Now, anyone can get an honorary 'Doctorate' for a fixed rate
Mangaluru: Apart from the two recognized doctorate degrees (Ph.D.) that are awarded to the intellects and others for their commendable services in various fields, a third form of the doctorate degree has recently become a trend.
While the first form of doctorate degree is awarded to scholars who work for years publishing journals, and thesis by recognized universities, the second one is known as Honorary Doctorate that is awarded to people with exceptional services and contributions in various fields. The third one which has become a new normal is a doctorate being awarded at a “fixed rate” to businessmen, politicians, and social figures with little or no contributions to society.
Earlier reports of such doctorates being awarded to people used to come from districts like Bengaluru, Mandya, and Mysuru but now the “fixed rate doctorate” is making inroads into the Dakshina Kannada district.
Social media groups are currently abuzz with reports of people getting these doctorate degrees with a particularly strange name. Users have subjected the receivers of these doctorate degrees to trolling on social media pages.
Several people in Mangaluru have been awarded these doctorate degrees which possess the slightly altered names of reputed international colleges and universities. The degrees are then conferred at hotels or other venues in Goa, Bengaluru, and elsewhere with a few men posing for a picture as guests on stage, wearing the robes worn during convocation ceremonies in universities.
Later the receiver releases the picture to media houses and on social media platforms as a publicity stunt claiming they have received a doctorate from reputed institutions and universities.
Social media users have recently trolled people receiving such honorary doctorates, while a few others have also shared their bitter experiences with those distributing these doctorate degrees.
Violating the criteria to be followed by institutions that can confer honorary doctorates, several organizations have been awarding honorary doctorates to people who barely meet the criteria of being conferred with this honor.
Although people have now begun to realize that these doctorates carry no authenticity, people who have received honorary doctorates from genuine universities and through their contribution in various fields feel let down.
Earlier in June this year, award-winning actor MK Mata had shared a Facebook post on the topic and had named it “Doctorate Maratakidde” meaning doctorate for sale.
Commenting on the issue today, he expressed his displeasure adding that the networking awarding these doctorate degrees is making people to suspect the people who have obtained their doctorates with merit and from authentic universities.
He also shared his experience from about three years ago when he received a call claiming that he would be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Madras University.
“When I asked the caller about what was my contribution to be awarded an honorary doctorate, in a haste, they just told me to share the details they were asking and that they will take care of the rest.” He said adding they asked him for 50,000 rupees in exchange for the Honorary Doctorate.
Recently when a person called one such organization conferring Honorary Doctorate he was told to share his details through an email id along with his identity proof and details of his work. They told him their administrative committee will scrutinize his work and will get back to him in a week.
While claiming they do not take any money in exchange for the Honorary Doctorates, the organization hinted that they would accept donations that would come from the applicants.
It is important to keep the significance of Honorary Doctorate from reputed universities in mind, simultaneously it is also important to to be aware of this unauthentic third form of "Honorary Doctorate" that is vastly becoming a new normal in the region.
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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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