Big and ugly

The spectacle of thousands of TU graduates thronging the stadium inspired more mockery than hope.

On Monday, at the Dashrath Rangashala in Tripureshwor, there was a spectacle to behold. Students donning convocation gowns and hats, flanked by family and friends, filled the stands of the grand stadium—and spilled over into the football pitch. Students were seen running amok looking for the booths where they would get their graduation certificates from Tribhuvan University (TU). And at the end of the day, a section of the students went home empty-handed, as the authorities had misplaced the certificates. The graduates were visibly irritated, as so much of their time and energy that day had gone to waste. But they were not surprised. Rather, it was a final reminder of how slow, mismanaged, and irresponsible the university had been throughout their academic journey.