Aligarh, June 20 (IANS): The Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has awarded former faculty member Vellayani Arjunan, 84, a doctorate in literature.
Arjunan was awarded the degree for his thesis in Malayalam on 'Influence of Sreenarayana Guru on Malayalam Poetry'.
Arjunan, also a Padmashree awardee, had worked as the first Malayalam lecturer in AMU from 1961 to 1970.
He completed his PhD from AMU in 1964.
After leaving AMU, he was appointed as the director of the Institute of Encyclopaedic Publications in Kerala.
T.N. Satheesan, a professor of Malayalam at AMU and chairman of the department of Modern Indian Languages, congratulated Arjunan for his achievement.
"It is recognition for a serious researcher who continues his academic activities even at the age of 84 and an inspiration to the young scholars," said Satheesan.