Writer, lyricist, and poet Javed Akhtar is going to be conferred with an honorary doctorate as per a statement from SOAS University of London.
He is going to be conferred with a Doctor of Literature (DLit) (honoris causa) in recognition of his significant contribution as a poet, lyricist, screenwriter, and political activist. The ceremony for the same is expected to take place in September later this year with the probable dates being 5, 6 or 7.
Javed Akhtar is receiving Honorary Doctorate because as per a statement from SOAS University Honorary doctorates are given to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to scholarship, or public life, in areas that are relevant to the School’s mission.
Javed Akhtar’s collaboration with fellow screenwriter Salim Khan under the partnership Salim-Javed gave Indian cinema classics like Zanjeer, Deewar, Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, and many more.
Once he ended his creative partnership with Salim Khan, Akhtar went on to make a strong and independent career as a lyricist. It got him many National and International honors like the National Film Award and multiple Filmfare Awards, too.
He has also been conferred with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibushan by the Indian government, two of the highest civilian awards in the country.
The Honorary Doctorate from SOAS University will be another distinguished honor in Akhtar’s long and prolific career.
Also read: Javed Akhtar refuses to apologize for his vile 26/11 remarks
Javed Akhtar was born in 1945 in Gwalior. His father Jan Nisar Akhtar was a Bollywood film songwriter and Urdu poet. His paternal grandfather Muztar Khairabadi was a poet as was his grandfather’s elder brother, Bismil Khairabadi, while his great great grandfather, Fazl-e-Haq Khairabadi, was a religious scholar of Islam who declared the Jihad in 1857 against the English for religious reasons.
Javed Akhtar’s original name was Jadoo, taken from a line in a poem written by his father: “Lamha, lamha kisi jadoo ka fasana hoga”. He was given the official name of Javed since it was the closest to the word jadoo. He spent most of his childhood and was schooled in Lucknow. He graduated from Saifiya College in Bhopal.
