London, July 10: Satinath Sarangi, who campaigned for justice for the survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas disaster, has been awarded a honorary doctorate by the Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.
Mr. Sarangi, the managing trustee of the Sambhavna Clinic, has been recognised by the university for his contribution to social justice.
Asked if the honour was important, he said: “definitely, First of all, in very practical terms, it helps when facing the police, who will may be think twice before arresting a doctor.
“In general, one thing I’ve come to appreciate in Bhopal is that finding and telling the truth is vital. This is something that academic institutions are supposed to do, but at Bhopal, instead, it has been done by activists.”
Others honoured by the university on Wednesday include oil-painter John Bellany; director of the Edinburgh International Festival, Jonathan Mills; education research expert Professor Sally Brown and US business entrepreneur Alan Bain.
–PTI