SHUBHANGI SHIFA
Ranchi, March 11: Often small metal disks with words or pictures engraved on them are given as rewards for a brave action, winning a competition, or commemorating a special event. These disks are more commonly known as medals. Several institutions also reward toppers with medals at convocation ceremonies.
However, universities in the state don’t often do that.
“We provide all kinds of metals to schools, colleges and universities in the city including Women’s College and Ranchi University. In the case of universities in the state, they often reward students with medals, usually ‘gold medals’, which aren’t made of authentic gold. In fact, the medals are often made from cheaper metals like Iron, Aluminum or Silver and then plated with gold, silver or bronze,” said Jagdeep Singh, owner of the trophy shop Sportsline.
“When asked what the basis of selection amid Iron, Aluminum or Silver medals is, he said, “As per comparison, Steel-made medals are the shiniest, whereas, the Iron medals have a dull undertone due to which, they aren’t as shiny. The cost of a medal, despite the base metal, can range from Rs 15 to Rs 600 per piece,” added Singh.
Meanwhile, RU Exam Controller Ashish Kumar Jha said, “Only Olympics provide actual gold medals to winners, which nowadays aren’t even pure gold.” Notably, during the Stockholm Games in Sweden, gold medals lost a whole lot of numismatic street credibility when officials decided that from then on, they would be made mostly of silver — at least 92.5% — and gilded in 6 ounces of gold plating.
Jha further claimed, “No university including the Delhi University has ever given real gold medals to students. Even in Jharkhand, none of the universities, ever, have rewarded someone, with an actual gold medal.”
However, in an interview, former IIM director Professor Shailendra Singh had earlier claimed that he had made sure that such a provision be implied in the college that would provide real gold medals to students. The professor could not be contacted for a comment.
