Bareilly: The 23rd convocation ceremony of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University (MJPRU) was held at the Atal Auditorium under the esteemed chairmanship of Governor and Chancellor Anandiben Patel. The event marked a significant academic and institutional milestone for the university.
Prior to the convocation, Governor Patel inaugurated the newly developed Prof. S.B. Singh Auditorium in the presence of Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay, Minister of State for Higher Education Rajni Tiwari, and Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.P. Singh. During the visit, five students of Kasturba Gandhi Residential School—Rajda B., Upasni, Anjali Sharma, Ambika Kumari, and Nikita—were administered the HPV vaccine through the Health Department and were provided nutritional kits.
Following the inauguration, the Governor virtually launched several key facilities from the Atal Auditorium, including the Golden Jubilee Gate, Yoga Garden, and the Multi-Purpose Sports Stadium. She also released the university’s annual report, a sports compendium, and a booklet showcasing creative entries from competitions held among students of schools adopted by the university. Three student winners were felicitated with school bags, certificates, and books.
The university honoured Governor of Jharkhand and former Union Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar with the Lifetime Achievement Award–2025 for his remarkable contributions. Handicraft expert Ritu Upadhyay was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) for her excellence in the field. The Governor also presented medical kits and Raj Bhavan publications to the District Magistrates of Bareilly and Badaun.
In her convocation address, Governor Patel expressed satisfaction over the rising academic achievements of girls in higher education and research. She noted that she has attended 35 convocation ceremonies this year and witnessed women outperforming at every institution. She described the Lifetime Achievement Award as a promising tradition, with the university’s alumnus and Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar becoming its first recipient.
She emphasised that learning is a continuous process extending beyond classrooms. Quoting inspirational ideas, she urged students to dream big and pursue their goals with dedication. “Dreams are not what you see in sleep; dreams are what keep you awake until you achieve them,” she said, advising students to make hard work their greatest wealth. She encouraged them to use their knowledge for societal upliftment and to cultivate the desire for lifelong learning.
Governor Patel stressed the need for universities to collaborate with research institutions and establish dedicated laboratories to provide hands-on experience before students step into the professional world. She also called for joint academic programmes to promote research in specialised fields.
Remembering Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 150th birth anniversary year, she praised his relentless efforts in unifying the nation. She urged students to imbibe the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and encouraged universities to organise year-long programmes to commemorate the 150 years of the patriotic song Vande Mataram.
The Governor highlighted the importance of timely examinations and regular academic sessions, drawing the Vice-Chancellor’s attention toward discontinuing the backlog examination cycle. She congratulated all 94 gold medallists and 111 Ph.D. awardees, wishing them success in their future endeavours. She motivated them to bring pride to their families, institutions, and the nation through their contributions.
The ceremony concluded with the national anthem.
Report by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena from Bareilly.
