NU to award 4 posthumous PhDs, including 2 to Covid deceased scholars

Nagpur: The Nagpur University will confer doctorate of philosophy (PhD) degrees posthumously on four scholars at the 110th convocation ceremony on Thursday at Vasantrao Deshpande Hall, Civil Lines. Two Phd scholars; Dinesh Kumar Devidas and Sachin Badwaik, passed away in May 2021 during the second Covid wave. The other two scholars, Archana Bhongade and Poonam Bothada, died of other causes.
The four had submitted their PhD theses but couldn’t live to appear for their viva, which is held before award of degree. The thesis is forwarded to three valuers or referees for approval.
Prafulla Sabale, director, Board of Examinations and Evaluation, said two positive reports from referees are necessary to award degree posthumously beside request letter from the family. “This is the first time more than one posthumous degrees will be given at NU’s convocation. Last year, one Covid deceased was among the awardees,” he said.
Sabale said two more Covid deceased scholars are likely to get degrees in next convocation.
Speaking to TOI, Unnati Badwaik said her husband Sachin did his PhD in library science. A resident of Rameshwari, Sachin was working as librarian at Arts and Science College in Umred. He passed away on May 17, 2021. He left behind two sons, aged 12 and 7, old parents, and Unnati, a housewife.
“He was keen to learn. He wanted the ‘Dr’ title before his name as well as increment. Our kids want to be like him. After marriage, he cleared NET/SET and now PhD,” she said.
Sachin (40), who did his PhD under guide Ashok Khobragade, had returned from market when he fell unwell. “He had gone to a government isolation centre after his oxygen level dropped. He was shifted to a private hospital, where he died,” she said.
The other candidate, Devdas, a resident of Bhilai, was assistant lecturer of music at the famous Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyala at Khairagad in Rajnandgaon. He submitted his thesis in music in 2018 under guide Sujata Vyas.
“The research committee did not respond in 2019. In the second committee, one referee responded but the second never came. He died in May 2021 awaiting approval, which came in September or October that year. Then I followed it up and found the referee too had some problems,” said Vyas.
Vyas remembered Devdas as a brilliant classical vocal singer and teacher. “His students still miss him,” she said.
Archana Bhongade (40), a resident of Bhandara, did her PhD in zoology. She was working at JM Patel College, Bhandara. Poonam Bhotada was awarded the degree in economics.