HRD minister will deliver the convocation address at the GNDU on February 19. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 5

Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Development (HRD), is all set to deliver the convocation address at the upcoming 44th convocation of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) to be held on February 19. Javadekar will preside as the chief guest of the event. The university authorities are also set to confer honorary degrees on former Chief of Army Staff Gen Bikram Singh (retd) and former Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar in their upcoming convocation.More than 500 degrees will be given in the field of PHD, MPhil, MBA, MA among others to pass outs. The honorary degrees in science and laws will be given to Singh and Khehar, respectively, as a mark of respect of their achievements. Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore will also attend the event.Preparations for the gala academic event are in full swing. Around 19 committees have been constituted by the university authorities to look into the nitty-gritty of the affairs. Elaborating on the choices of the dignitaries, Prof KS Kahlon, Registrar, Guru Nanak Dev University, said, “The choice of conferring degrees on Gen Bikram Singh and Jagdish Singh Khehar is based on their remarkable and inspiring achievements. The idea is to make the convocation an inspiring events for our students. The mere presence of dignitaries of such repute is a matter of the pride for the university.”“In future too, we shall be calling such established names. We feel honored that Minister of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar has consented to preside as the chief guest. It will be a great opportunity for our students as well members of the civil society to interact and listen to such stalwart personalities,” he added.