HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, March 11: The XXIII Convocation of the prestigious Dibrugarh University was held on Tuesday at the Kalaguru Bishnu Prasad Rabha Rangamancha.
The event was inaugurated by the Chancellor of Dibrugarh University and Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who declared the convocation open.
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Vice-chancellor Jiten Hazarika delivered the welcome address, expressing gratitude to students, parents, teachers, and attendees for their support in making Dibrugarh University a premier institute of higher learning.
He remarked, “Today, we celebrate not just the academic achievements of our students but also the collective progress and vision of this great institution, which has been a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and social responsibility for six decades. As we gather here, I am reminded of the rich legacy of Dibrugarh University, situated on a land that was once a tea garden, generously donated for the noble cause of education. This land, which once nurtured tea plants, now nurtures minds, ideas, and dreams. It is a testament to our commitment to transforming lives and communities through education.”
Highlighting the university’s achievements during its Diamond Jubilee year, he added, “Dibrugarh University has organised over 70 national and international conferences this year, bringing together scholars and experts from across the globe. These events, like the Dibrugarh University International Literature Festival 2025, bringing more than 120 reputed writers, including Padma Shri and Sahitya Akademi awardees, together, and the Japan NE Caravan, organised jointly by Japan Foundation and Dibrugarh University, have not only enriched our academic environment but have also positioned us as a hub for intellectual exchange and collaboration.”
Hazarika also discussed key academic advancements made by Dibrugarh University to align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, including the introduction of a Five-Year Integrated Postgraduate Programme, the construction of a Multidisciplinary Centre, and the launch of a vocational course on semiconductors.
The chief guest of the convocation, Rupam Sarmah, a renowned filmmaker, expert in data modernization and AI, and the first Assamese appointed as senior advisor to former US President Joe Biden, addressed the gathering. Currently serving as the Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at the California Health Agency, Sarmah shared insights from his journey from Jorhat, Assam, to the US, inspiring students to pursue excellence with dedication and service. He urged upon the students to follow a roadmap of life rife with aspiration beyond boundaries, seeking knowledge, skill development, adaptability with life and situations and a mission-driven approach. Citing one of Bhupen Hazarika’s song, which called for integrating science with humanism, he advised the graduating students to adopt this two-fold policy.
In his address, Chancellor Lakshman Prasad Acharya commended the university’s commitment to higher education. He encouraged the students to respond to the call of the time and society. He emphasized that traditional knowledge should be yoked with scientific development to ascertain real progress in our life. Moreover, he highlighted skill-development as a core measure to ensure life and employability of our youths. He eulogised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative or skilling India through his PM-USHA’s MERU grant, which Dibrugarh University was a proud recipient. He emphasized educational curriculum that would lead to entrepreneurship development, thereby making students empowered as job creators, then job seekers. He commended Dibrugarh University’s efforts towards women’s empowerment, which resulted in girls outshining boys in almost all fields.
A total of 10,648 students applied for the convocation, with 1,888 attending in person to receive their degrees. Among them, 114 students were awarded Ph.D degrees, and 38 students received Gold Medals for outstanding academic achievements, including 35 postgraduates and 3 graduates from the Science, Arts, and Commerce streams. Dikshita Deka, the best postgraduate from the department of Anthropology, was honoured with the Dr Junali Kropi Memorial Gold Medal and Endowment Award.
Additionally, the university conferred D.Sc. (Honoris Causa) upon Dr Joyanti Chutia, a distinguished and acclaimed plasma physicist, and D.Litt (Honoris Causa) upon Nahendra Padun, a prominent linguist and litterateur of the state.
The convocation witnessed a gathering of around 1,500 attendees, including vice-chancellors from other universities, alumni, faculty members, administrative staff, media representatives, and graduating students. It should be mentioned that more than 40 school going students from the vicinity of Dibrugarh University got the rare opportunity to attend this convocation as audience. Registrar Paramananda Sonowal extended his appreciation to the student community and the university family for making the convocation a grand success.
