Shillong: Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has said that cultivating a scientific outlook is vital for preserving democratic governance and legal accountability, warning that unchecked authority flourishes where people remain uninformed, fearful, or unwilling to question accepted ideas. He was speaking at USTM’s 12th convocation in Meghalaya’s Ri-Bhoi district on Saturday.
Addressing graduating students at the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Justice Bhuyan praised the institution’s growth into a prominent educational hub in the Northeast. He drew a direct link between rational inquiry, education, and constitutional democracy.
“Scientific temperament lays the foundation for the rule of law,” he said.
“This is because arbitrary power thrives on ignorance, fear and unexamined belief,” he added.
The ceremony saw 1,469 students receive degrees and diplomas. The cohort comprised 42 PhD recipients, 584 postgraduate graduates, 798 undergraduate graduates, and 45 diploma holders.
Association of Indian Universities secretary general Pankaj Mittal delivered the convocation address. The event also brought together judges from the Gauhati High Court—Justice Kalyan Rai Surana, Justice Soumitra Saikia, Justice Robin Phukan, Justice Kardak Ete and Justice Unni Krishnan Nair—along with former Gauhati High Court judge Justice P K Deka, as reported by the New Indian Express.
Academic Recognition
USTM Vice-Chancellor Professor G D Sharma presented the university’s annual report before the medal distribution. Representatives from several central universities, including the English and Foreign Languages University, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Central University of Odisha, Rajiv Gandhi University, Mizoram University, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University and Central University of Rajasthan, were also present.
The P A Sangma Gold Medal was conferred on Zakiyyah Nurul Barbhuyan for BSc Zoology, while Florence Daimari received the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Gold Medal for MA Rural Development. Ayushi Borkakoty, a BSc Microbiology student, won the Chancellor’s Gold Medal; Porismita Bhuyan received the Visitor’s Gold Medal for MCom; and Abhirupa Kashyap was awarded the Zubeen Garg Memorial Gold Medal for BA Psychology.
In all, 29 medals recognised the best postgraduate students and 34 honoured the best undergraduates.