Kolkata, India – Jadavpur University has proposed awarding an Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) degree to Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. This prestigious recognition is slated for the university’s annual convocation, scheduled for December 24 . The proposal signals a move towards a fully sanctioned convocation, an event that has faced administrative disruptions in the past two years.
The recommendation for Kaur, a prominent figure in international cricket known for her leadership and performance, originated from a special meeting of university deans. This assembly was convened by the newly appointed full-time Vice Chancellor (VC), Chiranjib Bhattacharya. A D.Litt. is an honorary doctorate awarded for distinguished contributions to literature, arts, science, or other fields of human endeavor, often to individuals with significant public recognition.
VC Bhattacharya formally presented the proposal for Kaur’s honorary degree to Jadavpur University Chancellor and West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. The discussion occurred at Raj Bhavan on Wednesday. Governor Bose provided his verbal approval for the recommendation, according to statements from a senior university official to PTI.
Convocation Special Guests and Approval Process
In addition to the honorary degree, the Chancellor also approved a suggestion to invite Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee as a special guest for the convocation ceremony. Other distinguished individuals referred to the Chancellor as potential special guests included Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Sameer V. Kamat and Anusandhan National Research Foundation CEO Shivkumar Kalyanaraman. Raj Bhavan granted approval for these names as well.
The university’s highest decision-making body, the Executive Committee (EC), will convene shortly. The EC’s mandate includes officially approving the names of invited personalities and the D.Litt. recipient. This committee will also finalize other preparatory arrangements for the convocation. Following the EC’s official approval, the university will contact the proposed D.Litt. recipient and the chosen special guest to secure their consent to attend and accept the honors.
Past Convocation Disputes
The convocation process at Jadavpur University encountered significant administrative obstacles over the past two years. A primary reason for these difficulties was the absence of a permanent, full-time Vice Chancellor. The Governor, who also holds the position of Chancellor, had raised objections to holding the convocation during these periods.
Despite the Governor’s objections, the university proceeded with some customary formalities. These included the awarding of degrees to students and researchers, along with a keynote address delivered by the interim Vice Chancellor. However, the disputes surrounding the convocation led to the exits of two interim VCs, Buddhadeb Sau and Bhaskar Gupta. Governor Bose had publicly characterized the 2023 and 2024 convocations as unauthorized, citing the ongoing lack of a full-time Vice Chancellor as the basis for his stance.
Return to Full-Fledged Ceremony
The appointment of Chiranjib Bhattacharya as the full-time Vice Chancellor of Jadavpur University on November 3 has resolved the previous administrative impasses. With a permanent VC now at the helm, the institution anticipates hosting a complete and traditional convocation this year. This appointment has secured the necessary consent from all key stakeholders, including the Governor. This development allows the university to conduct its ceremonial activities without the administrative hurdles experienced in prior years.