There is a great commotion over conferment of an honorary degree by the University of Karachi to our most "popular" minister of Interior, Mr. Rehman Malik. The teachers association and the General body of the University has condemned the action of the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor and have been protesting daily demanding the cancellation of this award.
Honorary degrees are awarded by educational institutions all over the world to people in recognition of their intellectual achievements which they have acquired outside the ambit of a formal learning seat. What, if any, are the intellectual achievements of Mr. Malik? Is he a well-read man? Has he made any contribution to the fields of academia in any form? Has he mastered a plan of bringing peace to the beleaguered city of Karachi in the past 3 years of his governance? Has he, through his own mental and physical application, done anything that amounts to a novel contribution in Public Policy or Appeasement or anything remotely good for this city?
The fact is; Mr. Malik has done nothing extra-ordinary or ordinary to deserve this commemoration by the University of Karachi. It is purely a political and a sycophantic act on part of the Chancellor.
Why do we as a people, even the more fortunate amongst us who have been educated in all sense of the word, make decisions which fly right in the face of what's proper and done? What business does the Chancellor have by bestowing a degree (which is very prestigious award for recognition of unstinting labor and services) all on his own discretion and without the approval of the teachers of the institutions. Why are we so pressed to please those of us who are in power, and are abusing that power.
I am personally glad to hear the protest of the teachers demanding the cancellation of this degree: For if we have done something wrong, at least we should have the will to correct it!
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