Girl power on show at VTU convocation

The 18th convocation of Visvesvaraya Technological University here on Monday saw girls stealing the show with N Suchitra of Jain Institute of Technology, Davangere, leading from the front with nine gold medals.

Suchitra clinched nine gold medals in BE Civil stream.

Madhushri S R of Bapuji Institute of Engineering, Davangere, bagged six golds in Civil while Meghana Prakash of Vidyavardhak College of Engineering won as many medals in Electronics and Communication.

Daughter of Ramappa, a retired bank manager and Suwarna, an employee with an insurance company, Madhushri is preparing for UPSC Civil Services exams.

“I want to become an IAS officer. Currently, I am taking coaching for the UPSC exams in Hyderabad,” she told DH. A total of 28 students shared 74 gold medals up for grabs in various streams.

Degrees were awarded to 64,881 BE graduates, 619 B Arch, 4,425 MBA students, 1,801 MCA students, 2,859 MTech and 33 MSc Engg. As many as 418 PhD degrees were awarded to the deserving.

‘Bridgeman’ Girish Bharadwaj, who is an expert in building suspension bridges, was honoured with Doctor of Science award.

A low-key affair

The death of Goa Chief Minister and former defence minister Manohar Parrikar cast its shadow over the convocation.

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, who was to deliver the convocation address, and Governor and Chancellor Vajubhai Vala did not attend the event in view of the national mourning on Monday.

VTU Vice-Chancellor Karisiddappa said, “Due to unavoidable circumstances the dignitaries vice president and Governor could not make it to convocation.”