Dr Priti Adani addressed graduating students at the 17th convocation of the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research (AIHER) in Wardha, Maharashtra, on Saturday, as the university held its first graduation ceremony under its new name. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended as the chief guest and received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree.

The ceremony brought together academic leaders, government representatives, university staff, students and their families. Dr Adani, the university’s Chancellor, spoke about the duties that come with a degree and the role education can play in improving people’s lives.

“Today, we celebrate not just academic achievements; every degree comes with a promise and responsibility,” she said in her address. She added that graduates had a duty to use their knowledge to improve the lives of others.

Dr Adani congratulated the graduating students and medal winners. She also thanked their parents and families for supporting them through their education, and recognised the work of teachers, clinicians and university staff in guiding students.

A key part of the ceremony was the presentation of an honorary D.Litt. degree to Devendra Fadnavis. Dr Adani described the award as the first honorary degree conferred under the AIHER name and said his presence encouraged the institution to contribute further to Maharashtra through education, research and healthcare, particularly in the Vidarbha region.

Fadnavis, who leads the Maharashtra government, attended alongside Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of the National Medical Commission, and Dr Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State in the Maharashtra government and Guardian Minister of Wardha and Bhandara districts.

Dr Adani also welcomed other guests, members of the university’s statutory bodies, the Vice-Chancellor, Deans, faculty members, staff, media representatives and parents.

The address placed the focus on the relationship between university education and public service. For graduates entering fields such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, engineering and management, their training may shape decisions that affect patients, employers and communities. The value of their degrees will depend in part on how well they apply their learning in professional life.

AIHER, located at Sawangi (Meghe) in Wardha, was formerly known as Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences (DMIHER). The institution received deemed-to-be-university status in 2005 and has since expanded its academic offerings beyond its original medical education base.

Its programmes now cover medicine, dentistry, Ayurveda, homoeopathy, physiotherapy, nursing, pharmacy, allied health sciences, engineering, commerce and management, and other fields. The university also operates an off-campus centre in the Nagpur area.

The institution’s medical roots remain central to its work. Its constituent colleges include Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Sharad Pawar Dental College and Hospital, Mahatma Gandhi Ayurvedic College Hospital and Research Centre, and Ravi Nair Physiotherapy College.

The university’s broader academic structure places students in different professional settings, from hospitals and clinical training facilities to laboratories and classrooms. This range matters in a region such as Vidarbha, where access to trained healthcare workers and other skilled professionals remains relevant to public services and local development.

Changing the institution’s name also marks a new phase in its public identity. The first convocation under the AIHER name gives the university an occasion to set out how it intends to connect its expanded academic range with research, teaching and service to society.

The university’s announcement for the convocation stated that 2,320 degrees were awarded, including 123 PhD degrees. Academic awards included 123 gold medals, seven silver medals and 13 other prizes, presented to 83 awardees.

Dr Abhijat Sheth also received an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree for his contributions to medical education, healthcare governance and public health. As Chairperson of the National Medical Commission, he holds a role linked to the regulation of medical education and professional standards in India.

The number of doctoral degrees awarded at the ceremony points to the university’s research work alongside its teaching programmes. Research training is particularly relevant to healthcare, where better evidence can help doctors and other professionals improve diagnosis, treatment and patient care.

Wardha lies in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, which includes districts with varied rural and urban healthcare needs. Medical colleges and teaching hospitals can help train professionals for these areas, while research may support work on local health problems.

AIHER’s range of programmes also places it within the wider discussion about how Indian universities can prepare students for different professions. Medical and allied health courses require practical training as well as classroom learning. Students must learn to apply their knowledge in hospitals, laboratories and other workplaces before taking on professional responsibilities.

For graduates and their families, a convocation marks the formal end of a period of study. It also brings questions about employment, further training and the ability to meet the standards expected in a chosen profession.

Dr Adani’s address placed these responsibilities at the centre of the ceremony. Her remarks linked academic success with the duty to use professional knowledge for public benefit, while acknowledging the families and staff who help students complete their education.

The 17th convocation therefore marked two developments for the institution: a graduation ceremony for its students and the first such event under the Adani Institute of Higher Education and Research name. Its longer-term record will depend on the quality of its teaching, the work produced by its researchers and the contribution of its graduates to the communities they serve.

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