Convocation With A Difference

"No classes. No teachers. You are your own teacher", this is how I described a convocation ten years ago. Even now, isn't it true ? Think.

Convocation is a formal event. Mostly stiff, long drawn and repetitive. Yet, it triggers excitement because it happens once for the graduating students, unless they decide to study further! Am sharing a short picture story of a convocation which I attended recently. This convocation was different for many reasons:

• Convocation of the Founding Class
• Parents of Chancellor's Awardees honoured on stage
• Valedictorian Address by the topper of the Batch
• Recognising the Best all-rounder
• Rewarding the Dean's List on stage
• Designing of the gowns by a student
• Fun moments

Founding Class

It was the founding class (2021-23) of BITS School of Management (BITSoM) at Mumbai which received their degree certificates. The excitement was writ large on the faces of the graduating students. BITS Pilani is Ghumakkad's alma-mater. A globally renowned institution for Science and Technology, it added a new School of Management in Mumbai in 2021. I remember attending the 1st convocation of BITS Pilani in 1964 as a school student. The loudest applause then went to the first PhD from BITS Dr RP Jain, if my memory serves me right! Yes, the founding class has special status as far as institutional memory is concerned.

Mr Uday Kotak was the Chief Guest while Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla delivered the Chancellor's Address. Mr Birla gave out four tips to become a pioneer in your profession. Browse the short clip below inserted with permission:

Mr Kotak recounted his younger days when he wanted to be a cricket player. Do listen to him in this short 40-sec video.

Honoring the Parents

Parents are always invited for the convocation at all the universities. But the parents of Chancellor's Award recipients at BITSoM were invited on stage to receive the Award along with their ward. This innovative gesture by BITSoM honouring the parents goes a long way in inspiring the future batches. It also strengthens the value system taught at the School. I met the mother of Samarth Mishra, the batch topper after the event and congratulated her. It was an overwhelming feeling more so as he had lost his father when he was 18. Similarly, the parents of Ayush Ranjan, the Best All-rounder of the Class were also honoured by inviting them on stage to receive the Chancellor's award alongside.

Valedictorian Address by Batch Topper 

Another innovation which I observed at the convocation. The batch topper was given the privilege to deliver the Valedictorian Address at the convocation. Just listen to the inspiring and touching speech delivered by Samarth Mishra, who topped the Class of 2023 at BITSoM. Look at his self-confidence, composure and delivery- like a seasoned stage speaker! If the YouTube link below doesn't open, you may click here.

The Best All-rounder of the Class, Ayush Ranjan was also given the privilege to share his experiences with the audience. You may click here to view a short video clip of Ayush's Address.

Dean's List

It is a custom in most universities in north America. Dean's list honours those graduating students who achieved a GPA between 3.5 to 3.9 on a scale of 4. Dean's list awardees get a signed certificate of appreciation. BITSoM also honoured the top-10 students of the graduating class. Actually the number was 11 because there was a tie for the 10th position. This reminded me of 20 merit scholarships being awarded every semester by our batch at BITS Pilani. The first cohort had 21 awardees because there was a four way tie for the 17th rank. Talk of coincidences in life!

Designing of the gowns by a student

Another innovation by BITSoM was designing of the convocation gowns by a student of the graduating class. Ms Pallavi Savant felt so elated on her design being selected by the Institute.

Fun Moments

Every convocation the fun moment arrives with the tossing of the hats on completion of the ceremony. The BITSoM graduates also did that. But there were more fun moments like:

• Screening of the Year Book made by the graduating class
• A professional music performance in between

Sharing few pictures of the Convocation to give you a feeling of vibrancy at the venue- National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai.

For two of us from the graduating class of 1973, it was a privilege to attend the convocation of another graduating class 50 years apart! From 1973 to 2023, BITS has been an integral part of our life as BITSians.

Previous Convocations

Ghumakkad has been privileged to have attended many convocations in the past. We are sharing below two of our earlier stories of BITS convocations.

Convocation: A Day To Rejoice

Convocation Excitement: We Have Done It

Hope you liked this short story. It proved that innovations are meant not only for product designs, but it can be applied even in mundane activities like a college convocation. Well done Dr Ranjan Banerjee and his team at BITSoM.

Thanks for browsing.

   -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with inputs from Samarth Mishra and the ABG Group/ Secunderabad/ 15th May 2023

Postscript 16th May 2023:

Dr Vijay Vittal of Arizona State University, USA wrote: "At our university's convocation our President asks all parents of graduating students to rise and then asks the graduating students to acknowledge and thank the parents for their sacrifices that helped them achieve their goal." Another noble way of acknowledging the contribution of the parents!

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