Dhanbad: The 38th and 39th annual convocation of IIT(ISM), scheduled to take place in the first week of May with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the chief guest, will witness a change in dress code.
In a break from a 50-year tradition, the recipients of degrees will be clad in kurta-pyjama, saris or salwar kameez and sashes.
"We have decided to shun the colonial tradition of gowns and robes. The kurta-pyjama, saris and salwar kameez will have to be off-white in colour. The sash, each colour representing a particular course, will be provided by the institute. The sashes will be ready by April 30," deputy registrar of IIT(ISM) M.N. Pandey said on Sunday, adding that the certificates, medals, shields and folders will be ready within a week.
Bipul Mayank, a BTech (environmental science) student, who passed out of the institute in 2017 and will be receiving a degree, said, "I am very excited about the change in dress code. At a time when there is so much noise about Make in India, we should also choose traditional attire over gowns that carry a colonial undertone."
Saloni Vijay, Mayank's batchmate said, making off-white mandatory was not necessary. "Students should have been allowed to wear a colour of their choice," she added.
Pandey said the function, to be held at Penman Auditorium for two days, would be webcast live at the hostels and other buildings of the institute. The Prime Minister, who will be present for a few hours on the first day, will hand over degrees to a few select recipiencts.
He said the other nitty-gritty of the function like the accommodation arrangements for degree recipients and their parents and other VIP guests are being taken care of.
On Sunday, the venue was inspected by IIT(ISM) director Rajiv Shekhar who was accompanied by dean of faculty S.K. Paul and academics G. Udayabhanu.
Associate deans Somnath Pan (academics), Atul Kumar Verma (faculty), G.N. Singh (hostel management), Dhiraj Kumar (infrastructure), A.K. Mishra (international relations and alumni affairs), N.R. Mandre (R&D) and A.K. Pathak (student welfare) besides head of the departments took stock of the seating arrangement for the recipient of the degrees and guests.
"We had conducted a review meeting of the ongoing preparations two days ago and are preparing a layout of the venue for our own use. We can also give it to the district administration if required," professor of mining engineering department Dhiraj Kumar, who is also the associate dean of Infrastructure, said.
A total of 3,814 students from 2016 and 2017 are likely to receive their degrees at the event. The convocation for the 2016 batch could not be held as the Prime Minister's Office could not confirm his availability then.
This is also the first time that the premier school of technology will award IIT degrees since being upgraded to the elite club in August 2016.
