University of York confers honorary degrees on Narayana Murthy and Karan Bilimoria

July 24, 2026 /Posted byPrajwal EW / 0

The University of York has conferred honorary degrees on Infosys founder N. R. Narayana Murthy and entrepreneur Lord Karan Bilimoria during its Summer 2026 graduation ceremonies, recognising their contributions to business, entrepreneurship and society.

Murthy was honoured for his role in shaping India’s IT services sector through Infosys and for his focus on ethical leadership and innovation. Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer and a Crossbench member of the UK House of Lords, was recognised for his contributions to entrepreneurship, higher education and UK–India relations.

Professor Lindsay Oades, Provost of the University of York Mumbai, said the two honorary graduates reflected the values of leadership, innovation and public service that the university seeks to promote among its students.

Addressing graduates, Murthy said competence and values should guide their careers, noting that competence enables people to solve problems while values build trust.

Bilimoria urged graduates to acknowledge the support of teachers, friends and family, saying success is shaped by those who contribute to an individual’s journey.

The honorary degrees were presented as part of the University’s Summer 2026 graduation ceremonies, which also recognised the achievements of graduating students. The recipients join the University’s list of honorary graduates recognised for their contributions across business, education, science, the arts and public service.

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“If Sonam Wangchuk’s fast results only in a ministerial reshuffle, India will have reduced an extraordinary act of conviction to an ordinary political outcome. More important than replacing a Minister is building an education system worthy of our children. India has expanded access to education but missed out on excellence. As long as examinations reward memory, schools will teach memory; if they reward thinking, schools will cultivate thinkers. We need to dismantle the coaching culture, build the world’s best teachers, restore trust in government schools, and ensure educational reform outlives electoral cycles. Education must become India’s first genuinely bipartisan national mission. If this sacrifice awakens the nation to that purpose, history will remember it as the beginning of an education renaissance.”

- Gitanjali J. Angmo, The Hindu, (17/7)

"Education is the foundation upon which a democratic republic builds its future. B R Ambedkar's call to 'Educate, Agitate, Organise' remains a roadmap for an informed and egalitarian society. Over the past 12 years, the Modi government's education policy has been driven by the communalisation, commercialisation and centralisation of education, resulting in a weakening of public education and a crisis in examinations, recruitment and employment. The Ministry of Education has failed to restore confidence, while the National Testing Agency has become associated with repeated controversies, technical failures and paper leak allegations. Behind every cancelled examination lies an enormous human cost, with years of preparation and family sacrifices disappearing overnight. Dharmendra Pradhan bears ministerial responsibility for the repeated breakdown of India's examination system. The struggle is larger than one minister or one government; it is about defending education as a public good, a constitutional right and a means of nation-building rather than ideological control."

- D. Raja, The Indian Express, (21/7)

University of York confers honorary degrees on Narayana Murthy and Karan Bilimoria

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