The usual exuberance, which normally accompanies annual convocations, was missing and inadequate facilities at the Dr. Ambedkar Auditorium, the venue of the 33rd annual convocation of Gulbarga University, stole the lustre from one of the most important events in the university’s calendar.
The auditorium did not have proper ventilation and adequate air conditioning which made it bad for the students who had gathered in good number. Humid conditions inside the auditorium made it quite difficult for people to sit throughout the session.
Chaotic conditions prevailed in the auditorium, without proper lighting and seating arrangements for the Ph.D, M.Phill awardees and postgraduates and undergraduates who emerged toppers.
The winners were seen grouped with the general public who had gathered to view the proceedings.
The Governor, who is the Chancellor of the University, and Higher Education Minister R.V. Deshpande, who is also the Pro Chancellor of the university, were absent taking away the event’s sheen .
Incidentally, the university is also without a full-time Vice-Chancellor for more than a year. The in-charge Vice-Chancellor G.R. Naik conducted the proceedings of the convocation and gave away the honorary doctorates to physician Muralidhar S. Rao, artist A.S. Patil and educationist Abdul Quadeer.
The only saving grace was the presence of the former Supreme Court judge and Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Shivaraj Patil who made up for the absence of dignitaries through his inspirational speech.
