In significant departure from traditions, the guidelines state that all participants, including deans of departments, teachers, and students, must adhere to formal footwear.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – In a significant departure from traditions, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is set to witness a change in attire for its seventh convocation ceremony scheduled for February 2. The university administration has issued strict guidelines mandating a dress code for both students and teachers participating in the event.
According to the guidelines formulated by Joint Registrar of JNU, Prof. Uma Kant Agarwal, male students are required to wear white kurta pajama, while female students can opt for either a white bordered saree or a white kurta paired with salwar or pajama. On the day of the convocation, the university will provide dupatta to the female participants.
This move has not been without controversy, as some students questioning the sudden imposition of a dress code when degrees have been awarded without such conditions in the past. The dissenting students have urged the university administration to reconsider the decision.
The ensuing convocation ceremony marks the first instance where JNU has introduced stringent guidelines regarding the attire of both students and teachers.
In addition to the dress code, the guidelines state that all participants, including deans of departments, teachers, and students, must adhere to formal footwear.
Furthermore, the guidelines outline the procedures for awarding degrees to scholars who successfully completed the Ph.D. program between January 19, 2023, and January 15, 2024. It is emphasised that the degree awarded during the convocation will not be the original one. Ph.D. scholars are required to apply by January 25 with a registration fee of Rs 1,200, while graduate students can register by January 22 with the same fee.
Prior to participating in the convocation, Ph.D. scholars are obligated to obtain a no-objection certificate from their respective centers and hostels. Non-attendance by graduating students will result in exclusion from the convocation ceremony.
The ceremony is slated to commence with Vande Mataram, followed by Saraswati Vandana, and conclude with the national anthem. Attendees are required to be seated in their assigned places half an hour before the commencement of the convocation ceremony, with arrangements made for students and teachers to sit in alphabetical order.
