Will use Doctorate to further cause of under-privileged: SRK

H S Rao
London, Jul 11 (PTI) Describing the Honorary Doctorate
conferred on him by a leading British University as a "very
very special honour", Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has
pledged to utilise the recognition to further the cause of
under-privileged children in India.

"I promise to dedicate a large proportion of my time
to do whatever within my capacity to further the cause of
education among kids as a way of my thankfulness and gratitude
for this honour," Khan said after receiving the Doctorate here
Friday evening.

"Of course, starting with my kids who are highly
uneducated right now," he said.

Khan was conferred the Doctorate by Professor Les
Ebdon, Vice Chancellor of the Bedfordshire University, in
recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, media
and culture at a special ceremony held at Washington Mayfare,
a hotel owned by NRI entrepreneur Joginder Singh Sangar.

The Bollywood heartthrob, who has won several
international recognitions including the Ordre des Arts et des
Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) from the French
Government, the Malaysian title of Datuk - equivalent to a
British Knighthood, said, "I could not believe that I may be
addressed as Doctor from henceforth.

"My kids have, lifelong been asking me if I will be
getting a stethoscope as an award. In my job as an actor,
getting an honorary Doctorate is right up there, as an
achievement."

Thanking the Bedfordshire University, one of the top
UK universities, and the 'Routes 2 Roots', an Indian NGO which
nominated him for the honour, Khan said, "It is a very very
special honour. And it makes me to take seriously about what I
do and what I have done in the past 20 years of my career.

"The feeling I get is that I should utilise this
recognition to further the cause of those under-privileged
children who do not get the opportunity to educate themselves.

"Once again I want to thank everyone present here for
making me realise there is a lot more important thing I can do
to improve my life and the life of others."

Asked to describe about his feeling after receiving
the Doctorate, Khan said, "This is one of the finest things
that has happened in my career."

Answering a question why he did not go to the
Bedfordshire University to receive the honour, he said, "I
wish I should have gone earlier. But I have been suffering a
couple of injuries, one after the other. As a matter of fact,
these people (the Vice chancellor and others) relented and
listened to confer the doctorate in London as I can not travel
much."

Khan, who still has his left hand in a sling, said: "I
would love to visit the University. I have seen some very nice
things about the University in the video. Insha Allah, I would
like to visit it soon."

Professor Les Ebdon said, "We will be delighted to
have you. You can also meet the students." (More) PTI HSR
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