LUCKNOW, Aug. 1 -- The changing face of university convocations has been hard to miss in recent times. Medal winners have lamented that they no longer get pride of place on stage at such ceremonies. Instead, speeches as well as song presentations by schoolchildren-who are called to such functions to inspire them to study hard-seem to get more importance. The Lucknow University convocation on Friday was no different in this respect. All other state universities have been following a similar pattern as prescribed by Jan Bhavan.

During the nearly three-hour LU convocation, only 15 of the total 111 medal winners had their names called and were given medals during the main official ceremony. The medal winners assembled and were dismissed from...