Passouts during the Patna University convocation at SK Memorial Hall in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

The enthusiasm to get certificates scored over the wise words of dignitaries.

The occasion was the convocation of Patna University, where around 800 postgraduate and PhD students were awarded degrees. As it happened, before the dignitaries and the guests could speak, most of the students after taking their degrees left the venue, leaving SK Memorial Hall with only empty chairs.

The function started around 2pm at the hall, but, differing from other convocation practices, the university decided to handover the degrees and the certificates to 792 postgraduate and 81 PhD students first with the dignitaries and guests speech later.

The convocation started with Patna University vice-chancellor Y.C. Simahadri giving degrees to 756 students who were standing in queue. As degrees were to be awarded to students from all faculties such as science, social science, humanities, commerce, law and education, it lasted for more than two hours.

When the VC was awarding the degrees, education minister Brishen Patel, who was the guest of honour and Gitam University (Andhra Pradesh) chancellor and Indian Council of Philosophical Research’s former chairman K. Ramakrishna Rao and Patna University pro-VC Ranjeet Kumar Verma were sitting idle on the dais.

Followed by awarding the degrees to postgraduate students, it was the turn of PhD holders and gold-medalists (postgraduate toppers) to get their degrees. While minister Patel gave away the degrees to PhD holders, chief guest Rao handed over the degrees to the gold medalists.

After awarding the degrees to the students, it was the turn of the dignitaries to address them. But much to their disappointment, they had only empty chairs to hear them out. Patel was disappointed seeing the empty chairs.

He didn’t make any big announcement for the university, but said: “I am seeing only empty chairs. But I will surely speak.” Much of the speech which the minister made was motivational, urging the students and teachers to improve the academic atmosphere at the university.

Urging the students and the faculty members to stress more on academic improvement, Simahadri said: “We have to develop a sense of belonging and teachers must put their best for academic improvement at the university.”

Ankit Kumar, a student who received his degree, said: “We wanted to hear the dignitaries speak but the function extended for more than three hours.”

He added that had there been any important guest such as Union HRD minister Smriti Irani they would have definitely waited till the last minute. Jagriti Anand, a topper in economics and a gold medallist, said: “After receiving my masters degree, I am planning to start preparing for Indian Economic Service.”