Kalyani University convocation
Kalyani, Aug. 31: Ace allrounder of Indian women’s cricket team and former captain Jhulan Goswami will be honored with a new feather as the Kalyani University has decided to confer honorary doctorate of letters (D-Lt) to the dusky Chakdaha girl.
On September 7 (Thursday) Jhulan will be conferred the “honoris causa” (Doctor of letters) on the occasion of the University’s 28th convocation to be held at the APJ Abdul Kalam atuditorium. Conferment of the honor will be done by chancellor of the university Kesharinath Tripathy, Governor of West Bengal.
A spokesperson of the university today said that Jhulan Goswami will be honored as recognition of her contribution to women’s cricket in the country.
The other recipients of the honoris causa include vocalist Pandit Rashid Khan, eminent Bengali poet Joy Goswami, scientist Professor Indranil Manna (Director of IIT, Kanpur) and Professor Mihir Kanti Chaudhuri (former vice chancellor of Tejpur University in Assam).
Reacting to the University’s decision to chose her for the honor, an elated Jhulan Goswami today said: “This is beyond my dream, imagination and expectation. I am moved with this gesture of the University authorities. I was so happy hearing about the news that I became excited like a child and called my friends and relatives to convey it to them. I have earned lot of accolades in life so far, received many awards, but this would be probably the best one to make me very proud”.
The court members and executive council of the Kalyani University decided Jhulan’s name in a hurried called meeting held on August 17. Initially, the University’s court and EC decided to confer the honor to former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and scientist Bikash Sinha. The two names were sent to Chancellor Kesharinath Tripathy for his approval. However, sources claimed that chancellor returned the proposals with the comment to submit fresh choices for the honor.
A court member said: “The chancellor advised us to change the name of Sourav Ganguly and Bikash Sinha as both of them have already received similar honor from other institutions. He advised us to make new choices like those who are deserving ones and made marks in their field. Later the court members and EC met again and unanimously chosen Jhulan Goswami along with others”.
On May 9 Jhulan became the highest wicket taker in Women’s one day international surpassing Australia’s Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s ten year’s record. Jhulan reached 181 mark overtaking Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s tally of 180.
“This is beyond my dream, imagination and expectation. I am moved with this gesture of the University authorities. I was so happy hearing about the news that I became excited like a child and called my friends and relatives to convey it to them. I have earned lot of accolades in life so far and received many awards, but this would be probably the best one to make me very proud” – JHULAN GOSWAMI
However, as on date there are 195 ODI wickets in her kitty (up to ICC world cup 2017)
Apart from this, Jhulan has also 40 test match wickets in her kitty which she got from 10 matches.
Jhulan, who made her debut in world cricket in 2002, took 15 years to reach the milestone.
Jhulan was chosen as the skipper of Indian team in 2008 replacing Mithali Raj and led the country in 25 one day international matches.
Earlier in 2007, she was adjudged by the International Cricket Council as the cricketer of the year.
In 2010 Jhulan was conferred with Arjuna award and two years later with Padmashree award.