Prez Mukherjee to attend Panjab University annual convocation

Panjab University (PU) is all set to host its 64th Annual Convocation on March 14 at PU Gymnasium Hall, to be presided over by the President Pranab Mukherjee. Mukherjee would be the fifth President of India, who will deliver the Convocation address at the PU. Earlier, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Giani Zail Singh, Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and Dr Rajendra Prasad had delivered convocation addresses in 2007, 1985, 1981 and 1951 respectively.

It will be the third convocation address by Mukherjee at the PU. He had earlier delivered the convocation address at Panjab University's Convocation in March 2010 as the Union Finance Minister and at the 45th Annual Convocation as Planning Commission's Deputy Chairman and as Union Minister of Commerce on February 26, 1995, said PU vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover.

Grover, while talking to the media persons on Tuesday, said that medals, prizes and degrees to the PU students, passing examinations in 2014, would be awarded at the Convocation. Besides, Noble Peace Prize laureate (2014) and Children Rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, Fields Medal winner (2014) and noted Mathematician Prof Manjul Bhargava and renowned agricultural Scientist and recipient of Padma Vibhushan Prof MS Swaminathan would also be granted PU Honorary Degree.

Kailash Satyarthi and Prof Manjul Bhargava would receive Doctor of laws (Honoris Causa) and Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) respectively. 

“Noted lyricist and film personality Gulzar would also be bestowed PU Sahitya Rattan Award, Hero Group Founder and chairman Brijmohan lall Munjal would be honoured with PU Udyog Rattan Award and Padma Shri Awardee Dr Amod Gupta would be bestowed with PU Vigyan Rattan Award at the Convocation,” said Grover.

Sahitya Rattan Award is being conferred to Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Gulzar in recognition of his contribution in the field of literature, poetry, lyrics, dialogues, scripts and film direction. Udyog Rattan to Munjal for the year 2015 is being awarded for his contribution to trade and Industry.

Vigyan Rattan Award is being conferred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, Dr Amod Gupta in recognition of his outstanding clinical researches and other contributions in the field of medical sciences.

A total of 280 students would receive degree in Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), 19 in Doctor of Medicine (MD), and five in Master of Surgery (MS).

The medals to 286 toppers of all 2014 examinations, that is first three candidates in each examination and subjects having obtained first division, would be given degrees at the function, while other students may collected the same from the PU Examination Branch after the convocation.