After a gap of three years, the Utkal University of Culture (UUC) on Friday organised its fourth annual convocation and felicitated six distinguished personalities with Honoris Causa. Those honoured were Govind Chandra Tej in the field of cinema and drama, Pranab Kishore Patnaik for music, Prafulla Mohanti for painting, Utsab Charan Das for folk dance and Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel for folk music.
Delivering the convocation address, eminent academic and Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Dinesh Singh called upon students to learn from the great heroes who have nurtured the country. “Awards, recognitions and felicitation are good and appreciable, but at the same students should seek higher recognition in life by identifying where the true culture of love, compassion, love for nation, honesty and courage lies,” said the renowned mathematician.
Maintaining that education cannot be recognsied only by formal degrees Singh pointed out, “Some of the great persons of the country like Gautama Buddha, Guru Nanak and Mahatma Gandhi had no university degrees. But the whole world has recognised them. So, students or degree holders should not feel proud after getting recognitions as there is no end to learning.”
Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Panda, department Secretary Arvind Padhee, UUC VC Prof DN Jena were present. Degrees for four academic sessions, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15, were awarded to the successful students. Around 87 students were given gold medals while 11 scholars were awarded with PhDs. A painting exhibition was also organsied at the convocation venue on the occasion.