At JNU convocation ceremony, V-C highlights rising ‘nari shakti’

JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit highlights women empowerment and academic achievements at 8th convocation ceremony.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Thursday said she has seen a rise in “nari shakti (women empowerment)” after she took over the post as the head of the educational institution in 2022.

She made the comments at the 8th convocation ceremony of the university, which was held at the Prajnan Bhavan, All India Council for Technical Education.

“After I’ve taken over as V-C, ‘nari shakti’ has increased. The number of women in leadership positions at JNU has increased to 27%. We have proved that in many areas, women are as good as men,” she said.

A total of 2,721 students received their degrees on Thursday, including 798 PhD scholars, 1,310 master’s students and 364 undergraduate students. Of the 798 PhD degrees awarded, 408 were to female scholars and 390 to male scholars.

She also mentioned that JNU is as much a ‘nationalist’ university as any other university, adding that it is important for it to celebrate “diversity and difference as well as dissent, democracy and development”. Ms. Pandit said the university has established new centres with the help of funds from different State governments.

The funds for the Centre of Excellence for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were given by the State of Maharashtra while a special Centre for Tamil Studies was given ₹10 crore by the State government of Tamil Nadu, the V-C noted.

Among the dignitaries present at the event were former ISRO Chairman S.P. Somanath and the university’s Chancellor and former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal.