New Delhi: Subroto Bagchi, chairman of Odisha Skill Development Authority and co-founder of Mindtree, has always been bothered about his failure to complete his degree course in Delhi University’s Law Centre. Bagchi, who enrolled in DU in 1978, had to drop out and search for a job. Decades later, with DU providing an opportunity to former students to complete their degree exams as part of the university’s centenary programme, Bagchi, now 65, can look forward to sitting for the test that will complete the dream he had in his youth.
Speaking to TOI, about his time in DU, the IT business leader said, “I was enrolled in the Law Centre, which used to be on Mandir Marg in 1978. The Indian IT industry was at its embryonic state at that time and I changed cities in quick succession in search of work. First, I went to Kolkata, then to Bengaluru and then to Silicon Valley in the US. Before I knew, six years had gone and my sixth semester was left unfinished. I was time barred from appearing in the exam. In all the decades thereafter, I couldn’t start from scratch. It was like someone put my efforts in the dungeon and threw away the keys.”
Bagchi is not the only one availing this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity of completing a degree course. As a part of its centenary celebrations, DU is permitting people who completed their coursework but have unfinished degrees to appear for the “centenary chance” examinations to be held in October this year and March next year. According to the latest data provided by DU, over 8,500 candidates have signed up for the tests.
The university will prepare question papers based on each candidate’s timeline and the syllabus that was prevalent at that point.
Highlighting why he had decided to get his law degree after all these years as a successful IT entrepreneur, Bagchi said, “Looking at my life and work, one wouldn’t think that I would have regrets. That is largely true. Yet, every time I saw the marksheets of the five semesters that I completed at the Law Centre, my heart ached. I badly wanted to complete the work of my youth. Taking the exam now will signal the closure of the only unfinished task of my life and I hope thousands like me will be inspired to chase their dreams again.”
Commenting on the unique opportunity that DU was providing to its former students, Bagchi said, “In one magnanimous gesture, the university has brought alive the entire spirit of the National Education Policy, 2020.”
