BeyondHeadlines News Desk
Jamia Millia Islamia held a ‘Special Convocation’ on April 27, 2011 at 11 AM in Dr. M.A. Ansari Auditorium, Jamia Millia Islamia to confer the degree of ‘Doctor of Letters’ (Honoris Causa) on Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General to United Nations.
On another side, just outside the Jamia campus, many Sikh organizations like All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) and US based human rights group, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and National 1984 Victim Justice and Welfare Society protested against Ban Ki-moon’s meeting with Congress leaders. The protest was to seek justice for victims of 1984 riots. Some of the Jamia students also not happy of the Jamia Decision to honour Mr. Ban Ki-moon. One student from Jamia Millia Islamia, Hafeez wrote on his Facebook’s wall “Jamia Millia Islamia now with full armed force as Jamia conferring an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Before getting honored let him talk about Kashmir, Gujarat, Maoism, Operation Green Hunt, Maudany, Soni Sori, Kazmi and Police Torture in allegation of Maoism and Terrorism…etc, Let’s struggle for Justice, Let’s all be fighters today!”
The newly appointed Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia Lieutenant General M.A. Zaki (Retired) presided over the special convocation and conferred the degree on Mr. Ban Ki-moon. Mr. Najeeb Jung, Vice Chancellor, presented him the citation.
The citation presented to him by Vice Chancellor Mr. Najeeb Jung read “In honouring him, Jamia Millia Islamia celebrates one of the most acclaimed figures of our times, who – in his person and action – combines the strong foundations of morality and ethics with equally important principles of human rights and dignity. In recognition of his immense contribution to development and world peace, Jamia Millia Islamia confers upon him the degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on this 27th day of April, 2012.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr Ban Ki-moon said “Thank you for this distinguished recognition. For decades, I have been a student of India. Now I finally have a degree to prove it! Today you do me and the United Nations a special honour. In that spirit, I accept this honorary doctorate on behalf of the women and men who serve the United Nations around the world.”
Mr. Ban Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. In 2011, Mr. Ban Ki-moon ran unopposed for a second term as Secretary-General and was unanimously re-elected to the post of Secretary General by the General Assembly. He will continue to serve in his current position until 31 December 2016.
