The convocation and welcome ceremony of the class of 2020 and 2021 respectively took place on August 8 th 2020 for the Post Graduate Diploma course in Economics at Meghnad Desai Academy in Economics (MDAE).
This was the Academy’s first ever digital convocation ceremony. The virtual platform enabled more members of the MDAE family to participate as the board members, faculty, and students gathered together on one platform to celebrate this momentous occasion. The ceremony was presided by the Academy’s Chairman, Lord Meghnad Desai who also welcomed the Chief Guest – Hon. Piyush Goyal (Minister of Railways & Commerce and Industry). Also in attendance were Dr. Rajas Parchure (Director, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics) and the Academy’s board members – Dr. Tushar Poddar, Dr. Ajit Ranade, Mr. PD Singh, Mr. DK Joshi amongst others.
Karan Shah, the Academy’s CEO, initiated proceedings and welcomed Lord Desai, who congratulated the batch and called attention to the rigorous course structure of the MDAE course. He also appreciated the efforts of the students. Lord Desai then highlighted that the students’ dissertations were on par with international standards and conveyed that there existed sheer brilliance in how the students had written their papers and also mentioned that completing such a course has not been an easy task and the students who did have achieved greater success in life.
Following this, Lord Desai welcomed the chief guest, Honourable Minister of Railways and Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr.Piyush Goyal. During his speech, the minister appreciated the efforts taken by every member in the MDAE family and the families of the graduating students in sailing through this year with grace despite the tumultuous events unfolding. He also echoed the sentiment of hope and change by highlighting how times of crises have paved the way for economic booms and unprecedented growth and development. His speech to the outgoing batch was focused primarily on the virtue of hardwork and putting in the labour required to attain the desired fruitful outcome. He also highlighted that the students have indeed lived up to these principles by opting to pursue a subject as dynamic and complex as economics, and in taking the steps to see it through. In addition to these points, Mr. Goyal highlighted the importance of striving to meet better standards in any task undertaken. When highlighting the great efforts of the board, management, faculty and the families of the students showing support in easing this unexpected change of approaching education for the students in such times, he emphasized that an ‘Aatmanirbar Bharat’ is not only about India’s development inwards, but also about being in touch with the outside world during these times. He highlighted the need for students to be inclusive and become socially responsible citizens. Each one has to be grateful that they were fortunate enough to graduate with a high quality education and one must keep those who are less fortunate in their minds and strive to serve them.He concluded the speech by speaking a few words on how the students of the academy can use the technical and practical skills developed during the course in the academy in helping further the growth of the country and quoting Swami Vivekananda to emphasise this mindset, and merrily congratulated all the students of the outgoing batch once more.
Following this, the hon Chief Guest and Chairman felicitated the outstanding achievers of the year and then individually congratulated each of the students while conferring them their Diplomas. The ceremony concluded with a digital picture taken of the outgoing batch, the incoming batch, and a picture of the board members present and some closing remarks and congratulations shared by the academy’s program coordinator Dr. Bhagyashri Dabke.
