Jamia Millia honours cardiologist Ashok Seth

New Delhi, Nov 22 (IANS) Jamia Millia Islamia Thursday honoured leading cardiology Ashok Seth with Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) at the annual convocation ceremony here.

Lt. Gen. (retd) M.A. Zaki, Chancellor of Jamia, presented the honour to Seth, chairman of cardiovascular sciences and chief cardiologist and chairman of cardiology council at the Fortis Group of Hospitals.

“Science and technology have mesmerised us. We think we are rational, whereas we can’t create a single human cell… There is a need to combine spirituality and science. We need to live for humanity,” said Seth, who performed one of the highest number of angiographies and angioplasties in the world, and finds mention in the Limca Book of Records.

The leading cardiologist was awarded the Padma Shri in 2003 for his contribution in the field of cardiology.

In his address, Najeeb Jung, vice−chancellor of Jamia, said: “All universities have to answer to their stake−holders in the present; Jamia has the added challenge of living up to its past.”

He described Jamia’s endeavours on three fronts in the last few years: diversifying its academic and disciplinary infrastructure, expanding its student facilities and building its profile both in the Indian public sphere and abroad.

As many as 4,179 students from various faculties and centres of the university were awarded degrees and diplomas. PhD degrees were awarded to 204 research scholars, while 147 gold medals were awarded to toppers of various courses.

The video proceedings of the programme were webcast live on the Jamia website www.jmi.ac.in, for the first time.

IANS 2012-11-22 23:00:04