Maharaja Surajmal Brij University in India Confers Honorary Doctorate
Chancellor Mishra (3rd from left) entrusts the certificate of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, for Mr. Ikeda to Bharat Soka Gakkai representatives
On April 5, 2023, Maharaja Surajmal Brij University in India conferred upon Daisaku Ikeda the degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa, for his contributions to the fields of education and philosophy and promotion of peace and human rights. Mr. Ikeda was one of six recipients of the university’s honorary doctoral degrees.
The conferral took place during a convocation ceremony, attended by Chancellor Shri Kalraj Mishra (Governor of Rajasthan), Vice-Chancellor Professor Ramesh Chandra and distinguished guests, including Professor V.R. Mehta, Former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University. Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) Chairperson Vishesh Gupta and Honorary Deputy Chairperson Dr. Akash Ouchi accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Ikeda.
At
the ceremony, Mr. Ikeda was recognized for
his lifelong dedication to the betterment of humanity through promoting peace,
cultural exchange and the development of the human potential. His conferral citation highlighted how
Mr. Ikeda’s “vision of a humanistic education that fosters the development of
the whole person—intellect, heart, and spirit”—has “inspired countless students
and educators around the world.”
Other recipients of honorary doctoral degrees on the day were: Stanford University Professor Roger D. Kornberg, recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Ved Prakash Nanda, the Thompson G. Marsh Professor of Law at the University of Denver; Attorney-General of India R. Venkataramani; Judge Dalveer Bhandari of the International Court of Justice; and Indian classical dance performing artist Ms. Hema Malini.
Located in
Bharatpur, a city in northwestern India with a long history dating back to the
18th century and home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Keoladeo National Park,
Maharaja Surajmal Brij University was established as a state university in
2012. It includes 167 colleges and has more than 170,000 students.
[Adapted
from an article in the April 10, 2023, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun,
Soka Gakkai, Japan]
