Cuttack: November 19: The Fourth Annual Convocation of the students of National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) was held on 18 November 2017 at the Amphitheatre of National Law University Odisha, Cuttack. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra, Chief Justice of India & Visitor, NLUO was the Chief Guest for the occasion. Shri Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Government of Odisha was the Guest of Honour for the day. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Vineet Saran, Chief Justice of Orissa High Court & Chancellor, NLUO awarded the degrees to the students.
145 students were conferred degrees, out of which 114 were undergraduate students – 59 students of B.A L.L.B and 55 students of B.B.A L.L.B, 30 L.L.M students and one Ph.D degree were awarded. A total number of 18 gold medals were given to students in the convocation this year. The degrees and gold medals were awarded by the dignitaries. The details of the gold medal winners are attached with the mail.
The Convocation Address was delivered by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Deepak Misra, Chief Justice of India & Visitor, NLUO and Chief Guest for the occasion. “If there is indeed one profession which contributed the most in the fight for independence and played the most significant part in bringing about national awakening and political consciousness, it has been the profession of law”, said Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dipak Misra at the fourth convocation of the National Law University, Odisha. Law is a noble profession founded on great traditions, he added. Justice mIsra stated that the convocation day is an important moment not only for the graduating students, but also for their parents, teachers, and each and every person who has contributed in some form to shape them- what they are today!
Justice Misra said that students must be pondering today which field of law (litigation, corporate or teaching) is more lucrative, and which direction would lead them to success. Justice Misra urged the students to think about the terms ‘lucrative’ and ‘success’. “DO not think of lucrative in mere terms of material gain, and do not restrict your mind to think of success as a status symbol. The first step is to recognise where your passion lies. Do a soul-search and decide where you can give your best in terms of betterment of the society and downtrodden-only that should be your path and destination! That should be your fundamental aim of a lawyer”, he said.
Justice Misra stated that learning is a continuous process, and it should not end today on the graduation day. He quoted educational reformer and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurthy:
“There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.”
He also stated that as lawyers, the students carry a great responsibility on their shoulders as they walk out of the auditorium. He reminded them that it is much better to be known as an ethical lawyer than a successful one. However, he added that no one can stop them from becoming both! Be innovative and unique, he urged. He quoted few lines from the work of Rhonda Byrne’s, The Secret:
“You are the masterpiece
Of your own life
You are the Michelangelo
Of your own life
The David you are sculpturing
is you.”
Stressing the importance of integrity, intellect and character, the Vice-Chancellor of NLUO Srikrishna Deva Rao quoted Dr. S. Radhakrishnan: “Education is the means by which we can tide up our minds, acquire information as well as values. Education is training of intellect and it requires refinement of the heart and disciplined spirit” and asked the students to follow their heart to find their life goals. He said that the university follows a socially relevant cucrriculum and is offering innovative courses like Animal Welfare Law, Election Law, Democracy, Law on Mines and Minerals, Litigation Management in Higher Education, Copyright Law in the Entertainment Industry and will offer new courses like ICT courses for Law students, Course on Fifth Schedule of the Constitution. The university also focuses on innovative methods in teaching and learning. He said that the university’s students are performing well in Moot Court Competitions. The university has set up new research centres like Access to Justice, Centre for Child Rights, Centre for Law, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Centre for Maritime Law, Centre for Film Studies. The university is also partnering with the state government of Odisha for various research projects.
The Registrar of NLUO Dr. Dolly Jabbal, a host of dignitaries from the legal fraternity, parents of students, staff of NLUO were also present in the occasion. Four journals – NLUO Law Journal, Human Rights Law Journal, NLUO Students Journal and Child Rights Law Journal were released on the occasion.
