Nrupatunga award for Chidananda Murthy

BENGALURU: Cricketer Rahul Dravid has declined to accept the honorary doctorate that Bangalore University had decided to confer on him during its 52nd convocation ceremony on Friday.A press release from the university said the former Indian captain had thanked the university for choosing him for the honour, but “in all humility declined to accept the degree”.“He (Dravid) has conveyed that he would try to earn a doctorate degree by accomplishing some form of academic research in the field of sports rather than receiving an honorary degree,” the release stated.University vice-chancellor Thimme Gowda said, “We’ve learnt that he’s reluctant to accept the award because he’d rather earn it. The honorary doctorate, however, is not gratis. It is a recognition we’re awarding him for his contribution to sports.”“We’ve been trying to get in touch with him, but he’s out of town currently. Once he’s back, we’ll try to convince him about it,” Gowda added.Dravid was not available for a comment.The university had suggested three names, including that of Dravid, to governor Vajubhai Vala, who is also the chancellor of the university, for conferring the honorary doctorate. Vala had approved only Dravid’s name.The convocation will be held at the Jnana Jyoti Auditorium.Historian and scholar M Chidananda Murthy will be awarded the Nrupatunga Award in May this year for excellence in the field of Kannada literature. The award, instituted by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, will be presented by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.As a researcher, Murthy’s works have focused on the scientific study of Kannada inscriptions. The award comprises a cash prize of Rs 7 lakh. A committee headed by Manu Baligar, chairman, KSP, selected Murthy for the accolade.