMUNYP) attracted over 270 delegates . The closing ceremony was conducted by first-semester students Ms. Tridha Mishra and Mr. Adit Sharma .
Reporting and experience-sharing
The event began with a welcome address by Prof. (Dr.) Deepak Kumar Srivastava, Registrar-in-Charge of HNLU. He commended the contributions of the participants, organizing committee, volunteers, and support staff.
Presenting the IMUNYP report, Secretary General Shri Rahul Rao Pawar highlighted the debate, research, and diplomatic skills demonstrated by the delegates in the five committees—the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Assembly, the Lok Sabha, the International Law Commission, and the International Press. He said, “The depth of dialogue and consensus-building demonstrated across all committees truly upheld the fine traditions of parliamentary debate.”
Mr. Tanishk Tiwari, student coordinator of COLOSSUS 2026, reported that the festival featured 56 competitions, including 39 sports, 10 literary, and 7 cultural competitions. Sharing his experience, he said, “But more than the trophies, I will remember most the teamwork, the encouragement of my teammates, and the sportsmanship displayed both on and off the field.”
Addresses by Distinguished Guests
Addressing the closing ceremony, HNLU’s Honorable Vice Chancellor, Professor V.C. Vivekanandan, emphasized the importance of discipline, patience, fairness, and constructive dialogue. Encouraging students to embrace the lessons learned from the festival, he said, “May victory make you humble, defeat make you more discerning, and disagreement make you more thoughtful, not adversarial.” He urged participants to maintain the spirit of sportsmanship, cultural creativity, and democratic dialogue even after the festival concludes.
National hockey player and Olympic medalist Mr. Shamsher Singh addressed the gathering as the special guest. Sharing his journey from Punjab to representing India at the Olympics, he highlighted the importance of perseverance, passion, and learning from failures. He said, “Participating in sports is a moment of triumph in itself, as it forces you to step out of your comfort zone.” He encouraged students to participate enthusiastically in sports and cultural activities and remain committed to their goals.
Shri O.P. Choudhary, Honorable Finance Minister of the Government of Chhattisgarh, attended the event as the chief guest. He shared his experiences of his journey from a village in Raigarh district to public service. Underscoring the importance of determination, self-confidence, and a positive attitude, he said, “When you start enjoying your journey, it becomes easier to achieve your goals.” He also expressed his views on the development of Naya Raipur as a hub of education and healthcare services and the importance of supporting the state’s educational institutions.
Ms. Sanjana Bagher, Architect, Entrepreneur and State President of CREDAI Chhattisgarh , while highlighting the role of cultural activities in personality development of students, said, “These cultural events will shape your overall personality, which is more important than your marks.”
Results and Prize Distribution
The closing ceremony saw the felicitation of participants who excelled in various competitions related to sports, literature, culture and Model United Nations.
HNLU took first place in six COLOSSUS events—futsal, chess, table tennis women’s singles, table tennis men’s singles, table tennis doubles, and women’s volleyball— and was runner-up in football. Kalinga University won the cricket, football, women’s basketball, and women’s kabaddi competitions. DSNLU, meanwhile, won the men’s volleyball, women’s badminton, and women’s throwball titles.
In the cultural and literary competitions, Srishti Tiwari secured first place in singing and stand-up comedy, Somesh won the solo dance competition and Team of Campus won the Battle of the Bands competition.
The Best Delegation awards at IMUNYP 2026 were presented to Pakistan at the UNHRC, Omesh Patel at the Legislative Assembly, Narendra Modi at the Lok Sabha, and the United Kingdom at the International Law Commission . Dhanya Basantwani was awarded Best Photographer and Al Jazeera was awarded Best Reporter in the International Press category.
The three-day event concluded with the distribution of cash prizes , cups, and trophies totaling over ₹218,000. These awards recognized the achievements and dedication of the participants.
Conclusion
After felicitating the guests at the function, Dr. Avinash Samal, Advisory Board Member and Dean of Student Welfare, COLOSSUS · IMUNYP 2026, presented the vote of thanks.
COLOSSUS · IMUNYP 2026 reaffirmed HNLU’s commitment to the holistic development of students by bringing together sports, culture, intellectual engagement, and youth diplomacy. The event not only celebrated competitive achievements but also encouraged values such as teamwork, leadership, creativity, and constructive dialogue.