A graduation day to remember
It’s every graduate’s dream to wear a black gown, squared cap and take an oath to use his/her acquired knowledge for the betterment of society. Neha Ghatpande reports.
It’s every graduate’s dream to wear a black gown, squared cap and take an oath to use his/her acquired knowledge for the betterment of society.
Last month, city colleges ensured their students dream came true. The University of Mumbai holds a convocation ceremony every year but only rank holders are awarded degrees certificates and rest had to just collect their certificates from tables put up outside. This year, even that tradition was stopped and apart from rank holders the rest of the students had to collect their certificates from their colleges.
So, colleges have stepped in to give their students the special day.
“It was a great day for us. After all we slogged for three years to earn our degrees. It felt great to be felicitated in front of our parents. I think every college in the city should organise such events,” said Shraddha Subramanian, a mass media graduate from Jai Hind College, which had their ceremony last week.
After the formal ceremony with gowns, caps and medals, the party begins.
“Our juniors did it for us. It was a very special feeling to be appreciated like this. Our college gave us medals and our juniors entertained us with fun programmes,” said Vinit Mehta, a fresh graduate from KC College in Churchgate.
S.I.E.S College in Nerul began the tradition of a graduation ceremony this year. Principal Mira Vijay said, “The idea behind organising such an event was to strengthen the emotional connect of students with their college.”
Students of the colleges were glad that they were the first batch to have a ceremony. Suraj Uchil, a graduate and one of the organisers of the event, said: “I will never forget my graduation ceremony. It was like a scene from a movie. My college fulfilled my dream.”
Even for the rank holders, the simple graduation ceremony in their colleges is more special than those in the hallowed halls of the more than 150-year-old university.
The final year results come out in June and July but the university convocation ceremony is held at the end of the year, long after students have moved on from their colleges to study further to work.
“The university conducts the convocation ceremony a little late. By that time many of our students go abroad for their further studies and fail to attend the ceremony. So we feel that by organising such events we can make up for that. After all, they did work hard for three years,” said Manjula Srinivas, BMM coordinator of K.C College.