Heard some news stories lately which caught my attention and it looks line that only women are creating headlines these days!!
First one of them was about Shilpa Shetty being bestowed an honorary doctorate by the Metropolitan Leeds University for her outstanding contribution to cultural diversity. An honorary degree is conferred those who have put in years of efforts and created a mark for themselves in various fields be it theatre, art, literature or science. Shilpa Shetty however, has got this degree purely on the basis of her current wave of popularity. She did not even accept that she had faced racial discrimation on the Big Brother show. She even reverted from her very first reaction of "yeh kuch zyada ho gaya" to Richard Gere's action on stage. Since when has going for some functions in England, meeting Tony Blair at a gala event and getting a role in a musical constitute an outstanding contribution? If Universities will go on awarding doctorates to the undeserving then what regard will we continue to hold for a Ph.D.? Students have to put in years of hard work doing research as part of getting a doctorate. Why should Shilpa Shetty be handed this simply on a platter?
The other news item that took me by surprise was the release of Monica Bedi. What was worse was her being celeberated as a star in her village and hindi film directors saying that Monica's tryst with jail should not be the reason for not casting her in a movie. There are people with scripts ready to form queues outside her abode!! How come they didn't spot her talent earlier on?
Last week during one of our lab treats the discussion of Pratibha Patil was opened. This was before the Saturday election. India having a first woman president sounds really good. But shouldn't the honour have gone to someone having the same stature as Dr Radhakrishnan, the first male president of our country? I was watching her interview on Doordarshan that was telecast a day after the results were announced. Pratibha Patil was asked how she was feeling after becoming the President of India. She answered "bahut harsh ho raha hai" minus any emotion conveying the happiness and excitement. A recent Times of India editorial suggested that she could spend her time at the Rashtrapati Bhavan by gardening. I do agree that the President does not have a role in the governance of our country. But that does not mean that the man or woman occupying that post has no importance. In crunch time will Pratibha Patil be able to stand her own ground? I hope she ends up making more consequential decisions than a switch from dosas to uttapams in the breakfast menu.
2 comments:
Just a side note: Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam also did not get his doctorate by working on a thesis: but he was offered honorary doctoral degrees by at least 30 universities. I think he deserves that.
[http://www.indianetzone.com/2/a.p.j._abdul_kalam.htm]
You probably didn't read the line: "An honorary degree is conferred those who have put in years of efforts and created a mark for themselves in various fields be it theatre, art, literature or science." No doubt APJ Kalam deserves to be called a Dr. At the same time its for him to decide which of those 30 doctorates holds a meaning for him. Hundreds of institutes will obviously want to honour him but then if you go on accepting everything that comes your way how special do these awards remain?
Coming back... sometimes even when people are not awarded degrees yet we address them by Dr or Prof acknowledging in the process their experience and pathbreaking work. I have nothing against this. Its our way of showing respect. But I do not believe that Shilpa Shetty has earned the honorary PhD in anyway.
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