The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Deoghar, witnessed a historic milestone today, as it conducted its very first convocation ceremony. The historic event was made doubly historic by the presence of none other than the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, who awarded degrees to the first batch of 48 MBBS students. The presence of the President added immeasurable volume to the event, which denoted national acknowledgement on the part of the expanding institution and the success of the students.
The graduation ceremony was held on the campus of AIIMS Deoghar in Jharkhand, and the students wearing ceremonial dresses received their degrees in the presence of cheers given by their teachers, guests of honour, relatives, as well as their peers. Four students are given gold prizes to serve as the award for their academic achievements among the graduates, and five of them receive merit prizes because of their remarkable standing in the different fields. This convocation was not only a turning point in the life of students but also an indication of the increasing importance of AIIMS Deoghar in improving the medical education and provision of healthcare services to the eastern parts of India.
In an address, President Droupadi Murmu wished the passing out students good luck and stated that empathy, commitment and being ethically responsible are also a part of the medical profession. She emphasized the importance of doctors being quacks and bearers of hope in the difficult and insider parts of the towns. She complimented the AIIMS Deoghar working in this direction to establish a good academic understanding and healthcare base in the state of Jharkhand, and is sure of its potential growth that will muster support for the healthcare infrastructure development in the country.
During her visit, the President also toured the facilities of the AIIMS Deoghar and even met students, faculty, and staff. She was fond of the institute’s infrastructure, labs, and developing research-based medical education. Set up in 2019, as part of the government’s plan to provide nationwide, widespread accredited medical education, AIIMS Deoghar is ready to give its first graduating class of physicians who are likely to make a lot of contributions to the nation, not only locally but also on a national scale.
The official visit of President Murmu to Jharkhand and West Bengal is a two-day tour that will conclude after a visit to Deoghar. On August 1, after the convocation, she would visit Ulihatu village in the Khunti district, which is the birthplace of the tribal freedom fighter Bhagwan Birsa Munda. There, she will be expected to go to his memorial and to mix with the local members of the tribal community. She has also lined up an agenda that will include visiting state officials and participating in cultural events highlighting tribal heritage and development efforts in the region.
This inaugural convocation of AIIMS Deoghar is a proud start of a great institution and an academically progressive university with an emphasis on serving the people and a true word of dedication to health equity. To students, it is the end of a history of years of labour as well as their entry into the profession of medical practitioners. Being conducted in a place where the President of India herself will award the degree, the ceremony will stand out vividly in the memory of the audience as a milestone in the history of the institute and the region.
