First citizen Droupadi Murmu likely chief guest at PEC’s coming convocation
First citizen Droupadi Murmu likely chief guest at PEC’s coming convocation
Another major milestone in the journey of PEC’s 100th year after last with the visit by Ram Nath Kovind
Tejinder Singh Bedi
@tsinghbedi
Marching with all the glory into the 100th year of its growth from Nov 9, 2021, the Punjab Engineering College of Chandigarh (Deemed to be a University) is adding another feather in its cap by securing the graceful presence of the first citizen of the country as its likely chief guest for a second time within the same year on its annual convocation tentatively planned to be held on October 8.
Fresh with its recent experience of the visit of the last sitting President and all the protocols and security measures to be followed with a zero error approach all preparations to receive the first citizen again, are almost complete with a lot of buzz and excitement among all of the fresh graduating & post-graduating students, faculty members as well as its administrative staff. At its 100th meeting of the senate presided over by the PEC Director Prof. Baldev Setia, various proposals related to the conduct of the convocation ceremony were discussed threadbare yesterday and it is learnt to have, among other things decided to introduce a unique Indian dress code for the students to receive their degrees. The codes are separately defined for the special guests, faculty, and students. The convocation dress will display a logo of the institute on one side and of the centenary year on the other. This year while 668 students have completed their graduate degrees, 168 have qualified as postgraduates besides another 32 for their PhDs. The lucky few graduating pass-outs are naturally agog with great excitement to be stepping out of the institute with the blessings of none less than the first citizen of the country!
After the president’s recent address at the diamond jubilee celebrations of IIT, Delhi it would indeed be interesting to know how the honorable president feels about her first ever visit to PEC and also to Chandigarh, the city beautiful. The UT administration has also started preparations for this important visit indicative of the president’s willingness though Smt. Murmu is also expected to grace another important event in the UT of Chandigarh also in the same itinerary.
A formal request and invitation to the president had been sent by the institute long ago; the moment the timelines for the convocation were finalized by the present director Dr. Baldev Setia.
The exact date of the visit is expected to be confirmed anytime now and most likely around the first week of October considering the President’s other national and international level commitments after the willingness of the president to accept the same as indicated by her office about ten days ago.
The last visit of the previous president Shri Ram Nath Kovind had been secured by the institute on the day of the formal launch of its preparations for its centenary year on Nov 16.