Patna University students at the SK Memorial Hall in Patna on Monday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 28: Protest marred the annual convocation ceremony of Patna University today at SK Memorial Hall.

PhD students for the sessions 2009 and 2010, who were to receive their degree on Monday, protested against the university administration. They said they wanted to receive the degree from the chief guest —former governor of Jammu & Kashmir, Lt-General S.K. Sinha.

Chancellor of universities in Bihar Devanand Konwar, was also present at the ceremony attended by vice-chancellor Sudipto Adhikari and other senior university officials, including registrar Manoj Kumar.

One hundred and thirty two PhD students of the 2009 and 2010 sessions attended the convocation.

The agitating students, after reaching the dais raised slogans against the university administration where the dignitaries were seated. They said they were the seniormost students of the varsity and the university should give importance to them while awarding the degrees.

Later, senior university officials pacified the agitating students by promising to address their complaints.

Earlier, the annual convocation began with the National Anthem and was followed by the university gaan (song) Ganga tat par…, composed by Hindi teacher Jagdish Narain Choubey at the 92nd foundation day function in 2008.

Today, 1,723 graduate and postgraduate students from 2009 and 2010 sessions were awarded degrees. Reading out the varsity report, Adhikari threw light on the glorious past of the varsity as it had produced many illustrious alumni, including Dr Rajendra Prasad, the first president of India, and S.N. Sinha, the first president of the constituent Assembly and the man who created a movement for separate statehood for Bihar. Sinha was also the longest serving vice-chancellor of the Patna University.

Though chief minister Nitish Kumar refused to accept the doctorate degree from the varsity and was not present, the university administration highlighted his contribution in the development of Bihar.

Devanand Konwar said: “Bihar has been the seat of learning as the oldest university of human civilisation Nalanda and Vikramshila existed here.”

The governor talked about bringing reforms in improving higher education. Konwar said: “A large number of students from Patna University clear UPSC examinations every year.”

Konwar said higher education in India and Bihar can improve with time, as there has been technological advancement in various fields.

Lt-General S.K. Sinha urged the students to follow in the steps of great personalities and talked about the capacity-building of society. Sinha also talked about various career opportunities in the fields of teaching and law.