KARACHI: “Fight for the change you believe in. Fight for the people around you. Fight for the world you want your children to live in,” remarked Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy during her speech to graduating students at the 24th convocation of the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture (IVS) held on Saturday.

A total of a hundred students of the departments of architecture, interior design, communication design, textile design and fine arts received their degrees at the ceremony, which was attended by faculty members and families in large numbers.

While congratulating students on their success, the celebrated film-maker and activist shared with the audience what she described as “simple lessons of life” she learnt through her interaction with people whose courage and struggle in the face of adversity not only changed their lives, but also had a great impact on communities.

She spoke of Sabina, an activist who established a school in Lyari, Zakia, an acid attack survivor who took up a legal battle against her husband for ruining her life, Tabassum, the founder of the first female jirga in the country, Ali Akbar, who worked for provision of clean water in Thar and also the three sisters of Nowshera who were part of the country’s first antiterrorism women squad.

They all, she pointed out, pursued their dreams with a strong commitment and dedication despite facing hostile circumstances and social pressures.

“Stubborn dreams are worth pursuing. Be bold and stand up for yourself. Explore your imagination. Don’t let the world dictate your imagination,” Ms Chinoy told the students.

She also urged students to be sensitive to the people surrounding them, especially to the elderly as they aimed for excellence in professional life.

“We started off with nothing [a reference to Partition]. They dared to dream and you have to take their dream forward. Be kind and empathetic. Apologise for your mistakes. Confront your fears. Be bold and never afraid of failures. The world awaits you,” she said.

Mahrukh Saleem Ansari, the valedictorian who also received recognition for her academic performance, expressed gratitude to all faculty members for their guidance and support, while urging her colleagues to be agents of positive change and aim for delivering more than just professional excellence.

Earlier, Samina Raees Khan, the IVS executive director, told the audience that 2017 was both a year of setbacks and achievements as the institution lost three members of its community; renowned architect Habib Fida Ali, Saira Rafique Sheikh, an associate professor and head of liberal arts programme at IVS and Saleem Thariani, a senior visiting faculty member.

Later, she presented a detailed overview of institutional activities and progress throughout the year.

Students who received awards for their outstanding performance were: Sanya Hasan (Sher Asfandyar Khan Award), Aatiqa Niaz Khan (Dr Saleem-uz-Zaman Award), and Noor Butt (Sher Asfandyar Khan Award and Abu Shamim Areff Award), Mohaddesse Fatima Khan (Agha Hasan Abedi Award and Thariani Award), Leea Nadir Contractor (Agha Hasan Abedi Award and Founders Award) and Sakina Ali (Zahoor-ul-Ikhlaq Award).

Teaching Excellence Award went to Asma Mundrawala.

IoBM convocation

Meanwhile, over a thousand students were awarded degrees in business management and allied disciplines at the 20th convocation of Institute of Business Management (IoBM) which was attended by Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair as the chief guest.

Recipients of gold medals were: Sameen Ahmed, Iffraah Rehman, Imam Ali Kazi, Hafiza Huma Ameen, Sarah Yousuf, Mushkbar Arshad, Simran, Abdul Khaliq, Bisma Imtiaz, Komal Bai and Hasnain Mohammadi.

Students who received merit certificates included Aiman Shah, Suha Saud, Syeda Tasmiya Mohiuddin, Syed Ahad Ali, Mohammed Talha, Aqsa Akram, Nujia Ashraf, Tarefa Hafesjee, Hafiza Noor un Nisa Zubair, Amber Raza, Sarah Pervez Alwani, Hina Awan, Asif Abdul Razzak, Maria Mobin, Anam Qamar, Mohsin Ali, Irfan Yousuf and Rabia Hassan.

Szabist convocation

At the 14th convocation of the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (Szabist) held at the PAF convention centre, a total of 1,027 students received their degrees in various disciplines.

The ceremony was attended by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah as the chief guest.

Students who received gold medals were: Sana Shakeel, Talha Amin, Duaa Ahmed, Hafsa Mir, Hina Naz, Hina Qadir, Sarah William, Javeriah Almani, Nida Abaad Elias, S. Eliya Raza, Hussain Muhammad and Sumaiya Shafi Rahu.

Recipients of silver medals were: Farheen Saleem, Yousuf Tahir, Afreen Damani, Marium Altaf, Iqra Awais, Anam, Mohammed Imran, Fazila Gul Faqeer Mohammed, Mashmuma, Sumaira Siddique and Nimra Mir.

Names of 108 students were placed on the Chancellor’s Honour List for securing Cumulative Grade Point Average equal to or greater than 3.50.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2017