DU’s 101st convocation: NEP will take India to the global level, says Pradhan as 1.6 lakh students awarded degrees

Hours before the ceremony began, the venue was filled with students wearing sky blue, red, or yellow V-stoles — depending on their degrees — paired with traditional attire. They mingled excitedly, snapped photographs, and escorted their parents to the event.

As 623 students were awarded PhD degrees, including 316 male and 307 female students, the moment was marked by a surge of emotions — many reflected on the arduous journeys they had undertaken.

Vipin Chandra Lal (35) had to balance teaching as an assistant professor at DU’s Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar College and completing his PhD from the Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics for five years. “I used to request my teachers to adjust my class hours… then I would go to the supervisor at Bhagat Singh College, which was very far away, using public transport. At that time, we lacked many facilities… and access to my study area was also poor. I came from Bihar and had no support system. So, managing everything alone was difficult. Students from outside do not get family or financial support, which makes it even more challenging, Today, a lookback makes me realise it was all worth it.,” Vipin, who assessed Rann of Kutch as an emerging geopark during his PhD, said.

Coming from Sri Madhopur, Rajasthan, is his peer, Teja Ram Nitharawal. Pointing at Chandra Lal, the 29-year-old differently-abled student, beamed with joy and said, “I could not have done this without my peers… they made it possible… my family members also supported me immensely.” His younger brother, Rohitash Jat, has been living with him since 2018 when he got admitted to the PhD programme in Delhi. “It is not my support but his hard work that has led him to reach this height,” said Rohitash.

Prastha Rajoria, 33, who is from Haryana, recalled how she struggled with limited literature for completing her PhD. “Having my degree in the hand I have mixed feelings… I am anxious and worried about what next…but I am very happy as well. I waited for around two-three years to get admission… so I was worried how much I have to wait for the convocation and today finally the day is here.” She added, that being the 101st year of convocation, the event was all the more “prestigious”.

A total of 83,902 students, including regular students of DU and students of Non-Collegiate Women’s Education Board (NCWEB), were awarded degrees. Of these, 77,227 are undergraduates, 6,646 are postgraduates and 29 are students of five-year programmes. A total of 194 gold and silver medals and awards were also awarded during the convocation; and 159 gold medals and one silver medal were awarded to UG and PG students.

Further, a total of 34 awards were also given to UG and PG students. Apart from these, degrees were also awarded to 82,592 students of School of Open Learning, out of which 79,742 are undergraduates and 2,850 are postgraduates.

Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh presided over the ceremony and told the students participating in the convocation, “… The higher the tree, the deeper its roots should be, otherwise it will fall in a single storm. So, you also have to become tall trees with deep roots.” Dean of Colleges Prof Balram Pani, Director of South Campus Prof. Shri Prakash Singh, Director of SOL, Payal Mago, Registrar Dr Vikas Gupta, and Controller of Examinations Gurpreet Singh Tuteja along with all the Deans, Heads of Departments, teaching and administrative faculty were present.