HU Honors Indian President Mukherjee with Honorary Doctorate

Thursday, Oct 15, 2015

Left to right:Rector:Asher Cohen, Vice President, Yossi Gal, President Mukherjee

Hebrew University honored Indian President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, with an honorary doctorate in Philosophy today. This was the first time in 90 years that an Indian President has visited the HU campus.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee is the thirteenth President of India and has dedicated the past five decades in public service to promoting social justice and advancing India’s international diplomatic and financial standing. Pranab Mukherjee’s diplomatic talents helped him to spearhead significant national projects and advance a number of critical reforms on a range of issues including employment, public access to information, food and security, and telecommunications and transportation.

An advocate for higher education, Pranab Mukherjee has used his influence to initiate connections with academia around the world and to establish India’s institutions for higher education as the cornerstone of a strong and sustainable society.

President Mukherjee and HU President Menahem Ben-Sasson spoke of Mukherjee’s strong commitment to higher education and the importance of pursing scientific research together. Mukherjee emphasized the successful collaborations Israel and India have pursued in matters of defense, agriculture, cyber security and advanced technology.

Before the ceremony, Ben-Sasson and Mukherjee met privately to review historic correspondences between Albert Einstein and leading Indian thinkers and poets including Mahatma Gandhi.