Jamia Holds Convocation with President Mukherjee and HRD Minister Irani as Guests

The Annual Convocation of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) was held today (Nov. 17, 2014) at 12.30 PM at Bhopal Ground, Jamia Sports Complex, JMI. The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee was the Chief Guest and Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, Minister for Human Resource Development was the Guest of Honour on this occasion.

Lt. General (Retd),  Mohammad Ahmed Zaki, Chancellor, JMI, presided over the Annual Convocation. Prof. Talat Ahmad, Vice-Chancellor, JMI conferred the Degrees and Diplomas to students who have successfully completed Ph.D., M.Phil., Post-Graduation, Graduation and Diploma courses from different Faculties/Department/Centres of the University in the academic session 2012-13. The Registrar, JMI, Prof. Shahid Ashraf conducted the ceremony.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee arrived at 12.30 PM and joined the members of the Academic Procession for the Convocation photograph along with the Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani.

The Jamia Sports Complex looked beautiful in the early winter sunshine with distinguished guests, which included former Vice-Chancellors, JMI, Ambassadors and Vice-Chancellors of other universities as well as a huge group of enthusiastic students. A total 4280 degrees/diplomas were awarded to the students along with 162 Gold Medals to the toppers of different courses as also 223 Ph.D. degrees to research scholars.

Prior to this, the Vice-Chancellor, JMI read out his report which were simultaneously displayed on two giant screens which had been put up on two sides of the stadium for the benefit of the audience. This allowed the audience to understand the Vice-Chancellor’s remarks about the present, as well as future plans for Jamia with clarity and precision.

The Hon’ble Minister of HRD, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani congratulated the graduating and medal winning students heartily even as she expressed her joy at being present on this felicitous occasion. For almost every discipline for which degrees were awarded in Jamia, the Minister had a prayer which blessed the students in a unique and pertinent manner.

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee delivered the Convocation Address. The President reminded the students of Jamia’s glorious past and recounted the names of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jahuar, Dr. Zakir Husain and other illustrious founding fathers of Jamia Millia Islamia before proceeding to further outline his thoughts on the occasion. While he felicitated the students and staff of Jamia for their Convocation Day and appreciated the high standards that Jamia stood for, he also pointed out that none of the Indian universities have yet made it to the ranking order of world universities. He asserted that Jamia could vie for a position in the ranking order and do the country proud. The President believed that Jamia Millia Islamia has the potential to excel at the world level and along with the right measures to represent itself in world ranking procedures, one could be hopeful of seeing a day when this would  become possible. It was evident that the students and staff of Jamia Millia  Islamia were delighted to have the President in their midst on this occasion.

After the Registrar, Prof. Shahid Ashraf had sought and being given the permission to declare the Convocation closed, the programme ended with the National Anthem played by the President’s Band.

Later, the Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani proceeded along with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Talat Ahmad to inaugurate the new building of Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, JMI at 01.40 PM.

The building was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister amidst cheers and clapping by students of Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, JMI. Prof. M Ejaz Hussain, Director, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, JMI conducted the Hon’ble Minister through a tour of the centre which included seeing a Poster Exhibition on Physiotherapy interventions and how they could help in improving the quality of life of people of all ages and climes. The minister showed great keenness to know about the activities of the Physiotherapy Centre.

Prof. M Ejaz Hussain presented a memento to the Hon’ble Minister on behalf of the Centre. Later, she was seen off by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Talat Ahmad and various Deans of Faculties, Heads of the Departments and the students.

[Note: This is an official Jamia Millia Islamia press release dated Nov. 17, 2014]