Come up with ideas to replace convocation gowns: Nirmala

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today asked students and faculty of prestigious IIFT to come up with ideas to replace the traditional gowns, worn by them at convocations.

She expressed hope that by next convocation, students and faculty of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) would come up with something new.

"I am sure that many of you will have that wonderful other side...Hold a competition amongst yourself (as in) how you want to receive your degrees (next time), if not like this," she said here.

The minister was addressing students and faculty at the 51st convocation of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade.

She said ideas needs to be communicated to the management well in time so that they can take steps for the next convocation.

"It is my suggestion to students and faculty. It is a light suggestion. I am not wearing a gown today. I know it's a matter of extreme pride, honour and a tradition which we all follow, wearing the convocation gown.

"I have nothing against it but personally I have never felt comfortable and I want you to please consider. I have not worn it because of disrespect, but I think we have to have some fresh thinking," Sitharaman added.

She said in a lighter vein that if "we can review foreign trade policy, we can also review this gown".
The IIFT management can easily consult an institute of fashion to replace the gown but "aren't we capable of it. I am sure many of you will have that wonderful other side," she added.

The minister's suggestion assumes significance as several people have talked about changing this tradition.

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur has directed its students to wear for their convocation ceremony ethnic attire — kurta-pyjamas, churidaars and such — instead of the ceremonial black robes and head gear.

Speaking on the convocation, Commerce Secretary Rita Teaotia said India needs to generate good quality manpower and that too in large numbers at all stages of knowledge pyramid if it has to become globally competitive in the manufacturing sector.

IIFT Director Binoy Kumar highlighted that the institute is consistently ranked among the leading business schools in the Asia Pacific region.

"In 2016-17, IIFT placed the largest ever batch of 258 students in companies across the world. At the highest end 3 students crossed a salary of Rs 1 crore and 6 students got the salary of Rs 75 lakh each," Roy said.