Assam University confers DLitt on Anand Mahindra, Partha Sarathi Mahanta

Silchar, Jan 19: More than 13,600 students marked a defining academic milestone on Monday as Assam University, Silchar, held its 23rd Convocation, celebrating new graduates while honouring distinguished contributions to public life, academia and social engagement with the conferment of honorary Doctor of Literature degrees.

Industrialist Anand Gopal Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, and Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Guwahati, were among those honoured with the prestigious DLitt degree.

While Mahindra was unable to attend the ceremony in person, the university recognised his sustained contribution to thought leadership, industry-driven social initiatives and public discourse.

Dr Mahanta, a serving IPS officer and an academic with a background in Economics, was also conferred the honorary doctorate. According to university sources, he is the first police officer in Assam to receive an honorary Doctor of Literature degree.

Responding to the honour, Dr Mahanta said he was deeply humbled by the recognition.

“I am extremely honoured to receive this award from the university. Receiving it from Swami Atmapriyananda Maharaj adds a special meaning. As police officers, we serve people from very close quarters. I believe this honour belongs not just to me, but to every member of the Assam Police, which stands by the people in times of need,” he said.

Addressing the graduating students, Dr Mahanta urged them to look beyond academic success alone. “You must rise in your careers, but equally strive to become good human beings. Degrees do not necessarily mean education. If we fail to contribute to society and the nation, then such degrees lose their true value,” he added.

In addition to Mahindra and Mahanta, honorary DLitt degrees were also conferred on Prof Niranjan Roy, Vice-Chancellor of Gurucharan University, Silchar, in recognition of his contributions to Sanskrit, and Prof Partha Sarkar, senior faculty member of the Department of Mass Communication at Assam University.

The convocation address was delivered by Swami Atmapriyananda Maharaj, Pro-Chancellor of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Belur Math.

The ceremony was attended by the Chancellor of Assam University, retired Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Vice-Chancellor Prof Rajive Mohan Pant, senior officials, faculty members and graduating students, marking a significant academic milestone for the university and the state.