With joy, gratitude, humility, idealism, some tears and much exhilaration, Ashokans came together for what was a major milestone for the University. Attended by Founders, Faculty, family members and guests, the conovocation marked the culmination of an emotional, bittersweet journey.

Over 110 students received degrees. Nearly 60 per cent of the class has opted to stay on for a fourth year. They will pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Studies and Research. Students will have a choice of completing an advanced major, a minor, a concentration, a second major or undertaking Ashoka Quest, a social internship programme.

The spirit of the Ashoka journey was reiterated by Nobel Laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, the chief guest. “It takes courage to start a university and even more to join the faculty of a brand new one. But the greatest courage of all is to study at a new, unproven university. As the first graduating class, you have already shown a willingness to take a risk.”

Convocation Speaker, Sunil Khilnani, Avantha Professor & Director, India Institute at King’s College London, exhorted the young graduates to stay different. “Keep taking the risk of being out of step with the conventional, the obvious, the average”, he said. “It is the outliers, the ones who are not fazed by what the herd is doing, who leave a trace.”

Sunita Narain Director General of the Centre for Science and Environment highlighted the challenges that the world faced, the crisis of economy-ecology, which required a new kind of skills. “It is these challenges that Ashoka has prepared you for – an ability to think different; an attitude of humility and most important, empathy for the poorest and most marginalised.”

As students set foot into a new phase of their lives, Vineet Gupta, Founder, Trustee & Pro Vice Chancellor, said, “You take away stories of friendship and having fun, an experience of learning and transformation. You take away memories of what have been and perhaps will be the best three years of your life.”