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“Music is a transcendent language”

— PHOTO: PTI

Proud moment: Oscar-winning music director A.R. Rahman is all smiles after he was honoured with an honorary degree by the Aligarh Muslim University on Sunday.

ALIGARH: Oscar-winning music director A.R. Rahman was on Sunday conferred an honorary doctorate by Aligarh Muslim University for his contribution to art and music.

Mr. Rahman, who became the first Indian to win two Oscars for his work in Slumdog Millionaire, was honoured, along with Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang, at the university’s 59th convocation.

He joins the likes of the former Presidents, Zakir Hussain and A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who were among the earlier recipients of the award.

He urged youth to work for “a strong, harmonious India.” “I urge young people to continue learning and participate with me in building a strong, harmonious India and world.”

Attributing his success to Indian tradition and philosophy, Mr. Rahman said: “It is only with these values that my success has been realised, both nationally and, now after the 2009 Oscar, Bafta and Golden Globe Awards, internationally.”

Describing art in general, and music in particular, as “a transcendent language that all can understand,” he said the country needed more people willing to enter art, culture and media. “We see a majority of people in our country desiring to become engineers, doctors and lawyers but we need more people in the creative fields of media and art.”

“In a world of mass killings, genocides and terrorism, we need more positive emotions.”

Ending his address with his trademark “Jai Ho,” Mr. Rahman said: “The trip to this institution helped firm up my belief that education is the key to eradicating poverty and addressing underdevelopment.” Mr. Narang, who received an honorary doctorate for his contribution to Urdu, said the language of “plurality and openness” was a major factor in shaping his beliefs that reject all kinds of totalitarianism.

West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, who was the chief guest, said youngsters should lead the country where all kinds of extremism were rejected in favour of moderation. The university awarded Ph.D. degrees to 291 students, while 1,490 students received master’s degrees and 251 students got bachelor’s degrees. — PTI

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