M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 24: The Nilamber Pitamber University is preparing for its convocation, which if held, will be its second convocation in its 13 years of existence as in the year 2009 this university was carved out of the Ranchi University.
The tentative date for the convocation is October 14 while the pro-vice-chancellor Dr Deep Narayan Yadav and Dr Rakesh Kumar (registrar) of the university jointly said, “This date of October 14 for the convocation is now in the public domain but we believe we need to have written confirmation of it by the secretariat of the Governor cum Chancellor Ranchi. We expect the confirmation quite soon.”
However, the university in its Syndicate meeting held on August 23 has started its preparation for the convocation. Sources said Syndicate’s approval for the convocation has come as a shot in the arm of the university.
First, it cleared an exclusive budget for it worth Rs 69 lakhs. Sources said keeping in view of the rising cost of management of the event this budget for the convocation is not inflated but elegantly modest.
Registrar Dr Rakesh Kumar said, “Our past experiences of having the first convocation of this university in the year 2017 shows maximum expenditures on the tent, stage, stage decoration, sound system, sitting arrangements and the souvenir that is mandated to be released.”
About the souvenir, the registrar said, “The university feels honoured to see its former chancellor Droupadi Murmu as the President of India now. We will be looking forward to our President of India for her blessings for this convocation.”
Dr Rakesh Kumar further said, “We had obtained messages for our first convocation from the vice president of India, Speaker Lok Sabha, union HRD minister and back here in the state chief minister, Vidhan Sabha speaker, education minister etc.”
On being asked if October 14 is finalised by the secretariat of the Governor cum Chancellor Ranchi, then it is not a race against time for this function to which the registrar said, “Every single day matters to us most. Our VC Dr Ram Lakhan Singh and pro-vice-chancellor Dr Deep Narayan Yadav and the entire team are working in unison.”
Sources said toppers of the academic years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 stand a chance to be felicitated in the second convocation.
Proctor of the university Dr K C Jha said, “The university is enumerating its gold tally and we understand it will be 160 gold medals with few pluses and minuses if at all.”
All eyes are now on the ceremonial gowns and caps which are now renamed as Vastram and Safa. The post-colonial gown and cap have been discarded and replaced by India’s tradition.
Sources said the NPU on its own can’t handle the visit of the Governor cum Chancellor Ramesh Bais as there are numerous concerns like the VVIP’s arrival at the Chiyanki airstrip, security convoy, carcade, route and traffic management, arrival at the venue of the convocation, law and order in the function, eyes on various groups of students which may create any sort of hindrance, retreat of the VVIP etc.
A student leader requesting anonymity said, “We have our genuine grievances like delayed sessions, examinations dragging on and messy results etc. We will definitely petition our Chancellor and we know district administration will surely do all to keep us at bay but it can’t stop us from raising slogans.”
Sources said students’ outfits never mind invading meetings of the university and on a few occasions, attempts by students outfits to derail or dislocate as important a meeting as Syndicate have also been made here which the university officials deal with care and caution.
