The noted lyricist and chairman of Central Board for Film Certification Prasoon Joshi was conferred with the honorary degree of D.Lit by the Governor Baby Rani Maurya at the 15th convocation of Kumaon University in Nainital on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said that it is a matter of great pride that the son of the soil, Joshi is being felicitated here.

Addressing the students, she said that the knowledge which is not shared being valueless, the students thus should use the knowledge for social welfare. She further said that getting degrees is not the end of education.

“One should continue to learn new things throughout life,” she said, adding that the university has attained 301 rank globally which is a great achievement.

Maurya further said that it is important that university should update its curriculum regularly so that it remains relevant both in the country and abroad. She called upon the students to become successful entrepreneurs by taking advantage of Start ups and make in India schemes. The Governor expressed happiness over the fact that 70 percent of the faculty members in the university are women and that the number of female students felicitated on the day is more than  the number of the male students.

She said that the women folk of the country should take lesson from the women of Uttarakhand who have excelled, braving all odds.

Speaking on the occasion Prasoon Joshi said that the students should try to give to the society more than what they have attained during their studies. He said, “Energy is always attained from the roots and my roots are associated with Uttarakhand and Almora. The nature does not cheat anyone.’’During the convocation ceremony, 158 research scholars were provided with Ph.D degree. Seventy two students in arts, 56 in science, 19 in commerce and management, five in education, three in law and one in technology faculties were awarded the doctoral degrees.

One of the highlight of the programme was that instead of convocational cloak, the students wore specially designed traditional dress.