International scholars do their country pride, walk away with glory at LU convocation | Lucknow News

Lucknow: The 68th convocation of Lucknow University witnessed not only Indian achievers but also international scholars who brought pride to their nations and the institution alike. Among them was Abdulkafi Abdullah Ghaleb Ahmed Al-Rafaei from Yemen, who was awarded three medals. Abdulkafi topped the MA in Arabic and received medals for being the best student across all subjects in the programme. Speaking about his journey, Abdulkafi shared that he worked as an Arabic teacher in Yemen before joining Lucknow University to pursue higher studies in Arabic Literature and Oriental Studies. However, due to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where recent attacks took place, attending the convocation in person was not possible for him. “Arabic is my mother tongue, so studying the subject in depth felt natural to me, but I wanted to step outside my country to seek new perspectives. Coming to India was one of the best decisions I made, as it gave me both academic guidance and cultural understanding,” he said. Another international achiever was Kijung Jang from South Korea, who secured a medal in Linguistics. She enrolled at Lucknow University in 2023 after arriving in India during the COVID-19 pandemic with her husband, who started a business here. Formerly a language trainer in South Korea, Jang found her academic calling in linguistics. After completing her course, she will return to South Korea.“As a language trainer back in South Korea, I thought I already found my path, but Lucknow University helped me rediscover my passion for linguistics. This medal is proof that embracing change and stepping into the unknown can sometimes lead to the most rewarding journeys,” she said. From Sri Lanka, Hawa Kalu Annakkage Venura Dishanka De Silva emerged as the topper from the College of Fine Arts, earning the Best PG Student medal in Visual Arts. He recalled how an ICCR scholarship enabled him to join Lucknow University.“I lost my parents when I was very young, and life could have easily taken a very different turn for me. But my two elder sisters stood like a rock, ensuring I continued my education despite all the odds. When I received the ICCR scholarship, it felt like the world opened its doors to me. At Lucknow University, the training, exposure, and encouragement I received shaped me not only as an artist but also as a person,” he said.