Lucknow- Faces lit up with joy as meritorious students were awarded at the 29th Convocation Ceremony of Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), held on Tuesday at Shruti Auditorium in the presence of eminent dignitaries.
The ceremony was presided over by Uttar Pradesh Governor and SGPGI Chancellor Anandiben Patel, with Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and Minister of State for Medical Education Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh in attendance. The Chief Guest was renowned gastroenterologist Prof. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Founder and Chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, who holds the rare distinction of being the first Indian doctor to receive all three Padma awards — Padma Shri (2002), Padma Bhushan (2016), and Padma Vibhushan (2025).
The ceremony commenced with the national anthem, followed by a welcome address from SGPGI Director Prof. R.K. Dhiman, who presented the institute’s annual progress report and shared future plans. Degrees were conferred upon 415 graduating students, with all certificates uploaded digitally via DigiLocker. Awards including the Prof. Sabyasachi Sarkar Award, Prof. S.R. Naik Award, Prof. S.S. Agrawal Award, and Prof. R.K. Sharma Award were presented by the Governor to deserving recipients.
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak congratulated the awardees, emphasizing that medicine is foremost a service to humanity, where economics comes later. He thanked the Governor for her vision and guidance in securing NAAC accreditation for SGPGI. Minister Mayankeshwar Sharan Singh encouraged students and faculty to strive harder to keep SGPGI at the forefront of medical sciences.
Prof. Reddy delivered the convocation address, motivating students with his inspiring words, after which Governor Patel felicitated him with a memento. In her address, she urged graduates to dedicate themselves to service, especially in rural areas, and suggested that every doctor should resolve to treat at least five patients free of cost during their career. She also stressed on making optimal use of available resources, addressing concerns over environmental pollution, and ensuring patient care remains rooted in empathy.
The Governor also released two books authored by Prof. Aditya Kapoor, Head of Cardiology — “Yoga Coffee Table Book: Harmony in Healing” and “Handbook of Cardiac Nursing Care.” The event also featured cultural performances by schoolchildren on environmental conservation, which were well appreciated and rewarded by the Governor. Students Raj Maurya, Kavya Sen, and Khushi were among those recognized for excellence in speech and painting competitions, while five Anganwadi workers were presented with special kits.
In recognition of academic excellence, 415 students received their degrees from Prof. Reddy, while dignitaries including Raebareli CDO Arpit Upadhyay and Prakash Chandra Tiwari, Principal of Secondary School Kalli Paschim, received books from the Raj Bhavan for school distribution.
The ceremony concluded with Prof. Dhiman honoring guests with saplings, underlining the institute’s commitment to both education and environmental stewardship. The event was attended by faculty members, students, staff, and parents in large numbers.
