Describing the Honorary Doctorate conferred on him by a leading British University as a “very very special honour”, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has pledged to utilise the recognition to further the cause of under-privileged children in India.

“I promise to dedicate a large proportion of my time to do whatever within my capacity to further the cause of education among kids as a way of my thankfulness and gratitude for this honour,” Khan said after receiving the Doctorate in London in Friday evening.

“Of course, starting with my kids who are highly uneducated right now,” he said.

Khan was conferred the Doctorate by Professor Les Ebdon, Vice Chancellor of the Bedfordshire University, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, media and culture at a special ceremony held at Washington Mayfare, a hotel owned by NRI entrepreneur Joginder Singh Sangar.
The Bollywood heartthrob, who has won several international recognitions including the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of the Arts and Literature) from the French Government, the Malaysian title of Datuk – equivalent to a British Knighthood, said: “I could not believe that I may be addressed as Doctor from henceforth. My kids have, lifelong been asking me if I will be getting a stethoscope as an award. In my job as an actor, getting an honorary Doctorate is right up there, as an achievement.”

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan will be conferred an honorary Doctorate in Arts and Culture by a leading British University.Shah Rukh, the first foreign actor to be conferred the Malaysian title of Datuk, equivalent to a British Knighthood last year, will receive the Doctorate from Professor Les Ebdon, OBE, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire.

The University of Bedfordshire received nomination of Shah Rukh Khan from an NGO, Routes to Roots, which is also a member of World Association for Non Governmental Organisations.

It works in the sphere of augmenting people to people contact across the world, specially endeavouring to bring people and cultures together across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries in general and India and Pakistan in particular. Actor Juhi Chawla and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt are among its patrons.
“Shah Rukh Khan was selected by us after careful study since he has his head and heart at the right place in spite of being crowned the King of Bollywood. The superstar has done immense work for the underprivileged and downtrodden and has always come forward for charities in case of natural disasters,” said Tina Vachani, co-founder, Routes to Roots.