The Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of the South Pacific (USP), Professor Rajesh Chandra was recently honoured at the first-ever Uttar Pradesh (UP) Pravasi Diwas, India with the Uttar Pradesh Ratna award.
He is one of the 13 people across the world from the Indian diaspora who were honoured at the Pravasi Diwas ceremony by the Chief Minister of the State of Uttar Pradesh, Sri Akhilesh Yadav.
Among those honoured were the former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Basdeo Pandey, as well as those making outstanding contributions in various countries in different fields including business, medicine, politics, education, community and social development, and culture.
Professor Chandra said that he was deeply humbled by this award.
“I feel very humbled and grateful for this international recognition and deeply honoured by being placed in the company of such eminent recipients. I was also overwhelmed by the warmth that was shown by the government and people of Uttar Pradesh and impressed by the caliber of the presenters and participants,” he said.
“In receiving this award, I acknowledge the contribution of my parents, especially my father who has been my inspiration. He not only took loans to further my education, but as manager of the Tuva Indian School inspired me to make a contribution to education. I feel proud that as a son of a Girmitya, I could make the kinds of contribution that are attracting international recognition, especially being from a small country like Fiji,” he further added.
The award was based on his extensive contributions to higher education. In addition to being the Vice-Chancellor and President of USP for the last seven years, Professor Chandra has served USP for about 37 years in various capacities that have included being Acting Vice Chancellor for more than three years over this period, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic), Director of Planning and Development, Head of School of Social and Economic Development, Professor and Head of the Department of Geography.
Professor Chandra was also the Foundation Vice-Chancellor of the University of Fiji and is Chairman of the Association of the Heads of Tertiary Institutions of the Pacific Islands. He is also a Council member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). He has published extensively, and given numerous keynote presentations at international, regional and national conferences.
In addition to attending the UP Pravasi Diwas, Professor Chandra also visited the University of Lucknow, Banaras Hindu University and the Gautam Budh University as part of his private visit. He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to promote diasporic studies and exchanges and the development of information and communications technologies.
“All major and progressive countries are now leveraging their diasporic networks and this MOU will provide the University with opportunities to enhance diasporic studies for mutual benefit,” Professor Chandra said.