Amit Shah to attend Gujarat Vidyapith's 72nd convocation in Ahmedabad on Aug 27
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah's appearance as chief guest at Gujarat Vidyapith's 72nd convocation is more than a ceremonial visit — it connects India's top law enforcement official to a university built on Gandhian non-violence and Nai Talim. With 900 graduates and 12 medal recipients judged on values over grades, the ceremony spotlights an educational tradition that deliberately resists mainstream metrics.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah will attend Gujarat Vidyapith's 72nd convocation in Ahmedabad on 27 August as chief guest.
The ceremony is scheduled at 4:30 pm at Pranjivan Vidyarthi Bhavan on the Gandhi campus.
900 students from 18 departments across 7 faculties will receive degrees, including 63 MPhil/PhD candidates .
12 students will receive Mandir and Dhwaj medals , awarded on Gandhian values and community service, not academics alone.
Governor and Chancellor Acharya Devvrat will deliver the convocation address.
Gujarat Vidyapith was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920 ; last year's chief guest was President Droupadi Murmu .
Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the 72nd convocation ceremony of Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad as chief guest on 27 August, the university confirmed on Monday. The event marks a high-profile visit to the Gandhian institution, which was founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
Ceremony Details
The convocation will be held at 4:30 pm at the historic Pranjivan Vidyarthi Bhavan on the institution's Gandhi campus. Governor and Chancellor Acharya Devvrat will deliver the convocation address. Trustees, governing body members, vice-chancellors of various universities, staff, and student representatives are also expected to attend.
Who Graduates This Year
Vice-Chancellor Dr Harshad Patel confirmed that 900 students from 18 departments across seven faculties will receive degrees. The cohort includes 184 undergraduate students, 400 postgraduate students, 232 students from postgraduate programmes, 21 postgraduate diploma holders, and 63 MPhil/PhD candidates. The graduating class comprises 441 women and 459 men, with 559 expected to attend in person.
The Mandir and Dhwaj Medals
Twelve students will be honoured with the prestigious Mandir and Dhwaj medals. Unlike conventional academic awards, these are not decided solely on grades. A committee evaluates students on padyatras, leadership training camps, NSS and NCC participation, community service, internships, fieldwork, experiential learning, sports, ethical conduct, and commitment to Gandhian values — rooted in Gandhi's concept of Nai Talim and the development of the 'Hand, Head and Heart.'
Students are additionally assessed on research and innovation projects, literary, cultural and technical activities, leadership roles, and university, state and national-level sporting contributions, according to officials.
A Tradition of Distinguished Guests
The convocation continues Gujarat Vidyapith's tradition of hosting prominent national figures. President Droupadi Murmu attended the 71st convocation last year as chief guest. Former Presidents Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Dr Zakir Husain, Giani Zail Singh, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, and Pranab Mukherjee, as well as the Dalai Lama, have all been associated with the institution's past ceremonies.
Dr Patel noted that the convocation date has historically been flexible, organised around the availability of the chief guest. He cited the visits of Pranab Mukherjee and Wipro chairman Azim Premji as examples. The 2024 convocation was held on Guru Purnima, while last year's was timed to coincide with President Murmu's Gujarat visit. Over the past three years, the university has begun observing its October 18 foundation day separately, using the convocation to highlight different dimensions of its work.
With Shah's attendance, the 72nd convocation is set to draw fresh attention to one of India's most historically significant universities — and to the enduring relevance of Gandhian educational philosophy in contemporary public life.
Point of View
Which prizes padyatras and community service over grade-point averages, is a quiet rebuke to the credential-first university model. What deserves attention is whether high-profile political visits translate into tangible support — funding, autonomy, research grants — for institutions like this one, or remain ceremonial photo opportunities. The university's decision to decouple its foundation day from the convocation also signals an institutional maturity worth noting.
NationPress
24 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Amit Shah attending Gujarat Vidyapith's convocation?
Home Minister Amit Shah has been invited as chief guest for Gujarat Vidyapith's 72nd convocation ceremony on 27 August in Ahmedabad, and has accepted the invitation, according to Vice-Chancellor Dr Harshad Patel. The university has a tradition of hosting prominent national figures at its annual convocation.
How many students will graduate at the Gujarat Vidyapith 72nd convocation?
A total of 900 students from 18 departments across seven faculties will receive degrees, comprising 184 undergraduates, 400 postgraduates, 232 from postgraduate programmes, 21 postgraduate diploma holders, and 63 MPhil/PhD candidates. Of these, 559 are expected to attend in person.
What are the Mandir and Dhwaj medals awarded at Gujarat Vidyapith?
These are the university's highest student honours, awarded to 12 students based on criteria that go well beyond academic performance. A committee evaluates participation in padyatras, NSS, NCC, community service, leadership camps, sports, and adherence to Gandhian values rooted in the Nai Talim philosophy.
Who has attended Gujarat Vidyapith's convocation in the past?
The convocation has a distinguished guest list including former Presidents Dr Rajendra Prasad, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Dr Zakir Husain, Giani Zail Singh, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, and Pranab Mukherjee, as well as the Dalai Lama. President Droupadi Murmu was chief guest at the 71st convocation in 2024.
What is Gujarat Vidyapith and when was it founded?
Gujarat Vidyapith is a university in Ahmedabad founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920, built on the principles of Nai Talim — an educational philosophy emphasising the holistic development of the 'Hand, Head and Heart.' It remains one of India's most historically significant Gandhian institutions.
