Chennai: Popular Telugu actor and politician M Mohan Babu was today honoured with Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Dr MGR Educational And Research Institute for his 'significant contribution to the Telugu film industry.'
Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao,holding additional charge of Tamil Nadu, presented the degree to the film actor at the 26th convocation of the university here.
"Mohan Babu is a versatile and renowned actor, an educationist, a Parliamentarian, a philanthropist and a Padma Shri awardee", Rao said after presenting the degree to him.
"Babu, with his matchless dialogue delivery, has brought a new genre to Telugu film industry. He has played various roles in a career spanning four decades", he said.
Manchu Bhakthavatsalam Naidu, popularly known as Manchu Mohan Babu, in his more than 40 year career in the film industry, has acted in over 560 movies, of which 63 were blockbusters.
Last year, he became the first Telugu film personality to be honoured in the House of Commons, the British Parliament, in which his popular film dialogues compiled in "Dialogue Book', were launched in association with MP, Bob Blackman.
The Governor also presented the Honorary Degree, Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) to National Power Corporation of India Ltd., Oustanding-Scientist, Director, S Singha Roy.
Noting that India would be the "most youthful nation" by 2020, Rao said the average age of an Indian then would be 29 years, which would be eight years younger than the average age of an American or a Chinese.
"This is a demographic dividend for Indians. If we do not educate youth, it will be a disaster. Taking advantage of demographics and channelising the enormous youth power in the right direction is the need of the hour", he said. "It rests with educational institutions and universities", he said.
As knowledge providers, educational institutions should establish academic linkage by signing MoUs and organising education exchange programmes with colleges and universities across the globe, he said.
