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Clinton may visit IIT Kanpur to receive honour

Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow

United States President Bill Clinton may include Kanpur in his itinerary during his visit to India next month.

The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, has resolved to confer an honorary doctorate on Clinton as a token of appreciation for the extensive American support for the growth and development of the institute over the past four decades.

The Union human resources development ministry approved the proposal and forwarded it to the US embassy in New Delhi so that a time slot was reserved in the president's busy schedule in New Delhi itself. But sources said Ambassador Richard Celeste was inclined to have the ceremony in Kanpur, the industrial capital of Uttar Pradesh.

According to a top Kanpur IIT official, "the US ambassador has been kind to send his recommendation to the White House so that a visit to our institute could be included in his schedule".

The faculty of IIT Kanpur, one of India's leading technology institutes, was sharply divided on the issue of conferring the degree on the US president. One section suddenly donned the swadeshi mantle and opposed the move. But once the Centre cleared the proposal, the IIT administration began going ahead with its preparations.

The Uttar Pradesh government too is keen to make the most of Clinton's likely visit to the city. The industries department has been geared up to prepare a comprehensive but crisp presentation on the rich potential of India's most populous state.

"A ten-minute slot will suffice to apprise the US President that UP not only has much more to offer than most Indian states, but is also ready to roll out the red carpet for foreign investors," a senior official told rediff.com

They also have a contingency plan up their sleeve in case the White House declines to give its nod for the Kanpur IIT visit and favours New Delhi for conferring the doctorate. In that event, the presentation will be made in Agra, which cannot be dropped from Clinton's itinerary, thanks to the Taj Mahal. Even First Lady Hillary Clinton and their daughter Chelsea had made it a point to visit the Taj while on a brief trip to India a few years ago.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta is understood to be pulling up his socks for the big day. After all, the task that lies before him is to not only play host to President Clinton but to also make an attempt to market Uttar Pradesh like his hi-tech counterparts in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are planning to do.

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