Over 13k get degrees at MSU convocation

Over 13k get degrees at MSU convocation 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 30.12.2024

Vadodara : As many as 13,682 students were conferred degrees, while 195 were conferred gold medals during the M S University’s 73rd annual convocation ceremony on Sunday. With Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was invited as the chief guest, skipping the ceremony, the convocation was organised without a chief guest. The Vice President gave his consent to be present at the ceremony after being approached by Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi, who invited him to grace the ceremony as chief guest. However, with former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh passing away and the govt of India declaring national mourning, the Vice President could not attend the function. Sunday’s ceremony lacked the enthusiasm that usually surrounds the biggest academic function of the university. 

Former senate and syndicate members rued the fact that the university vice chancellor, Professor Vijay Srivastava, did not invite them to the function, even as there were murmurs that Joshi, who was instrumental in inviting the Vice President for the ceremony, himself preferred to stay away. Srivastava is being blamed for the delay in organising the convocation, which is supposed to be held by the end of Sept. The delay in organising the convocation led to protests by ABVP and a plea in the Gujarat high court by a parent whose daughter faced problems in getting her degree on time for admission abroad. On Sunday, Srivastava said that the university will be organising the convocation every year on Sept 5 from 2025 onwards. He, however, did not clarify the reason behind delaying the convocation ceremony this year. Ironically, Srivastava’s tenure is ending in Feb next year. He is lobbying hard to get a second term. Earlier, too, syndicate members of MSU had passed a resolution to organise the convocation on Teachers’ Day, but the resolution was not implemented.