Karnataka - Mysore   

Four honoured with doctorate

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Honoured: (Sitting from left) G.T. Narayana Rao, Ko. Chennabasappa and B. Sheik Ali were awarded honorary doctorate by the Karnataka State Open University in Mysore on Friday. B.A.Viveka Rai, Vice-Chancellor KSOU (standing, left) and Rajashekaran Pillai (second from right), Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU were present.

MYSORE: The Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) on Friday awarded honorary doctorate to Prof. B. Sheik Ali, Prof. G.T. Narayana Rao and Ko. Chennabasappa for outstanding contribution in their respective fields. Eminent musician Gangubai Hangal will be presented the doctorate at her residence in due course.

While Mr. Sheik Ali is a distinguished historian and a former Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore and Goa Universities, apart from having authored 25 books and more than 100 research papers on history and culture, Mr. Rao is an eminent writer of popular science books in Kannada.

He has written textbooks in Kannada pertaining to scientific literature and has been the science editor of the 13-volume Kannada Encyclopaedia published by the University of Mysore.

The other recipient, Mr. Chennabasappa, is a veteran freedom fighter who is a retired district and sessions judge, who has worked for the unification of Karnataka. He is also an eminent writer, social worker and thinker.

He has authored over 90 books and 1,000 articles. He led the Karnataka Unification movement in North Karnataka from 1943 to 1956 and was one of the leaders of the Gokak movement for the status of Kannada in Karnataka.

Ms. Hangal could not attend the convocation in view of her advanced age. The KSOU will present the doctorate to her at her residence.

In his acceptance speech, Mr. Sheik Ali described himself as a “humble student” of history and said “it (history) begins with an invisible point, making its circles larger and larger and its flight swifter and swifter until at last it shoots like a flaming comet from star to star with every turn reaching infinity”.

He explained this concept with an example from modern Indian history and said the Indian National Congress, when established, was a small organisation but began to wield wide influence until it grew in size and influence and helped secure independence for India.

Taking the audience on a roller-coaster ride of the cultural and architectural achievements of the kingdoms that ruled Karnataka, Mr. Sheik Ali held the audience spellbound with his poetic style and he won a standing ovation.

Mr. Rao, too, spoke on the personalities and factors that shaped and influenced his life while stressing on commitment as an important factor in achieving excellence.

B.A.Viveka Rai, Vice-Chancellor, KSOU, was present on the occasion.

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