By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 16 Dec: Doon University, today, conducted its 2nd Convocation Ceremony, themed ‘Women Empowerment’, awarding degrees to a total of 2102 students. The function was presided over by the Chancellor, Governor Lt General Gurmit Singh (Retd). State Higher Education Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat was also present. The university conferred the honorary DLit Degree on Mata Mangala of Hans Foundation and Mahant Devendra Das of the Guru Ram Rai Foundation.
The event began with the National Anthem, followed by lighting of the ceremonial lamp, which was accompanied by singing of the Kulgeet of the University. The students were invited by the Registrar, Dr MS Mandarwal, to take their respective medals from the Chancellor.
Governor Singh congratulated all the gold medalists and reminded that the convocation ceremony was a celebration of success. He appreciated that, out of the 93 gold medalists, 70 were girls. He urged students to shoulder the responsibility of taking the institution, state and country forward. India needed to become a ‘knowledge superpower’. He appreciated the Higher Education Minister’s decision to establish a task force on implementing the NEP. He also paid tribute to the late General Bipin Rawat, his wife, and all the martyrs of the helicopter crash.
Minister Dr Dhan Singh Rawat said the government is committed to empowering women, and noted that the VCs in two prime universities of the state are women. He mentioned the ‘Wall of Valour’ put up in all universities. He announced that a sum of Rs 3 crores has been sanctioned for remodeling the university gate according to hill architecture. He reminded that students belonging to SC and ST categories are given monetary support for education. He revealed that Uttarakhand had become the first state to have 5 lakh beneficiaries under the Ayushyman Scheme. He disclosed that the Dr Nityanand Swami Centre of Research in University campus would be inaugurated soon.
Dr Mata Mangala congratulated the Vice Chancellor for the theme of the convocation. She said that the celebrating womanhood is an immensely important for the development of a country. She talked about Hans Foundation’s Campaign against Tuberculosis, supporting ASHAs, etc.
VC Prof Surekha Dangwal welcomed the dignitaries and students. She said that, in 12 years, Doon University’s student strength had gone up to 2800. She disclosed that, from this year onwards, every convocation would have a theme. The theme of this year’s convocation, ‘Women Empowerment- ‘Sashakt Mahila, Sashakt Rashtra’, was dedicated to the women of Uttarakhand, like Bachendri Pal, Gaura Devi, etc. She praised the contribution of women in propagating the folk arts of Uttarakhand, specifically ‘Aipan art’. Talking about the Nityanand Himalayan Research and Study Centre, she declared that its sole motive would be to conduct research specific to Uttarakhand.
Mementos were presented to Governor Gurmit Singh, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat, Mata Mangala and Prof US Rawat on behalf of Mahant Devendra Das.
The event was moderated by Prof HC Purohit and vote of thanks proposed by Registrar Dr MS Mandarwal. Among those present were Prof Kusum Arunanchalam, Dr Nitin Kumar, Dr Harsh Dobhal, Dr Himani, Dr Rajesh Bhatt, Dr Vijay Shridhar, Dr Karuna Sharma, Dr Rashi Mishra, Dr Archana Sharma, Dr Vipin Kumar Saini, etc.
The students who received gold medals were Shantanu Dhoundiyal, Shaily Verma, Abdul Qadil, Pragati, Angela Anugrah John, Anchal Chettri, Riddhima Agarwal, Kartika, Elizabeth Mahima Jacob, Snehdeep, Ayushi Negi, Aishwarya Anand, Aditi Bisht, Shruti Kala, Nancy Maurya, Indira Kulhari, Megha Bahuguna, Ankit Belwal, Ravindra Bhatt, Swati Rawat, Abhishek Chand, Ina Rayal, Jyoti Chakrovarty, Komal Sajwan, Neha Panwar, Raina Singh, Sumendra Bhandari, Bhagya Jawara, Shivani Semwal, Sachhidanand, Prabhjot Kaur, Tapasi Rana and Archit Bisht.
