Graduation ceremony in college

Call it decentralization by force. The university of Pune cannot cope with the vast number of students earning degrees year after year. It has restricted its geographical spread of affiliation to only 3 districts. By one swift fiat it has handed over first year examinations to colleges and now this is the latest. After persistent criticism about traffic jams caused on the convocation day, the university has decreed that colleges would conduct a graduation ceremony so that the university can confine itself to post graduate and other degrees.

The year 2015-16 was supposed to be a grace year in which colleges could take over graduation if they wanted to. However, last week the university came out with an order and asked colleges to conduct graduation ceremonies before April 2016 end.

Examinations are going on or some are over; students have stopped coming to colleges; public holidays have come; non-teaching staff is not available - a number of points were raised but the university turned a deaf ear to them all. It provided degree certificates, convocation gowns to the colleges and asked them to proceed. The college copied the university convocation pattern and held its first graduation ceremony on 11th April.

The time was changed twice and venue once. The staff members and the few parents who turned up stared at one another with embarrassment. At the main function, all the dignitaries waited before the photo of goddess Saraswati to light the traditional lamp. The match box was missing.As the rank-holders' went up on the dais to receive their degrees, a girl fell down - from the stage into the prompter's cubicle and hurt herself.

And yet, the function was a glorious success. Afraid of the anonymity of the university, the students turned up in force to visit their Alma mater. They took the lapses in their stride because they are familiar with them. All were happy to visit the college after a lapse of a year. They envied the rank-holders who got to don black silk gowns and rectangular caps. The students and the council members in identical but maroon gowns and caps looked smart. Their procession was solemn. The proceedings were in chaste Marathi but were heard with respect. The chief guest's address was short and pertinent. The university anthem and national anthem were played and sung with affection. It was heart-warming to see this triumph of academics.

The graduation function is a nice addition to the college calendar. It also makes the end result more visible to students and so its importance goes up.