Hemvati Nandan Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal celebrated its 10th convocation today in blended mode. The University also made arrangements to live stream the programmes on various social media platforms, in order to give access to the programme to those, who could not attend it physically.
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, the former Vice- Chairman of Niti Aayog, Government of India and the founder Chairman of Pahle India Foundation was the chief guest, Hon’ble Chancellor, Dr. Yogendra Narain IAS (retd.) chaired the function and Shri. Sohan Lal, renowned Dhol maestro received the Honoris Causa.
This year degrees to 159 Ph.D., and 4306 Post Graduate students were awarded and 45 students in various subjects received Gold Medals. 14 medals instituted by different donors and one cash prize were awarded to the toppers of determined subjects.
In the welcome address on the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Annapurna Nautiyal welcomed all the guests and participants attending the ceremony. She expressed her pleasure on awarding the ‘Honoris Causa’ to Shri Sohanlal for his great contribution in promoting the regional music played through drum known in native language as Dhol. She also acclaimed the achievement of Prof. D.R. Purohit, adjunct faculty in the department of Folk, and Performing Arts Centre, who has recently been selected for the prestigious National Sangeet Natak Academy Award in the domain of Folk Music and Theatre for 2021. Prof. Annpurna Nautiyal remembered the contribution of the chief guest Dr.Rajiv Kumar towards the Indian Himalayan Central Universities (IHCUC) and said that IHCUC accomplished successfully the task of preparing five thematic reports.
Listing out the achievements of the University, honourable Vice Chancellor said that the University has a total student strength of 13,315, out of which 87% are from Uttarakhand and 13% from other states. The University successfully implemented the New Education Policy and also participated in Central University Combined Entrance Examination (CUCET) for the first time as per the mandate of NEP. The language lab of the University will also be offering proficiency crash courses in Garhwali, Kumauni, English and German languages from this academic session. As a part of academic efforts, the University organized web lectures, conferences, workshops, celebration ofAzadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ek Bharat Shrestra Bharat, Unnat Bharat Abhiyan and celebration of various days etc. by bringing experts of national and international repute.
Honourable Vice Chancellor was elated to inform that in 2021 for the first time, the university was given the responsibility of conducting UPSC exams, which has proved an asset for the youth of this remotely located area in various ways. The University recruited 81 new faculties in different schools and promoted 159 faculty members in different teaching cadres under Career advancement scheme from 2019 to 2022. During 2020-2022 promotion Of 46 non-teaching employees was also done in various cadres. The University also established Dr. Ambedkar Centre under the scheme of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. Government of India, for providing free coaching to SC category aspirants for civil services examinations, is a very well-meaning initiative.Prof.Annpiurna Nautiyal announced that the University has started preparation for NAAC accreditation for 3rd Cycle and also for assessing our lapses in NIRF raking. She also said that a cell is established for organizing activities to commemorate the golden jubilee year is charting out the calendar of activities to make it a memorable year in recapitulating the journey which the university has taken to reach at this stage. She reiterated that the University is moving in a right direction, but serious efforts are still needed to cultivate an atmosphere for self-knowledge, and enlightenment.
Chief Guest, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, the former Vice- Chairman of Niti Aayog in his address said that, learning should not and in any case does not stop with being a fulltime student- it should continue throughout one’s life and faculty members become exemplars and role models for the students. He said that, India is on the cusp of major historical change that will take it inexorably forwards towards raising its share in the global economy to once again become commensurate with the share of our population in the world population- 17% and will become 19% by 2050. He claimed that we are facing the challenges of Growing exponentially and also becoming greener exponentially, grow exponentially but also generate jobs exponentially- in an environment in which technology. Dr.Rajiv Kumar told that entrepreneurship, frugal consumption habits that have respected nature are India’s strength and we have to build on them and reinforce them. He said that, the responsibility for making the 21 st century as India’s century lies squarely on the students and indeed on the faculty collected here. You are surely liberated from the colonial mind-set and have the ambitions and capabilities to build glorious structures on these strong foundations. He also emphasized the need to recognize that India has a unique past and indeed a unique set of current challenges but also a unique set of strengths. Dr.Rajiv Kumar said that now is the time to go out and use them for serving the national cause and for achieving our ambitious goals.
Hon’ble Chancellor, Dr. Yogendra Narain IAS (retd.) in his address said that India came a long way since its independence in 1947. As Prime Minister called for relinquishing the colonial mind-set, he said that it should start from the University level. He also emphasized the role of teachers in promoting this mission and also called for the teachers to teach history from the Indian perspective. He said that Indian economy need to grow at 8-10 percent rate to achieve a 5 trillion dollar economy and it is also important to generate employment opportunities in the process. He hailed the New Education policy for giving a scope to excel to each student in his/ her filed of interest and also said that it provides autonomy for the institutions. Concluding his speech he gave a call for all the teachers and students to play a key role and contribute in nation building. The ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks of the registrar.
Prof.R.C.Bhatt, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Dr.Ajay Kumar Khanduri, Registrar, Prof.M.M.Semwal, Convener, media cell Prof.Y.P.Raiwani, Convener, 10th Convocation, students, teachers and non-teaching staff were present in the ceremony.
