91st convocation has 3 specials

Change in tradition: 2-day event, Mysore Peta, blue, green gown; Guv to skip

For the first time in the recent past, the annual event is being organised for two days from April 10. Also, the black headgear and long gown worn by the dignitaries on the day, as part of sartorial code, will be replaced by traditional ‘Mysore Peta’ and green or blue gown respectively, making for three specials.

This was announced to the media here on Friday by Vice-chancellor of University of Mysore Prof V G Talawar.

On the first day, the convocation ceremony scheduled at 4 pm at the Crawford Hall will not see the participation of Governor and Chancellor of University H R Bhardwaj as president of the same. He has communicated to the varsity, about some emergency assignments in New Delhi on the day, for his absence.  

Union Ministry of Science and Technology, Secretary Dr T Ramasami will deliver the convocation address. Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya who is also the pro-chancellor will be present.

Honoris Causa degree will be conferred on late Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar (posthumous) and renowned sarod artiste Pandit Rajiv Taranath (Doctor of Literature), Union Minister for Law and Justice M Veerappa Moily (Doctor of Law), Narayana Hrudayalaya, Managing Director, Dr Deviprasad Shetty (Doctor of Science) and PES Institutions Chairman Dr M R Doreswamy (Doctor of Education).

Saying that the convocation had to be split for two days, the vice-chancellor attributed it to the inability that had been expressed by the Governor during the previous year, to sit throughout the event (considering his age). Expressing solidarity with the Governor’s words, the vice-chancellor too felt that awarding medals, certificates and Ph Ds to the successful candidates, as their numbers have grown this year, would take another two hours. The programme had to be wound up at least within two hours and so is the change, he added. On the first day, graduates and post-graduates will be awarded and the following day at 11 am at the same venue, doctorates would be given for successful PhD candidates.

“Most of the PhD candidates opted for higher education minister to confer the honour on them”, the vice-chancellor informed, further substantiating the decision. Following a query from the media over organising the convocation to award PhDs on another day, the vice-chancellor refuted that it was coming in the way of its sanctity.  

On change in dress code, Registrar (evaluation) B Ramu said there were some reservations about the colour, that denotes ‘inauspicious’, including from the media, forcing the varsity to go for a change.

Royal scion to receive honour later

Putting to rest all the controversy that had erupted over conferring honoris causa on erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the vice-chancellor said ‘the late Maharaja’s grandson and royal scion Srikantadatta Narasimharaaja Wadiyar will be receiving the honour bestow ed on his ancestor, but not during the convocation. As the scion has preliminary engagements on the day, he could not make it to the ceremony. Instead, the scion has requested to make arrangements to receive the honour at Rajbhavan later.