A Graduate At Last

{The Graduand outside the Sheldonian}

Hello everyone,

The family and I took a small vacation to England this summer. The vacation was meant to coincide with my graduation ceremony (Degree Day) at Oxford. You may have seen recently on the news, the famous Aung San Suu Kyi (Burmese politician who has been under house arrest in her own country) receive an honorary Bachelor of Civil Law Degree from Oxford. That is the degree that I graduated in on June 9, 2012. 


{The Ceremony, inside the Sheldonian}

It was the most amazing ceremony I have ever been to. It's completely in Latin. You're brought in and presented still as a student of the University and you're asked, in Latin (excuse my translation), whether you agree to abide by the rules of the University and uphold what your degree stands for, so they may confer it upon you. And you agree, by bowing and saying 'Do fidem'. You're then escorted out, so you may change your existing gown, ie, your existing student status at University, put on your new gown defining your new student status at University. You are then brought in and presented to the whole theatre in your graduated status, with the entire theatre roaring in applause, you stop before the Vice Chancellor again, he takes off his mortar board to you and you are now a successful graduate. 

I really don't mean to gloat, but the degree conferred on us, and later that week on Aung San Suu Kyi, is one of the most prestigious law degrees in the world. Which, is why it is conferred before every other degree during the ceremony. The whole experience was quite intoxicating and everyone felt as if they were the centre of the universe. Until it was time to return the rented gown. At 5 pm, sharp.  

Oh well, the rest of the trip was quite amazing too. We had a proper family vacation with all three of us after a very long time. The Passi came down for the graduation as well. And we all had a splendid time.   But, more on the vacation later. For now, I'd really like to share some memories from the ceremony.


{Pre-Ceremony Drinks at Corpus Christi College}

{With Mum}


{With I Pops}


{With The Passi, Before Heading to Drinks, in the Corpus Garden}


{Post Ceremony Family Photo}


{The Whole Lot}


{With Katie}


{Freaking Out in the Corpus Garden}

...

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

4 comments:

  1. Congrats! Nice post and nice pics:) Also, Aung San Kyi received an honorary doctorate in civil law. The BCL is never awarded as an honorary degree!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for your comment Adarsh! I got my info from someone at my college - and I don't usually challenge their authority or information - that'll teach me :)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your comment! I look forward to it :)

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