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It was just few days ago, Bahria University hosted its annual convocation ceremony. Like always, it was a modest event in terms of arrangements but it surely will remain once in a life time experience for hundreds of graduating students and their guests.
Bahrians, wearing gowns and scholarly caps, marched on to the stage to receive the fruit of their four years intense toil from one of the most powerful personalities in the country but this time a female student refused to accept her degree.
Xnews Team reached out to the student to find out the whole story. The purpose of sharing the story with the readers is to bring into light a case where a student stands for right but unfortunately, her own people stand against her.
Here is her story:
Ladies and Gentlemen ..The Procession. Please Rise! echoed the announcement made by the Master of the ceremony in the aesthetically decorated Islamabad Convention Centre to mark the 8th Convocation Ceremony of Bahria University Islamabad. Everyone rose, lip-synching the National Anthem and there entered the Chief Guest, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Asif Sandhila, flanked by the Rector and others, all dressed up in Graduation robes & funny head gears. Somewhat indifferent parents seated in the gallery, including my father and brother, waiting only to see their loved ones proudly walk that stage.
As proceedings of the convocation ceremony moved forth systematically, my mind was simply not at ease. Standing in that queue with the rest of my batch mates, waiting for my name to be called out, I wondered about the acceptance of my hard-earned degree from an Admiral who was unabashedly going to deny me the academic Gold Medal in front of the entire august gathering. A medal I was destined for having the highest graduating GPA, and was being denied based on grounds outright unheard of. At the same time, I could still picture my meager application voicing this injustice, buried somewhere among other parchments in the pending items tray of the very same Admiral for the past 8 days, simply buying time till it was mistakenly tossed out as mere trash.
To give a brief context of the preceding events, I received news regarding the Universitys much-awaited convocation ceremony earlier this month. Like most students, I too was thrilled about the event especially when I knew I was going to walk out as a Gold Medalist. Shockingly, I came to know of someone elses selection for the coveted prize, despite his lower academic standing. At that moment, if hearsay was to be believed, I caught wind of the fact that since I had rescheduled a subject back in the first semester (Fall 2006), utilizing an academic facility given to the students by the University itself, I do not remain eligible for any honor, let alone the Gold Medal.
Immensely frustrated, I began the untiring efforts to fight for what I truly deserved. On the 9th of December2011, I put an application before the Head of Department (HoD) Electrical Engineering, in an attempt to find an official elucidation to being refused the Gold Medal. Not only did I manage to get a few favorable nods & common points of agreement, but he was also kind enough to show some resolve to take up the matter with higher authorities.
Since then, it was simply an uphill battle. I left no stone unturned, no door unopened from the HoD till the highest university authorities, until a concrete reason for the denial of my right to the Honor was provided. Disappointingly, after a week, the University was only able to conjure up the following excuse:
Request has been rejected on the grounds that the Academic Council revised in 2009, conditions for Gold Medals.
Thereby unfairly victimizing me by a rule established in 2009, for a degree I commenced back in 2006.
With only days to go till the convocation, I knocked on the doors of both the Pro-Rector and Rector of the University. Sadly, they could not be bothered less with the severe injustice being dealt to me, showing absolute disregard to the long hours I spent outside their offices with my father, waiting in hope, simply to be heard out. After an extensive homework, sadly they couldnt justify their stance. Ultimately, both were of the opinion that the decision happened to be too complex for them and unfortunately they left it up to the Academic Council which would convene after the Graduation ceremony. Meanwhile, another application addressed directly to the Naval Chief for the very same reason, still remained in progress, despite the urgency of the matter.
It wasnt long before I found myself on the grand stage, facing the very same Chief who was too occupied to reply to my application despite constant reminders. All those times I used to think of graduation speeches and the uncertainty pertaining to saying the right things & calling the right names, gushed through my mind. At that very instant it struck me I knew exactly what I needed to say! Armed with a rush of adrenaline, I spoke:
Assallam-u-Alaikum Sir. My name is Anber Javed
Yes I know of your case for the Gold Medal
Sir I believe I have been unfairly denied of it
It is as per the Rules. The Academic Council will decide
Sir, you have been misinformed of the rules. The correct rules were already in the Rectors knowledge. Also if the Academic Council had to decide eventually, why has the University given its verdict already?
No response.
Finally, I mustered the courage to say out loud:
Sir, if you think this piece of paper is your acknowledgement of my 4years of hard work, I am sorry I refuse to take it.
Stunned by my discourtesy and refusal to accept the degree, the discomfort on Admirals face was clearly evident. What followed was the distinct shuffle of nearby security commandos and Rectors murmuring into the Chiefs ear. As a result, the Chief, due to his high stature, sought it inappropriate to congratulate me, or at the very least, mutter a few words of encouragement to acknowledge my efforts, let alone give my plea a fair chance.
That is the last I heard from them.
Six days after the event, I stand here dejected, with nothing to show for all my efforts. An event I wanted to celebrate with all my friends and family to commemorate those beautiful years of University life merely left me wondering about the worth of hard work and determination in the present educational system
Long Live Bahria University!
By Anber Javed.
