Over 1 lakh Pune university students get degrees amid Puneri Pagdi controversy

Pune – The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has changed the costume for the 114th convocation ceremony on Friday and made the traditional black robe as optional dress. The students were asked to wear off-white kurta and an ‘uttariya’ (scarf like piece of cloth) of different colours according to their streams during the convocation ceremony. The SPPU will stop using black convocation robes and students will wear Indian traditional clothes like kurta.

Some students’ organization representatives have objected to Puneri Pagdi. The local Chatushrungi police station officials had to intervene when the students started raising slogans. The situation on the campus was tense for some time. Over one lakh students were awarded degree certificates.

Meanwhile, many students did not feel the turban important but education and jobs are important. So many students enjoyed the graduation program ignoring the controversy. Some students brought a horse with Puneri Pagdi on its head.

A total of 1,03,123 students received their degrees at the convocation. Among these 80,613 are graduate students and 21,366 are post graduation students. Director General of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Shekhar Mande was the chief guest. SPPU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nitin Karamalkar, Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. NS Umraani, Registrar Dr. Praful Patel, HOD of various departments were also present on the occasion. They were wearing Puneri Pagdi.

While the celebrations were going on, some students organization members Kuldeep Ambekar, Dayanand Shinde and Sharmila Yevale raised slogans and were going towards the dias. They were immediately taken to the Chautushrangi police station by the security police. Akshar Jhambre Patil and activists of NCP Students’ wing put the Puneri Pagdi on a horse and brought it to the campus.