HJU students blame staff poor coordination for convocation protest

Jaipur: A day after Haridev Joshi University of Journalism and Mass Communication's convocation was disrupted, students said the protest was triggered by poor coordination among staff over who would receive degrees on stage from the Chancellor.The controversy erupted during HJU's third convocation ceremony Wednesday at Rajasthan International Centre in which the ceremony ended abruptly after Governor Haribhau Bagde awarded medals to 20 gold medallists, while other students were not given their degrees on stage.Irate students then stopped deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa's convoy when it was on its way out, forcing the university to restart the convocation ceremony and hand out the remaining degrees to graduating students. One of the protesting students, Sara Ismail, receiving a bachelors degree in journalism and mass communication, then went on stage, and while receiving her degree from Bairwa, turned to the audience and said, "Thank you for giving us this honour after insulting us."Backing her protest a day later, students said they had been led to believe that all of them would receive degrees during the ceremony. They said the protest was meant to highlight wider mismanagement at the university, including delays in classes and examinations."All students were informed that they would get their degrees. Our parents also came to see. Suddenly the ceremony concluded. Initially we did not say anything, but when we saw the dignitaries leaving, we stopped them and the ceremony resumed. My words were not intended to disrespect anyone, especially the deputy chief minister, but only to call out the unfair treatment meted out to students," Ismail said.Students said a rehearsal held on Tuesday, and invitation cards for the event, had clearly specified "conferment of degrees and gold medals"."Based on past precedent, all students were given the degree on stage. So, we thought that the same would happen this time too. Many students came with their parents from outside the state at the last minute, and not getting the degree was upsetting," said Shaurya Chaudhary, a student of the 2022 batch who received his degree Wednesday.Vice-Chancellor Prof NK Pandey called the incident unfortunate and said the university was considering whether to take action."Something like this happening was completely unexpected and very unfortunate. It is known that all students are not given the degree from the stage, and all dignitaries cannot stay for so long. We are discussing whether to take any action or not," he said.