Big B, and now Dhoni: Why do UK universities love our stars?

Mahendra Singh Dhoni joins the elite club of recipients who’ve been honored with doctorates from international universities. The troubled captain was awarded an honorary doctorate by De Montfort University in recognition of his significant sporting achievements on Tuesday. Unlike regular folks for whom earning a doctorate means spending innumerable hours researching, collating, and writing, stars are regularly honoured with a degree that otherwise takes years of hard work and solid nose-in-the-book syndrome. Not fair, you say? [caption id=“attachment_73143” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“It’s a charming pair as advertisement for a university — the heady concoction of stardom and education. Reuters”]  [/caption] “Why not,” counter imaginary vice-chancellors who decide to roll out the honours. Think about it; an international university has much to gain when awarding a degree. That is not to say that Indian stars over the years haven’t been worth their weight; a look at the roll-call of doctorate receivers is exciting to say the least. It’s a charming pair as advertisement for a university — the heady concoction of stardom and education. It is equally baffling for an Indian parent. Stardom and education don’t mix, it’s as good as a fool implying oil and water can go together. In one go, the university kills two birds with one stone. 1. The honorary doctorate holder feels smug having earned a doctorate and being validated by an ‘educational institute of repute’. 2. The University name gets Asian/Indian recognition, a biggie, especially for a country known to have the highest student export. We’ve skimmed the list of the honorary doctorates handed out to our shining stars in the past few years. Food for thought: how many of these university names had you heard before these stars donned the oversized, ill-fitted gowns and posed for their special yearbook pictures? 1. Mahendra Singh Dhoni awarded an honorary doctorate by De Montfort University, post Twenty20 practice match against Leicestershire (2011). 2. Girish Karnad given a doctorate by the University of Southern California (2011). 3. Shiamak Dawar recently presented with an honorary doctorate from the Middlesex University (2011). 4. Gurdaas Maan honoured with an honorary doctorate from Wolverhampton University, UK (2010). 5. Shabana Azmi conferred a doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan University (2009). 6. Shah Rukh Khan awarded honorary doctorate in Arts and Culture from the University of Bedfordshire (2009). 7. AR Rahman honoured with honorary doctorate degree by Middlesex University (2009). 8. Bollywood superstar Preity Zinta received an honorary doctorate from the University of East London (2009). 10. Yash Chopra awarded the honorary doctorate by Leeds Metropolitan (2009). 11. Amitabh Bachcham conferred an honorary doctorate by De Montfort University (2009). 12. Doctorate of Law degree by the University of Windsor, Ontario awarded to Akshay Kumar (2008). 13. Shilpa Shetty received an honorary doctorate from Leeds Metropolitan University (2007).