After waiting for 31 years, LU student gets her medals

LUCKNOW: It took a student of the Lucknow University (LU) over three decades to get her medals. Reason: The convocation function did not take place the year this student topped.

Dr Vinita Vijai née Srivastav, now an associate professor and head of the mathematics department of Lucknow’s 130-year-old Isabella Thoburn (IT) College, received not just 1 or 2 but 7 gold medals for securing highest position in M Sc (mathematics) among all the faculties in 1986.

After 31 years, vice chancellor of the LU SP Singh presented her medals in the presence of controller of examination AK Sharma on March 27 (Monday).

“I’m really thrilled. My family was overjoyed to see my medals. My son danced out of sheer joy. My entire family is celebrating as it something that has come from no hope zone. What a moment it was when Prof SP Singh presented me those medals one after the other. Had it been at a convocation function, it would have created much hustle and bustle. But as they say it is better than never,” said 51-yearold Dr Vinita.

This was the second time in 6 months that the Lucknow University presented medal to its student after prolonged delay. What inspired Dr Vinita to pursue her case was a retired LU professor Anil Kumar Singh who received his gold medal after 44 years. Singh obtained his postgraduate degree in Chemistry way back in 1971.

“This one off development had set precedence for others. This gave me the courage to request to the university. My first request went to registrar on April 11, 2016, then to the vice chancellor on May 20, 2016, I made one last request to the controller of examination dated December 19, 2016 in which I sought to get medals in the convocation held in January 2017. But I did not get any reply from the University,” she said.

So she decided to meet new vice chancellor SP Singh personally. “Prof Singh immediately acted on my request made to him on March 1, 2017. And on March 27, I got my medals. A dream of 31 years, which I never thought would be fulfilled, has been realised. And the VC’s humility was so apparent when he graciously said it was my right and I truly deserved it,” said a jubilant Vinita who also thanked AK Sharma who made it happen.

“I would also like to thank each and every person involved in the entire process. This is really extraordinary that the university has considered this case and acted so efficiently. The whole world should know about this out of the world act of the vice chancellor as well as the university. And of course, I will also get recognition in public. It doesn’t matter if it has happened after 31 years. My thanks to all my teachers of M Sc especially Prof SN Srivastava,” she said.

“It was a dream of my father too. He was the person who motivated me to work towards getting the highest position. He was after me to put up my case and claim medals from the LU,” said Dr Vinita who did B Sc From IT College in 1984. She did M Sc and PhD from the Lucknow University.