Kokrajhar: Bodoland University (BU), a leading educational institution in the Bodoland Territorial Region, hosted its third convocation on Sunday at the Jwhwlao Nileswar Brahma Auditorium in Kokrajhar. Degree certificates were conferred upon graduates and PhD holders from the academic years 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. The ceremonial event was graced by the Chancellor of the university and Governor of Assam, Lakshman Prasad Acharya, who personally awarded certificates to the qualified students.
In his address, Vice Chancellor Prof. Babulal Ahuja highlighted the university's strides in fostering a multidisciplinary learning environment. He emphasized that BU's 90 faculty members across 17 academic departments are dedicated to nurturing curiosity, innovation, and empowering students to realize their aspirations.
Prof. Ahuja proudly shared BU's remarkable growth in research funding, which surged eleven-fold from ₹1.53 crores in 2021-22 to ₹16.62 crores in 2024-25, supporting 28 projects. Additionally, a ₹20 crore grant under the PM-USHA scheme has further enhanced the university's infrastructure and initiatives. Notably, the Biotechnology department secured projects worth ₹12.4 crores, including ₹7.6 crores from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA, awarded to Prof. Jatin Sarmah, and ₹4.8 crores secured by Prof. Sandeep Das through a collaboration with Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited.
Highlighting global academic achievements, Prof. Ahuja noted that two faculty members from the Faculty of Science & Technology, Prof. Sanjay Basumatary (Chemistry) and Dr. Hemen Sarma (Botany), were ranked among the world’s Top 2% most-cited scientists for 2024 by Stanford University. Additionally, Dr. Arvind Kumar Goyal from the Centre for Bamboo Studies was also recognized among the top-cited scientists. BU also celebrated securing two groundbreaking patents in the departments of Botany and History.
Prof. Ahuja emphasized BU's role in driving socio-economic transformation through its Technology Incubation Centre, supported by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, Government of Assam, BTR, and North Eastern Council (NEC). The center has empowered over 10,000 farmers with mushroom cultivation skills and established 137 Rural Skill Centres across the North Eastern States, promoting sustainable livelihoods and fostering a culture of resilience and innovation.
Reflecting on BU’s alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Prof. Ahuja announced the university's ambitious plan to establish 30 new departments, enhancing academic and professional opportunities for students. With support from the Government of Assam and BTR, a new campus is being developed in Udalguri, approximately 240 km from the main campus at Kokrajhar. BU has also been designated as the nodal university by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS) framework for developing textbooks in the Bodo language. The Department of Bodo, led by Prof. Indira Boro, has authored an impressive collection of around 70 books in the Bodo language, reflecting BU's commitment to preserving India’s rich linguistic heritage.
Additionally, the Department of Management Studies at BU offers a functional Hindi course through a certificate program in collaboration with the Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, IIM Shillong, and NEC.
Prof. Ahuja also highlighted BU’s global outreach and academic excellence through 19 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with esteemed organizations such as CSIR-NEIST, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, CIT Kokrajhar, IOCL, Bhattadev University, Gauhati University, the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology, United Nations-North East Region, and the Wildlife Trust of India. These collaborations aim to enhance interdisciplinary research, technological advancement, and environmental conservation.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya expressed his appreciation for the vibrant convocation ceremony, lauding Bodoland University's commitment to educational upliftment in the region. Pramod Boro, the Chief Executive Member of Bodoland Territorial Region, also attended the event, expressing his delight at witnessing the university's progress.
“I, along with Hon'ble Governor of Assam cum Chancellor of Bodoland University, His Excellency Adarniya Shri Laxman Acharya Ji, am glad to attend the 3rd Convocation Ceremony of this prestigious university. I urged the graduates to utilize their education for the development of a ‘Viksit BTR’ and ‘Viksit Assam’ as skilled human resources. My best wishes for their future endeavors,” Boro stated.
The convocation celebrated not only academic excellence but also BU's transformative role in empowering communities and preserving cultural heritage, marking a milestone in the journey of education and innovation in the Bodoland Territorial Region.
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