GANGTOK: Sikkim Professional University (SPU) celebrated its 8th
Convocation Day at Chintan Bhawan here on Tuesday.
The event
was graced by Governor Om Prakash Mathur, University chairman Hemant Kumar
Goyal and other dignitaries from the university and the Governor’s office.
The
ceremony commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Governor,
accompanied by a soulful rendition of Saraswati Vandana performed by the
university students.
In his
welcome address, Hemant Kumar Goyal expressed heartfelt gratitude to the State
government for its unwavering support and educational aid to the university. He
also highlighted SPU's achievements including its recognition in India Book of
Records, Asia Book of Records and India Today for maintaining the best
teacher-student ratio in the State among other accolades.
Degrees
were conferred upon students from various disciplines, including B.Sc. Nursing,
Arts and Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Allied Sciences. Seven students
were awarded gold medals for academic excellence, while four students received
silver medals. Sonia Devi from the B.Sc. Pharmacy program topped the university
with a score of 93%.
In his
convocation address, Governor Om Prakash Mathur congratulated the graduates on
their dedication and hard work in achieving their academic milestones. He
underscored the importance of education as the cornerstone for empowering youth
to contribute to the nation’s progress and uplift society.
Mathur
commended the SPU for nurturing diligent and capable students who represent the
future of the country. Emphasizing the challenges faced by Sikkim, particularly
its high suicide ratio, he urged students to focus on holistic development
while avoiding detrimental habits such as drug abuse. He also encouraged them
to play an active role in society’s development and leverage opportunities
provided under various government schemes, including the Prime Minister's
Vibrant Villages Program.
Highlighting
the initiative to develop 48 border villages in Sikkim as “first villages of
the country,” he stressed their strategic significance and the need for
educated youth to contribute to these efforts.
The
Governor also spoke about the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, designed to
transform India into a global knowledge powerhouse by promoting access, equity,
quality, affordability and accountability in education. He inspired the
graduates to strive for personal excellence while maintaining a balance between
physical and mental well-being. Encouraging self-belief, he advised students to
overcome self-doubt and approach the future with confidence and determination.
