JOIN USBut for several gold medallists of Bangalore University, their moment of glory at the 45th annual convocation on Friday turned farcical after they were left with cash awards which were as meagre as Rs 58. Although students said that they were happy with the recognition, they contended that the university could have done away with the cash prize altogether.
Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor N Prabhu Dev had conceded on Tuesday that in many cases students will receive abysmally low amounts as the medals were instituted by donors decades back.
He had also clarified that the varsity could not bear the cost of awarding gold medals for all toppers as it would cost in excess of Rs 34 lakh annually at the current rate of gold.
M S Thimmappa , former Bangalore University V-C, admitted that this was the case in his time too.“Some of these medals were constituted as far back as 1960 and have been transferred from Mysore University,” he said. Thimmappa added that efforts to trace the donors during his time proved futile. In some cases, the donors had deliberately not responded.
But the explanation was hardly a consolation for students who were at the receiving end of these cash awards.
Deepthi, a BEd student who received a gold medal certificate for psychology, termed the cash award an “insult”.
“Either give the money or don’t. Getting Rs 58 is an insult and genuinely humiliating. The authorities should realise that these awards are meaningless and demotivating,” she said. Ashwati, another BEd student, also received the same cash award but chose to look at the brighter side of things. “The gold medal certificate itself is reward enough for my hard work,” she said.
Thimmappa agreed that the varsity will have to re-think some of these meagre cash awards.
He suggested that the varsity must try and reach out to new donors who will be willing to sponsor awards.
A lavish tradition
In complete contrast to the image of paucity being presented by the varsity, the V-C N Prabhu Dev hosted a lavish dinner for all the delegates, faculty and dignitaries at the Raj Bhavan on Friday evening. Over 200 guests were invited for the dinner, and curiously none of the medallists were invited. Previous Vice-Chancellors too have hosted similar dinners on convocation day for the dignitaries at Five Star Hotels and the Raj Bhavan. Sources said the dinner is a tradition, which is the prerogative of the V-C.
In complete contrast to the image of paucity being presented by the varsity, the V-C N Prabhu Dev hosted a lavish dinner for all the delegates, faculty and dignitaries at the Raj Bhavan on Friday evening. Over 200 guests were invited for the dinner, and curiously none of the medallists were invited. Previous Vice-Chancellors too have hosted similar dinners on convocation day for the dignitaries at Five Star Hotels and the Raj Bhavan. Sources said the dinner is a tradition, which is the prerogative of the V-C.