Mother, bus conductor's daughter emerge golden girls

Proud achievers bag 8 gold medals

Happiness knew no bounds for Shylaja Sharanagouda, mother of two daughters, after she received eight gold medals in MA (Kannada) at the 37th convocation of Gulbarga University held here on Friday.

She was able to achieve the feat with the able support of her husband Chandrakanth Reddy and her parents, who took care of her daughters aged six and four. Her determination to complete postgraduation with family support, which includes her in-laws too, helped her realise her dream. She got married while she was studying second year BA.

Shylaja is the daughter of farmer Sharanagouda and Mahadevi couple of Malla(b) village in Jewargi taluk. She studied in Government Degree College. Her husband is employed with a private finance company.

“I have completed BEd and got through NET. I wish to become a KAS (Karnataka Administrative Service) officer. Preparation for the examination is going on," she said.

Ankita gets 8 medals

Ankita Zipare, daughter of Ramachandrappa, a retired bus conductor settled in Solapur, and mother Pushpa, a home-maker, also received eight gold medals. She is a student of Management Studies of Doddappa Appa College, Kalaburagi.

Speaking with mediapersons, Ankita said, “My father wished that I should receive at least one gold medal in my student life. My parents are happy that I received eight gold medals. I aim to become a financial analyst," she added.

A total of 237 PhD degrees, 76 gold medals and 9 cash prizes were presented to the students.

Honorary PhD

Veerabhadra Channamalla Swami, Head of Nidumamidi Mutt; Shivakumara Swamy, pontiff of Siddarudha Mutt, Bidar, and singer Pandit Veerabhadra Gadagi, were awarded honourary PhD at the convocation.

Former CFTRI director Dr V Prakash delivered the convocation address. Vice Chancellor S R Niranjana, Registrar Prof C Somashekhar, Registrar (Evaluation) Prof D M Madari, were present on the occasion.