Shillong, September 11: Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) held its 19th Convocation at the Lariti Performing Centre, New Shillong, on Friday, celebrating its graduating students and marking another milestone in the university’s academic journey.
The ceremony was attended by graduates, university authorities, faculty members, families and invited guests. It began with the National Anthem, invocation and readings from the Holy Bible, Bhagwad Gita, Tripitaka, Jingduwai and Quran, followed by a welcome address by Chancellor Glenn C Kharkongor and the University Report presented by Vice Chancellor Ashiho A Mao. A new university emblem and motto were also unveiled.
The university honoured Dr Sandi Syiem with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while S K Bose was conferred an Honorary Doctorate and Dr Abdullah Saif Ahmed Al-Sabahi received an Honorary Post-Doctoral Fellowship.
Chief guest Sampath Kumar, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, urged graduates to continue learning and equip themselves with emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, while remaining responsive to a rapidly changing world and climate. He also highlighted the importance of investing in Northeast India’s young population, particularly children below six years of age, and stressed early childhood development and education as important foundations for human development.
Degrees and diplomas were later awarded to the graduating students. Graduate representatives Baiahun Pahsyntiew of MSc Environmental Science and Bivek Kumar Singh of Bachelor of Tourism and Travel Management addressed the gathering before the Graduates’ Pledge.
Convocation speaker and journalist-author P Sainath focused his address on rising inequality, employment challenges and the increasing role of young people, particularly rural women, in the country. Sainath also cautioned graduates against surrendering writing and creativity entirely to Artificial Intelligence, warning that doing so could weaken independent thinking. He said AI has “no moral compass” and urged students to consider the ethical consequences of its use. He further warned that increasing dependence on AI could contribute to the homogenisation of language and pose a threat to India’s linguistic and cultural diversity, including the languages and dialects of the Northeast.
Sainath called on graduates to question who owns and controls AI, who regulates it and who should be held accountable for its social consequences. He also urged them to confront issues such as landlessness, deprivation and concentration of wealth, while engaging with the constitutional principles of social, economic and political justice. Concluding his address, Sainath referred to the university’s newly unveiled motto, “We Dare. We Rise.”
The programme also featured musical performances by the Department of Music, the release of a Special MLCU Cover by India Post and the presentation of Distinguished Alumni Awards. The India Post cover was handed over by K V L N Murty, Director of Postal Service Headquarters, Shillong, to Vice Chancellor Ashiho A Mao.
The convocation was followed by the Aurora Borealis programme, featuring Risaka and band, Novelty, the Influencer Awards, Alive and DJ Cherixx at the Lariti Performing Centre.
