LUCKNOW: Some meritorious students choked with happiness, while some were in a state of disbelief at receiving their medals from the President of India.
Seven gold winners who were conferred medals by President Ram Nath Kovind during Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University’s ninth convocation ceremony on Thursday were on cloud nine.
“Getting a medal from the President has doubled its glitter. I feel blessed as people even after working hard throughout life don’t get such moments,” said gold medal winner for BSc (food science and technology) Bhanu Pratap Singh, who hails from Kaushambi.
Bhanu, the son of Nayak Subedar Rajendra Singh who participated in the Kargil war, said that his dream is to conduct research in food sciences and develop special food for soldiers so that it can be easily carried during wartime and lasts long.
“I don’t have words to express how it feels. After listening to his speech, I am inspired to do something for my country. I will work hard to become an IAS officer to serve the nation,” said Priyanka Gautam, BTech (computer science engineering), from Lucknow.
She said it was her good luck amid the pandemic to have become part of a convocation ceremony where not only the President but the chief minister and governor were also present.
Asking his friends to pinch him to be aware of reality, Barabanki’s Shubham Mishra (MSc geology) said, “This gold has made me more confident and focused towards achieving my dream of developing special remote sensing technology that can save our country from flash floods and avalanches. Only technology can help handle such natural disasters.”
MSc (agriculture) student Pooja Meena from Rajasthan shared the same emotion. “It was a day of three biggies: getting a gold medal, opportunity to hear President sir and a real convocation ceremony.”
“I was blank for several minutes after getting the medal from the President. Today I promise myself and the country that I will become a librarian to ensure that no student leaves education midway due to inability to buy books,” said MPhil (library science) gold medal winner Niharika Kumari.
MPhil (statistics) gold medal winner Shanya Baghel shared that getting a medal from the President was a lifetime achievement award. Baghel, who aspires to become an academician, said she will work for the education of the poor.
Similar career dreams and emotions were shared by MA (history) student Anju Rawat, the winner of Shri RD Sonker Founder Samta Samaj award.
“Getting an award from the President was like a dream come true. I promise my alma mater to spread the light of learning in rural India by becoming a professor,” she said.
“Yahin nahin rukna hai, aur aagey jaana hai,” the President said to Shanya on stage.
“He asked me to keep the momentum going and that I should not stop here,” she said, adding that those words will echo in her ears forever to inspire her.
