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Students capture convocation memories at St Xavier’s College in Ranchi on Monday. Picture by Hardeep Singh
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It was their most memorable college bash with a black-gown-and-cap dress code. And it was also the perfect platform to flaunt girl power.
The Class of 2011 convocation of St Xavier’s College in Ranchi on Monday saw more girl toppers than boys. Of the 27 gold medals on offer, a whopping 21 went to girls.
Boys did top in six undergraduate subjects — English, political science, chemistry, mathematics, zoology and accounts.
But girls aced all three post-graduation subjects — English, Hindi and commerce — that the autonomous college offers. They also topped in the rest of the 18 undergraduate subjects — from history to human rights and biotechnology to BBA.
Though 1,790 students of MCom, MA (Hindi and English), BEd, BBA, BA, BSc, BCom and seven vocation courses were eligible to receive their degree certificates on Monday, 1,093 of them turned up personally.
The number of students differed among courses. If accounts had the maximum number of students receiving degrees — all 368 of them — a new-age subject like human rights had only six students.
But smiles, hugs and saying cheese for the cameras were common to all.
In his welcome address, principal Father Nicholas Tete told alumni to remember the values of discipline, punctuality, sincerity and to live in harmony with others.
“A college trains a student in both siksha and diksha (education and a deeper initiation in learning),” L.N. Bhagat, Ranchi University vice-chancellor, addressed students. “Siksha will help you become what you will be in future, diksha will demand social responsibility from you,” he said.
Asking students to be “practical, rational and ethical”, he also urged them to remember the roles of parents, teachers and society.
Bhagat also lauded St Xavier’s College for spreading quality education, particularly “empowering less privileged students among the tribals and deprived sections”.“This is the first college of the state get autonomy in 2005 and accreditation from National Assessment and Accreditation Council. I hope it will achieve a deemed university status in future,” he said.
Students, faculty members, guardians and guests apart, senior priests such as Belgian Father C. DeBrouwer — popular with generations of students — also made a rare appearance.
Finally, the day was more about just a degree. It was about the Xaverian spirit.
What fond memories do you have of your convocation? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
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