Southern University System of Louisiana in the United States has decided to offer Prime Minister Narendra Modi an honorary doctorate for his work in inclusive growth.
On Thursday, the university board met in the Baton Rouge campus and approved the conferment of the PhD to the Indian Prime Minister.
"Our academic community became particularly aware of the sterling achievements of Gujarat under Mr. Modi's leadership including his emphasis on 'Inclusive Growth for All' during a Research Colloquium presentation by Dr Pankaj Phadnis on August 30, 2013, at the College of Business on our Baton Rouge campus," said Ronald Mason Jr, president of Southern University System, in a release.
Baton Rogue is the capital of Louisiana State located about 150 km from New Orleans.
The Governor of Louisiana, Bobby Jindal, who is an Indian-American, was born in Baton Rogue.
According to Dr Phadnis, the degree is in recognition of Modi's contribution towards social transformation, especially for empowering women and minorities in Gujarat.
Talking to IndiaToday.in, Dr Phadnis said: "Technically, the American university has offered the doctorate degree to PM. It's up to Mr Modi to accept it or not."
In 2002, South African freedom icon Nelson Mandela was also conferred upon the same degree. A public policy school at the university is also named after Mandela.
A statement issued by the university said it was impressed by Modi's agenda of inclusive growth in Gujarat.
It also considered the work done by Modi is the first 100 days as Prime Minister.
Modi's declaration of a 10-year moratorium on caste and communal violence in the country and $20-billion commitment towards 'Digital India' initiative were also lauded by the university.
The university has also invited Modi to be the Commencement Speaker for Fall 2015 Commencement (to be held on December 11, 2015) and for inauguration of the Global Headquarters of the Center for ICT Enabled Social Transformation to be named after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya.
Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College System is the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) system in the United States and consists of two universities, a community college, a law centre, an agricultural research and an extension centre.
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