Nagpur University marked a historic milestone with its 113th convocation ceremony on Friday, celebrating academic excellence across generations. The event turned into a powerful testament to the idea that the pursuit of knowledge has no age limit, honoring a remarkable 97-year-old scholar alongside thousands of young graduates.
A Convocation of Inspiring Stories
The ceremony, held at the National Fire Service College auditorium, was distinguished by the presence of several elderly scholars and professionals from remote, low-income backgrounds. In total, 61,871 students received degrees and diplomas, creating a vibrant tapestry of academic achievement.
Two eminent scholars were conferred with the prestigious Doctorate of Literature (D Litt). The highlight was 97-year-old economist Vinayak Pande, who was awarded the D Litt in Economics. Currently residing in Bengaluru, Pande is an alumnus of Nagpur University, and his son, Makarand, accepted the degree on his behalf. Another scholar, 67-year-old Deepak Wankhede, received the D Litt in Geography (Human Sciences).
Celebrating Lifelong Learning and Achievement
The spirit of perseverance was further embodied by 65-year-old Ghanashyam Vithobaji Mange, who earned a PhD in Law. Honored with the Dr Vitthalrao Jibhkate Award, Mange expressed his intention to author a book on law. His academic journey is a remarkable story of dedication: after retiring as an assistant manager from the Maharashtra State Electricity Department in 2008, he enrolled in a regular college program in 2009, cleared his LLM in 2012, and began his doctoral research in 2018 under the guidance of Dr Ravishankar More.
Alongside these distinguished awards, the university presented 279 PhDs. The convocation also recognized outstanding merit, distributing 229 awards. This included 194 gold medals, eight silver medals, and 27 cash prizes to 140 students for top performance in the Winter 2024 and Summer 2025 examinations.
Leaders Urge Graduates to Harness Their Potential
The chief guest, Dr Anant Pandhare, President of AIIMS-Nagpur, inspired the gathering by urging students to recognize their inner strengths and pursue success with confidence. He highlighted the university's legacy of producing India's eminent leaders, including Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chief Justices, and ministers.
"The determination to work hard and the passion to move ahead through learning were clearly visible among students," Dr Pandhare said. He encouraged graduates to channel their hard work and positive energy to realize their full potential and appealed to teachers to help students overcome fear.
In her presidential address, Vice-Chancellor Manali Kshirsagar congratulated the students and expressed gratitude to parents and teachers. She called upon the new graduates to use their knowledge not just for personal growth but as a force for social welfare, environmental protection, equality, and fraternity.
The 113th convocation of Nagpur University will be remembered not just for the scale of its ceremony but for powerfully reinforcing that education is a lifelong journey, capable of transforming lives at any age.
