For awarding his father an honorary doctorate
Akhilesh Singh Yadav is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is also the state’s minister for higher education. He would not have held these positions of authority if it were not for his father, Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The CM likes to talk about focusing on the education of girls and also how his top priority in UP is health and education. But talk, as they say, is cheap. And when it comes to action, the Yadav scion has been found wanting in pushing that noble agenda forward. The family agenda, on the other hand, suffers far less neglect.
The son has now decided to award his father a doctorate. This will be on behalf of Dr Shakuntala Devi Misra Rehabilitation University, of whose general council he is currently the chairman. Why Mulayam deserves the doctorate of philosophy, it is fair to surmise, has not been discussed at any academic level. But then, it isn’t a surprise.
Akhilesh is just part of a tradition that makes education subservient to family honours in the state. The university has also instituted a couple of medals in Mulayam’s name. And when the university opened, it was dedicated to Mayawati’s grandfather because she happened to be the state’s Chief Minister at the time.
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