Letter to the graduating students of JNU

Dear students,  

The event of convocation marks and memorializes a significant transition in one's academic lives. It is a ceremony that nurtures one's identification and members with the institute. To celebrate this transition, I am glad that Jawaharlal Nehru University conducted its fourth Annual Convocation on 18th November 2020; whereby over 600 PhD degrees were conferred to the research scholars who pursued research in 11 Schools and 03 Special Centers. 

It was of immense pleasure for me to be the Guest of Honor at the convocation. I congratulate all the students who have received their PhD degrees at this convocation. It is after more than four decades, JNU reintroduced the convocation ceremony with the second convocation in 2018 followed by the third convocation in 2019. The convocation reflects the hard works done by the research scholars and teachers in their respective disciplines. A proud moment for your teachers and parents too to see your hard work, assiduity and passion for research and development. 

Students, you are the forebears of the culture of research and innovation environment of the university which has secured A++ grade (highest grade conferred by NAAC) and has been ranked 2nd in University ranking released by NIRF (MHRD). Thereby, the time has come for you to articulate JNU's mission and expectations in the real world. It is the time for you to promote the principles for which Jawaharlal Nehru worked during his lifetime. It would be best if you come forth for fostering the power of national integration, social justice, secularism, and democratic way of life while building international understanding and socio-scientific approach to the problems of society of New India. 

I am confident that the number of PhD degrees will further increase in the coming years with the establishment of new schools and centres, such as School of Engineering and Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management & Entrepreneurship, Special Centre of Disaster Studies, and Special Centre for National Security Studies and Special Centre for Study of North East India. I congratulate you once again! 

Yours Truly, 

Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' 

Minister of Education, Government of India