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Jairam Ramesh described the robes as ‘medieval and barbaric’. He probably meant the degree-acquiring costumes should match the subject the student was graduating in. The mechanical engineer should receive his degree in a boiler suit. A doctor should wear sterilised green robes used in an operation theatre. An economist could wear a beggar’s dress to show he has become an expert in austerity measures. On the convocation day,
a graduating student went to the stage to receive his degree wearing
an apron over his robe. The principal was furious, "Why are you
wearing this apron on your convocation robe?" The student said,
"Sir! This is what I am going to do after getting this degree of
yours. Asking people in a MacDonald’s shop ‘do you want fries with
that?’"
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HAVE
you ever seen students taking their bachelors’ degree wearing
underwear and vests? This could well be possible if Union Minister for
Environment Jairam Ramesh has his way. The minister was recently
invited at the convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Forest
Management. He was sweating profusely in a maroon and gold robe that
he was made to drape on. In a fit of unbearable heat, he threw off his
robe saying, "Why can’t we have a convocation ceremony in
simple clothes?" The only thing is, what would happen to the
photographs that people hang in their drawings rooms in ceremonial
robes and hats, holding degrees in their hands with pride? If you have
a photograph of you holding a degree certificate wearing a
flower-print shirt and half pants, an onlooker might ask, "Are
you holding a packet of chana-chor-garam?"