M A I N   N E W S

Yogi to be awarded degree abroad
Senate proposes, Governor disposes
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 22
The proposal of the Syndicate and Senate of Guru Nanak Dev University to confer the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (honoris causa) on religious leader Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa in the USA appears to have been disposed off as “untenable” by the Chancellor of the University, Lieut-Gen JFR Jacob (retd), the Governor of punjab-cum-administrator of Chandigarh. “I have neither any information nor any intention to go to the USA to confer this degree on Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa,” says General Jacob. While talking to The Tribune, he said that he was “surprised to hear this announcement”.

The Syndicate and the Senate of the university in an unprecedented decision had decided that the Chancellor (General Jacob), the Vice-chancellor (Dr H.S. Soch) and the Registrar (Dr S.S. Bawa) would visit the USA to confer the honoris causa degree on Yogi Harbhajan Singh Khalsa as he could not come to Amritsar on March 3 for the annual convocation due to “ill health.”

This is perhaps the first time since the inception of the university in 1969 that the Syndicate and the Senate proposed to send the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar to a foreign country for the sole purpose of conferring a degree on a personality.

Though Yogi Harbhajan Singh has been visiting India, especially Punjab, every year (even thrice a year), he could not come to Amritsar at the time of the convocation. The two other dignitaries, Justice Rajinder Sachar and Dr H.S. Wasir, who were selected for the degree for their contribution in the fields of protection of human rights and medical sciences, respectively, came here personally to receive the degree (honoris causa) at the time of the convocation.

When contacted, Dr Soch, Vice-Chancellor, said the visit was not likely to be materialised due to a variety of reasons.

The university Syndicate and Senate have also decided to appoint Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, as Head of the newly created Guru Gobind Singh Chair.

The decision of the university has led to speculation that Dr Bachan may quit the SGPC post. The SGPC executive had given him extension “till further orders”.