Garhwal Post Bureau
PAURI GARHWAL, 28 Mar: Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), attended the third convocation ceremony of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal.
Addressing the students, the Governor said that a convocation is not just an occasion to receive degrees but marks the beginning of new responsibilities in life. He congratulated the students and described their achievements as the result of hard work, dedication, and discipline.
He emphasized that agriculture, horticulture, and forestry are extremely important for a mountainous state like Uttarakhand, and adopting innovation and modern technologies in these sectors is essential. He urged students to use their knowledge for the development of society and the nation, and to turn the challenges of hill regions into opportunities.
The Governor lauded the university and stressed the importance of delivering research outcomes to farmers. He congratulated the medal winners and encouraged all students to move forward with honesty, ethics, and a spirit of service.
At the convocation, gold medals were awarded to B.Sc. (Hons.) students Sakshi Verma, Pradeep Kumar, Sanjana Bisht, Maitreya Nautiyal, and Yukta Lohani. Silver medals were presented to Ishita Negi, Savera Panwar, Shweta Semwal, and Suharshita Bahuguna.
On this occasion, Padma Shri agricultural scientist Dr PL Gautam and progressive farmer Prem Chand Sharma were honored with shawls and mementos.
The event commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. On this occasion, degrees and diplomas—including undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD—were conferred upon 283 students from the fields of forestry, horticulture, and agriculture. The Governor and other dignitaries also released the university souvenir, coffee table book, Vision Document 2027, and proceedings of the 14th brainstorming session.
Earlier, the Governor paid floral tribute at the statue of Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali in the university campus park named after him. He also inaugurated the Assembly hall, e-governance portal, and e-filing digitization module. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for administrative and academic buildings and a transit hostel, and inaugurated a multipurpose building.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, addressing the gathering virtually, congratulated all degree recipients. He said the university fosters an environment of innovation. He emphasized that agriculture, horticulture, and forestry are not just means of economic growth but are integral to cultural heritage and environmental identity. He urged students to use their knowledge for the welfare of the state and nation and to transform challenges of hill agriculture into opportunities.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi also extended his congratulations to the graduates. He highlighted that despite a reduction in agricultural land since the formation of the state, production has increased by 300,000 tons. He thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting high-quality millets from Uttarakhand globally and emphasized that the knowledge gained by students should help improve people’s lives.
Vice Chancellor Prof Parvinder Kaushal, in his address, detailed the university’s achievements, stating that the institution continues to excel in education, research, and innovation. He emphasized the university’s commitment to increasing farmers’ income, promoting advanced technologies, and strengthening hill agriculture.
He added that through various research projects and training programs, students are being provided with practical knowledge, enabling them to become self-reliant and contribute significantly to society and nation-building.
Dean Dr AK Joshi, Registrar Dr SP Sati, Director Research KS Pant, DFO Mahatim Yadav, Joint Magistrate Dikshita Joshi, Additional Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Thakur, along with faculty members and students, were also present at the event.
