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A college for girls from Bachchan family

Atiq Khan

Amitabh lays the foundation for Shrimati Aishwarya Bachchan Girls’ Degree College

A NEW ROLE: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Bachchan and Amitabh Bachchan at the ‘bhoomi puja’ for the college in Barabanki on Sunday. — PTI

DAULATPUR (BARABANKI): The foundation of the Shrimati Aishwarya Bachchan Girls’ Degree College was laid by film actor Amitabh Bachchan here on Sunday.

The entire United National Progress Alliance (UNPA) leadership was in attendance. The Bachchan family — Amitabh’s wife Jaya, son Abhishek and his wife Aishwarya — made the day a memorable one for the people of this remote village, about 60 km from Lucknow. A 15,000 strong crowd thronged the venue. The foundation-laying ceremony coincided with the 52nd birthday of Samajwadi Party national general secretary Amar Singh The ceremony was witnessed by the former Chief Ministers Mulayam Singh (Uttar Pradesh); Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh); Farooq Abdullah (Jammu and Kashmir); and Om Prakash Chautala (Haryana).

Mr. Mulayam Singh said not a single girl should remain uneducated and jobless.

The UNPA chairman said that the development witnessed in Uttar Pradesh when he was the Chief Minister would not have been possible without Mr. Amar Singh’s initiative.

Mr. Singh said the development in Uttar Pradesh in the three-and-a half years of the Samajwadi Party rule equalled the achievement during the 40 years preceding it.

Mr. Naidu suggested that Mr. Bachchan should follow the example of Microsoft chief Bill Gates and mobilise money to eradicate poverty.

He assured the film actor that the UNPA would support his efforts.

Naidu’s suggestion

Mr. Naidu’s suggestion was supported by Mr. Mulayam Singh and Mr. Amar Singh. Mr. Bachchan, however, asked Mr. Naidu to take the lead and said his family would assist him. While Mr. Abdullah described the event as a big step towards education of girls that would ensure them jobs.

Mr. Chautala attacked the UPA Government at the Centre for ignoring the interests of the farmers. Aishwarya Rai said she always dreamt of a girl’s college and “today the dream has been fulfilled.”

The Bachchan “bahu,” clad in a pink Kanjeevaram silk saree, thanked the people of U.P. for the love and affection showered on her. Mr. Amitabh Bachchan announced that he would finance the education of two girls, Anjali (8) and Rimjhim (6), who had been abandoned by their parents.

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