Sibal intervenes but Anand refuses doctorate

Agencies
Bellevision Media Network

New Delhi, 24 August 2010: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand refused the honarary doctorate he was to have received on Monday, even as HRD minister Kapil Sibal intervened after the government wanted clarification on his citizenship.

 

Anand who is in Hyderabad for the International Congress of Mathematicians said, "he was in the country to play with mathematicians and enjoy the game."

 

"I have always played under the Indian flag and has held an Indian passport", Anand added. Earlier Anand was denied a doctorate he was to have received because the government is confused over whether he is an Indian or Spanish citizen.

 

 

The University of Hyderabad decided to award Anand honorary doctorate in 2009. But the university only formally forwarded the proposal to the Human Resource Development Ministry.

 

When the HRD Ministry twice prompted the university with these queries, it was informed that Anand - who lives with his wife in Spain - is a Spanish citizen. But it still did not inform the Ministry that it needed the approval urgently as the awards ceremony was to be held on Monday.

 

When asked about the same from Anand’s wife Aruna told CNN-IBN, ’I do not understand from where the confusion on Anand’s citizenship comes from. Anand is and has always been a citizen of India.’

 

University sources said all relevant documents were forwarded to the ministry, which was expected to approve them and send them to President Pratibha Patil, who holds the official title of Visitor at the University of Hyderabad.