For the first time since its establishment in 1960, Ranchi University (RU) organised a virtual convocation ceremony for limited guests and gave away certificates in person only to around 63 toppers on Monday amid Covid-19 restrictions.

While RU Vice Chancellor Ramesh Pandey and Pro Vice Chancellor Kamini Kumar conferred certificates and medals to the toppers of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in the auditorium of the Institute of Law Studies in a low-key event on campus, Governor Droupadi Murmu addressed students via video conferencing from Raj Bhavan on the 34th Convocation ceremony.

Besides the 63 toppers, at least 77 Ph.D students were conferred certificates at six different locations in various departments, RU authorities said. The Governor’s address was webcast live to all the students in the various departments.

“It gives me immense pleasure to be present virtually with you all on this day. However, I would have been happier had I got the opportunity to see you all in person on this special day,” said Murmu, adding that the smile on the faces of students on convocation day gave her great joy.

Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, Murmu said that right education lets people’s actions speak louder than words and inculcates the feeling of helping others. “Ranchi University is one of the oldest universities in Jharkhand, and it has achieved a good name across India with its achievements,” said the Governor.

She added that education was the most important pillar of development in India as it lets a person find inspiration and purpose in life. Education, she said, should also inculcate patriotism and the intent to serve society among students.

The Chancellor said the new education policy of 2020 aims at promoting mother tongue, Indian-ness and morality. Following the new education policy and ensuring that students benefit from it have emerged as major challenges for the varsity, she added.

While the toppers were excited to get gold medals from the VC and Pro VC, some of them claimed that getting medals at the convocation ground in presence of family and friends would have been more satisfying.

“I am happy that we at least had a convocation ceremony where we could get our medals and certificates. However, this cannot match the thrill and enthusiasm associated with getting awarded in presence of our near and dear ones at a huge gathering of several hundred people,” said Saurav Munda, the topper of Masters in Mass Communication.

Every year, the varsity holds its convocation ceremony at the convocation ground on the RU campus at Morhabadi, where the toppers are conferred certificates by a chief guest and a guest of honour. Last year, President Ramnath Kovind attended the convocation ceremony and handed over certificates and medals to toppers in a grand event.

The decision of keeping the convocation ceremony a low-key affair was taken in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the state capital. Certificates and medals were given to PG students of 2018-2020 batch and undergraduate students of 2017-2020 batch on Monday.