india

Updated: Sep 29, 2014 18:50 IST

An university set up during Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) rule and named after mother of one its leader will confer honorary D Litt degree on Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in its first convocation on Tuesday.



Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University is named after BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra’s, mother Dr Shakuntala Misra. The university came into being in BSP regime will now confer honorary D Litt degree on SP chief.



“In fact, with as many as five top leaders of ruling Samajwadi Party likely to be seated on the dais. It will look like a congregation of SP leaders rather than university’s maiden convocation since its inception in 2008,” said a senior faculty of the university pleading anonymity.



Chief minister Akhielsh Yadav will be the chief guest, his father and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav will be guest of honour. Other distinguished guests include: PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav, minister for person with disabilities, Ambika Chaudhari, and food and civil supplies minister, Raghuraj Pratap Singh ‘Raja Bhaiyya’.



Confirming the decision, Nishit Rai, the University’s vice-chancellor said that Mulayam Singh Yadav would be honoured for his socio-political contributions to the society. “In my opinion no one could match politician’s contribution to society. And in my view there is no better person than SP chief,” Rai said.



His political career is about good five decades old. He was elected MP for six times, MLA for 8 times, chief minister for 3 times and was defence minister once. It is no mean achievement, said Rai who was appointed vice chancellor by SP government in January 2014.



Before Rai an IAS officer headed this University. Rai is considered close to Mulayam and was SP’s national spokesperson for several years. Rai also runs a Hindi newspaper.



Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik, who is the visitor to the university, will preside over the convocation function here on Tuesday. “In all 633 students would be awarded degrees during the function. A total of 77 medals will be distributed among 43 meritorious students,” said Rai.



Situated on Mohan road, Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University is the first university of the country with 50% reservation for the differently abled persons and the entire university has disabled friendly infrastructure and interiors.



The academicians are questioning as to why the university could not rope in any scientist or a person with disability who fought hard in life and is extremely successful in life. Convocation is an academic event and it should not be mixed with politics, said a former vice chancellor of LU.