New Delhi: The annual convocation ceremony of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University was organized on Thursday at the varsity's Ansari Auditorium.

A total of 3213 degrees and diplomas and 105 PhDs were awarded for the academic year 2006-07 at the ceremony where almost 2500 students were present.

The varsity awarded the Degrees of Letters (Honoris Causa) to Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan (Leading scholar of Indian art, architecture and dance and founder director of IGNCA); Naseeruddin Shah (leading Bollywood actor); Shabana Azmi (Bollywood actress, social activist and former member of Rajya Sabha) and Dr. Asghar Ali Engineer (social reformer and theologian).

The ceremony was presided over by Kanadda writer Dr. U.R. Ananthamurthy, former president of Sahitya Academy and recipient of the Padma Shri and the Jnanpith Award.

Devoting new space to creativity, JMI Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mushirul Hasan along with celebrated artist Satish Gujral, inaugurated a new art gallery at the university campus. The gallery, named after internationally-famed artist M.F. Hussain, will start functioning from the next year.

In his convocation speech, Vice Chancellor Prof. Hasan stressed on the effect of the Jamia Nagar shootout, on the reputation of the University, where three students of the University were allegedly involved.

"Do not malign a University simply because three of its students are allegedly involved in terror activities. Instead, turn to its impeccable record as the beating heart of Indian nationalism", Hasan said.