Lucknow :

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.

The matter however didn’t even reach the VC. “The current controller of examinations, SK Shukla taking personal interest in the case, 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 had fought a battle with the university over his daughter’s 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.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / November 29th, 2015