Mysuru: Highlighting the transformative power of education in nation building, Karnataka governor and chancellor of Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) Thaawar Chand Gehlot on Saturday said knowledge should serve not just individual success but the collective welfare of society and the nation.Presiding over the 21st Convocation of KSOU at the Convocation Hall here, the governor noted that rapid advances in artificial intelligence, automation, digital technologies and green innovation are reshaping lifestyles as well as employment opportunities.“India is steadily moving towards becoming a self-reliant and developed nation. Innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development are crucial to achieving this vision,” Gehlot said. He expressed confidence that KSOU would further strengthen skill-based programmes, job-oriented courses and research initiatives to address emerging social and industry needs.Delivering the convocation address online, Union minister of state for education and development of north eastern region Sukanta Majumdar said education is the foundation of national development. He observed that open and distance learning has emerged as a powerful tool for inclusive growth and social transformation.At the convocation, degrees were awarded to 10,691 students, many of whom had waited for over a decade due to prolonged issues surrounding the validity of their admissions.Honorary doctorates were conferred on S Shivakumar of Harsha Institutions, Satish Kumar D Kaggere, secretary of Kids International School; Brahmakumari Lakshmi of Prajapita Brahma Kumaris Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, KB Lingaraju of the Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted Sanskrit scholar Bhashyam Swamy, educationist Shivashankar Tokare, scholar BS Nagabhushana Atri, and retired bureaucrat C Somashekar.BoM members boycott convocationThe convocation, however, was overshadowed by a boycott by members of the Board of Management (BoM), the university’s apex decision-making body. Except for Ramesh Kalappa Gubbewada, all BoM members stayed away, protesting the administration’s decision to confer honorary doctorates without obtaining prior approval from the Board.According to sources, the members objected to the selection process, stating that the conferment of honorary degrees requires discussion and ratification by the BoM as mandated by university statutes. They alleged that bypassing the board undermines transparency, collective decision-making and institutional governance.Notable PhD recipientsAmong the prominent PhD awardees were BJP leader CT Ravi and IPS officer Geetha Prasanna, superintendent of police, Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF).Ravi earned his doctorate with a comparative study of Indian coalition govts, focusing on the NDA and UPA regimes. Calling himself a “lifelong student,” he said the research aligned naturally with his political career.Geetha Prasanna received her PhD for a cultural study of the Mysuru district police. She attributed her achievement to balancing professional responsibilities with strong family support, and spoke of her respect for the Kannada language and local culture.Toppers left disappointedAmid the celebrations, the convocation proved to be a bitter experience for several rank holders. Aparna Nabhiraj, first-rank holder of the 2016 MSc (Tech) batch, said she was invited after a 10-year legal battle over UGC licensing issues but was neither called on stage nor issued her certificates.Despite paying Rs 7,060 in fees and travelling from Bengaluru, she said she was neither called on stage nor given certificates.. “It is profoundly unfair to invite us as toppers and collect fees, only to deny us recognition without prior notice,” she said.University authorities reportedly cited vague “govt issues” for the lapse, leaving many students from the batch distressed and disappointed.
