In a disappointing turn of events for students and cricket fans, Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur will not receive the honorary DLitt degree from Jadavpur University (JU) as planned. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refused to grant her the necessary permission to attend the special convocation ceremony scheduled for December 24.
University's Plans Cancelled After BCCI Decision
Jadavpur University had planned to confer the prestigious Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) upon the World Cup-winning captain during a special convocation. However, the institution's plans have been completely scrapped after the cricket board's refusal. University Vice-Chancellor Chiranjib Bhattacharjee confirmed the news on Monday, stating that while Harmanpreet was interested in attending, the BCCI did not grant her the required No Objection Certificate (NOC).
"Harmanpreet was interested. But BCCI did not grant permission. Hence, she will not be able to attend the convocation and receive the honour," Bhattacharjee said. The university had earlier made it clear that the special convocation would only be held if Harmanpreet Kaur could be present. With her participation ruled out, the annual convocation will now proceed as usual.
A Major Letdown for Students and University Administration
The announcement has come as a significant damper for the university community, particularly students who were eagerly awaiting the chance to greet the cricketing icon. Harmanpreet Kaur played a stellar role in India's recent World Cup victory, making her a national hero and a huge inspiration.
The situation also triggered administrative complications for the university. An emergency online meeting of the Executive Council (EC) was held on Monday to approve AICTE chairman T G Sitharam as the chief guest for the annual convocation. However, this meeting proved inconclusive. A key reason cited was the absence of a registrar, as the tenure of the acting registrar ended on November 30. State government nominee to the EC, Manojit Mandal, highlighted that EC meetings cannot be held without a registrar in place.
What Happens Next?
With the special event cancelled, Jadavpur University will now focus on its standard annual convocation. The honour for Harmanpreet Kaur, while intended and communicated, remains in limbo, dependent on future coordination between her schedule, the BCCI, and the university. The incident underscores the tight protocols governing national team athletes and the sometimes conflicting schedules between sporting commitments and public accolades.
