RBU holds Convocation, confers awards to eminent personalities

KOLKATA: The 43rd Annual Convocation of the Rabindra Bharati University (RBU) on Tuesday witnessed D. Litt degrees being conferred on eminent Indian classical vocalist Pandit Amiya Ranjan Bandyopadhyay, writer Nabaneeta Dev Sen and renowned painter Shri Jatin Das.

Among others, the Hirachand Dugar Memorial Award 2018 was presented to Rabindranath Mondal. The West Bengal State Akademi of Dance Drama Music and Visual Arts Awards were presented to eminent danseuse Purnima Ghosh, theatre personality Pankaj Kumar Munshi, noted singer Ruma Guha Thakurta and renowned sculptor Prof Niranjan Pradhan. The Acharya Dinesh Chandra Sen Memorial Award for folklore research was conferred on Dr Sukhbilas Barma.

Held on the varsity's Jorasanko Campus, the convocation was presided over by Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who also happens to be the Chancellor of the University.

The Guest-in-Chief at the Convocation was Professor Furqan Qamar, Secretary General, Association of Indian Universities, who delivered the Convocation address.

"Ninety-five scholars were awarded their PhD degrees and ninety-nine scholars received their MPhil degrees at the convocation. There were

thirty-nine recipients of the Rabindra Bharati University Medal," said Debdatta Roy, acting Registrar, RBU.

Vice-Chancellor of the varsity, Sabyasachi Basu Ray Chaudhury read out his report, conferred degrees and diplomas on eligible candidates in absentia,and also awarded the medals and prizes.

It may be mentioned that the varsity had plans to confer D. Litt on Amitabh Bachchan. The university had written him a letter expressing their desire to award him but the actor responded saying he would not be able to turn up because of his hectic shooting schedule.