KIIT, India conferred Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) to DIU Chairman
- News Desk
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Founder and Chairman, Daffodil International University (DIU), Bangladesh was awarded the honorary Doctorate Degree (D. Litt) by India’s best-known university, KIIT (Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology). He was awarded this degree as a recognition of the development of digital society, skillful management, spreading entrepreneurial tendency among young people, and the Daffodil Institute of Social Sciences (DISS) to rehabilitate the underprivileged children of society besides as a recognition of his outstanding contributions to education. The Degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) upon Dr. Md. Sabur Khan on 10th November 2018 during 14th Annual Convocation of KIIT University.
The degree was awarded by Professor Ved Prakash, Honorable Chancellor, KIIT University in presence of Prof. Ganeshi Lal, Hon’ble Governor of Odisha and the Top Management of KIIT University. There were also Prof. Dr. Ernesto Kahan, Vice President of World Academy of Art and Culture (WAAC) and former Vice President of IPPNW, Rishikesha Mohanty, KIIT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Subrata Kumar Acharya, Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Sasmita Samanta, Registrar, Dinabandhu Sahoo, Director of the Institute of Bioresource and Sustainable Development (IBSD), Usha Kumari Prasar, Member of the House of Lords of England, Mr. Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, Switzerland MP, Gaur Gopal Das, Inspirational Speaker, Shri Kabir Bedi renowned Indian writer, director and actor along with senior officials of the KIIT were attended there. But due to physical illness, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the founder of the KIIT could not attend the convocation ceremony.
How it started: On January 18, about a year ago, on behalf of KIIT University, an official letter was issued by expressing an interest in giving honorary D.Litt Degree to Dr. Md. Sabur Khan. It is said in the letter, on November 10, 2018, at the 14th convocation of KIIT University. Dr. Md. Sabur Khan will be given honorary D.Litt Degree.
Heavy reception at the airport: After reaching Bhubaneswar airport Dr. Md. Sabur Khan received an enthusiastic reception from KIIT University. Such a reception is indeed honorable. Then KIIT welcoming team went to KIIT University campus in Bhubaneswar with Dr. Md. Sabur Khan.
Billboard on the way: On the way to Bhubaneswar in Odisha, a huge billboard containing pictures of Dr. Khan on both sides of the road was seen. Welcoming him, the billboards were arranged by the KIIT authority.
In convocation, in front of thousands of lives: In his speech during the convocation in front of the graduates, he said, “You are definitely fortunate because you have found Dr. Achyuta Samanta. However, due to illness, he is no longer present on the stage. But we believe that he is with us. Moreover, this show is being shown live. He is surely watching.”
To the students, he also said, “Those who are graduated from KIIT today, you should be proud of, because you have Dr. Achyuta Samanta as a leader. As there is a lot to learn from him. He is an example & model not only in India but all over the world. Today, peoples from different parts of the world come to know KIIT and Dr. Achyuta Samanta. He has become a living legend.”
Dr. Khan said by urging students to be an entrepreneur like Dr. Samanta, “Dr. Achyuta Samanta is a global renowned an education entrepreneur. You should become an entrepreneur like him and change the India.”
Odisha Governor Prof. Ganeshi Lal said to the students, “You are going to face a world that is divided into world religions, caste, race, language, etc. Your biggest challenge is to break the walls of this division.”
Dr. Khan also said, “I visited various organizations in different countries of the world, but I did not see any institution like KIIT and KISS. The institution has become an example to the whole world.”
He had another campus felicitation where his speech in front of the students enchanted them.
Visit KISS: With more than twenty-seven thousand underserved tribal children, Dr. Achyuta Samanta has developed the ‘Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences’ (KISS). He has taken the responsibility of teaching these children including rehabilitation. Here children are educated in general education as well as in the technical education too. As a result of becoming an adult, they become skilled people. No one is unemployed here. Dr. Md. Sabur Khan went to visit This unique educational institute. Recently KISS got the status of University. In KISS, meal’s of all twenty-seven thousand students are cooked at one time. Students eat food together. He delivered a motivational session in front of all students.
DISS in Bangladesh: Dr. Md. Sabur Khan was inspired by the activities of KISS. Thus he wants to build an institution like KISS for underprivileged and helpless children in Bangladesh. He expressed his wishes to Dr. Achyuta Samanta. Dr. Samanta assured him of all cooperation. After that, teachers and students of Daffodil International University visited several times in the KIIT and KISS. Dr. Achyuta Samanta also came to Daffodil International University several times. As a result, There is a spiritual and intimate relationship developed between Daffodil Family and Dr. Achyuta Samanta.
Due to that relationship, along with the assistance of KISS, in Ashulia, Dattapara, Dhaka beside the permanent campus of Daffodil International University; Dr. Md. Sabur Khan has already developed the Daffodil Institute of Social Science (DISS). In January of this year, the foundation stone of the DISS has been established by Dr. Achyuta Samanta. The DISS has officially started its journey since July. The goal of DISS is to provide complete free education and improve the lives of helpless, deprived and disadvantaged children (boys and girls) of 5-10 years of age. ‘Daffodil IT Park’ is also being established here. ‘Daffodil Smart City’ will be built around Daffodil International University gradually.
DISS is already going to start a support center for the poor children of Bangladesh. The decision was taken at the policy meeting in Daffodil International University conference room on 28 October. In the meeting, the decision was taken unanimously under the DISS, to set up a support center for the poor children of Bangladesh by 15th December.
According to the decision of the meeting, initially 100 poor children will be brought to the aid center as a pilot project and this number will be increased gradually. Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS), India, will provide intensive guidance and advice to the DISS at the beginning. DISS will basically arrange the necessary education, training and counseling to develop these underprivileged children as entrepreneurial minds. DISS hopes that these underprivileged children will be able to contribute to society as a successful entrepreneur or successful leader.
DISS has already started various types of social work. In May, Daffodil International University distributed food items to more than 500 handpicked street students. On the occasion of celebrating ‘International Day of Art of Giving’, foods were distributed to these children; who were taken from different parts of the capital in 71 Auditorium of the Daffodil International University.
In this ceremony, food items were handed over to the children by the Chairman of Daffodil International University of Board of Trustees Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, Daffodil Family’s Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Director of Student’s Affairs of the University Syed Mizanur Rahman Raju, Principal of Daffodil International School Mahmudul Hasan and many more.
By the initiative of KISS founder Dr. Achyuta Samanta, ‘The International Day of the Art of Giving’ is celebrated every year since 2013. This year, with 8 countries in the world, DISS was celebrated this day in Bangladesh. DISS volunteers brought five hundred children to Daffodil International University from the areas of Karwan Bazar, Kamalapur, Khilgaon, Sadarghat and Dhanmondi Lake area to celebrate the day. After that, the food items were distributed among them.
Apart from Daffodil Foundation’s ‘Jeebika Project’, Dr. Md. Sabur Khan has provided financial assistance to nearly 2,000 disabled families and now they are involved in small business. The fortune has brought in more than 500 families under this ‘Jeebika Project’. They are now financially dependent. Someone has bought cows, goats, some are cultivating fish from the ‘Jeebika Project’ for loans at zero interest. In this way, many destitute people have turned their fate.
Dr. Md. Sabur Khan is giving financial scholarships to many helpless meritorious students through the Daffodil Foundation. After completing the education by the scholarship of the Daffodil Foundation, many people have now become university teachers, engineers, doctors and lawyers.
Dr. Khan is working relentlessly to build a self-reliant generation. He has already arranged employment for a large number of people. Business Incubator, Startup, Venture Capital, Daffodil International University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Division etc. have been established to create entrepreneurship. As a guest professor, he teaches students in different universities of Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Kyrgyzstan.
He has already achieved more than a dozen fellowships and honorary doctoral degrees. As a convocation speaker Dr. Md. Sabur Khan has already been invited to several foreign universities.
For more than 28 years as a resource person, Dr. Md. Sabur Khan is participating in interviews and talk shows in local and foreign media. For the development of an entrepreneur, he has written a book titled ‘Entrepreneur Development Guide’, ‘Art of Effective Living’ and ‘A Journey Towards Entrepreneurship’ in two languages.
As the pioneer inventor of the ‘Art of Living’ and ‘Change Together’ concept Dr. Md. Sabur Khan will be remembered forever. The involvement of Kauffman Foundation, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Child and Youth Finance International (CYFI) brought him fame in the international arena. And ultimately, now the respected D.Litt Degree of KIIT University has added as another feather in his crown of prestige.
