Aligarh: Oscar winning music composer AR Rahman was conferred upon an honorary doctorate by Aligarh Muslim University in recognition of his contribution to the field of music and art. Rahman, who has given music to several Indian films, international cinema and theatre, was honoured along with prominent Urdu scholar Gopi Chand Narang at the 59th convocation of Aligarh Muslim University, the historic institution. Former Presidents A P J Abdul Kalam and Zakir Hussain and freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan have also been the recipients of the AMU university’ honour. Rahman, on this occasion, said that he was overwhelmed with the honour and requested more young people to join creative fields like arts and media. "I urge young people to continue learning and to participate with me in building a strong, harmonious India and world," Rahman said. “I find a transcendent language that all can understand that can bring all together -- a language that awakens in each of us an awareness that all energy is spiritual energy and the fate of one is linked to the fate of all,” Rahman added.
-June 7, 2009