85-Year-Old and Four Jail Inmates Among 1,300 IGNOU Graduates Nagpur: During the 39th convocation of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) Regional Centre Nagpur, held at Hislop College on Tuesday, 1,373 graduates were awarded degrees. Among them was Digambar Alsi, an 85-year-old former general manager at an electrical company, who received his MA in development studies. The event also marked the recognition of four prison inmates and 4 divyang (persons with disabilities) students. The convocation was part of a nationwide ceremony where over 3.24 lakh learners received degrees, with Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan attending the main function in New Delhi. Alsi, who has already completed five programs from IGNOU’s Nagpur centre, stated he now holds 28 degrees in total, including 19 from Nagpur University, 5 from IGNOU, and 4 from other institutions. Degrees were conferred to two learners each from the Nagpur and Amravati Central Prison study centres, who received certificates in food and nutrition. Additionally, 97 prisoners, including 58 from Nagpur and 39 from Amravati, are enrolled in various IGNOU programs. Laxman Kumarwad, regional director of the IGNOU Regional Centre Nagpur, noted that prisoners receive a 90-day concession for each degree. At the ceremony, Bhimaraya Metri, director of the Indian Institute of Management Nagpur, served as the guest of honour. He emphasized IGNOU’s role in expanding educational access, particularly in Vidarbha and Marathwada. Metri also highlighted India’s growing global influence, projecting the country’s GDP to surpass $5 trillion by 2026-27. He added, “A leader is one who thinks the unthinkable, achieves the unachievable, and sees the invisible.#nagpur #cp_radhakrishnan #ignou_regional_centre_nagpur #digambar_alsi #indian_institute_of_management_nagpur
