PANJIM: A total of 77 graduate and post graduate students were awarded degrees and 56 research scholars were awarded PhD at the 29th annual convocation of Goa University on Tuesday. Before giving away the certificates to the students, University Chancellor and Goa Governor Dr Mridula Sinha conferred President Pranab Mukherjee with Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters of Goa University. 

The ceremony began with paying condolences to 25 CRPF jawans who were killed in one of the deadliest Maoist attack at Chattisgarh on Monday. 

Sinha gave away the certificates to the students in the presence of Mukherjee, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Vice Chancellor Varun Sahni, varsity Registrar Y V Reddy and the deans of all the faculties sharing the dais. The girls outshone boys in securing degrees, which was much appreciated by the President. 

“It is good to see that girls have outshone boys,” he said adding, “There is a well-known saying that when you educate a boy, you educate an individual but when you educate a girl, you educate an entire family.” 

Addressing the gathering thereafter, Sinha termed the day as ‘historic’ as she congratulated all the degree and doctorate holders. “This is a historic and a proud moment for all of us. I foresee that our young generation is capable to make a society progressive, self respectful and advanced,” she stated.