President Droupadi Murmu to be Chief Guest at Gujarat Vidyapith's 71st convocation

President Droupadi Murmu will be the Chief Guest at Gujarat Vidyapith's 71st annual convocation on October 11. The ceremony will take place at 5 pm on the university’s campus at Ashram Road, Ahmedabad.

Convocation postponed from June to October

This year’s ceremony, initially scheduled for June, was postponed as confirmation from the President’s office was awaited.

The university, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, traditionally held its convocation on its foundation day, October 18. However, in recent years, the university began holding its convocation on Guru Purnima in June. The traditional Hindu festival is dedicated to expressing reverence and gratitude to one’s teachers or gurus. The choice underscores the spiritual and ethical dimensions of Gujarat Vidyapith’s Gandhian ethos. 

Following final confirmation from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the event will now coincide with the President’s scheduled visit to Gujarat from October 9 to 11. It will also mark the first attendance by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at Vidyapith convocation after the institution’s recent administrative changes.

Degrees to 713 students

A total of 713 students will receive their degrees this year, of whom 459 are expected to attend the ceremony in person. The recipients include 347 girls and 366 boys, with nine students set to receive medals for academic excellence.

Currently, Gujarat Vidyapith has 2,310 undergraduate and postgraduate students, including 120 from outside Gujarat (44 boys and 76 girls) and two international students.

History of presidential visits

President Murmu’s visit will be the tenth time a sitting President of India has attended a Vidyapith convocation. The first President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, who also served as the Vidyapith’s Chancellor, attended four times. Other Presidents who have graced the event include Dr S. Radhakrishnan, Dr Zakir Husain, Giani Zail Singh, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, and, most recently, Pranab Mukherjee in 2015.

In total, seven Presidents of India have served as chief guests at Gujarat Vidyapith’s convocations, reflecting the university’s enduring connection with national leadership and Gandhian ideals.