Japanese varsity confers honorary doctorate upon Deputy CM Fadnavis

Staff Reporter

Koyasan University of Japan has confered honorary doctorate upon Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, at the convocation hall of Mumbai University on Tuesday. Fadnavis has become the first person in the 120-year history of the university to receive honorary doctorate. Koyasan University had announced about this honourary doctorate to be awarded to Fadnavis in August when Deputy Chief Minister had paid a visit to Japan. The university conferred the doctorate on Fadnavis in recognition of his efforts in creating basic civic infrastructure, developing strong water conservation system by implementing schemes such as the Jalyukta Shivar Yojna, his contribution in the industrial development of the State and his efforts to bring social equality in the society.

In his acceptance speech at the event held in Mumbai, Fadnavis said that he dedicates this honour to the people of Maharashtra. Fadnavis opened his address in Japanese where he expressed gratitude towards Koyasan University and people of Japan. “They have awarded this doctorate to me in recognition of the work done by my colleagues and myself in the fields of infrastructure, water management, and the industrial field. This has only been possible due to the blessings of the people of Maharashtra. The road to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a 5 trillion-dollar economy went through Maharashtra,” Fadnavis mentioned with proud feeling.

In 2015, while he was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Fadnavis had unveiled the statue of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar at the Buddhist study centre of the university in Japan. Later on Fadnavis visited Japan twice--in 2018 and in August this year. Prof Inui Runin of Koyasan University, Yoshio Yamashita, Director of International Affairs, Wakayama Prefecture; Dr Fukahori Yasukata, the Consul General of Japan in Mumbai; were the prominent among those present in the function.