President Draupadi Murmu awards medals as Chief Guest at Delhi University's 99th Convocation
President Draupadi Murmu presents
medals to the students
Students should dream new
and big to build a new India and a new world: President
Being big in life is a good
thing, but being good is even bigger: President
The President of India, Draupadi Murmu called upon
the students to dream new and big to build a new India and a new world. The
President was the Chief Guest at the 99th convocation of the University of Delhi.
On this occasion, while addressing the students
who got degree and medal, she said that all of you are going to choose your
career according to your education and inclination. But, if your dream is
limited to your career, then you all will not be able to do justice to yourself
and the society. The scope and responsibility of your thinking should be more.
The ceremony was organized on Saturday at the
Multipurpose Auditorium, located in the Sports Complex of the University, in
which Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, Government of India was also present as a Guest of Honour along
with the Chief Guest, President Draupadi Murmu. The function was presided over
by the Vice Chancellor of University of Delhi, Prof Yogesh Singh.
In her address, the President told the students
that the main aim of education is to become a better human being. She said that
being big in life is a good thing, but being good is even bigger. Similarly,
searching for life on Mangal through
science is a good thing, but searching for mangal,
i.e. happiness and well being, in life with good thinking is an even bigger thing.
The President said that this convocation is a
joyous occasion for all the teachers and also for the families of the students.
She said that this convocation has been organized during the centenary year of the
University of Delhi and at this time the countrymen too are celebrating the
Amrit Mahotsav of Independence and our country has entered the Amrit Kaal.
Referring to the glorious history of the
University of Delhi, Draupadi Murmu said that the students of this University
had actively participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement of 1930. During
the Quit India Movement of 1942, many students of the University revolted and
went to jail. The University, she said, is blessed in this manner with the
sacrifices of the freedom fighters. Calling upon the students, she said that
taking inspiration from those sons of Mother India, you all have to build a new
India.
In her address, the President said that our
country has been a country that has adopted new and deep ideas. The thoughts of
Vedas and Upanishads, Lord Mahavira and Buddha are still alive in our country.
From Silicon Valley to Sydney, Indians have carved a respectable place in
workplaces all over the world. The talent of Indians is appreciated globally.
She said that we should respect all languages and
cultures, but always stay connected to our roots. Vitality and creativity come
from ones roots only. The President said that it was Mahatma Gandhi's
suggestion that while being firm to our Indian soil and roots, we should adopt
the best knowledge and science available in the whole world. Our young
generation should give importance to this suggestion of the Father of the
Nation.
Reliving the memories of her life on the occasion,
the President said, “I was the first girl from my village to study in the city
from my small village in Odisha. There will be many such students among you
too, whose no family or village member would have received university level
education before them. Such students are very talented and struggling. They
come here with great enthusiasm to fulfil their dreams. Sometimes, such
situations arise due to which the feeling of inferiority complex comes in these
students. This should not happen in any sensitive society. It is the
responsibility of all teachers and students to respect and encourage such
students.
We should all ask ourselves some basic questions
about students coming from relatively less privileged families. She said that
it is a matter of pleasure that out of 6 students who received medals from me
today, 3 students are physically challenged. This is the result of their
indomitable courage and hard work. The President especially congratulated these
students. She said that it is a matter of pride for this University that 52% of
the students enrolled at the undergraduate level for the academic session
2022-23 are girls. She was also happy to see that even among the students who
get degrees and medals today, the number of girls is more than boys. In this
change, we see a picture of a newly developed and inclusive India.”
Draupadi Murmu told the
students that due to the consumerist concepts of development and civilization,
the challenges of pollution and climate change etc. are taking a formidable
form. Previous generations have done good things and they have also made some
mistakes. I want today's young generation to take forward the good and rectify
the mistakes. On this occasion, while congratulating the students who received
degrees and medals, she also blessed them for their golden future.
Presiding over the program
at the beginning of the ceremony, the Welcome Speech was given by Vice Chancellor
Prof Yogesh Singh. Introducing Her Excellency President Draupadi Murmu, he also
made a detailed mention of her political life, journey and struggles. He also
welcomed Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Education and Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, Government of India.
In his address, the Vice
Chancellor also congratulated and gave best wishes to all the students. He also
described in detail the glorious development journey of 100 years of the
University of Delhi, which started from May 1, 1922 with three colleges. The
Vice Chancellor said that this University has been continuously organizing its
convocation since 1923. It doesn't happen often, but we did it, and it's a
matter of pride. Prof. Yogesh Singh said that in the NIRF ranking in 2022,
Miranda House College of our University ranked first in the country while Hindu
College ranked second. Lady Shri Ram College stood fifth, ARSD seventh and
Kirori Mal College stood 10th. He told that out of 25 best colleges in the
country, 14 are DU colleges. At the end of his speech, he wished the degree-awarded
students all the best for their future life and urged them to work for the
benefit of the nation.
At the end of the
program vote of thanks was proposed by the Dean of Examinations Prof DS Rawat.
On this occasion, Director of Delhi University's South Delhi Campus, Prof Sri
Prakash Singh, Dean of Colleges Prof Balaram Pani, Registrar Dr Vikas Gupta,
PRO Anoop Lathar, Director of SOL Prof Payal Mago and Dean Students Welfare
Prof Pankaj Arora along with all other Deans, Heads of Departments, teachers,
officers and hundreds of students were present.
154750 students got digital degree with one click,
record created again in PhDs awarded
At the convocation
ceremony of the University of Delhi, Vice Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh issued
digital degrees to 154750 students simultaneously by clicking on the tab. He
informed that a total of 157290 degrees have been awarded to the
undergraduate/post graduate students this year, which includes 54.7% female and
45.3% male students. Along with this, PhD degree were also awarded to 910
students in which 512 are female and 398 are male students. He said that it is
a good thing that our daughters are performing very well. Regarding the figure
of PhD degrees, the Vice-Chancellor said that this is the highest number ever
in the history of our University and India too. He told that last year our
University had created a record by awarding 802 PhD degrees. A total of 170
students, including 51 male and 119 female students, were awarded medals/prizes
during the function. In the medical field, 47 students of DM/M.Ch were also
awarded degrees on the occasion.
The President presented medals to these students
During the convocation,
President Draupadi Murmu presented medals to 4 students with her own hands.
Among these, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma (Former President of India) Gold Medal was
awarded to Medha Chauhan as the President's Award. Aswathy MU was awarded the
President's Gold Medal for MSc Nursing. Payal Kajla was awarded the President's
Silver Medal in B.Sc.(Hons.) Nursing as well as Shraddha Vishwanathan Award for
B.Sc (Hons.) Nursing only. Tanish Soni was awarded the Vice Chancellor's Gold
Medal in Arts Stream by the President.
The Kulgeet
of the University of Delhi was also released
During the convocation, the
kulgeet of the University of Delhi, composed under the patronage of Vice
Chancellor Prof. Yogesh Singh, in the centenary year of the university, was
also released. This Kulgeet has been written and composed by noted poet
Gajendra Solanki. Along with this, the Centenary Memorial Logo Volume was also
released by the Vice Chancellor. Medals and prizes were awarded by the Vice
Chancellor Prof Yogesh Singh and Dean of Exams Prof DS Rawat. Doctoral students
were awarded degrees by the Vice Chancellor.