The days of black gown are gone, kurta, dhoti or pyjama and Malviya pagri (turban) will now be the dress code for the convocation ceremonies in Bihar universities. All the universities will have a fixed calendar for the convocation. These measures have been approved by senior BJP leader and newly-appointed Bihar Governor lalji Tandon who also happens to be Chancellor of all Bihar universities.
The Raj Bhavan notification issued to all the Vice-Chancellors said, “The Chancellor has been pleased to approve the Statute & Costume design for organising and conducting convocation at the universities of Bihar under relevant provisions of different Acts.”
The dress code has been fixed not only for the recipients of the degrees but also for Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and chief guest. The male degree recipient or graduand will don white kurta-pyjama or kurta dhoti, lemon yellow turban and yellow anga vastra (scarf) with red border and university’s logo, while women will wear white salwar, lemon yellow shirt or sari of the same colour with red border, red blouse and lemon yellow Malviya pagri and scarf.
This dress code will end the traditional gown which is donned in almost all the universities across the world. The Raj Bhavan has approved the statute for organising convocation every year and strict adherence to the dress code.
These measures had been initiated during the tenure of former governor Satyapal Malik who has been moved to Jammu & Kashmir Raj Bhavan late last month. A panel comprising three vice chancellors had been constituted which prepared the statute for convocation calendar and costume design. The panel had submitted its report to the chancellor in July last and it was approved on August 29 by the present governor.
The Raj Bhavan has ordered all the universities to prepare calendar for their convocation every year in November and December. The holding of convocation will be major point for the rating of the universities.
The Bihar universities have been giving little importance to the convocation and in recent years only the Patna University and Nalanda Open University have been organising it regularly. A few other universities organised but very late. The convocation calendar has also been the priority of the UGC. All the degree recipients would be informed at eat six weeks in advance about the dates for convocation so that they could make all the arrangements for travel and the dress.
The chancellor’s dress code will be white turban, cream colour jacket with sujani embroidery on collar and the vice chancellor and pro-vice chancellor will don lemon yellow turban, golden colour jacket with embroidery on collar and scarf. Chief guest of the convocation, registrar and controller of examnation will also wear jackets of different colours. The Raj Bhavan notification said each university has to hold convocation in November or in December under special circumstances. A Patna University professor said that routine convocation would be very helpful to the passed out students who face a number of problems in getting their original mark-sheets and degrees.
