Times of
India: Lucknow: Monday, November 30, 2015.
At
the age of 65 and after a long wait of 44 years, Anil Kumar Singh finally
received his M Raman Gold medal for Inorganic Chemistry from the Lucknow University
(LU) on Saturday.
Singh
had secured highest marks in the subject and was eligible for the said gold
medal since 1971. But, the university did not hold convocation that year and
none of the medals were handed over. With Singh's unprecedented win, gates for
other medal holders and achievers from 1971 to claim their due are flung open.
Ironically,
Singh completed his education, served as a teacher in chemistry department and
retired as a professor in June 2012. He is also executive president of the
Rashtriya Shikshak Mahasangh.
"Everytime
I queried anyone at the university or voiced my concern, I was told it's the
university rule not to give medals or degrees, if convocation was not held for
any reason in that year," said Singh.
His
mark sheet from the university said he stood first in order of merit and a
certificate issued in 2007 also confirmed his eligibility to the coveted award.
This had given some relief to Singh until on March 24, he filed an RTI in the
case.
Quoting
a clause in section 15.05 of the first statute of the university that said that
if due to any reason the university fails to hold the convocation, the degree,
diploma and academic distinctions maybe sent by registered posts, Singh shot an
RTI asking if this was being followed.
"I
didn't get the reply to this question, but I also asked them if one puts an
application to the effect, will the medal be given then?" informed Singh.
It was to this question that he got an answer stating that if the Vice
Chancellor (VC) consents to the application, the medal might be handed over.
Prof Singh then asked LU VC to give him the gold medal he deserves. His
application was accepted and on Saturday, controller of examination gave the
medal to Prof Singh.
"The
current controller of examinations, SK Shukla, found the records, got my medal
made and gave it to me today," said Singh, who feels the fight was an in
principle one.
Previously
in 2004, Singh's daughter Aishvarya Singh, now an IAS officer posted in Sikkim,
had fought a battle with the university over her rightful claim over the most
prestigious Chancellor's Gold Medal at LU. It was after that win, that LU
introduced the system of inviting applications to the coveted honour. Prior to
that head of the departments nominated any student they wished to.
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