Mangalore university to confer honorary doctorates on Harekala Hajabba, others at 44th convocation

Mangaluru : Mangalore University will confer honorary doctorates on Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba, late Yakshagana artist K Govinda Bhat and Daiva Nartaka Ravish Padumale as part of its 44th convocation ceremony, Vice-Chancellor P L Dharma announced on Friday.

Addressing a press conference, the Vice-Chancellor said the three personalities have been selected for their exceptional contributions to social service, folk culture and religious traditions. Their work, he noted, has had a lasting impact on society and reflects the rich cultural heritage of coastal Karnataka.

While the honorary doctorate for K Govinda Bhat will be conferred at his residence on April 13, the degrees for Harekala Hajabba and Ravish Padumale will be awarded during the convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday. Notably, this will be the first time the university is honouring a Daiva Nartaka with an honorary doctorate, marking a significant recognition of traditional ritual art forms.

The convocation will be held at the university auditorium at 11 am, with Thawar Chand Gehlot presiding over the ceremony. Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar will be present, while Member of Parliament Brigesh Chowta will deliver the convocation address.

During the ceremony, degrees will be conferred on students across undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes. According to the university, a total of 22,050 students appeared for examinations this year, of whom 19,568 successfully passed, resulting in an overall pass percentage of 88.74.

The Vice-Chancellor elaborated that the pass percentage stood at 87.87 in undergraduate courses and 93.86 in postgraduate programmes, reflecting strong academic performance. He also highlighted that students from science and technology streams have secured a majority of the ranks.

In total, 162 PhD degrees will be awarded, along with 56 gold medals and 56 cash prizes. The university has announced 147 ranks this year, with notable achievements by students from rural backgrounds as well.

The recognition of individuals like Harekala Hajabba, who built a school by selling oranges, and artists dedicated to preserving traditional art forms, underscores the university’s commitment to honouring contributions beyond conventional academia.

The upcoming convocation is expected to be a significant event celebrating both academic excellence and societal contributions, bringing together students, dignitaries and cultural icons under one platform.