“The challenge before this generation of young and liberated minds is in trying to redraw the ever expanding cantors of knowledge,” asserted Hon’ble Shri E. S. L. Narasimhan, Governor of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and Chief Rector of the University of Hyderabad in his address as the Chief Guest at the XVII Convocation Ceremony of the University of Hyderabad on October 1, 2015 at Shilpakala Vedika.
A sense of pride and accomplishment was reflected as students, most of whom were accompanied by elated family members and friends in a neck scarf (Angavastram) with the University logo and XVII Convocation printed on them, received their Ph. D degrees and medals. Shri E. S. L. Narasimhan gave away the gold medals and Ph.D. degrees to the meritorious students while Dr. C. Rangarajan, the Chancellor of the University administered the oath for all the new graduates.
In his address, Shri Narasimhan told that the destiny of India will be scripted by transformed minds which have to break free from the old molds and charter new, trial blazing courses. He explained that universities such as University of Hyderabad will have to work on harvesting young minds for a productive future and should constantly encourage their students to be innovative.
At the Convocation the Chancellor’s Awards for the year 2015 were awarded to five young faculty members, in recognition of their overall contribution to the University in various spheres that include research, teaching and mentoring of students. One lakh rupees is given to each awardee on the basis of external peer review.
1. Dr. Niyaz Ahmed of the Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, for his research in Genomic Dynamics and Functional Plasticity of Bacterial Pathogens
2. Dr. R. Chandrasekhar, School of Chemistry for his research in Nanoscience and Technology of Molecular Photonic Solids
3. Dr. Saroj Panigrahi, School of Mathematics & Statistics for his research in Differential Equations, Functional Differential Equations and Dynamic Equations on Time Scales
4. Dr. Koteswara Rao V Rajulpati, School of Engineering Sciences & Technology for his research in Nanostructured materials, Deformation behavior of Structural Materials at all length scales, High-entropy Alloys, Friction stir welding/processing etc
5. Dr. Sowmya Dechamma, Centre for Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, for her research in Indian Literature, Minority Identities and Discourse, Translation Studies, Kodava Language and Cultural Discourse
A total of 1491 students graduated from the University comprising of 184 M. Phil, 193 Ph.D., 116 M. Tech, 799 Post Graduate and 199 Integrated PG students. 921 students received their degrees in person. 103 medals were presented with 26 University Medals and 31 SC/ST Medals.
Professor Appa Rao Podile, Vice-Chancellor, UoH, in the annual report, congratulated the graduates receiving their degrees and hoped to see them receive many more achievements and laurels in the future. He announced that the faculty strength of the University is at more than 400 and that of students is above 5200. The faculty has written over 1,260 books and more than 16,000 research papers. He announced that the University had been granted 17 patents and has been funded by national and international funding agencies like UGC, MHRD, DBT, DST, EU, DoE, IUSSTF and so on. He expressed his delight in sharing that the University is now among the top 3.8% institutions providing higher education worldwide as per a study done by Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR).
He assured those gathered that the University’s commitment to fashion a unique and excellent research University which, will not only be an asset to the country but will also serve as a role model for other institutions.
The convocation proceedings was webcast live for the third successive year. It was a joyous occasion for many graduates who were seen celebrating their success with their family and friends. And for the University it was a day of fulfillment to witness so many of its students embarking on a new voyage in their lives where they will be claimants of rights and at the same obligated to discharge duties in a meaningful way in the society.
-Shaima Mansoor, Department of Communication