President graces the 71st convocation of the Gujarat Vidyapith

The 71st convocation ceremony of Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, was held at the university’s campus under the chairmanship of President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday. A total of 713 students from 18 departments across seven faculties received their degrees from the President, marking a historic milestone for the institution deeply rooted in Gandhian philosophy.Governor and Chancellor Acharya Devvrat announced the conferment of degrees, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel graced the occasion and congratulated the graduates. For the first time in the Vidyapith’s history, nine students were awarded gold medals based on both academic excellence and social service.
Addressing the gathering, President Murmu said she felt immense joy visiting the sacred land that served as Mahatma Gandhi’s principal workplace. “Gujarat Vidyapith is a 105-year-old symbol of the living ideals of nation-building and self-reliance,” she said, recalling how the institution was born out of the Non-Cooperation Movement and sustained through people’s participation.President Murmu urged students to dedicate themselves to social upliftment and environmental sustainability, following the principle of Sarvodaya. “The ray of hope lies not outside but within us,” she reminded the graduates.She paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and noted that from 1920 until 1948, Gandhiji himself served as the first Chancellor of the institution, followed by leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Morarji Desai. “Few institutions in the country have received guidance from such great personalities,” she said, adding that this legacy places a special responsibility on Vidyapith’s students.Urging the youth to be torchbearers of self-reliance, President Murmu said, “Making India self-reliant is our national priority. You all must play an active role in the Swadeshi movement and promote Indian goods with the spirit of ‘Nation First’.” She highlighted Gujarat’s culture of entrepreneurship and self-employment, calling upon students to carry forward the legacy of innovation and resilience that defines the state.Quoting the Vidyapith’s motto  “Saa vidyaa yaa vimuktye” (That is true knowledge which liberates)  the President said that education should not merely be a means to livelihood but a lifelong process of learning that uplifts both individual and society. She commended the higher participation of female students in the graduating class and stressed the importance of equal educational opportunities.Lauding the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, President Murmu said it promotes the integration of Indian knowledge systems, local languages, and moral values into modern education. “Character building and the inculcation of values are the fundamental objectives of education,” she remarked.

VIDEO | Ahmedabad: President Droupadi Murmu attends the 71st convocation ceremony of Gujarat Vidyapith.

She says, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the scholars who received their degrees today... The campus of this university, located in Ahmedabad, was a breeding… pic.twitter.com/HzP6m0AcA9

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 11, 2025

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel described it as a moment of pride for students to graduate from an institution founded by the Father of the Nation. “Receiving degrees from the hands of the President is a historic moment,” he said, recalling that Mahatma Gandhi established Gujarat Vidyapith to inspire youth to participate in nation-building based on truth, non-violence, and self-reliance.He highlighted Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat built on four pillars — Garib (the poor), Yuva (youth), Annadata (farmers), and Nari Shakti (women) — forming the acronym GYAN. “Students of Gujarat Vidyapith are special because, along with education, they have imbibed the values of self-discipline, dignity of labour, and Swadeshi,” he said, encouraging graduates to become ambassadors of the ‘Har Ghar Swadeshi, Ghar Ghar Swadeshi’ movement.

માનનીય રાષ્ટ્રપતિ શ્રી દ્રૌપદી મુર્મુજીએ આ અવસરે પદવી પ્રાપ્ત કરેલ સૌ વિધાર્થીઓને વિકસિત ભારતના નિર્માણમાં તેમજ ભારતને વિશ્વમાં વૈભવશાળી બનાવવામાં યોગદાન આપવા માર્ગદર્શન પૂરું પાડ્યું હતું તેમજ આત્મનિર્ભરતાને સમર્પિત ગુજરાતની સંસ્કૃતિને સમગ્ર દેશમાં પ્રસરાવવાની પ્રેરણા પુરી પાડી… pic.twitter.com/3tulx7xbWp

— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) October 11, 2025

Governor Acharya Devvrat, in his address, said that Mahatma Gandhi established Gujarat Vidyapith not merely for education but to free the nation from a mindset of dependence. “He showed the path of freedom through truth, non-violence, and Indian values,” the Governor said, urging students to use their knowledge for the nation’s service.He added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is progressing towards becoming an Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and Viksit Bharat (developed India). “If we adopt Swadeshi and work with dedication, we can fulfill Bapu’s dream of an ideal India,” he said.Vice-Chancellor Harshad Patel, in his welcome address, stated that Gujarat Vidyapith has effectively implemented the New Education Policy both academically and practically. He expressed confidence that graduates would continue to uphold the ideals of goodwill, service, and self-reliance.During the ceremony, the logo for the upcoming Gramjivan Yatra—scheduled for November—was unveiled, and the university’s Annual Report was released. Of the 713 students conferred degrees, 366 were male and 347 female.At the conclusion of the event, President Murmu was given a warm farewell at Ahmedabad Airport by Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and senior state officials.Earlier, the President performed Darshan and Aarti at the Dwarkadhish Temple in Dwarka, Gujarat.

(State Correspondent)