Patna: A convocation meant to celebrate academic excellence descended into chaos at Patna University (PU) on Saturday as angry students disrupted the proceedings with slogans and protests over the denial of on-stage degree distribution to all graduating students.The uproar forced Bihar governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Syed Ata Hasnain, to leave the venue without delivering his scheduled address.The drama unfolded at the Mother Veronica Auditorium on the Patna Women’s College (PWC) campus, where the university’s annual convocation was being held. Trouble erupted when a section of students demanded that they too be called on stage and formally presented with their degrees.Under the university’s arrangement, only PhD scholars and gold-medal winners were to receive their degrees on stage. The decision angered other graduates, who insisted they should also be given the same recognition.Repeated attempts by university officials and police to calm the protesters failed as sloganeering and commotion continued, casting a shadow over the ceremony and disrupting its proceedings. With the situation refusing to settle, the governor left midway without delivering his convocation address.Amid the disruption, the university formally conferred degrees on 1,305 students, including 155 PhD scholars. As many as 38 postgraduate toppers of the 2023-25 batch were awarded gold medals.Girls dominated the list of academic achievers, accounting for 28 of the 38 gold medals, while 10 went to male students.Poonam Tandon, vice-chancellor of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University and guest of honour, addressed the graduating students.
