Varsity set up in BSP rule to honour Mulayam
LUCKNOW: A university set up in BSP rule and named after the mother of one its leaders will confer honorary D Litt degree on SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at its first convocation on Tuesday. The Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University is named after BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra’s, mother.
A university set up in Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rule and named after the mother of one its leaders will confer the honorary D Litt degree on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at its first convocation on Tuesday.
The Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University is named after BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra’s mother. It is a state-run institution.
“With as many as five top leaders of ruling Samajwadi Party likely to be seated on the dais, it will look like a congregation of SP leaders rather than the university’s maiden convocation since its inception in 2008,” said a senior faculty of the university pleading anonymity.
Chief minister Akhielsh Yadav will be the chief guest. His father and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will be the guest of honour. The other distinguished guests include PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, minister for persons with disabilities Ambika Chaudhary, and food and civil supplies minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh.
Confirming the decision, Nishit Rai, the university’s vicechancellor said that Mulayam Singh Yadav would be honoured for his socio-political contributions. “In my opinion, no one can match a politician’s contribution to the society. And in my view, there is no better person than the SP chief,” Rai said.
His political career is about five decades old. He was elected MP six times, MLA eight
NISHIT RAI, THE UNIVERSITY’S VC SAID THAT MULAYAM WOULD BE HONOURED FOR HIS SOCIO-POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
times has been chief minister three times and was defence minister once. It was no mean achievement, said Rai who was appointed vice chancellor by the SP government in January 2014.
Before Rai an IAS officer headed this university. Rai is considered close to Mulayam and was the SP’s national spokesperson for several years. He also runs a Hindi newspaper. In 2013 also, the Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University conferred Honoris Causa LLD degree on the SP chief at its first convocation.
Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik, who is the visitor to the university, will preside over the convocation function.
“In all, 633 students will be awarded degrees during the function. A total of 77 medals will be distributed among 43 meritorious students,” said Rai.
Situated on Mohan Road, Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University is the first university of the country with 50% reservation for the differently abled persons and the entire university has disabled friendly infrastructure and interiors. Some academicians are questioning as to why the university could not choose a scientist or a person with disability who fought hard in life for the honour.