November 28, 2015
Jagran Lakecity University in India Presents Honorary Doctorate
Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), India, presented its first honorary degree, the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Humanities and Arts), honoris causa, to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda at a ceremony held at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium in New Delhi on November 28, 2015. Mr. Ikeda was recognized for his untiring pursuit of global peace and ceaseless dedication to humanity. In attendance were Vice Chancellor Anoop Swarup, Registrar R. Nesamoorthy, Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada, who accepted the award on behalf of Mr. Ikeda, and approximately 700 representatives as well as participants in venues connected via satellite.
JLU, located in Bhopal, is a fully government-recognized and state-approved private university. It was granted university status in 2013 after being an institute of Jagran Social Welfare Society, its promoting body, for 15 years. It carries forward the legacy of being a pioneer in the provision of quality education in the state of Madhya Pradesh and was acclaimed as "University of the Year 2015" by the Federation of Madhya Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It was also recognized recently in the UK as a Global League Institution.
In his conferral speech, Vice Chancellor Dr. Swarup stated: "The very ethos and central tenet of Ikeda's thought, and of Buddhism, is the fundamental sanctity of life, a value which Ikeda sees as the key to lasting peace and human happiness. Today, in times of great global turmoil in the wake of terrorist attacks--be it in Mumbai, New York, London or Paris--and our retaliatory response to it, with no end in sight, Ikeda and his thought becomes ever so relevant." JLU also praised Mr. Ikeda in a citation saying: "Indeed, his commitment towards humanity makes him a gift to humanity."
In an acceptance message read on his behalf, Mr. Ikeda expressed deep appreciation for the honor and reflected that the name of the university, Jagran, meaning awakening, resonates with powerful tones of vitality and the renewal of life. He lauded the university for continuing to vibrantly extend the influence of human spiritual awakening and spread the message of peace. "Educational efforts grounded in a philosophy of respect for the dignity of life," he remarked "can be a source of enduring inspiration to people and create unfathomable value."
Commemorative photo with Bharat Soka Gakkai representatives and other attendees
[Adapted from an article in the December 2, 2015, issue of the Seikyo Shimbun, Soka Gakkai, Japan]
